A Comparison of Reloading Machine Capabilities

Metallic Reloading Machines

• 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

• 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.