Redding - progressive?

A

axismatt

Moderator
I don't use any Redding products, but I've looked them over and they appear to be top notch and exceedingly robust. I really like the 7 station turret press, or at least the idea of 7 stations.

That said, does anyone know if Redding plans to build a progressive 7 station press? Or for that matter, does any other manufacturer plan to make a progressive with more than the standard 5 stations? I am very happy with my LEE LM, but I'd also like to incorporate a powder cop and still use my separate seating and crimping dies. I don't think I am alone in wishing there were more holes for more tooling.

Speaking for myself, and judging by many others' comments, I think a bigger, more robust, 7-8 station press would be great, even if it cost 3x as much. Reloading is an investment in my shooting enjoyment and safety. I'd be willing to plop down considerable $ for increased versatility and brute strength.

Thoughts?
 
Redding nor any other manufacturer will announce they plan on making anything until and unless their marketing types tell 'em to. My single stage Redding press is 30 some years old. Works just fine.
What cartridge would you ever need 7 stations for?
 
Resizing
primer pocket swaging
trimming
priming
expanding/charging
inspect charge in case and seat bullet
crimp
 
Dillon makes the Super 1050 that has 8 stations. But your going to pay $1800 for it and caliber changes are also pricey. This is good if you are going to do thousands of rounds of one caliber per month.
 
And Dillons XL 650 and Hornady's L-N-L AP presses are true 5 station progressives that you can have your powder check die and all your others.
 
Re: Redding dies--the best roll crimp die I have found is the Redding Profile Crimp Die. I have one for every cartridge that needs a roll crimp.

Re: Dillon 1050--I have three 1050s and love them, but:
Station #1 only sets the case in the shell plate.
Station #3 swages the primer pocket, so that job is taken care of--could also be used with an expander die if you don't need to swage primer pockets
Station #4 only primes the case
Station #5 expands, flares, and charges the case
Station #6 could be for a bullet feeder. It is inconvenient, compared to a Hornady L-N-L for inspection of the powder in a case, but I leave it empty so I can inspect or I run an RCBS Lock-Out die.
#7 and #8 seat and crimp.
Thus, it REALLY is a six station press.
You may not need it all the time, but a 6-station progressive would be good and, if you want a bullet feeder, a 7-station would be the best way to go.
 
Re: Dillon 1050--I have three 1050s and love them, but:
Station #1 only sets the case in the shell plate.
Station #3 swages the primer pocket, so that job is taken care of--could also be used with an expander die if you don't need to swage primer pockets
Station #4 only primes the case
Station #5 expands, flares, and charges the case
Station #6 could be for a bullet feeder. It is inconvenient, compared to a Hornady L-N-L for inspection of the powder in a case, but I leave it empty so I can inspect or I run an RCBS Lock-Out die.
#7 and #8 seat and crimp.
Thus, it REALLY is a six station press.
You may not need it all the time, but a 6-station progressive would be good and, if you want a bullet feeder, a 7-station would be the best way to go.
Click to expand...

#3, the back up rod is the expander, why the 1050 uses a different pwder funnel than the SD, 550 and 650. It only flares/bells the mouth, no expansion of the case ID other than that.

#5 doesn't expand unless you are using the powder funnel from a non 1050 Dillon.
 
Camdex has a bunch of stations... maybe? I can't really tell. I only ever see 'em in videos and they move too fast to count. :p
 
Those Camdex machines are bitchin! That's the kind of equipment 4-5 friends purchase together.
Click to expand...

My split with 4 friends would look something like this:
Me: $50
They: 4 x $8000

Note to self: Make some richer friends.
 
The main problem with that machine and many other autodrive converted presses is that they are "dumb"
Click to expand...

Agreed. And one of the biggest problems with home made equipment unless the builder understands how to properly implement interrupt and lock out devices. Still, it was pretty slick. And yours is outstanding.

I honestly don't need anything automated, even though I love geeking out on stuff like this. I just want a few additional holes in the press for both, the newer tools like powder cops, as well as the neat gadgets someone will surely invent down the road.
 
>jmorris

>#3, the back up rod is the expander, why the 1050 uses a different pwder funnel than the SD, 550 and 650. It only flares/bells the mouth, no expansion of the case ID other than that.

>#5 doesn't expand unless you are using the powder funnel from a non 1050 Dillon.

Yes, I suppose, but:
Whether you expand on #3 or #5, you have expanded the case and the six station aspect is still true.
I have found that it is best if I use a non-expander rod (say, a .223 rod) so the rod locks the case down as the swager rod comes up. This cuts down on the shell holder lifting. YMMV.
I have used the stage #3 expanders, but I really prefer the "powder funnels" made for the Dillon powder measure (for 550, 650, and 1050!). I also prefer the Hornady PTXs and the Lee PTEs.
 
I have found that it is best if I use a non-expander rod (say, a .223 rod) so the rod locks the case down as the swager rod comes up. This cuts down on the shell holder lifting. YMMV.
I have used the stage #3 expanders, but I really prefer the "powder funnels" made for the Dillon powder measure (for 550, 650, and 1050!). I also prefer the Hornady PTXs and the Lee PTEs.
Click to expand...

It is the backup rod with the expander that holds the cases down against the swager. The shell plate is not designed to oppose the swage rod, so if your shell plate is lifting you backup rod is too high.

Not that it would make any difference in .223 any way rifle dies have the expander already bult into them. So you will be expanding on #2 on the 1050.

expander.jpg


Because there would be almost zero chance avoiding powder bridging the tiny hole that would be needed if you were running powder through a 223 expander.

The powder funnels Dillon sells for 223 are the same on the 550, 650 and 1050 but none expand (rifle)

Again the powder funnel/expanders (pistol) for the SD, 550 and 650 are not the same as the one you will get with a 1050 caliber conversion
 
I'll try one more time...

Lets be very clear. When I adjust the expander/swager back-up die to the case mouth flare I want, the expander is NOT contacting the bottom of the case and the shell plate is pushed up and I get more case mouth flare and don't like the flex. Sorry, but that is how it is with all three of MY 1050s. Thus, for pistol loads, I use the .223 expander/swager back-up die so it bottoms into the case and holds the case and shell plate down.
I then throw away the crap "case-mouth flare only" powder funnel and buy the cartridge/caliber specific powder funnel that, in my opinion, should come with the caliber conversion kit and works on ANY press using a Dillon powder measure. After all, it is designed for the measure and not for a particular press.
This set-up works well for me and I am happy.
You do it your way, I'll do it my way.
 
Lets be very clear. When I adjust the expander/swager back-up die to the case mouth flare I want, the expander is NOT contacting the bottom of the case
Click to expand...

In the name of clarity, station #3 expander/ backup rod in the 1050 is just and expander, it does not flare or "bell" the case mouth (the black dies in the photo below). All they do is expand the case mouth and hold the case down so force is not transferred to the shell plate. If flare or bell is needed it is done at station #5 by the "V" shaped powder funnel on the left (for all pistol calibers). For rifle calibers they fit inside the powder "funnel" and zero flare or bell is imparted (right side of photo)

The SD, 550 and 650, for pistol rounds, use the powder funnel like the center one that not only expands but also flares/bells the case.

IMG_20150414_231942_568_zpsrdhiqruf.jpg


I do agree though, use what works for you.
 
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