Share this page
Twitter Delicious Digg Facebook Google Bookmarks Reddit StumbleUpon

A Comparison of Reloading Machine Capabilities

Metallic Reloading Machines

Name Die Type Die Stations Press type Auto-Index Priming Swaging Longest Case Notes
CH4D Rock Crusher Std 7/14-14 1 Single stage No ??? No 8.25"  
CH4D Champion Std 7/14-14, 1-14" 1 Single stage No ??? No ???  
CH4D Pistol Champ Std 7/8-14? 4 Parallel (see below) N/A Yes No ???  
CH4D 444 H Press Std 7/8-14? 4 Parallel (see below) N/A Yes No 4"  
Dillon Square Deal B Dillon Square Deal 4 Progressive No Yes No ??? Inexpensive pistol-caliber-ONLY press with proprietary dies.
Dillon RL 550B Std 7/8-14 4 Progressive No Yes No 338 Lapua Manually indexed. Inexpensive caliber conversions. More available calibers than any other Dillon.
Dillon XL 650 Std 7/8-14 5 Progressive Yes Yes No 338 Lapua Middle ground between 550B and 1050
Dillon 1050 Std 7/8-14 6 Progressive Yes Yes Yes ??? Top-end Dillon press; frequently used for a single caliber due to expensive caliber conversions..
Dillon BFR Std 1 1/2"-12 4 Progressive No No No 50 BMG Manually indexed shellplate rotates clockwise OR counter-clockwise.
Forster Co-Ax Std 7/8-14 1 Single stage No Yes No 338 Lapua Can do 338 Lapua but seating the bullet requires some careful hand placement. Uses universal case clamp instead of shell holder
Harrells Turret Wilson 2-4 Turret No No No ???  
Harrells Combo Wilson 1 Single stage No No No ???  
Harrells Compact Wilson 1 Single stage No No No ???  
Harrells Arbor Wilson 1 Single stage No No No ???  
Hornady 50 Cal BMG Std 1 1/2"-12 1 Single stage No ??? No 50 BMG  
Hornady Lock N Load AP Std 7/8-14 5 Progressive Yes Yes No ??? Several magnum cases listed; unsure which is longest.
Hornady Lock N Load Classic Std 7/8-14 1 Single stage No Yes No ???  
Lee 3 Hole Turret Std 7/8-14 3 Turret No Yes No ???  
Lee 4 Hole Classic Turret Std 7/8-14 4 Turret <4" OAL Yes No ???  
Lee Classic Cast Std 7/8-14 and Std 1.5"-12 1 Single Stage N/A Yes No 50 BMG Cheapest press capable of loading 50 BMG
Lee Hand Press Std 7/8-14 1 Hand-held N/A No No ??? Only press I know which doesn't have to be mounted somewhere; perfect for load testing at ranges..
Lee Load Master Std 7/8-14 5 Progressive Yes Yes No ???  
Lee Pro 1000 Std 7/8-14 3 Progressive Yes Yes No ???  
Lee Reloader Std 7/8-14 1 Single stage N/A No No ???
Lyman 310 Lyman 1 Hand-held N/A ? ? ? Hand loading press with proprietary dies.
Lyman Crusher II Std 7/8-14 1 Single stage No Yes No 4.5" Press opening is 4.5"; it is assumed that 4.5" long cases can be loaded.
Lyman T-Mag II Std 7/8-14 6 Turret No Yes No ???  
RCBS Ammomaster-2 Std 7/8-14 and Std 1.5"-12 1 Single stage No Yes? No? 50 BMG Ammomaster-1's require a conversion kit to accept BMG dies
RCBS Piggyback-3 Std 7/8-14" 5 Progressive No Yes No 223 Rem Conversion kit; attaches to Rock Chucker or Reloader Special 3 or 5 press
RCBS Piggyback-4 Std 7/8-14" 5 Progressive No Yes No 30'06 (3.340") Conversion kit; attaches to Rock Chucker Supreme press
RCBS Pro 2000 Std 7/8-14" 5 Progressive Upgrade Yes No? ??? APS Priming
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Std 7/8-14" 1 Single stage No Yes No ???  
RCBS Reloader Special-5 Std 7/8-14" 1 Single stage No Yes No ???  
RCBS Partner Std 7/8-14" 1 Single stage No Yes No ???  
RCBS Turret Std 7/8-14" 6 Turret No Yes No ???  

Understanding This Table

  • Die Type: This is what type of die the press will accept. There are a few common types.
    • 7/8"-14: These are the most commonly encountered type of die.
    • 1 1/2"-12: These are the most commonly encountered die for cartridges too big to fit into the 7/8" dies. This is typically encountered for 50 BMG, 50 DTC, 416 Barrett, etc etc.
  • Die Stations: The number of stations into which dies may be inserted. There may be more stops on the toolhead, but this is only counting dies.
  • Press Type: Presses have a spectrum of automation levels.
    • Progressive presses have a shellplate which the cartridges are placed on, and they rotate through the stations in order. A progressive press is generally designed to take brass in and dump out completed rounds (usually with user intervention to seat bullets)
    • Single Stage presses have a single station which goes up and down. The operator must manually insert and remove each case.
    • Parallel presses (my term) have multiple stations on their toolhead, but the operator must move each shell to the next station manually (vs a progressive, where the operator or the machine will move all the shells at once via a shellplate).
    • Turret presses have a single station like the single stage above, but there's a rotating toolhead above into which the dies are connected. This allows the operator to rotate through a number of operations on a single shell.
  • Auto-Index: Whether or not the press automatically advances shells to the next station during operation.
  • Priming: Some presses have built-in priming systems, and others don't. Generally, presses without built-in priming systems can accomodate a priming die, but this is not built-in.
  • Swaging: Some presses can automatically swage primer pockets as part of their operation. This is useful for resizing military-crimped brass.
  • Longest Case: This is the longest cartridge which this press can handle.

Shotshell Reloading Machines

Name Conversions Press type Gauges supported Minimum length Maximum length Notes
Dillon SL900 Yes Progressive? 12ga, 20ga, 28ga 2.75" 2.75"  
Hornady 366 Auto Yes Progressive 12ga, 20ga, 28ga, .410 2.75" except .410 @ 2.5" 2.75" except .410 @ 2.5" Conversions available for all but .410. Don't know if the 410 press can load the other calibers or not..
Lee Shot Shell Reloading Press Yes Single stage 12ga, 16ga, 20ga 2.75" 3.0"  
MEC 600Jr Yes Single stage? 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 2.75" 3" Conversions available on parts page
MEC 650N No Progressive 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 2.75" 2.75"  
MEC 8567N Grabber No Progressive 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 2.75" 3" (except .410)  
MEC 9000 No Progressive 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 ??? ???  
MEC Size Master Yes Single stage? 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 2.75" 3" Conversions available on parts page
MEC Steel Master Yes Single stage? 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 2.75" 3.5" Not sure if 3.5" requires separate press
RCBS Mini Grand No Single stage 12ga, 20ga 2.75" 3.5" Separate presses must be purchased to load different gauges.
RCBS Grand Yes Progressive 12ga, 20ga 2.75" 3.5"  

Understanding This Table

  • Conversions: Whether or not conversion kits are available to load different calibers with the same press. In the shotshell world, there are a lot of dedicated presses out there.
  • Press Type: Presses have a spectrum of automation levels.
    • Progressive presses have a shellplate which the cartridges are placed on, and they rotate through the stations in order. A progressive press is generally designed to take brass in and dump out completed rounds (usually with user intervention to seat bullets)
    • Single Stage presses have a single station which goes up and down. The operator must manually insert and remove each case.
  • Gauges Supported:
  • Priming: Some presses have built-in priming systems, and others don't. Generally, presses without built-in priming systems can accomodate a priming die, but this is not built-in.
  • Swaging: Some presses can automatically swage primer pockets as part of their operation. This is useful for resizing military-crimped brass.
  • Longest Case: This is the longest cartridge which this press can handle.

-- SeanNewton - 04 Apr 2012

Edit | Attach | Watch | Print version | History: r9 < r8 < r7 < r6 < r5 | Backlinks | Raw View | Raw edit | More topic actions
Topic revision: r9 - 03 Feb 2016 - MarkLiu
Would this information help out someone you know? Click here to share it! Twitter Delicious Digg Facebook Google Bookmarks LinkedIn Reddit StumbleUpon

 
This site is powered by the TWiki collaboration platform Powered by PerlCopyright © 2008-2024 by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.
Ideas, requests, problems regarding TWiki? Send feedback