reloading presses.

daddo

What is the big difference between a "turret" press and a "progressive" press? Which do you like the best? RCBS or Dillon?
I have a RCBS rockchucker and it has done well for years, however I'd like to go progressive.

sjc1

A turret press has one shellholder and the turret above it holds your sizing die, expanding die, powder measure (if desired) and seating die. For each operation you rotate the turret to the needed die. You work with one case at a time and a seperate pull on the handle for each operation.
In a progressive press all of your dies, as listed above along with the powder measure, are held in a stationary plate. Your cases are put into a rotating plate which usually holds five cases. When the plate is full and you pull the handle this is what happens: the first case is sizer and deprimed, the next one has the mouth expanded (pistol case) and primer seated, the next case is filled with powder, next case you place the bullet in the mouth of the case and the last case has the bullet seated. Each pull of the handle yields a finished round. This is the best that I can describe the operation to you.
I have always used RCBS and have never had a problem. Whenever I needed a part, which is rare, I have called RCBS and they have sent the part at no cost to me and no questions asked. Shop around for the best prices on RCBS and the Dillons, it is your choice.

daddo

Thanks! Great info.
I do see a problem though-- if reloading rifle brass, you must use a lube. In this progressive setup, you can't clean this off and could have problems with contamination. I quess sizing could be done 1st, then clean the brass in the tumbler and proceed from there- correct?

Tailgunner1954

Use a dry lube (like mica) inside the neck, and a regular case lube on the outside. Wipe the lube off the loaded rounds.
The other thing is that if you want to clean your primer pockets, you need to decap / clean before running thru the progressive.

---

Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.

sjc1

Yes, with rifle brass you have to lube and any pistol cases that are not straight walled you have to lube. For straight walled pistol cases you would use a carbide sizing die.
As for lube use the Hornady One Shot. Works fine and is easily wiped off of a finished cartridge. The best part is that is does not contaminate the powder or primers. When I reload for the rifles I usually spray some down the neck of the cartridge so the inside is lubed when going over the expander button. The sprayed dries on the case in approximately one minute. Wiped off of the outside when the cartridge is done.

MIKE WISKEY

think dillion, best customer service and best warranty (you break it, no matter how, and they fix it free). simple to operate and very accurate.

marthasguy

I've been very pleased with my Lee turret press for a number of years. You can buy the dies already installed in their own turret, so to switch calibers you just pop one turret out and put another turret in. The auto-index feature is also nice, and I think this press is cheaper than the others. Worth a look.

Drfoot

I have had both the RCBS and the Dillon. Go with the Dillon. I have the 550 and it is great. Easy to change calibres (5 - 10 minutes) and once set up - about 300-500 rounds/hour is easy. I have broken parts through misalignment or wear. Dillon has a lifetime "No BS" guarantee. I call them, tell them what I broke and a new one arrives in a few days (and I bought the dillon at a garage sale!). I reload with their standard powder measure and have been able to achieve 1/2" groups at 100 yds with both my 308 and 223, better than factory stuff.

sjc1

I might as well put my two cents in again.
Both RCBS and Dillon have excellent guarantees on their products. Both will replace parts and stand behind their products with no questions asked. I "had" a Dillon 650 and now have a RCBS Ammomaster. Both are excellent presses and do what they are advertised to do (though Dillon is overly optimistic in the hourly production rate of the 650). I purchased the Ammomaster first, was able later to pick up a Dillon 650 at a good price, used them both side by side, and then decided to sell the Dillon at a small profit. The big difference as I see it, having used both, is cost. I feel that the Dillon is rather on the expensive side when compared to RCBS, all other things being equal. I am only able to compare the Dillon 650 to the RCBS Ammomaster. I have not used the new RCBS progressive, Pro2000.