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Posted: 8/10/2012 4:05:50 PM EDT
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I've been reloading pistol and rifle on a turret press for maybe 18 months now, give or take. I'm looking at some progressive options, primarily for pistol rounds. I'll probably keep doing my rifle reloading on the turret, though I may offload some of the case prep to the progressive + casefeeder.
I know that the first and last safety feature when reloading is always my own patience, diligence, and focus without distractions. However, I have seen a few devices and features out there that add a degree of automation or backup checking to reduce the risk of an error slipping through. Examples - I'm just about sold on an auto-index press to reduce the chance of a momentary distraction or other kink in the process resulting in forgetting to manually advance. And in another thread I saw a reference to the RCBS lock out die, which supposedly will put the brakes on the press if a case gets no charge or a double charge. I'm curious what other similar type devices / engineering safeguards exist that can backup my eyeballs and good reloading habits, and what the forum thinks of them. Thanks. |
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Personally having time and good lighting and a comfortable loading bench height are the keys to safety with reloading.
No distrations, and a good technique. Basically they detect powder levels....not actual charge weights. Either powder is present, not present or way over charged. RCBS has the Lock Out die Hornday the Powder Cop die Dillon has the powder check die These dies only work when you have a place to put them so you need 5 station or bigger press, and so the work on the Hornady AP, RCBS Pro 2000, and on Dillon 650 or Super 1050, and I know it can work on 550, too......but..... Powder choices is key with progressive reloading.....some are more uniform ie ball powder vs extruded types.....which tend to bridge in the powder funnel especially small calibers ie 22 cal. and sometimes give erratic charges...Some powders are low volume and low charge weight ie Titegroup. Whereas, some are meant to keep people from blowing up guns like Trail Boss...... I have been loading on Dillon stuff since mid 80's and I have never blown up a gun. I have caught some potential dud rounds, a result of being distracted and not having head in game. And, never used a powder check die....just the Godl Issued Mk I Eyeball! Reloading is not endurance race. Do it when you have time and can give it your utmost attention. You have to take a bit of break to reload the primer mechanism...a good time for QA check on powder charges and COAL etc. |
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I'm curious what other similar type devices / engineering safeguards exist that can backup my eyeballs
Lots of good advice so far. Although I've been reloading for 40 years, I've only used a progressive (Auto Advance RCBS Pro 2000) for 3 and a half years. Lots of factors are in play to keep progressive reloading safe. Some of those factors, often the most important ones, are more related to you the reloader than the equipment, safety devices, and other safeguards. After you get going and experience progressive loading for a while, some initial perceptions, and needs change. Devices and tools that can help me focus, and not overload my brain are important to me. Simplicity is an important key. Case in point: I'm old.  Not ancient maybe, but old. And that means I don't multitask as well as I used to (certainly not as well as some of you), I get tired faster, and when you get tired you can more easily start making mistakes. When I started, I found that I gave my eyes too many things to watch, while using the progressive, and my hands too many things to do.
I thought that because I didn't need or want to set speed records, that bullet feeders and case feeders weren't only unnecessary but unwanted. I've changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I didn't make the wrong press choice. For what I want to accomplish, the Pro 2000 still fits me best. But since then I've added a bullet feeder AND a case feeder.  Not because I want to go that much faster, but because I can focus more on making safe and accurate ammo, not having so many things to manually do.
The Pro 2000 is the only press that uses the faster & safer APS primer system. No dangerous primer stacks to worry about, but since each primer strip only holds 25 primers, you have to pay attention and spend the second and a half to snap a new strip on every 25. I added a primer counter to keep me from having to watch primers....I can hear when I need to add another strip. That's one more thing I don't have to watch. Dillon has a similar device to make sure you don't run out of primers. I think it's worthwhile. I really like preloaded CCI strips. Using them means I never have to touch a primer or load a tube or even a strip. Dillon has a hopper powder level device that sounds off when it gets low. I still have to watch powder level in my powder measure hopper, but maybe a little more important is the lockout die that keeps me from having to worry about errant charges. I will end up converting the Dillon hopper device or make my own, because running low of powder in the hopper can effect charge volumes. My purpose isn't to convince your or anyone that my system is best. (it is best....for my needs) More, it is to give you some insights starting out that you may not think about. You are ahead of me when I started. You already realize you need to "backup [your] eyeballs." That's a great start and a great attitude. |
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I have 2 Dillon 650's and use the powder check/alarm- this tells you if you are either high or low by a couple of grains. It mounts on a powder measure die, and 1 trick is to set all the powder dies for it at the same height. This eliminates having to readjust the actuator mechanism evertime you move the powder check from 1 toolhead to another.
I prep brass in 1 pass, then load it in another. In reloading you either have brass issues or loading issues, so this segregates the two. In the loading pass, I insert a bullet, operate the ram. Since I only have 2 steps to worry about it is hard to get out of sequence. The press is auto indexing, the powder check die is doing its job. If I have a problem I remove all brass, dump any powder, throw the brass in a cigar box, correct any issues and then continue loading. The misfits get processed through later, as required, based on whether they are primed or not. This way I can load without missed/mangled primers, all rounds have powder, and properly seated bullets. |
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The best safety addition to my LnL has been a sweet LED light bought right off here on ARF for $25 ish shipped.
For pistol - it allows me to see inside the case before seating. I just trained myself - don't pull the handle unless I verified the powder charge. For rifle - I'm using the RCBS powder check die....since I deprime/resize - then tumble - then prime/charge/seat in a second operation - I have another spot open for the powder die. It works. |
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