want to get a progressive press, on a right budget and need to get it right the first time. what do you guys use and what would you recommend for me? my budget is $300, and need to be able ot load a wide variety of calibers- from pistol to magnum rifle, such as 9mm, 38 special, 45, 40, 10mm, 500 SW Magnum, 357/38, 44mag/44, 30-40, 45-70, .223, 308, 7.62x54r, 32 acp, 7.62x38r, 30 carbine, 5.7x28, and so on. I've looked at the lee pro 1000 and lee load master, they look good and price is great but not able to (and cheaply) able ot load a wide variety of calibers, which is a big problem. i want ot know whats a good progressive press that can also load just as many calibers as my single stage press can?
Dillon are 2nd to none. I have had the lee presses and they break too easily. Dillon is worth the extra money for ruggedness and trouble free operation.
Is you budget of $300 just for the press? Because each set of dies will run at least $30+ and up (way up) depending on the brand you purchase. Most dies are interchangeable so you can use RCBS dies in a LEE press for example. You listed at least 15 different calibers, so you're already looking at over $500 in dies alone - and that's a conservative estimate. For $300, I think you should look at a turret press, not a progressive press. The LEE turret presses are great - I load a half dozen different calibers (mostly pistol, some rifle) on mine with no problems at all. I have a LEE Classic Turret Press, and I've loaded thousands of rounds on it. Dillon presses are great, but you'll have a hard time finding a used one within your budget, and the conversion kits (dies) are pricey as well. The Horandy Lock n' Load presses are great too - but again even finding a used one within your budget is going to be a challenge. There is little point to having a progressive press if you don't have a powder drop as well - so when you shop around you should check to see if this is part of the setup. Case feeders are nice, but will cost you close to $300 as well, and they are not necessary. When you do buy dies, make sure you buy carbide dies in the pistol calibers. You won't have to lube the cases, and they are not too much more expensive.
Listen to Hamish, you can't go wrong with the lee classic turret. I can literally load more amunition than I can shoot. It is an enormous upgrade from a single stage and everyone I know always thinks they need a progressive but end up wishing they had gotten something more foolproof. With the lee you can keep your caliber dies set up on a wheel, and it lifts out to let you change calibers without having to undo any settings. Plus the turret is going to be more forgiving with things like powder through dies working with it for .223. Go with the four station and add a crimping die. You'll find you get into a rhythm with it pretty quickly, you push up to deprime, put in a primer and pull down to seat, push up to charge, pull down to clear, set the bullet and push up to seat, then a quick down and up to crimp, no time at all. And spend the extra money to get carbide dies.
Check out Dillon Precision
I have a Hornady progressive that will load anything but shotgun shells.