Reloading Mindset

[contender]

bula,, many of us understand where you are coming from. Sadly,,, too many younger folks want instant results,,, w/o a serious learning curve. In some things,, I guess it's ok,, but when you are dealing with something that can possibly be dangerous,, the learning curve is a necessity to me.
I... like so many older folks around here,, started on a single stage press. Heck,, progressives weren't even available back then. But,, even on a single stage,, mistakes can be made. But,, they are easier caught,, and less likely to involve a high number of suspicious ammo.

I've recently had an older gentleman who has been coming to my club's monthly USPSA matches. He shoots factory ammo. We go to discussing his ammo and reloading. he's only been a shooter for 5 years now,, and hasn't had anybody to help him learn. We are working on that issue. I advised him to get a loading manual,, & start reading,, before doing anything else. As we were talking,, a "younger" shooter tried to interject the progressive attitude. I politely waited until that young fella was out of earshot,, and allowed how progressives are GREAT,, but you need to learn the basics FIRST,, before delving into a speed thing.
Soon,, (when I'm not wrapped up in deer hunting,) we will be getting together and I will teach him about reloading. Single stage is where we'll start. He's old enough to be wise in his choices.

Even though I had about 20 years of loading experience on a single stage,, when I started looking at a progressive,, I studied it REAL hard & over several months. I finally bought my first of several Dillon progressives. Since I needed a volume of ammo to shoot USPSA,, AND having limited time between matches,, it made sense to invest in a Dillon. Now,,, my bench has 4 Dillons,, AND,,,, AND,,, 2 Rock Chuckers. I use them all. To me,, you never outgrow a single stage. It has it's place & purposes. Load development is high on my list.

So,, keep mentoring the young friend,, AND gently nudge the nephew occasionally. Sooner or later,, he may wise up,, and the young fella will thank you for years to come.

[squigz]

I'm 28 and started with my father reloading over 20 years ago. We've only ever had a rock chucker and I have no interest in getting into a progressive press.

I don't shoot as much as I would like, so the amount that I load in a single stage press isn't that big of a deal.

I do everything in batches and stages, so I don't mix things up till one stage is fully complete, unless i'm playing with different loads, then each load is done one at a time and everything is reset to zero and started over for the next load.

[bula]

The young friend has thanked me already. He sent me a pic yesterday of the deer he and his son got Monday eve on deer gun opener. They posed with him holding the Henry 45-70 and his boy holding the Marlin 44mag.. Ammo for both, loaded by us. A thank you was in the caption. 

[azshaun]

I have never had a lot of $$$ to spend, so when I started looking at loading equipment I finally settled on a LEE Handpress. I have only been shooting for 8 to 9 years (and yes, I am in the older category... younger old but I digress). I don’t have anyone to teach me, so I have been going slow, don’t take a lot of chances. Progressives scare me, and I hate bullet pulling, so I would rather get it right the first time.

What I like about the handpress and hand primer is that it is small and compact, but it can handle all of my calibers up to my 30-06. It all hits in a shooting bag I got for free once when joining the NRA. I can size, prime and bell the cases anywhere. I prefer to do the charging and bullet seating with little distraction. I normally mass produce the other steps. But combine the charging and bullet seating in the one step. That way I minimize any chance at double charge and I know immediately if something feels off.

Works for me and what’s more is my system and what I am used to can go almost anywhere with me so I don’t have to change my pattern.

I have often wondered if I should go to a stronger press, but when I weigh the cost against the freedom of the handpress, I end up sticking with what I have.

[lazytcross]

I started with an old rcbs. Loading rifle. That’s the best way to start for sure. But when I got my first handgun, 44 magnum, I was shooting all my ammo every weekend, and spending All week loading up for the next weekend.
Then comes the progressive. I would never be without one. With wife and kids now, I get a couple hours to go out and crank out as much as possible.
Mix in smelting , casting, sizing, case prep, slow load development, gun projects (ie: tape wrapping your 500 barrel).
The loading is the final part. I spent three times the amount of time on the “other” stuff. So when I get to loading I want to crank a bunch out.
That being said. The single stage is never a tool that I intend to be without. You don’t have to start with one. But you HAVE to own one in the end anyway!

[wildcatter]

I got my first press over 45 years ago after reloading on a mentors for a few years. To me reloading is a very deliberate task. The single stage I believe has more tendency to install that in your thought process from the beginning. That first one also was purchased after using 4 or 5 other presses aver them few years and lead to the purchase, it was a Rock Chucker, and it set's on my bench today to the left of the Dillon 550, Today the Dillon gets used for any cartridge loading for guns I own, while the Rock Chucker is used for anything new or to develop special needs and experimenting. By the way that 550 is the one that made the keeper catagory over the SD, 650XL, a Lyman T press, and All American.

But just old fashion maybe, but my nephews and grandkids all get taught on the Rock Chucker, while they ask what I use that Blue press for? I let them know they need to concentrate on what they are doing and how to use this press before we start using that one. My 8 year old sized and lubed his first .475 390 grain bullet this past weekend then proceeded to the Rock chucker and performed each task with explanation, as he completely loaded his first 475 Linebaugh cartridge from start sizing and depriming to seating and the profile crimp. It just seems to me to be the proper way to teach them?

[contender]

bula,, that picture,, the caption & all are priceless! A tip of my hat to you!

[Alaskan454]

I understand your point and appreciate anyone who tries to get people started the right way. Reloading is serious business and is definitely not for everyone. In general, I would not shoot someone else's loads unless I have a high degree of confidence in their practices. That also implies that experience does not equate to proper techniques. I've seen "experienced" reloaders make some pretty stupid and basic errors. For example, loading 5k rounds without testing a single one for function. I load plenty of rounds in bulk, but only after they've been tested in the intended firearms.

My first press was a Dillon 650 and I essentially used it as a single stage press until I got the hang of everything. For my competition guns I now shoot enough that it would be time prohibitive to use a single state or turret, I just don't have the time. Heck, I can barely keep up with the progressive! As long as you reload at the pace of your knowledge and abilities, I think it's okay to start with a progressive. Later on I was gifted an RCBS single stage which I used for a short while to load 500 JRH. But then it became an efficiency of time decision and I got the parts to reload 500s on my Dillon. Same approach as all calibers still applies. I set it up using one round at a time, then move to fully progressive loading. I've found that running 10 or so test cases in single stage fashion is helpful to make sure everything is functioning correctly. I do that every time I change something just to be sure.

[meh92]

You approached it exactly how I have in the past. Single stage is the way to learn. It gives you an appreciation and respect for every step of the process. I have owned a few different progressives over the years, but I still have no problem going back to a single stage when I feel the need. This morning my son and I just knocked out 50 rounds of "+P" 45 Colt this morning on the old RCBS single stage.

[warhawk]

Nov 26, 2018 15:37:08 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

my problem is I have too many guns, in too many calibers... at least for progressive reloading... I'm the kind of guy that takes out 3 guns, & shoots 20 - 30 rounds through each in an afternoon... it's easier to load 50 rounds at a time on a single stage, than setting up for 20 rounds of 3 different calibers on a progressive...

I seriously gave thought to a progressive when I was shooting CAS, & if I were shooting 1000's of rounds in a competition of some sorts, I'd have one... a turret press is as big as I have right now, out of 5 different single stage presses

Sounds like me. As much as a Dillon sounds great, the reality is that I’m better off with my turret press.

Maybe if could settle on one load for each caliber ... even so, I’d need at least a half dozen caliber conversions to cover the bases. I’ll just continue to crank me out slowly on my Lyman T-Mag II.

[AxeHandle]

+1 for the starting with a single stage. Learn what is going on with each step before you make all the steps happen at one time.

[eagle1899]

A single stage is essential. Learning, load development, testing. The best platform for learning the discipline of reloading.

I use mine(Rockchucker) for short runs or developing new loads. The individual control over one step in the proscess plays a large hand in understanding new brass or a new bullet.

After that development, I transfer what I've learned over to my progressive press. Then ammo production is smooth, consistant and rapid.

I went to the range yesterday. I shot 376 rounds of various pistol ammunition. 45 Colt being the bulk of it at 175 rounds. I shudder to think the time required to reload that many on a single stage as I had many times in the past. I can have those 175 reloaded and ready to go in about an hour. That's taking my time.

I like to reload and I like to shoot. Having a progressive allows me to do more of both.

[bradshaw]

Nov 26, 2018 13:00:52 GMT -5 sixshot said:

A progressive press isn't necessarily the best place to start for the beginning reloader. A single stage press might be a better start up press unless the new guy has an experienced reloader looking over their shoulder. Just my opinion, later on you can add a progressive if you really get the bug.

Dick

*****

Safety is a discipline, marksmanship is a discipline, handloading is a discipline. The three tie together very nicely when no shortcuts are taken. A person setting out to load ammunition must learn QUALITY CONTROL. Fast draw makes for a reasonable metaphor, where speed always follows accuracy. Without a working grasp of WHY we do it this way, safety collapses.
David Bradshaw

[bula]

Amen. Does sound better when you guys say it..

[oddshooter]

I'll take the other side for discussion sake.
Can someone explain to me why using a single stage press is better for learning than using a progressive as a single stage? If both are doing single stage, what's the difference?

I spent days learning on a Dillon 550 doing each step as a single stage. It was a lot of moving the cases around doing it after every stage. The process seemed clumsy and fraught with steps for errors. This seems to me pure single stage.

Then came the 550 middle ground of handloading processes; like a turret, neither single stage nor progressive. I was using a single stage with each pull of the handle, but I immediately advanced the round to the next stage.
A multi stage without doing multiple rounds.
I got to watch every round go from first stage to last stage without using my hands to move the case in and out of the press. The skies parted and the sun came out. I found the process much safer for producing quality rounds. I believe this may be the best single technique for safety.

After weeks of using it as a turret press, I moved to the progressive using 4 stages with each pull.
I go slowwww. I have spotlights aiming at my press from multiple locations, and I don't get distracted.

And like Alaskan454 I still use it as a multi stage turret for the first few rounds every time I change out calibers.

After years of handloading, I got a Lyman Lock and Load single stage this Christmas. I only use it when I don't want to reset my 550 for a single job. Compared to the 550, it's a clunker. Shell holders seem too tight or too loose. Too loose and it bends brass; too tight and it takes whack to get the case out.
I thank my lucky stars every day I didn't have to learn on that machine.