If you are a passionate hunter or enjoy shooting, you can understand how much ammo you need. But unfortunately, a huge amount of ammo could be costly for many hunters and shooters. So, if you are looking for a cost-effective and time-saving solution, then a progressive reloading press could be a solution for you.
This article will briefly discuss the best progressive reloading press and its relevant topics. So read this article till to the end.
What is Progressive Reloading Press?
A progressive reloading press is a machine that helps you to refill used ammo. With this reloading press, you can replace the primer and reload the gun powder into shell casings for fresh bullets.
Types of Progressive Reloading Press
The advantage of using a progressive reloading press is that it offers manual or auto presses. So, a progressive reloading press uses either an auto-indexing or a manual indexing press.
- Auto-indexing press: As you drag the handle on the press, the automated one will automatically advance the shells to the next round. Auto-index systems nearly remove double charging and are slightly quicker to use. But they do not completely eliminate overcharging or undercharging and have their own set of issues.
- Manual-indexing press: When you drag the press’s handle, the shells must be manually moved to the next step. Therefore, advanced manual systems are more trustworthy. Also, they make it possible to do things that are hard to do with auto-index.
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Best Progressive Reloading Press
1. Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Press Loader
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 11 inches
- Weight: 29 Pounds
- Brand Name: Hornady
- Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
- Material: Cast Iron
To reload ammunition quickly, Hornady lunched their Lock N Load AP Press Loader.
Hornady Lock-N-Load is a five-station progressive reloading press that’s simple to operate and can handle a variety of calibers. This Progressive reloading press also offers 5 positions and an auto-indexing function to make reloading more effective.
Its EZject system disperses each cartridge, allowing you to maintain high output levels. If you require detaching a case between rounds, the Lock-N-universal Load’s bullet case retention spring keeps the cases in place when reloading.
Pressing ammo is simple with a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP reloading press. The Hornady Lock-N-Load technology makes switching dies easy and simplifies reloading when dealing with multiple calibers.
It is a good pick for your reloading requirements, with features including a case feeder and priming mechanism.
PROS:
- Have five-stations
- Easy to set up and simple to use
- Power measurement is exact
- The reloading process is quick
CONS:
- Very costly
- Need to purchase extra materials
- A Lock-N-Load bushing can easily get unseated
2. Lee Precision Load Master 45 Reloading Pistol Kit
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 10 inches
- Weight: 1 Kilogram
- Brand Name: LEE PRECISION
- Country of Origin: United States
- Included Components: Progressive Press kit
Lee Precision Loadmaster will be a great alternative if you want to switch from a single-stage or turret press to a progressive reloading press. It is very cost-effective and capable of providing a wide range of ammo for guns.
In addition, this progressive reloading press is very lightweight due to its cast aluminum structure.
Because of its connected dies and quick-changing tool head, it becomes very simple to change the calibers.
The productivity and speed of a reloading press depend on how many stations it has. And Lee Precision LoadMaster system can reload 400 rounds in an hour with its five stations. So even while working at a slower pace, having 5 stations maintains the output level high.
With this progressive reloading press kit, you may work with heavier rifle cartridges, like magnum loads, thanks to the chrome-plated ram’s diameter enlarged ram’s.
The Pro-Auto Disc Powder Measure function on this progressive reloading press helps to eliminate gunpowder leakage.
PROS:
- Have five stations
- The reloading rate is fast
- It is easy to set up.
- Standard built-in quality
CONS:
- Need to purchase a few extra pieces of equipment
3. Dillon Precision 14261 RL550C 4 Stage Manually Indexed Progressive Reloading Machine
Specifications:
- Package Dimensions: 28 x 13 x 5 inches
- Package Weight: 26 Pounds
- Brand Name: Dillon Precision
- Manufacturer: Dillon Precision Products, Inc.
- Size: 9mm
Dillon Precision 14261 RL550C is four stations doing all the necessary steps to produce the ammunition quickly. It can maintain a high level of consistency while giving us the level of productivity we desire. Also, its huge capture shotshell storage keeps our shells tidy.
With the station of this reloading press, we can size and prime cases, load powder, and set and crimp the ammunition.
If you run out of primers, an alert will trigger via alarm to avoid unexpected reloading disruptions. In addition, the Dillon Precision 14261 RL550C simplifies loading the priming system and other important duties.
This progressive reloading press is relatively expensive, but it provides heavy-duty durability and adaptability.
It also features a powder drop measuring system for filling any shell. Last but not least, this Dillon Precision ensures you a great warranty.
PROS:
- High capacity for processing
- Other versions are outperformed by the shell plate design.
- You can incorporate a feeder
CONS:
- Not cost-effective
- Manual-index press
4. Lee Precision Load Master 223 Remington Reloading Rifle Kit
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 10 inches
- Weight: 3 Kilograms
- Brand Name: Lee Precision
- Manufacturer: Lee Precision
Lee Precision Load Master 223 Remington Reloading Kit has a 3-quarter inch diameter ram with adequate stroke capacity for even the biggest magnum rifle cases.
It can be operated as both a single-stage or automated indexing progressive press. Its 5 stations accept the most common reloading dies. A removable turret holds the dies, allowing them to be detached and reattached without adjustment.
It took about an hour to set up and start, but once you get the feel of it, you can quickly pump out 500 rounds. The casing loader can handle a variety of case sizes. It is easy to use and quick to adapt despite its complexity.
If you shoot frequently and don’t want to spend loads of money on a press, this is the one for you.
PROS:
- Its 5 stations accept with most common dies
- This progressive press price is the lowest one on our list
- It allows you to use of largest magnum rifle cartridges
- You can adjust the caliber quickly.
CONS:
- Sometimes powder measure cannot work properly
- You have to buy Shell plates and quick change separately
5. Lee Precision 90940 Lee Precision, Load Master Progressive Press Kit
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 10 inches
- Weight: 0.57 Kilograms
- Brand Name: LEE PRECISION
- Manufacturer: Sportsman Supply Inc.
- Included Components: Progressive Press kit
- Size: 40 SandW
The Lee loadmaster progressive press quickly fills both rifle and handgun ammo and has enough room for even the largest magnum rifle cases. You can use it as a single-stage or automated indexing progressive press.
The five stations on it can handle the most popular reloading dies.
The dies are kept in a moveable turret, allowing for easy removal and reinsertion.
Calibers are very easy to change, which saves time. The Lee Precision 90940 makes priming the system and other key tasks easy. It can easily load up to 400 rounds.
It is composed of steel and cast aluminum. So, it’ll last a long time.
PROS:
- Very easy to set up
- Can load around 400 rounds
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to upgrade
- The primer feeder works well
CONS:
- Manual is difficult to understand
- The case feeder can be difficult to position and requires occasional adjustments.
Benefits of Having a Progressive Press
Any progressive reloading press may provide you with below unique advantages:
- It is possible to create more accurate ammo with a handload. For competitiveness, a handload is preferred to a factory load.
- This might help you to save money. You may save money and get more by making your own ammo at home.
- With it, you can reload a huge amount of amount. That means you’ll have more opportunities to polish your firing talents.
How Does a Progressive Press Work?
This reloading press is designed to reload a huge amount of ammo easily and quickly without any extra accessories.
The cartridge casings are inserted on a rotating plate, which transfers them to a different mechanical position. One or two processes, such as sizing the casing, inserting the primer, loading the powder, or seating the bullet, are completed at a time at each station. A progressive reloading press can save time by eliminating the need to swap tools between steps when reloading used cases for reuse.
After passing through all the stations, fresh ammo is released from the rotating plate and sent to the built-in bin.
This is how a progressive reloading press works.
Progressive press Vs Turret press
In a turret press, just one shell is placed in a case holder, and numerous dies are spun over the case on a revolving turret or tool head. The turret press’s restriction is that it can only handle one case at a time.
The progressive press outperforms the turret press. A progressive reloading press is accomplished by keeping the die holder constant. It also stores the cases on a rotating case holder disk that holds the same number of cases as dies in the tool head. That is, the number of tool head stations and cases stored in the case holder disk are identical. When the handle is pressed, numerous operations are accomplished in a split second. As a result, the average reloading rate will be substantially higher than with single stage or turret presses.
Progressive reloading presses have various numbers of stations, just like turret presses; usually three, four, or five, but up to eight. The bigger the number of stations, the more concurrent operations that can be accomplished. Hence the higher the repeating reloading rate. This can vary from 1000 to 1200 per hour. The setup of the press, such as the availability of a case feeder, determines the average reloading rate.
| Features | Turret press | Progressive Reloading press |
| Affordability | Cheaper | Expensive |
| Motion of dies | The dies rotate on a disc in every phase, and the turret includes a fixed shell holding. | On a progressive press, the base rotates while the upper dies remain stationary. |
| Work efficiency | A turret press only operates in one direction at a given period. | A progressive works on several cycles at the same time. |
| Learning efficiency | It’s convenient to learn on a turret press since it’s simpler to monitor what’s occurring. | A progressive press uses all of the dies on every stroke of the handle, making it difficult for newbies to keep track. |
Things to Consider Before Buying a Progressive Reloading Press
With so many different presses to select from, it might be tough to know which one is right for you. So, to help you pick a press that best meets your requirements and interests, we’ve developed a summary of some of the parameters to evaluate. Knowing what you want makes comparing progressive reloading presses much smoother.
Quality of Material
The element usually determines the toughness and longevity of a press it is built of. Some progressive reloading presses are made from aluminum, while others are made with solid steel to reduce costs.
A less expensive component does not mean less effective because solid steel reloading presses are more durable than aluminum presses.
The key distinction is that a steel body may provide a little higher friction tolerance.
To be safe, check the integrity of the tiny working components before purchasing because they can be vulnerable to cracks and distortion.
Ammo Type
Several progressive reloading presses are designed to work with particular types of ammunition. Some are designed to reload rifle ammunition, while others are for pistol or small-caliber shells.
When it comes to calibers, certain versions are designed to work with only one caliber straight out of the box. However, with the purchase of kits and equipment, it is possible to accommodate other calibers, although the cost will increase.
Rates of Reloading
Select a press that meets your specific requirements. Next, determine if you want to refill your shells to ensure precision or whether you require a large number of rounds in a short amount of time. According to the type, progressive reloading presses may process anywhere from 400 to 800 rounds per hour on average. When it comes to reloading, the more costly models are typically more effective.
Finished Round Production
Many separate steps are involved in reloading empty shells into full ammunition rounds. These variations can also vary the speed at which ammo is reloaded.
A more advanced progressive press includes an auto-indexing capability for better results. The bullet casings are immediately moved to the next round of the reloading process with each lever pull. This allowed for quicker reloading and increased round circulation.
Some presses are designed to calculate the amount of gunpowder that has to be loaded into the casing with extreme accuracy.
Finally, a progressive reloading press is recommended for you if you reload with numerous calibers regularly with only one press.
Assembly and Application
Progressive reloading presses may generate a huge amount of ammo in the shortest amount of time, but you may have to face some difficulties in assembly. It’s not only heavier than a single stage or turret press but it’s also complicated to set up.
So, if you just start reloading, then choose a progressive press that is simple to construct and arrange. In addition, some presses include fixed characteristics that might help you save time during assembling.
Additional Accessories
Certain manufacturers and firms may provide additional reloading tools. For example, component feeders can enable you to reload cases automatically. The only thing left to do is ensure the feeder is filled with casing shells, although some people even put the components together. So, it’s important to ensure that you choose a reloading press that comes with reloading kits.
Affordability
Are you ready to invest a huge amount of money to increase the productivity and efficiency of the reloading process? If your answer is yes, then it’s easy to find one for you. But, if your budget is low, then you must have to consider some factors like durability, speed, and many more.
However, by doing some simple investigation, you find the best progressive reloading press in your budget.
Best Progressive Reloading Press by Editors’ Choice
Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Press Loader
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 11 inches
- Weight: 29 Pounds
- Brand Name: Hornady
- Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
- Material: Cast Iron
The Hornady Progressive Lock and Load reloading press is presently the finest reloading press in the industry. Thousands of operations and parts are performed with a single lever pull to generate 500 ammunitions.
From antique knotted awl-like bullets to ultra-sleek modern bullets, this press can make them all. If you’re passionate about hunting and need lots of ammo, then this progressive press will provide you with all the strength and expertise you’ll need.
The Hornady reloading press features 5 stations with simple caliber changes, which makes the reloading process faster. This reloading press also has the distinctive ability to switch the lock and also comes with a plate for quick and easy installation on the bench.
The scale that comes with the kit can also be used to create unique and customized ammunition.
Its auto progressive reloading option is also a popular choice among users. It’s an automated press with auto-indexing capabilities and the capacity to change bushings from 223 to 45 in under five minutes.
Final Verdict
When selecting the best progressive reloading press, don’t forget to consider its output capacity and overall productivity. This review guide can assist you to select the ideal progressive reloading press for you according to your needs and budget. Hope it gave you a good summary of things to look for in a progressive reloading press.
Finally, regardless of which model you choose, if you use and maintain your press properly, it will last you for years.