| Posted: Wed Oct 29th, 2008 05:55 PM |
|
1st Post |
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I'm starting to load pistol rounds now, and I don't think my single stage press is going to cut it anymore for the volume I need. I'm looking at a Lee Turret Press.
My question is this: Can I use a Turret press to increase volume significantly over my single stage? (I currently load just under 50 rounds per hour with my single stage)
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 29th, 2008 08:43 PM |
|
2nd Post |
Charley
Board Founder
| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3794 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
A turret press will increase production over a single stage press. Not going to be as fast as a progressive, but will be faster. I'd suggest the Classic Cast Turret press, it is cast iron, and should have a longer useful life than Lee's older aluminum framed turret.
Lee's priming system for the Classic Cast works well, and is worth the extra $20 or so, IMO.
____________________
TANSTAAFL
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30th, 2008 12:36 AM |
|
3rd Post |
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Thanks, Charley. I'm not trying to pump out THOUSANDS, just enough to at least do around 100 per hour. Is this reasonable?
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30th, 2008 01:54 AM |
|
4th Post |
Charley
Board Founder
| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3794 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
You should be able to load between 100 and 150 per hour, assuming your components are at hand and prepped.
____________________
TANSTAAFL
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30th, 2008 02:01 AM |
|
5th Post |
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Wow! Then the turret press sounds like just the ticket. I bought a GP100 assuming i'd go through ammo slower than with an auto.
After a little over thirty minutes of shooting it the first day I got it, I look down to grab the next box of ammo and realize the 4 boxes I came with are gone.
So much for my theory.
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30th, 2008 11:36 PM |
|
6th Post |
dnafis
member
| Joined: | Sun Dec 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 13 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | pistol | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
To contrast with your single stage experience:
I started reloading pistol with a Lyman T-mag II turret. Realistically, I could load 50 in an hour. This included setup, loading primer tubes, getting the right powder throw, cleanup afterward, packaging and logging in a spreadsheet. In 2 hours, I could easily load 150 with time to spare since all of the overhead I had to do for 150 was the same as it was for 50.
With my progressive, rcbs pro-2000, it is 200 in one hour start to finish, again, taking my time. 38 special and 357 mags take even less time per 200.
Some pistol shells (9mm, 380, 32acp) are small and powder may fill the case pretty high so you have to be careful about powder flying out of the case if the motion is too jerkey. Auto-indexing is useless for these you'd have to disable it with the Lee turret. With my pro-2000, I can move the shells from station to station very gently thanks to manual indexing.
With the turret, I also found that powder throw was inconsistent if I moved the turret head with the powder measure mounted. I eventually bench mounted the powder measure. This is not a problem with the progressive because the powder measure does not move.
Guess I pretty much used my turret as a single stage press with quick change dies which is why my production with the turret seems similar to yours with your single stage.
I'm kiinda going in the opposite direction from you. After loading over 10,000 in my pro-2000, I bought a Lee hand press to help work up loads. That is fun to use too.
____________________
NRA Life Member
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 31st, 2008 03:15 AM |
|
7th Post |
Charley
Board Founder
| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3794 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
My volume stuff is on a Dillon 550B. I don't use the auto-index on the turret press, I find it a PITA.
____________________
TANSTAAFL
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 31st, 2008 06:26 AM |
|
8th Post |
steel13
Handloading Master
| Joined: | Fri Dec 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | I Live In The Rain, Washington USA |
| Posts: | 348 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | What ever I can cast a Boolit for |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I have a classic cast 4 hole turret press for sale. When I can figure out how lower the bytes on my photos, I'll post a pic. It will come with an new style Auto disk w/ riser and 3 turret plates $120 + ship.
____________________
halitosis is better than no breath at all!
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 2nd, 2008 07:05 PM |
|
9th Post |
tracer
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Fri Oct 31st, 2008 |
| Location: | Lhc, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 32 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | pistol | | My favorite chambering is:: | 38 easy special |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I just bought th LNLhorandy awesome press. 1000 free bullets too. very happy no regrets. T
____________________
you CAN screw up.. pay attention
|
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I loaded 350 .38 specials over the weekend. It took me six hours. No joke. Does anyone use a single stage for volume pistol rounds?
|
64Impala
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Fri Jan 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Brooklyn, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 39 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I just got the Lee 4hole turret. Setup directions weren't great, but manageable. Overall fit/finish of the press is good and the actual function is very smooth. I haven't started making any rounds in any sizable quantities, but the few dummy rounds I made, I averaged about 5 a minute (brass was all prep'ed).
Brass prep for me is the biggest time drain.
____________________
From the movie "They Live"
"I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all outta bubble gum"
|
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
After going through the miserable, bloody (I got my thumb caught between the ram and the breech lock) ordeal of loading all those rounds, I've decided a progressive is going to be necessary. What is going to be the most reliable and cheapest progressive? I'd rather not spend the $400+ for a dillon if a Lee will do the job reliably. How about the Hornady LnL? Heard lots of good things about it.
|
miestro_jerry
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I like the Dillons and the Hornadys, I had an early Lee progressive and was always adjusting the frame on it.
I would buy what ever will suit you for at least the next 5 to 10 years. Spending money on a Lee, then 2 years down the road, you may decide that you want a Dillon or a Hornady.
Just 3 cents worth,
Jerry
|
Charley
Board Founder
| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3794 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
miestro_jerry wrote: I like the Dillons and the Hornadys, I had an early Lee progressive and was always adjusting the frame on it.
I would buy what ever will suit you for at least the next 5 to 10 years. Spending money on a Lee, then 2 years down the road, you may decide that you want a Dillon or a Hornady.
Just 3 cents worth,
Jerry
I tend to agree. I do like Lee stuff, but I see a lot more posting online about problem solving with Lee progressives than the other guys' progressives. It seems to me that Lee progressives are great for those who like to tinker and problem solve, but Dillons are for those who just want to load.
Both my Dillons are used, didn't pay anything near retail for them. Keep looking, deals are out there.
____________________
TANSTAAFL
|
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I didn't even think about buying used. That's a pretty good idea. Any good sources besides Ebay?
|
miestro_jerry
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Try gunbroker.com or check the various forums, they all tend to have some place to sell things.
Try here on this forum:
http://www.handloadersbench.com/forum9/
Jerry
|
Charley
Board Founder
| Joined: | Fri Sep 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3794 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | all of them |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
I bought one from a co worker for $125 (missing the powder measure), and one for $250 complete from a gunshop that specializes in IDPA. Guy was upgrading from a 550 B to a 1050. Sometimes you get lucky...
____________________
TANSTAAFL
|
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Well I checked out Dillon's website and I decided I was gonna get a 1050 then decided that would STILL be too slow. So I'm going to get two and mount them side by side so I can crank a handle with each hand. Once I get that down I'll learn to operate two more with my feet.
|
miestro_jerry
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Why don't you teach your kids to operate the 1050s?
Jerry
|
SavageMOA
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | Sat Feb 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 93 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Well I'm still in college so no kids any time soon. However I hear child labor is cheap these days.
|
| Current time is 01:04 AM | Page: 1 2   |
|
