Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Confessions of a newb reloader

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unfy:
Oh, and as far as progressive vs single stage for starting out...

Whatever the student is most comfortable with.

I started out immediately with the LNL AP.... not a single stage.

Granted, my first batch of rounds were done in single stage fashion (that is, only one piece of brass on the plate at a time)... but I knew I was going to get into reloading and I knew I was going to want a full progressive... so... I went that route.

I actually advocate people getting both types of presses throughout their reloading-career.  Both types have strengths and weaknesses.  Being able to easily and comfortably produce 100 rounds of plinking pistol ammo in 15-20min is definitely handy.

Being able to get real picky about rifle loads in a single stage is definitely handy.

For plinking ammo, I find the progressive easier - less to keep track of and far less to 'do'.  Just pay attention to ram for powder in cases and primer seating... and just pull the handle a bunch.  Far less to keep organized and such than single stage (although reloading blocks go a long way for that).

00BUCK:

--- Quote from: OnTheFly on June 15, 2013, 10:22:09 PM ---Quote from: 00BUCK on June 14, 2013, 10:51:12 PM

    Prime example of why all new reloaders should start out with a single stage press and a loading block. Glad nobody got hurt.


I beg to differ.  My mistake does not mean that I do not understand the reloading process, or the importance of each step.  What happened to me is no more proof that everyone should start on a single stage, than one single warm day is proof of climate change.  What happened to me was the negative result of not managing my distractions properly.  Reloading on a single stage is great for teaching the steps of reloading, but it is not necessary for everyone.  ANYONE who learns reloading initially on a single stage, and understands the process intimately, could move to a progressive press and make the same or similar mistake. 
--- End quote ---
So what i was saying is that inherently single stage and a loading block is much safer because you get to visually inspect the charged cases before seating a bullet. Sure mistakes can and do happen using that method but it is much less likely. Personally I'll never go to a progressive just for safety sake. I accept the reduced 'rounds per hour' for increased safety.

GreyGeek:

--- Quote from: unfy on June 15, 2013, 11:49:38 PM ---Being able to easily and comfortably produce 100 rounds of plinking pistol ammo in 15-20min is definitely handy.
--- End quote ---

For comparison, using the single stage loader I load about 60  rounds of 9mm per hour.

OnTheFly:

--- Quote from: 00BUCK on June 16, 2013, 12:23:30 AM ---So what i was saying is that inherently single stage and a loading block is much safer because you get to visually inspect the charged cases before seating a bullet. Sure mistakes can and do happen using that method but it is much less likely. Personally I'll never go to a progressive just for safety sake. I accept the reduced 'rounds per hour' for increased safety.
--- End quote ---

With a progressive (at least the D550 we are using) I can check visually to confirm powder has been dropped.  Again, that was not the problem.  The empty space between my ears was.

Fly

SS_N_NE:
An interesting thread. Lots of good info. We all learned something...and nobody got hurt.

Like anything with production, quality assurance is setting the process and reducing error to an acceptable level. However that process is done.

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