I started with a ____ press, it was/wasn't a good idea because ____.

[Steve Koski]

I'll go first. I bought an ancient single stage press that I used for a few months before selling all my single stage equipment and buying a progressive press.

It was good because the single stage press forced me to do one step at a time and learn the basics in a simple environment.

It was bad because I only had/wanted it for a short while, then I sold off all my single stage stuff (at a loss) to help fund the progressive press. I probably could have learned just fine on a progressive press, but I didn't do that, so I can't say for sure.

Your turn.

[Bush Pilot]

The end, you been drinking again?

[JLarsson]

I started on a single-stage press as a kid, 'cause that's what my dad had. It WAS good, because as a youngster, I needed to learn the process without any additional frustration and/or complexity. Learning as an adult is different, but I think the single-stage is still a good beginning point unless someone already has experience with reloading on someone else's equipment.

Unlike you, Steve, I still have 2 single-stage presses, neither of them my first press. It all depends on what I'm doing. When I was forming .30 Herett cases, it was great to be able to leave one press set up with the form/trim die and do some other loading chores on the other single-stage.

I'd say it depends on individual needs and experience. If all you ever want to do is crank out pistol rounds and you have the experience to be completely familiar with the reloading process, a progressive might be the perfect first and only press for you.

[Steel Talon]

I started with a _ROCKCHUCKER___ press, it was a good idea because _I LEARNED TO BUILD VERY ACCURATE AMMO___.

[ept000]

I started with a Lee Pro 1000 and it was good because even though there is a steep learning curve, it's not impossible. I never had the extra expense of a single stage by going straight to the progressive, and now that I'm comfortable with it, it's all I need.

[BigSlick]

I started on an old Pacific press I got handed down to me. Liked it for da most part, for many years, but sold it when I bought my Hornady Projector.

Biggest mistake I ever made.

Shoulda kept the press and bought a Dillon instead a the Hornady. There weren't any local (to me) dealers stocking Dillon and I really wanted to get a hands on look before I dumped the bucks.

I kept the Projector around for a while after I got my first 550, but gave it away when Hornady finally told me no more (small) parts available. The primer handling was awful and their warranty was supposed to be decent. Yep, it was warranty item, but it still gonna cost for parts and shipping.

They stopped offering all parts except their version of a conversion after a while, and I didn't use it anymore anyway, so I gave it away.

[freakshow10mm]

I started with a Lee Hand Press, it wasn't a good idea because it was slow, worked my thighs too much, but I learned more about reloading doing that than ever.

[Bush Pilot]

I started with a Lee Hand Press, it wasn't a good idea because it was slow, worked my thighs too much, but I learned more about reloading doing that than ever.

It doesn't take long to realize you want something better after loading a few with a LHP.

[freakshow10mm]

It took me 600rds of 10mm on the LHP to call my mommy and tell here what's on my Xmas list: A LCT.

[Oreo]

I started on a Hornady LNL AP. I've had no trouble learning on a progressive. My first batch I did one round at a time & I felt that gave me a good chance to learn how it's all supposed to work. It's also got enough room for me to grow into that I should hopefully never need another press.

[Murphy's Law]

My first and only is the 550b Freak sold me. Man...this thing is slick once I learned a few things (fine points to reloading). Just yesterday I made up another 400 or so....which seems to be my limit for one sitting. This is about as much fun as you can possibly have and still keep your cloths on!

:driving:

Now I only need to learn about different powders, different OAL's, brass, bullets, etc. I've got a lot to learn but what else would I be doing in my recent retirement. I truly enjoy the sport and the folks on this forum. Enough said or I'll start crying.
:)

[4eyes]

Hey Murph, as a near newbie reloader; have you learned to pick the fly specks out of the pepper around here yet?

[RustyFN]

I started with the Lee classic turret and it was a good idea because if I had started with a single stage press I would have wanted to upgrade a couple of weeks later. Someday I'll make the jump to progressive.
Rusty

[Tailgunner]

Hummm, I started with a LEE kit and a hammer but it SUCKED bad, so I upgraded to a used RCBS Jr press, and was in "hog heaven" until I needed to modify some rifle brass, which is when the lack of leverage became a problem, or enough clearance to insert large cases easily. I added a RCBS Rockchucker to the bench, and now I'm happy. I still have the Jr, I use it for most of my bullet seating chores.

Of course when I started reloading, LEE offered only the 1 loading tool, and Dillon had yet to be created. If you wanted a progressive outfit your only choices were Star and Camdex

[thorn]

I started with a MEC 600jr shotshell press (basically turret press) when I was about 11 or 12. Little in common with the requirements of loading brass, but some of the basic ideas are the same.

When I started reloading brass, I started with a LNL-AP progressive.

It was a good idea because I only spent money on a press once, and it should last me many, many years. It works for pistol or rifle and has enough flexibility that I won't outgrow it and need something else. I knew enough about my needs, and the art of reloading, to know that making 200rds at a time on a single-stage press was not going to satisfy me.

It was a not-so-good idea in the matter that it took much longer to begin reloading. Choosing a press took quite awhile, requiring a ton of reading and research. Once it was installed on the bench, it took many hours of tweaking dies and getting familiar with the overall process to be able to comfortably and safely load the first rounds.

If I had it to do over again, I'd do the same thing.

thorn

[lcarreau]

I started out with a Dillon xl650 and then moved up to the 1050. Only after that did I decide to go slumming with the LM. That was not such a good idea, but I had fun with it.

-Lonnie

[KCGunnr]

I started with a Lee Challenger press, it wasn't a good idea because the toggle link broke on about the 20th round of .223.

I threw the thing in the trash and ordered a Dillon 550B.
That was what everyone told me to do anyway.

But I actually started reloading on a Lee Loader, yep with a hammer.

[unclebob]

I started out with a Mec 300 shotgun reloader. Then for rifle and pistol I got a Herters O magnum single stage press. No progressive press when I started except for a star. Big bucks for a 15 year old. Latter bought 4 Mec 650 and a Rock Chucker. Still pre Dillon. Sold the Rock Chucker bought a Dillon 550. Bought another Rock Chucker, Why I have no idea. Sold the 550 and two of the Mec 650. Bought a Dillon 650 best move on my part. I wanted a Dillon 650 before there was a 650. So know I have 2 Mec 650 which have not used in years. Dillon 650 and a Rock Chucker.

[colorado4wheel]

I started with a Lee Classic Cast Press. It was good because it was fast enough to not bore me, slow enough to see every stage and LEARN and Quality enough that I enjoyed it most the time. It was not so good because ultimately it was not fast enough. Sold it to a friend who is now a reloader as well.
Second Press was Lee LoadMaster. Thought I would give it a shot as my other Lee treated me so well. It was a mistake. Good for a while then a headache to keep running.
Third, press is a 550. It's what I wanted from the start, what I should have bought from the start. Live and learn.

[Jayhawker]

I started with the challenger kit, which was good at first because it was given to me by my father in law. Eventually, it was bad because he was wanting me to load more for him than what I felt was right(and pay for his componetns). After we had a meeting of the wills, I gave his crap back because I had already replaced/upraded everything around a LCTP.

[Shadowdog500]

I started on a single stage Lyman Spartain that my grandfather gave me. It was good because it forced me to take the time to learn each step. I still have it and use it for small runs.

Chris

[AdamN]

I started with a Lee Challenger, then a Pro 1K, then a Loadmaster, man am I hard headed:banghead: It was a good idea because I learned to appreciate quality:hereyago:

Snapped out of it in a good way and got a 1050, ;)

[saunderscc]

I just now started reloading with a LCT. I feel it was a good idea because I can load slow and make sure I am doing everything right, since I am new to reloading and it is still faster than a single stage.

[Warhorse]

I just now started reloading with a LCT. I feel it was a good idea because I can load slow and make sure I am doing everything right, since I am new to reloading and it is still faster than a single stage.
Same here. I might also add that I only shoot 200-400 rounds per month, eight months out of the year, due to the fact that I have no indoor ranges near me.

[Rollis]

A Lyman hand press similar to the lee model, it broke after a few hundred .357 loads, too much torque when resizing. Now I have a Lee C type press. Oh yes and a Hornady Projector, and one of those silly Dillon 650’s.

[slowride]

I started with the Lee anniversary kit. It was a bad idea, because it's mounted on the far side of the reloading bench cold and alone. Another reason the kit was a bad idea was the components suck! The scale is a joke. I bought an RCBS 502.

I bought a LCT and that's all I use.

[chewy]

I started with a RCBS single stage kit becuz I wanted to learn each step. I stuck with it for about 9 years cuz I'm cheap, liked relaoding in steps, and I'm cheap.:yesnod: Just barely moved up to a Lee Turret last year. Still reload in steps, the turret just makes it easier. maybe when I grow up I'll get a Dilly prog.

[callahan318]

I started with a Lee Classic Kit, and it sucked. No red vs blue thing going on, it just plain sucked. So I gots me a Dillon via Freak. Love the Dillon press!

The Lee just was not my gig...

[Anvil]

I started on a Lee clamshell press and it wasn't a good idea because I had no components except my spent brass and recovered bullets. Luckily I had no powder or primer to kill myself with trying to recycle my spent rounds. I had no body to teach me and lost interest for a few years. Good things always come back around.

[myg30]

I started with a lee hand loader, when I lost my mallet, I got a big hammer....
Now I use a SDB ..... no hammer !

[45/70Geddumout!]

I started with a Rock Chucker then just recently bought a Dillon 550. I still use the Rock Chucker for rifle loads but love the 550 for pistol rounds. :)

[Shovel66]

I started out with a 550B because it is a top quality machine at a great price. I feel it was a good idea because it was simple to setup and adjust, easy to swap to different calibers, etc. The biggest plus is that it's not a press I'm having to fiddle with, fine tune constantly, and swear at when it it doesn't work right.
503 pulls = 500 rounds. :sifone:
Shovel

[Sixgun Symphony]

I'll go first. I bought an ancient single stage press that I used for a few months before selling all my single stage equipment and buying a progressive press.

It was good because the single stage press forced me to do one step at a time and learn the basics in a simple environment.

It was bad because I only had/wanted it for a short while, then I sold off all my single stage stuff (at a loss) to help fund the progressive press. I probably could have learned just fine on a progressive press, but I didn't do that, so I can't say for sure.

Your turn.


You should have kept it mounted on your loading bench next to your progressive press. Yes, you got a progressive press, but there are still many uses for the single stage press. Load development, decap brass before cleaning, and swaging come immediately to mind.

[Sixgun Symphony]

I started out with LEE equipment. I purchased the Challenger press kit, then added the LEE Reloading press and then I purchased a used LEE turrent press and another Challenger press. All of my casting equipment was LEE.

This got the job done for years. Yes, the LEE safety scale was a PITA to use, but it was accurate. One just needed a very light hand to use it.

Now that I can afford better, I am acquiring better quality tools from Lyman and C H Tool & Die. I will recommend LEE for people that can't afford the other brands of reloading equipment, but if they can afford better then I will steer them to other brands.

[Glooooock]

From 18 - 25yrs old I had used every junk single stage press . They are great for rifle ammo / small test runs of pistol loads , a few ounces of powder - a hand full of bullets .

With the LNL or dillon 650 and its MASS consumption of components ,,,, I feel like I'm buying the 5 gallon bucket of mustard at Costco (as a metaphor ) , when you're measuring components in 1000s .

Its good to keep one single around , I'm lookin at getin Forster Co-ax . I have 3 singles laying around now .

[unclebob]

You should have kept it mounted on your loading bench next to your progressive press. Yes, you got a progressive press, but there are still many uses for the single stage press. Load development, decap brass before cleaning, and swaging come immediately to mind.

Except for the swaging you can do everything you said on a Dillon 550 or 650. If I was too do load development on off of the progressive press than I would, unless I had another set of dies, take them off of the progressive. Adjust them on the single stage press. Finish the development on the single stage press, and then put them back on the progressive press, and readjust them again. When I could do the same thing on the progressive.
For decapping the brass. On my 650 I only have a universal recapping die in the tool head that is at station one. Throw the brass in the case feeder turn it on. I can do a ton of brass in a very short period of time. For primer pocket swaging. You got me on that one. But then I no longer do primer pocket swaging. And if I did I have a Dillon Super Swage 600. The only thing I use the Rock Chucker for is depriming primers that got screwed up during loading.

[Big Wes]

I started with a Dillon 550B back when they cost $298.00 only because when I was a kid my dad always said......"Buy the Best, Buy Once!"

[ustate]

I started with a Lee Turret which was good since I could go through the process of one round at a time to learn how everything worked. Have since moved up to a Dillon 550B which is great because I can get more loaded in less time.

[Sixgun Symphony]

There is alot more to swaging than just primer pockets. I got two dedicated swaging presses waiting for me back home and these will be used for making jacketed bullets. One is a Herters Super Bullet Maker and the other is a Swag-0-Matic from C H Tool & Die.
I also ordered a new Champion Press from C H tool & Die to go with some custom swaging dies that are for larger rifle bullets than what the smaller swaging presses can handle.

As far as load development, I don't know why you would want to take your dies off of the progressive press. One of the reasons for load development on a single stage press is so you don't have to change anything to your progressive press. As far as dies, the cost is negligeable if you buy used dies or buy new from LEE for the extra set.

On decapping, my reasoning for using the single stage press for that role is that if you shoot dirty powders (especially BP), then why dirty up the progressive? There is less to clean on a single stage press than it is to strip down a progressive for a wipe down.


Except for the swaging you can do everything you said on a Dillon 550 or 650. If I was too do load development on off of the progressive press than I would, unless I had anoth er set of dies, take them off of the progressive. Adjust them on the single stage press. Finish the development on the single stage press, and then put them back on the progressive press, and readjust them again. When I could do the same thing on the progressive.
For decapping the brass. On my 650 I only have a universal recapping die in the tool head that is at station one. Throw the brass in the case feeder turn it on. I can do a ton of brass in a very short period of time. For primer pocket swaging. You got me on that one. But then I no longer do primer pocket swaging. And if I did I have a Dillon Super Swage 600. The only thing I use the Rock Chucker for is depriming primers that got screwed up during loading.

[Crazy4nitro]

Hummm, I started with a LEE kit and a hammer.

Of course when I started reloading, LEE offered only the 1 loading tool, and Dillon had yet to be created. If you wanted a progressive outfit your only choices were Star and Camdex

I started with a Lee Hammer Kit that someone bought for me.

TG It must have been a Few Days Ago that you started reloading.:chainsaw: I have never heard of Camdex before.


'Nitro

[MakeMineaP99]

Camdex makes automated loading equipment. I have TG's current set of 30-06 dies, from the early 90s. I have a feelings that isn't his first set of 30-06 dies either. ;)

[creophus]

I started with a Lee Turret which was good since I could go through the process of one round at a time to learn how everything worked. Have since moved up to a Dillon 550B which is great because I can get more loaded in less time.
That's exactly what I did. I still have the Lee around and use it for rifle and small runs.

[Tailgunner]

TG It must have been a Few Days Ago that you started reloading.:chainsaw: I have never heard of Camdex before.


'Nitro

http://www.camdexloader.com/

Back when the police dept's were doing their own reloading of practice ammo, they used a lot of Camdex machines. Pour in powder, bullets, cases and primers, step back and hit the run button. The only thing the operator did after that was keep pouring in the components.
I see they have one today that will put out up to 100 rounds/minute

[creophus]

http://www.camdexloader.com/

Back when the police dept's were doing their own reloading of practice ammo, they used a lot of Camdex machines. Pour in powder, bullets, cases and primers, step back and hit the run button. The only thing the operator did after that was keep pouring in the components.
I see they have one today that will put out up to 100 rounds/minute
Envy is a deadly sin.

[DssG19]

I started out with a Hornady LnL, and it wasn't a good idea. I knew nothing about reloading and did zero homework on presses. I load 80% 9mm and as everyone knows the LnL sucks out of the box for 9mm. After bending several ejection wires, shaving shell plates, polishing the crap, it still didn't work. So I took it out on my credit card and bought a 550, been happy ever since.

[TwoShot]

I did it because when I grow up ,I want to be like Steve K.:yesnod: http://www.glockpost.com/forums/image.php?u=5&dateline=1234042486 (http://www.glockpost.com/forums/member.php?u=5)

Actually single stage is too slow ,,,at the time my son and i were both shooting mostly pistol. hence the Dillon 550.

[Pitmaster]

Started with a LCT which was a good choice to begin. After loading a couple thousand rounds I got a used SD to load .45 liked it and bought the conversion for 9mm. Ran into another used SD for .38 and bought it. I would like to buy another SD press so I don't have to change dies.

I think the LCT is the perfect press for most people to buy to learn how to reload on. The speed is faster than a single stage but slow enough to learn the process and fix errors fairly easily.

If reloading is for you and you shoot enough upgrading to a progressive press for speed takes some of the dreariness away. Then you still have a LCT for load development or as a single stage press.

I'm not familiar with the LNL, but either it or Dillon's 550 or 650 are good for quantity ammo production.

[unclebob]

There is alot more to swaging than just primer pockets. I got two dedicated swaging presses waiting for me back home and these will be used for making jacketed bullets. One is a Herters Super Bullet Maker and the other is a Swag-0-Matic from C H Tool & Die.
I also ordered a new Champion Press from C H tool & Die to go with some custom swaging dies that are for larger rifle bullets than what the smaller swaging presses can handle.

As far as load development, I don't know why you would want to take your dies off of the progressive press. One of the reasons for load development on a single stage press is so you don't have to change anything to your progressive press. As far as dies, the cost is negligeable if you buy used dies or buy new from LEE for the extra set.

On decapping, my reasoning for using the single stage press for that role is that if you shoot dirty powders (especially BP), then why dirty up the progressive? There is less to clean on a single stage press than it is to strip down a progressive for a wipe down.
Most reloaders do not swage bullets. Either they buy them or cast them. I also have a Herter’s swage press. That basically has never been used.
Like I said before you can do load development on the 550 or 650. That is where I do it with no trouble and I have more than one set of dies. I thank it is a lot easier than on the single stage press.
If I’m going to deprime the cases I run them through the case tumble with walnut shells first. Then after they are deprimed I run them threw the other tumbler with the corncob. Do not have the problem of getting the press all that dirty. I also If I shot black powder I would not be loading on a 650. You are talking about two different games.

[Glock G20]

I started with a Rok chuker. it was nice cause I could upgrade to a progressive once i became comfortable with faster loading. the bad part was the powder dispenser wasn't as accurate as I thought... I did upgrade after 1 week. lasted for decades till I got the LCT.

been happy with the LCT ever since. would like a 650XL or S 1050. then I'll sell the green 7 red stuff for the blue king -)

[Peakbagr]

Never wanting to do things the easy way, I started with a Forster Co-Ax press. Actually learned to reload on it under the tutelage of Jim Steckl, head gunsmith of the Remington Custom Shop and a master gunsmith.
Hung around his shop and a more generous guy with a beginner's questions you'd never find.
I sought Jim out as he was the originator of the 6BR cartridge. Jim was a benchrest shooter, in the BR Hall of Fame and not only did I want to learn how to reload, I ended up learning with a 6BR short wildcat. Fireforming brass, set back dies, neck turning, the whole smack. Figured if I could learn that, loading 'regular' cartridges would be a snap.
That was 10+ years ago. Still have that Co-Ax press which is one of the strongest and best single stages around. After reading everything I could find on progressives and talking to lots of folks, went with a Hornady LnL.
Fairly steep learning curve for me, after pulling the handle on the Coax for each stage of reloading. But the quick change of dies and calibers, the ease of the powder drop, 5 stations, made the Hornady a no brainer.

Their Powder thru expander process is the weak part of the press. No biggie unless you want to use all 5 stations. Then Dan's LnL PTX came along and it made an excellent progressive into a great one for me. Another thank you to Dan for this. Sorry for the long tale.

[Sixgun Symphony]

Most reloaders do not swage bullets. Either they buy them or cast them. I also have a Herter’s swage press. That basically has never been used.
Like I said before you can do load development on the 550 or 650. That is where I do it with no trouble and I have more than one set of dies. I thank it is a lot easier than on the single stage press.
If I’m going to deprime the cases I run them through the case tumble with walnut shells first. Then after they are deprimed I run them threw the other tumbler with the corncob. Do not have the problem of getting the press all that dirty. I also If I shot black powder I would not be loading on a 650. You are talking about two different games.


If one wants to shoot obsolete or rare calibers that require jacketed bullets, then swaging is the way to go. If a jacketed bullet design is common, then I am not sure how much cheaper it is to swage than it is to just buy jacketed bullets. Prices are going up, but I have yet to do the math on production cost. I also got to see about a way to produce my own lead wire so I don't have to cast my own cores as it may save alot of time.

I had a Lee turrent press and each of the turrents had the dies set just so. So I was loathe to change anything until I had a load developed. I found it easier to do my load development with the single stage presses that I had mounted on the bench.

I shoot both smokeless and blackpowder, so I mounted a universal decapping die on one of my single stage presses as I would decap before cleaning the brass in hot, soapy water. I wanted those primer pockets clean with the rest of the brass.

[Shadowdog500]

I started with an old Lyman Spartain single stage press that my Grandfather gave me, and it was a good idea because the single stage process forced me to focus on each step of the loading process, and also forced me to set up the loading dies on each session. This made setup and spotting and fixing problems easier and faster when I moved up to my Loadmaster, and later my Dillon 550.

I stil have the Lyman because it is handy having a single stage press around and besides my grandfather gave it to me.

Chris

[unclebob]

If one wants to shoot obsolete or rare calibers that require jacketed bullets, then swaging is the way to go. If a jacketed bullet design is common, then I am not sure how much cheaper it is to swage than it is to just buy jacketed bullets. Prices are going up, but I have yet to do the math on production cost. I also got to see about a way to produce my own lead wire so I don't have to cast my own cores as it may save alot of time.

I had a Lee turrent press and each of the turrents had the dies set just so. So I was loathe to change anything until I had a load developed. I found it easier to do my load development with the single stage presses that I had mounted on the bench.

I shoot both smokeless and blackpowder, so I mounted a universal decapping die on one of my single stage presses as I would decap before cleaning the brass in hot, soapy water. I wanted those primer pockets clean with the rest of the brass.

Like I said before you are talking a complete different ball game. A very few percentage of reloaders swage any type of bullets. Yes a single stage press works great for that. Very few of the cowboy action shooters shoot black powder at least around here they don’t, and most of the one’s that I know that shoot cartridge black powder have a jug on water and soap and after they finish shooting they dump there case’s in that jug after unloading there guns. So yes for the few that do that type of shooting a single stage press would work quite well.
Like I said before I have two and some 3 sets of dies. For each caliber. Both are in tool heads with their own powder measure. One set I never change unless I’m going too permanently change something. The other one is for load development. So what I would like too know is how is it easier too do load development on a single stage press than it is on a Dillon 550 or 650?
May be it is easier too do load development on a single stage press over a Lee turrent. Never have owned a Lee press.
I have a modified Rock Chucker that has a hole down the center of the ram and then out of the backside. With the ram all the way up the back hole is still in the frame part of the press. Only when I lower the ram is the hole exposed. The only thing I use it for is too deprime live primers. If a primer should go off, it well just bounces around inside of the ram. Other than that I have really no use for a single stage press. Unless I decide to get back into the small amount of rifle reloading that I have not loaded for or shot in probably over 10 years now.

[Sixgun Symphony]

This community is more into advanced reloading than the average person on arfcom or GlockTalk. So swaging bullets and blackpowder cartridge reloading are points to consider as many here may take it up in the future.

As far as using a progressive like a single stage. You can do it, but why remove the auto-index feature, the powder measure, the case feeder, the bullet feeder, and the other things that make it a progressive press? Seems like a PITA.
When it comes to load development, I am not just dropping loads from a powder measure, I used the powder scale and trickler to weigh out each load, the prepped cases were laid out in loading blocks.

[unclebob]

This community is more into advanced reloading than the average person on arfcom or GlockTalk. So swaging bullets and blackpowder cartridge reloading are points to consider as many here may take it up in the future.

As far as using a progressive like a single stage. You can do it, but why remove the auto-index feature, the powder measure, the case feeder, the bullet feeder, and the other things that make it a progressive press? Seems like a PITA.
When it comes to load development, I am not just dropping loads from a powder measure, I used the powder scale and trickler to weigh out each load, the prepped cases were laid out in loading blocks.


You do not have to disable the auto indexing, unless you want too. Or the case feeder. If you want to load just one case at a time just remove the case feed tube, it just pulls out. You can use the powder measure on the press of use another one off the press and you can weigh and trickle every charge. You can pull a case out at any station you want. Station 3,4,and 5 is no different that a single stage press. You can load one complete round at a time or as many as you want and weight every charge. You can install a primer when you want too install a primer. I’m doing the same thing you are doing with out taking the case out of the press except to weight the charge.
Station one resizes the case and deprimes.
Station two bells the case and adds the powder and adds the primer.
Station three remove the case and weight the charge.
Station four put the case with the weighed charge back on the shell plate; add the bullet.
Station five crimps the case.
Then the case is ejected
A lot simpler and faster than using a single stage press. I have loaded over 100,000 rds on a single stage press and have done many of workup on it.

[Sixgun Symphony]

So you are not taking anything off, just adding powder by hand from the scale by removing the shell.

BTW, How much do you experiment with differrent bullet designs?

[unclebob]

So you are not taking anything off, just adding powder by hand from the scale by removing the shell.

BTW, How much do you experiment with differrent bullet designs?

I use the Dillon power measure on the press too get most of the powder that I want and then trickle the rest in on the scale. So the powder gets dumped in the case at station 2 and when it rotates to station 3 I take the case out, dump the powder on the scale then trickle in the amount of powder I want. I then place the case back in the shell plate at station 4 and add the bullet.
I use Redding Competition Bullet seating dies.
It is a lot simpler than what it sounds.

[Sixgun Symphony]

When I had the dies and everything set up just so on the turrent, I was loathe to change the settings until I was ready to mass produce another load. If I were to work up a new load for say 158gr RN and my semi-progressive LEE turrent press was set up for mass production of say 148gr WC, then I would just work up a load on the two LEE Challenger single stage presses that I had lined up on the workbench. It was more of a pain to adjust the dies mounted on the turrent, changing the disks of the powder measure and then having to adjust everything back again for that load I had it set up for in the beginning. Yes, I had five turrents to switch out on the press, they were all set up for different calibers. So I kept the settings on the turrents for mass production and did my load development on the single stages.

I had extra dies, I also had four loading presses on my workbench. A workbench with just one loading press looks rather naked to me. But then my reloading chores go beyond what most get into. When I get back home I will have three presses just for swaging. I will looking at the new LEE Classic turrent press, but I will probably go with the Dillon 550.

[Rollis]

I just crimped fifty of my test .223 that I made on my two single stages by pulling the pin in station 4, then running the rounds throw station 4, and crimping in station 5. It took about 3 minutes on my 650.

[UtahIrishman]

I started with a Lee Turret press and still have it. Only press I have. Started loading .308 so I used it as a single stage.

Now loading some 9MM and it suits my needs so far. I don't have any plans, at least for now, to upgrade to anything else.