Single Stage vs. Progressive...Which one should I buy?

C

CaliCoyoteCaller

New member
Going to buy a another reloader. My primary goal for this reloader is rifle accuracy for hunting. I shoot 22-250, .223 and 243 when I hunt. My question is, if rifle accuracy is my goal, would a single stage be more precise than a progressive or will they both produce the same quality load? Quantity of load is not so much my goal as quality of load. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
I use two single stage press's. I have been kicking around the idea of buying some type of progressive press myself so I'll watch this post to hear what others have to say. I generally don't load in bulk, usually 20-50 rounds max at a time but sometimes would like to have the option to load in bulk if and when I start to load for pistol rounds.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI use two single stage press's. I have been kicking around the idea of buying some type of progressive press myself so I'll watch this post to hear what others have to say. I generally don't load in bulk, usually 20-50 rounds max at a time but sometimes would like to have the option to load in bulk if and when I start to load for pistol rounds.

Im the same way...I dont generally load i bulk. 50 rounds at a time maybe.....Occasionally, I may want to load up a few hundred rounds of 9mm, but that is not very often. I dont shoot my hand guns a ton
 
What i have been doin for years is work up a load with my RCBS Rockchucker press. When i am satisfied ill set up my Dillon 550 and get to work. 500 an hour is a pretty simple task.
But ill only use it with ball powder or small extruded like H322, Benchmark, XBr8208.
For anything larger ill use the RCBS Chargemaster and throw each load. Especially with Varget, IMR4064, RL15, H4831 and the like.
 
I have been using the same Rock Chucker since 1973. Except for when on a prairie dog hunt I do not shoot a crapload of ammo much at a time so loading a box or two a week is fine with me. It's therapeutic for me to leisurely spend an evening loading a box of ammo. And during the winter rather than sit in the house and gel in front of the TV watching Brady Bunch reruns I sit out the the garage and load ammo and watch Brady Bunch reruns out there. More efficient use of my time, see? Yeah. That's what it is.

Marsha Marsha Marsha!
 
I do most of my reloading on a Rock Chucker, even the 1000's of prairie dog loads thruout the years. However, I did set up my old Dillon 450 for 20 VT this year. A great time saver! I do size and prepare my brass on the Rock Chucker prior to finishing on the Dillon. For me, changing between small and large primer is a PAIN on the Dillon. For next year, I'll be loading all my 204 and 20 VT on the Dillon. As mentioned above, when loading smaller quantities, I use the RC and my Chargemaster.
Sounds like the RC would be fine for what you need.
 
When I was shooting competition, I fired at least 100 rounds of 30-06 per week and on some matches over 300 rounds (3 day weekends), all loaded on a Dillon 450.

The 450 measure handled ball powder with superb accuracy and with careful load development to find accuracy nodes, was capable of throwing charges that would clean the NM course of fire with short cut stick powders and H 4895 as well.

This clean target was fired in a 100 yd. reduced match simulating 300 yd prone rapid fire stage (10 shots 70 seconds). X ring .79", 10 ring 2.12" using 4895.



This 3" spotter shot @ 600 yds. prone w/H450 ball powder. Note 15th shot took out spindle holding spotter in previous shot.



All my match ammo loaded on the Dillon. You can always load single stage on a progressive but you can't load progressive on a single stage.
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Regards,
hm
 
Quote:For me, changing between small and large primer is a PAIN on the Dillon.

It is that! I managed to pick up a second 450 quite reasonably and leave one set up for small and other for large primers.

Regards,
hm
 
I got a used RCBS Ammomaster on here several years ago and haven't looked back. I have a tool to check run-out and it's just as good as the single stage so I don't lose any precision. With precision loads with stick powder I simply pull the case before seating the bullet, dump the powder on the scale and trickle up. Yes it slows you down but still faster than single stage and just as precise. For spherical powders it's set it up and go. Now I have lube dies for 223 and Grendel size cases so I don't even have to lube separately. Trimming is the only thing that can cause a wrinkle in the process but I've found that if I set up my size die right trimming is pretty rare. Forming wildcats in several steps is easy as you just put the dies in sequence.
 
I've been using two rock chuckers but have been thinking of a Redding Turret press, I basically load for two calibers and changing dies is getting tiresome. I like to hand measure powder for accuracy so a progressive doesn't make since. But if I were reloading pistol ammo too I would go progressive for the speed of it.
 
Originally Posted By: MotoHunterI've been using two rock chuckers but have been thinking of a Redding Turret press, I basically load for two calibers and changing dies is getting tiresome.

I got rid of a Redding T-7 and got a Forster Co-ax.
I love the Forster almost as much as I hated the Redding.
grin.gif
 
I have used and still have various single stage presses for most of my life. I bought a Dillon 450 just a couple of months before Dillon stopped making it and started making/selling the 550. To me, it's not that I can reload faster but it's more convenient. One thing is, you don't have to charge each case by hand. The cartridges are just as accurate. Get a 450 Dillon used or a 550 Dillon new or used and I'm sure you'll be pleased.

flyrodder
 
Quote:I like to hand measure powder for accuracy so a progressive doesn't make since.

That is where careful load development comes in. If you use either Creighton Audette's Ladder method or some of it's variations, you can determine the accuracy node(s) usually found with any load combination. That is a point at which +/- several tenths of a grain of powder makes no difference in point of impact, thus negating the necessity of weighing charges. That is when the progressives really shine.

Creighton Audette Ladder Method

Regards,
hm
 
Since you live in California I would just stick with the loader you have now and spend any extra money on loading components right now!

With the new California ammo laws taking effect in January of 2017 and another new ammo ban law being voted on in November of 2016 there will be a big-time shortage of reloading components coming soon.

If Hillary gets elected in November she will sell more ammo and firearms than Obama did.
 
Originally Posted By: fw707Originally Posted By: MotoHunterI've been using two rock chuckers but have been thinking of a Redding Turret press, I basically load for two calibers and changing dies is getting tiresome.

I got rid of a Redding T-7 and got a Forster Co-ax.
I love the Forster almost as much as I hated the Redding.
grin.gif


Jeff what did you hate about the T7?

I just picked up a Hornady Iron press and while I have only loaded 50 rounds I like the press a lot. The primer system is pretty slick.
 
Given your primary stated goal, I strongly vote single stage. You can feel what is going on with every operation on every piece of brass, and hand priming really tells you what is going on with the pockets.

While I have a bias towards the single stage for precision, long-range rifle with weighed loads, I must say the .223 I run through the progressive do not shoot noticeably different in my AR than the ones I loaded on the single stage. Sub-MOA out of a factory Rock River rifle, mixed brass to boot! And of course I shoot pistol 10X as much since I got the progressive because it's not a PIA to reload 2000 rounds in a weekend or two during the winter.
 
Originally Posted By: venaticOriginally Posted By: fw707Originally Posted By: MotoHunterI've been using two rock chuckers but have been thinking of a Redding Turret press, I basically load for two calibers and changing dies is getting tiresome.

I got rid of a Redding T-7 and got a Forster Co-ax.
I love the Forster almost as much as I hated the Redding.
grin.gif


Jeff what did you hate about the T7?

I just picked up a Hornady Iron press and while I have only loaded 50 rounds I like the press a lot. The primer system is pretty slick.

David, the T-7 had several different features I didn't like.
I didn't like the movement in the turret, and the dies were too close together when installed to allow any adjustment if needed.
Also, you are limited to 2 or 3 calibers of dies.
 
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