Hello everyone! I wanted to provide a quick update as to what I have planned for the “Progressive Press Shootout”, talk about some delays I’ve encountered, and update the estimated date for the publication of this “mega story”.
What Happened to Spring/Summer?
Originally, I had planned to publish this story in either the late Spring of 2020, or the early Summer of 2020. And then COVID-19 happened! Several of the companies involved have employees out of work, or working from home. That has caused some delays in delivery for equipment, but the good news is, everything should be on its way shortly. I then have to wait for the equipment to arrive, film some preliminary content (unboxing/overview stories), and then start work on the progressive press shootout. And that’s one of the reasons why things have been delayed! My apologies to those who are eagerly awaiting the story.
What Will Be Shown/Documented?
If you want a taste of what this story will look like, please check out the 14 Single Stage Press Shootout I published over a year ago.
Since progressive presses are quite different (compared to single stage presses), the criteria, data, and tests will be different. Here are some of the things I plan to show/document:
Presses Included in Shootout
- Dillon RL1100
- Dillon RL-550C
- Dillon XL-750
- Hornady Lock-N-Load AP
- LEE Loadmaster
- LEE Pro 1000
- LEE Pro 4000 (Auto Breech Lock Pro)
- Mark 7 Evolution
- RCBS Pro Chucker 5
- RCBS Pro Chucker 7
Data/Tests
- Specs, features, capacities
- Total cost of ownership (based on # of calibers)
- Powder measure accuracy/consistency
- Caliber changeover complexity and time requirement
- Ammunition consistency tests (still working on final criteria)
- Accessories and add-ons
- Cyclic rate per hour
- Force-at-handle analysis/graphs
- Aftermarket
If there’s something specific you’d like to see evaluated/tested/documented, please let me know by leaving a comment on this post!
When Will the Story be Published?
My new expected publication data is Fall 2020 for this progressive press shootout. Between now and then, I’ll be publishing a couple more press overviews: one for the Dillon RL1100, and the other will be the LEE Pro 4000 (Auto Breech Lock Pro Kit). Stay tuned!
Don’t miss out on Ultimate Reloader updates, make sure you’re subscribed!
Thanks,
Gavin
