"It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
www.buchananprecisionmachine.com
"It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
www.buchananprecisionmachine.com
Good golly. My point was that one must know their gear, and if it isn't producing quality results, figure out why and either fix it or change the approach. As soon as that ammo leaves the press and is going out to the range, the person who produced it is responsible for its quality (or lack thereof). Period. If the person isn't happy with said ammo's quality, they should affect whatever change is needed. I wasn't advocating the use of any particular press. If you don't know the ins and outs of your gear, how can you really make quality and reliable ammunition? That's why I'm betting you use your All American Turret. I use a Buchanan hand press, a single stage, and a 550. Each has its uses to me. And, I know how to use, tune, maintain, and troubleshoot each one of them. This is what I mean by having confidence in the reloading equipment. The OP should be able to do the same and if not, he either should learn to or change to something where that is possible.
My two main issues with my two Lee loadmasters
If you want to prime in the press. Buy a Lee decaper on stage 1 move the sizer to stage 2.
This will hold the case frimly in place when seating the primer.
Add a little lube ever y few cases and it will go very smooth.
If you want to go FAST. DON'T do it.
If you need todeprime and reprime as a separate stage. The. Get a powder stop die. And you will crank them out.
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I got a Rockchucker in 1999 and started reloading.
By 2006 I had a two co-ax presses and was milling out improved parts for the co-ax.
By 2015 I had two partner presses that were so portable they could cozy up to me at my computer or in a hunting vehicle.
When I start a new rifle cartridge, I buy:
1) The chamber reamer
2) The go gauge
3) The Forster seating die, and then I de bur the de burring that Forster did in the seating stem
4) The Forster FL die with the neck honed out by Forster on thier Sunnen hone to my specification.
5) The Lee Collet neck die, and then I polish the collet and collet sleeve.
6) Get an update from Quickload to include the latest powders, bullets, and cartridges
When I start a new handgun cartridge, I buy:
1) Lee carbide die set if available.
2) Start making dies from 7/8-14 threaded rod, if I have to
Having a reloading setup in your van is a great idea. And not just for a hunting vehicle. Also great for trips to the range for development.
I like it.
I sorta followed the development of the Buchanan hand press here on castboolits and was thinkin' seriously about one and mounting it on my bench (I know it is a portable press, but I think a bench mount would work. Maybe with a swivel base set up). But, I got a Forster Co-Ax instead...
My Anchor is holding fast!
I started out with a rockchucker over 20 years ago. The enjoyment I've gotten from that press is probably greater than any other machine that's belonged to me. I have owned a loadmaster, two SDB's, and a 650 with casefeeder. None have been as enjoyable. All could crank out junk as fast as you could pull the handle. Nowadays I have a Lee turret, a Hollywood senior, a Co-ax, and still have my original rock chucker. I'm pretty satisfied but once in a while I get the itch for speed on a progressive.
I was a dog on a short chain.
Now there's no chain.
Jim Harrison
Different tools for different purposes. At present I use 3 different SS presses: RC4, Summit and an Ultramag. I like each for different purposes, although the RC is used most often.
All that being said, a well designed and setup progressive is fantastic. I wouldn't want to live without my Pro 2000. That allows me to got to the bench and load 500 rounds of quality ammo in about 1.5 hours. That press is simple, with little to go wrong. It is a meaningful time saver in my busy schedule.
The RC is a joy to use, and would be the one I'd keep if I could only have one.
I had my Experience with High Volume reloading when I was a kid. Producing approximately 500 to 1,000 shotshells a week on MEC and PONSNESS/WARREN Reloaders. For more then 5 years.
These days I load about 300rds an hour on a HORNADY L-N-L. No reason to rush, I load .223 & most Plinking/Cowboy that way. I single stage all other Rifle ammo and .32 Smith & Wesson. That last case is just TOO small for a progressive. Although I do use an old RCBS Piggyback-2 to reload .32acp and the other .32's.
No need to rush for me anymore.
I HATE auto-correct
Happiness is a Warm GUN & more ammo to shoot in it.
My Experience and My Opinion, are just that, Mine.
SASS #375 Life
Taterhead is correct. I like reloading presses and I have a bunch of them. I have the state of the art Dillons but they are only for 45 acp and 38 special. 32-20 have thin necks and I prefer the coax. I have an Ultramag for stiff sizing jobs. Rock chuckers and a Lee turret round it out. Some presses are best at some things. And occasionally a change in press keeps it interesting. I've even sized on one, m die'd on another and loaded on a last one.
Its all about me having fun....
50yrs of single stage here. That was through years of registered skeet , P-doggin and pistol bangin for fun, and BR.
Have many presses now from arbor to handheld,o frame c frame and use them all.
Closest I ever came to progressive was looking and saying that's kinda kool.
But I never had a double charge or blew up a primer feed and my ammo works great.
But then again I learned decades ago to Handload instead reload - there is a dif
Ive had a RCBS Rock Chucker since 1974. Still bolted to the same place, on the same bench. I have processed ammo for 30 different cartridges over the years. Rough calculations, that press has produced well over 40000 rounds of ammunition. I have spent many hours in front of it and it has yet to let me down. I think ill just stick to what i know.
I have only used my XL 650 2 or 3 times in the last year. I just don’t shoot enough to justify it any more. I am happier loading 100/200 on the turret. Range trips are down to once a month and 100/200 of each caliber is enough for each trip. Also in the last couple of years I have been reducing my loaded ammo stockpile from 40K to 10K.
L.E.C.
I too have changed my LM procedure from a full on progressive to more of a turret that will spit out a round with each pull of the handle. I clean, deprime, and hand prime off the press. Then the stations are as follows, 1-size without decapping, 2-powder drop, 3-powder cop die, 4-seat, 5-crimp. I no longer use the LM for anything but 9mm, and hand feed both brass and bullets. I would say 99% of the problems I encountered were caused by the automatic case and bullet feeders. All rifle calibers are on my Orange Crusher, and all other handgun calibers on my Lee Turret.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |