Presses: What Do You Reload On?

I reload on both a single stage and also a progressive. All rifle is done on single and for now 357mag On the progressive I load 38spl-9mm-40S&W. Now if by any chance I start shooting a lot more 357mag that may go over to the progressive. Right now loading for the son-in-law's AR is done on the single stage but could go over to the progressive in the future. I load on the red stuff (LEE) It gives me the most ahem bang for my $$. My first single stage was (still in use) their little Lee Reloader Press which has done many 38spls and 357mags and several 30/30-7mm08 and 444Marlin. Next up was the Lee Challenger Press pre Breech Lock. My progressive is the Lee Pro 1000 which I got at my Cabela's store's bargain cave as is and did a rehab and overhaul on it to get it running. 

I use all 3

I use 2½..... Single stage (Rock Chucker), Progressive (Ammomaster) and a 3 station stage CH4D press (this press is a different set up than a turret). I use the Progressive only for my 9mm and .45ACP's. The RC for nearly all other smokeless calibers. And the CH4D for my black powder ammo.

PJ

I started reloading with a rock chucker, now it's only used for precision rifle loads. It gets a lot of dust on it these days as I don't shoot long range much anymore. I use a rcbs turret press outfitted with a case activated powder measure for working up new loads. My only gripe with this press is dealing with spent primers that never make it to the cup, otherwise it am very happy with it as it's way overbuilt. My newest toy is the Hornady lnl progressive, which is just the cats meow. I load 9mm, .40, .223 and the very occasional .308 on it and my time spent at the press has been cut in half. I had considered Dillon products but the increased initial costs kept me away. The Hornady is built like a tank and my two boys will likely get to fight over it after I am gone. Someday I will upgrade to the case feeder and maybe a bullet feeder too. Reloading is one of my more relaxing hobbies and if I get to fast I won't have a reason to stay in the cave and my wife will find something not so relaxing for me to do.

I use both...

I reloaded years ago...almost 25 if my math is correct...on a single stage table-top press. I say it was table-top, because we used it on my kitchen table. Don't ask me what brand it was, 'cuz my friend owned the press. I remember it being blue (I think), so if Dillon made a table top single-stage press back then, then that's what it was. At any rate, my buddy moved away in the early/mid-90's and took the press with him, so there I was with everything to load .357 Magnum/.38 Special except for a press. Since my buddy took the press, I didn't reload anymore, but kept moving all my stuff around for YEARS. I finally got tired of moving it and gave it to the Chief Pilot at the flight school where I instructed.....that was in 2003.

I hadn't reloaded in over 20 years, so fast forward to last year and my best friend needed some work done. He offered to pay me in either cash OR just give me the RCBS Pro 2000 Progressive Press he was letting me use since he had bought a Dillon. Without hesitation, I opted for the press, which was worth about $250 more than what he was offering to pay in cash. I was having trouble with the press when I started to get it going and through the help of GWS (thank you sir!) I was able to get a vast amount of knowledge as to what I needed. With the patience of the folks at ATK/RCBS and quite a number of shipments of small parts, I have the press up and running in TIP TOP shape!! My next adventure will be to install the Tube Priming Conversion Kit and see if I can get that running as smoothly as strip priming.

In addition to the Pro 2000, I also use a single-stage RCBS JR2 that was given to me by the fine gentleman that owns/operates the shooting club to which I belong. It was in pretty rough shape, but the ram was in good condition and straight. With a little paint stripping with a wire brush, a good coat of primer, a couple of coats of RCBS green paint, and a little TLC, it's in perfect condition. I use it primarily to decap all my spent brass, as I wet tumble.

At any rate, in addition to .357/.38, I will add .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 9mm, and 5.56/2.23 to my inventory. Reloading rifle is new to me, so I hope to not bother the heck outta everyone too much with my questions. So far, so good with the Pro 2000 and the JR2...I couldn't be happier!

I bought my single stage RCBS in 1985 with the recommendations of a friend of mine at work who had the same setup. There have been times when it stayed idle because of moving households due to work but it would always work when I went back to reload. I have finally finished my last bench which I have been making new additions in components & supplies. I have been asked by my son in law about a progressive but I have no desire to rush things so I am well content with the time it takes to reload my ammo. 30-06, 260 Rem, 38, 357 & plans for another pistol & rifle. Any suggestions???

I Agree 200%! The worst mistake I ever made was selling a 98% new 70 series Colt Gold Cup (unregistered), so I could feel ok about buying a Kimber stainless target II. Not that there's anything wrong with the Target II, I should still have BOTH! DUMB!  DUMB!  That was 10 years ago and I still miss it.

Does this help?