Though a bit slower in production than the author’s Dillon, his RCBS is easier when it comes to switching primer sizes. It gets used for most of the odd calibers.

The good news here is that almost all tools now have some means of "knowing" whether or not a case is present, and they disable the powder measure if one isn't there. The most common method--which originated with Lee--is to simply have the case itself activate the powder measure.

I listen for the sound of the primer, feel the primer seat, watch the powder measure move and look at the finished round as it falls into the bin. But the monotony of repetitive motion can lull you into a mindless rhythm, and if something goes wrong you can load a lot of bad ammo. For this reason I try to load for no more than an hour and then go do something else for a while.

One of the real beauties of most smaller-scale progressive loaders is that they are easily changed from one caliber to another. While many of us start out loading just one cartridge, as the hobby grows--and it will--it is usually easy to add another.

Until somewhat recently, progressive loaders were often said to be suitable only for handgun ammo, but that is no longer true. Many high volume rifle shooters now use them as well. Most modern presses have interchangeable toolheads, and with other dies on a spare head it only takes minutes to change calibers.

The type of loading you do is also a factor. I do two very different types of loading. Most important is the loading I do for work, where I test different charges or powders or some other variation of component.

The other is definitely high volume, to maintain an adequate supply of the fun-shooting ammo I consume regularly. Of those, .45 ACP, .44 Special and .45 Colt are loaded in the greatest quantity, but I also load obscure calibers like .32-20 on a progressive.

No, I don't consume the latter by the thousands, but I set up the Pro 2000 and crank out a few hundred at a time because I can never predict when I may be struck by the urge to plink with a single-action .32-20. Preparedness is key to the good life.

Great for Experimenting
The convenience of the progressives works for me when I experiment, too. Good practice normally makes me load 10-round strings for load workups, and it is little more trouble to change powder charges every 10 rounds on the progressive than it is with a conventional powder measure. The exception is if it is a load that I am unlikely to keep shooting after the research is done. Then I've got the single-stage right there.

If there is an "industry standard" progressive loader it has to be Dillon's RL-550B, and setting it up for a new caliber is not very time consuming. To do so, I always begin with the correct shell plate (shell holder) installed, and add dies one at a time. I start with the sizing die and adjust it using an empty case or two.

This procedure may end up sacrificing a couple of pieces of brass, but if you don't make a dummy or two you might start loading bad ammo right away. The best way I know to adjust a sizing die is set it close to the shell plate and make sure the dead primer is knocked out. Then try a sized case in a gauge or gun.

Since Dillon's next station both expands the neck and charges powder, you have to have an empty case in place to make the adjustment. I keep a bullet handy to use as a gauge to avoid over-expansion. More on this later.

If you're using Dillon's dies, there are separate seat and crimp dies, and the best way to adjust them is to simply make a dummy cartridge.

Seating depth is easily adjusted either visually or by measurement, but crimp is usually best done by feel. When doing so, with only one case in the machine you can lower the die gradually and feel when it begins to act on the cartridge. From that point I generally use a gauge or the barrel itself to judge when the round chambers correctly and apply no more crimp than necessary.