Anyone starting out reloading with this press and perhaps any other progressive make sure you put the sizing/ depriming die in the correct location. I made the mistake of following the die set up directions that came with the dies and not the reloading kit. Which is fine but it does not mention that there is only one spot that will let the primers drop. Now i know it does matter which spot you use and how much a depriming kit cost. I'm sure more readers of this will get a kick out of it and laugh then will avoid lost time and money but hey. I did it. I learned. o well. Maybe there should be a bloopers section on this site. I'd probably be a frequent poster.
may you learn from my mistake. those new to progressive reloaders
- Thread starter chevytruck_83
- Start date
The thought of anyone starting there reloading career on a progressive press is scary. If you have never reloaded before, using a progressive press is a dangerous game.
No doubt its easy to overlook something especially when starting out. I've done a ton of research purchased a couple reloading manuals. Nosler guide 6, abc's of reloading, a guide of specific loads for 308 and a few other more generic guides. I've even watched the dvd that came with the hornady lock n load press a couple times. Unfortunetly most of the reading ive been doing right before setting up the dies has been more theory of ballistics, head space, and bullet loads then actual specifics to my reloader. I'm not just winging it hopeing things will work out. I had a bone head moment. Theres bound to be more.
I second that Sam, never start running before you know how to crawl........I started with an R. F. Wells C-press my father gave me for my 14th birthday, so I'd stop using his RCBS.
It was close to 20 years before I bought my first Dillon 450 to load for those lead eatin' NFA, AC-556's & M-16's and it was a whole new experience learning to loading on those.
It was close to 20 years before I bought my first Dillon 450 to load for those lead eatin' NFA, AC-556's & M-16's and it was a whole new experience learning to loading on those.
Samdweezel05 said:
I think this is just a little bit overly-dramatic. The human mind is capable of performing extremely complex tasks and loading on a progressive press doesnt even come close to pushing the limits. It's just following a set of instructions, making very sure to understand what you are doing and what is happening at each step of he way. I started loading on a progresive(Dillon 550) and know quite a few other people that did as well and none of us have ever had a problem or disaster. In fact, it's been 10 years since I started, and I still haven't ever found a need to get a single-stage.
Reloading naturally involves a certain level of danger - a person who is not careful can get himself into trouble with whatever equipment he decides to use....
Thanks. Unfortunitly i didn't have the luxury of having a family member or a close friend that could take me under their wing or give or sell me a single stage cheap. I'm going into it with the idea that i can put only one die in the press at a time to get things set up. Perhaps to get started i can even just deprime and resize with no other dies then take out this die and prime, then powder measure, then seater etc. Essentially making it a single stage aside from the fact that only one stage can prime and one deprime.
Erud said:
Your absolutely right and it was wrong of me to post up a note of caution. Nothing against the original poster in this thread as we all make mistakes but did you read the part about how he read the wrong directions when setting up his dies.....do you see where I am going with this?
Samdweezel05 said:
You must have missed the last line of my post. My contention is that the danger comes from the operator not properly following instructions, not from the type of equipment. A progressive press is perfectly fine for a new reloader, if they are careful and make sure to understand how it all works before starting.
Your first post definitely suggests you feel otherwise, hence my need to comment...
chevytruck_83,
Might be worthwhile to consider picking up a single stage press to work with, at least to get you started. Even once you have a complete understanding of what's going on here, and start using the progressive, you'll still have use for a single stage press. I have an old 450, several 550s and an RL1050, and there's still two single stage presses on my bench that see a great deal of use. For some operations, they're just flat out better and can't be replaced with a progressive. If I'm loading ten-thousand rounds of 45 ACP, 9mm or 38 Special, I'd never want to use a single stage press. For cranking out a handful of hunting loads, or load development, a single stage is the only way to go.
Not knocking either and they both definately have their place. But I have to agree with Sam, a progressive is not the place to start.
Might be worthwhile to consider picking up a single stage press to work with, at least to get you started. Even once you have a complete understanding of what's going on here, and start using the progressive, you'll still have use for a single stage press. I have an old 450, several 550s and an RL1050, and there's still two single stage presses on my bench that see a great deal of use. For some operations, they're just flat out better and can't be replaced with a progressive. If I'm loading ten-thousand rounds of 45 ACP, 9mm or 38 Special, I'd never want to use a single stage press. For cranking out a handful of hunting loads, or load development, a single stage is the only way to go.
Not knocking either and they both definately have their place. But I have to agree with Sam, a progressive is not the place to start.
I knew my posting this would get a lot of concerned people saying woa. slow down cowboy. Do this do that. I understand and appreciate all the suggestions and comments. Good or bad. I dont take offense to much so by all means let me have it. I'd love to have a single stage to go with the progressive. it doesn't exactly fit the budget right now unfortunitly. Im confident that with the reloading books and info i can find on here i'll have no trouble getting started with my progressive. I'll just have to wear a helmet and safety glasses for a little while. ;D just messin
Off topic a bit but I have to give RCBS props for there customer support program. I called them and told them the mistake i made and asked if the neck sizer assembly uses the same decapping parts as the fl die. This way i could just purchase it and swap the internals as i need. They confirmed what i thought and also said not to worry. Even though the fault falls completly on myself they are sending me replacement parts free of charge. Didn't even ask that i pay shipping. Its been a long time that i called a customer service number and got someone that i could understand let alone this kind of service. Looks like any dies i'll be purchasing from here out will be rcbs. Thanks.
Still have to recommend a single stage press for you, since I think they're the way to go for a great many reloading tasks. Sounds as though you're loading 308s? Depending on what types of reloading you're involved with, I can almost promise you that you will eventually wind up with a single stage press of some type.
Don't hesitate to ask questions, always glad to help . . . or at least throw out a totally biased opinion.
Good luck, and welcome to the reloading community.
Don't hesitate to ask questions, always glad to help . . . or at least throw out a totally biased opinion.
Good luck, and welcome to the reloading community.
;D Thats funny. All suggestions/opinions welcome. Yup. 308. And im sure your right. I'll probably end up with a single stage once my ability to shoot and reload improve. Managed to get out to the range and hold a couple 1 3/4" and 2" groups at 300 with my first reloads. I'm more then happy with that.
dcali
Bullet Maker
I can vouch for winding up back with a a single stage. I started years ago with a Rock Chucker. I then thought a Dillon 650 sounded like a good idea. And it was. But it was also a pain in the rear, and found that all the good stuff happens on a single stage press anyhow. So now I do everything on the lowly Partner (which you can get for about $90) or an arbor press (which can be had for $50-100).
The only progressive press I would recommend to a novice handloader is the Dillon SDB. No guessing where the dies go and you only have to adjust for belling of the case mouth, seating depth of the bullet and crimp. Unfortunately, you can not load rifle cartridges.
Even with some of the more stout progressive presses available, I still perform case sizing and sometimes priming on a single stage.
Handloading on a progressive press is certainly rocket science, but you should be able to pat your head and rub your stomach first.
Even with some of the more stout progressive presses available, I still perform case sizing and sometimes priming on a single stage.
Handloading on a progressive press is certainly rocket science, but you should be able to pat your head and rub your stomach first.
Sounds like I'm not the only one here. Even when I'm loading (bottlenecked cases) on my 1050, it's with brass that has already been F/L sized (on a single stage press), polished and trimmed before it ever goes into the progressive. Ditto for any rifle ammo I'm loading on the 550. Yeah, they've got their place, and I'd never be without a single stage press on my bench.
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