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If the OP is interested in volume loading of 45acp, a progressive press is the way to go.
If he is interested doing hunting loads for 300 savage, a single stage/turret.
If he only requires low volume 45 (50-100rds/month), a single stage/turret will be fine.

For volume 45acp, he should get a Lee Loadmaster, components, and a volunteer off nwfa with Loadmaster experience to come over to his house for a couple hours to set up and walk through an initial 250rd run.

If he has disposable $1000s, then by all means get the dillon (LNL, RCBS, etc) with all the accessories. None of these units, Lee included, depreciate greatly and you can liquidate with little loss.

The Loadmaster, while IMO not the greatest press, can be had new for $300 with 4 carbide dies, powder measure, case feeder, and bullet feeder. The loadmaster drawback is initial setup and keeping it in tune, though its not all that difficult esp if you have that volunteer.

Add a caliper, powder scale, and trickler later (but soon.) They are not necessary if what he wants is to churn out a couple thousand rounds of plinking grade 45acp GI Hardball. The R&D on this round has been done and done and done and done . . . . Add reloading manuals and books, they have endless tips and insights. But again not necessary for mass production of GI Hardball.

I absolutely agree that a single stage press mounted on the bench next to your progressive is great for odd jobs and of course more accurate loads, but for 45acp I just dont see the point - unless maybe you are making supermatch SD ammo or something.

The money question boils down to this: How quickly do you burn through 3000 rounds of 45acp? Because that is roughly your payback period.

Loadmaster ($300)
230gr FMJ bullet (14c/rd) + primer (3c/rd) + brass (0-4c/rd) + 6.5gr Unique (2c/rd) = ~19-23c/rd
factory 230gr FMJ .45 acp ammo = ~30c/rd
savings = ~ 10c/rd
$300/10c/rd = 3000rds

Of course this doesn't take into account the liquidation value of the equipment, nor the value you put on your time. So if you pump out 2000rds and sell your equipment you still "saved" ~$200, but the savings only exist because you used unpaid labor :s0131:
 
I have a hornady locknload ap for 9mm and loadmaster for 45acp. Both work great and need tinkering. Lee more than hornady...

Also got the locknload classic for rifle sizing

Agree with above post...
 

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