Multiple Single Stage Presses

Have found that using single stage presses in a row with a couple extra shell holders allows me to resize, move my case to a cheap zinc cast light duty Lee press to flair the case mouth and then charge the case. At this point I can set my cast boolit into the charged case and moveAttachment 324647 it into the third Lee light duty press to seat and lightly crimp the finished reload. I can knock out two rounds per minute just pokin along. Although I have 4 Dillons, a Hornady progressive, and 3 C&H progressives it's a pain to change calibers just to make up a 100 rounds or so. Each single stage press has a die and shell holder for that particular caliber. This eliminates screwing dies in and out. Just loaded up about 80 rounds of 38-55wcf to take and burn up at the range. The Lee light duty single stage presses are inexpensive. I do use an RCBS Rock Chucker to do the initial resize. Besides the two extra presses you need two extra shell holders.

And enough space to mount them. Got a co-ax that snaps the dies in and out. No shell holders. Do use one for the hand prime or bench prime. Unclamp it from the bench and take to the range or wherever to load some more.

I basically do the same with a Rockchucker and RS Jr. mounted side by side. I can seat the bullet then move over to the Jr with the Lee fcd to crimp. Much of my reloading is for lever guns with tubular magazines.

Several years ago I did something very similar. When loading rifle I would mount a powder measure between two Lee Challenger single-stage presses.
Moving left to right I would size and prime, move the case to the powder measure and drop the charge, then move to the other single stage to seat the bullet.

It worked very well. Then Santa brought a turret press, and that took over all the other steps.

I have a Bair three station press and CH4D still makes a four station press, I believe. It is the same idea all in one press.

Turret Press
Even 2
and 4 turrets for the Redding!!!

I have all my pistol sizing dies in a Lee pro 1000 disk all I do is change the shell plate, all my seating/crimp dies are in another disk my rockchucker does the sizing and priming and flair

Lots of ways to get things done. Much depends on what you shoot and how much.

Yep, I own that many single stage presses but own even more progressives, so I don't have to use them as much. :)

The OP's setup reminds me why turret presses exist.

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Originally Posted by jmorris

Yep, I own that many single stage presses but own even more progressives, so I don't have to use them as much. :)

The OP's setup reminds me why turret presses exist.

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Yep....I understand too, but imo turrets are the wrong answer. Lee's APP taught me that case and bullet feeders on a single is way useful and and a feature long overdue. Besides my original R.C, I have 2 more singles and 3 progressives and armed with electric collators on all but the R.C., they have made reloading way more pleasent and efficient for me.

For small batches I use one of my LEE 4 hole turret presses!
I have turrets set up for calibers that I don’t load much ammunition for.
The higher volume stuff is loaded on a 1050 in 9mm or 45.

I deprime on the small Lee press.
Then clean, then size on another stronger press.
Both done outside.
Reload inside with a mix of presses on a midway table with 4 different presses on it
But I have the space to do it this way.

I got to admit that multiple presses would be a great way to practice your dance moves. Grab your case and do-se-do.

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Originally Posted by Rockindaddy

Have found that using single stage presses in a row with a couple extra shell holders allows me to resize, move my case to a cheap zinc cast light duty Lee press to flair the case mouth and then charge the case. At this point I can set my cast boolit into the charged case and moveAttachment 324647 it into the third Lee light duty press to seat and lightly crimp the finished reload. I can knock out two rounds per minute just pokin along. Although I have 4 Dillons, a Hornady progressive, and 3 C&H progressives it's a pain to change calibers just to make up a 100 rounds or so. Each single stage press has a die and shell holder for that particular caliber. This eliminates screwing dies in and out. Just loaded up about 80 rounds of 38-55wcf to take and burn up at the range. The Lee light duty single stage presses are inexpensive. I do use an RCBS Rock Chucker to do the initial resize. Besides the two extra presses you need two extra shell holders.

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I like your method! What I did a while back was my "discovery" of the Hornady Lock n Load dies where I reckoned it would be a quick solution. However -- NO complaint/gripe with the Hornady product, I didn't like them.... just "me". Hence, for my "prime-secondary/tertiary calibres" I picked up Lyman All-American Turret presses, doing kind of what you do. The MEC Marksman, Forster Co-Ax, and a couple of Redding's complement the Dillon 550b -- but, as you noted, 'tis easier/better with those extra solutions.
geo

A wheeled office chair and presses and powder droppers arranged in an arc in my corner basement cubby.

Or,,, you could just buy one of these (See Pic below left) which works the same way as having several presses mounted to your bench in a row, except there is only one handle to pull? It also takes up less space. I use mine a lot when loading Rifle Cartridges with Measured Charges. (.308, 30-06, 45-70, .303 etc.)

It goes,,, starting with Prepped and Primed Cases, Left Station is for charging cases, then Center Station is seating bullet, and then Right Station is for Crimping Bullet in place.

The Rear Center is used for Sizing Cases but it doesn't really have enough Mechanical Advantage to Full Length Size big cases like .30-06 etc. It will do it, it is just hard work. Neck Sizing OK.

I do F/L Sizing/De Priming on my Hand Press, Much easier.

Randy

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^^ Dandy piece of Equipment there!!

I still use this thing. Old pic, its set up to prime, powder drop and seat bullets for .223 varmint rifle now.
Don't think I'd enjoy moving between 3 single stages. Reloading setups are as different as people are different. I like seeing others setups even if they aren't for me.
https://i.postimg.cc/Qx1k80H0/20180712-160925.jpg

I do get it … but I use a Lee 4-station Turret Press for me! Even came up w/ a simple/foolproof ‘lock’ for the sizing station and I virtually zero runout …

Multiple presses or stations on one press sure can be handy. Universal decapper only leaves the app when bullet sizing needs done. If I did more of that, I’d be convinced to get another APP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rockindaddy

Have found that using single stage presses in a row with a couple extra shell holders allows me to resize, move my case to a cheap zinc cast light duty Lee press to flair the case mouth and then charge the case. At this point I can set my cast boolit into the charged case and move it into the third Lee light duty press to seat and lightly crimp the finished reload.

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So… it sounds like you have created the world’s largest linear turret press. ;-)

(I use an RCBS4 in line with my compact turret press. Sometimes you just need that extra “umph” to resize.)

I do something similar. The weakness of a turret or progressive is if you clean out your primer pockets - decapping is a single stage operation. I prefer to expand the case mouth before seating a primer, so that is sometimes a single stage operation. Then how well does your press handle priming? When I first got my T7, primers would not seat below flush. The turret is loosening up now, so on-press priming is getting more effective. There are times when the turret is just to seat & crimp as a 2-stage operation, and everything else is single stage.
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On the other hand, when using virgin brass, and if the primers seat with the on-press priming feature… I can do everything from sizing the case to final crimp on the turret. That’s a good day.

I have about 20 presses but not a lot of room in my gun room. I have only two presses set up a Dillon 550b and a Bonanza CO-AX. The 550 has dedicated die plates for my popular pistol rounds and the CO-AX changes so fast there isn't much reason to line up three presses. If I wanted to fully load each round for limited runs of ammo, I would set up my Lyman AA. However I usually batch size, prime, charge and seat cases.

I load all my rifle ammo on multiple single stage presses. Since all my brass is completely prepped and hand primed all I do is powder drop on the first press, seat bullet on the second press, then crimp on a third press. I am thinking about setting up my 550 for .223 though.

I had a two station similar to that, I got it from my uncle along with a rifle when he stopped shooting competitively. That one was only two stage. Loaded a lot of ammo on that one. Zero issues with it. Set up the dies and start loading. Had a powder dispenser and scale beside it on a shelf above. Loaded a lot of ammo on that set up!