The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Should a first time reloader get a progressive

pathdoc · December 29, 2013, 09:47 PM

I wish to amend my opinion in light of recent thought.

Short answer: NO. Anyone running a two-die set in one or at most two bottlenecked rifle calibres should probably start on a single-stage, especially if it's a set that can seat and crimp in one go. A turret press would be worthwile for straight-walled calibres and any others requiring multi-die sets (e.g. sizing, flaring, seating and crimping in separate steps).

Long answer: no, not unless they have a genuine need for high-volume ammo production and easy access to a lot of help from someone who's very familiar with the press they are buying.

This is as distinct from the person buying their own first press who has already had plenty of time on the same press owned by a friend or family member or whatever - but then they're not really a first-time reloader, are they?

December 29, 2013, 09:47 PM	#68
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	I wish to amend my opinion in light of recent thought. Short answer: NO. Anyone running a two-die set in one or at most two bottlenecked rifle calibres should probably start on a single-stage, especially if it's a set that can seat and crimp in one go. A turret press would be worthwile for straight-walled calibres and any others requiring multi-die sets (e.g. sizing, flaring, seating and crimping in separate steps). Long answer: no, not unless they have a genuine need for high-volume ammo production and easy access to a lot of help from someone who's very familiar with the press they are buying. This is as distinct from the person buying their own first press who has already had plenty of time on the same press owned by a friend or family member or whatever - but then they're not really a first-time reloader, are they?