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

This topic: Gunwiki > WebHome > RefReloading > RefReloadingMachineCapability
Topic revision: r9 - 03 Feb 2016 - MarkLiu