How long does it take you to reset to new caliber?

[backcountry]

Handloading caliber changes take time.
My estimates are SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess)

PRIMERS - 10 minutes total
Pull primer tube and dump existing SP primers. 3 minutes
Existing primers into original tray. .5
New LP primers into flip tray and align. 1
Filler tube loaded by pecking one at a time. 4 minutes
Fill primer tube from filler tube. .5

POWDER MEASURE - 2.2 minutes
Pull powder measure off powder die. .5
Pull existing head off of press, wipe, store. .5
Place new head on press with dies. .2
Place powder measure on powder die. 1

CALIBER CONVERSION - 3.5 minutes total
Loosen set screw. .5
Remove center bolt and existing brass holder plate, storage. 1
Remove numbered pins, storage. .5
Place new brass holder plate and center bolt. Adjust. 1
Place new numbered pins. .3
Tighten set screw .2

STAGE ONE - .5 minutes
Place brass, size, de-prime, prime, and rotate .5

STAGE TWO - 12.5 minutes
Adjust powder die for minimal flaring. 4 minutes
Fill with powder and measure weight, adjust. 1
Dump powder from brass and measure cup in hopper. .5
ReFill with powder and measure weight, adjust until correct. 4 minutes
ReFill with powder 10 times and dump into hopper. 2
Measure #10 for accuracy. 1
Rotate

SEATER - 1.3 minutes
Place bullet on top of flared brass. .3
Seat bullets into brass to the crimp groove, adjust 1

CRIMP - 5 minutes
Crimp brass and adjust. 3
Analyze cartridge for quality control. Adjust. 2

10
2.2
3.5
.5
12.5
5
=====
33.7 minutes with conservative estimates
In actuality, it usually takes me over an hour before I start cranking.

Something goes wrong and I have a bulge, or the bullet is getting swaged down, or the brass is getting split or bent, or I'm scraping during seating. Poop usually happens and then the real art starts. Figure out what it is and adjust setting.

I have one Dillon 550b press.
I handload 9mm, 32-20 WCF, 30-20, 32 H&R Mag, 32 Special, 327 Fed Mag, 38 Special, 357 Mag, 357 Maximum, 44 Special, 44 Mag, 45 ACP, and 45 Colt. Using 20 different powders and untold numbers of different bullets.

So I am continually losing most of my adjustments and fine tuning. I didn't mind for the first several years as it forced me to continually learn to watch, adjust, and adapt. I did get a tool head for most of the calibers which stopped having to screw in/unscrew each die every time. I also went to Redding dies as they are easier/faster to tune from top adjustment knobs, rather than die lock nut resetting die depth.

It is easy to see why so many handloaders:
only have one caliber they load for, with the same weight of the same powder, with the same bullet, or
have many presses with each one set up for one caliber, one powder, one bullet,
or subject themselves to constant change.

Now, it's easy for me to understand why so many wind up with multiple presses.

I was just wondering if anyone sees anything in my routines that could be quicker or easier?

Backcountry

 

[storage_man]

If you need some speed into a caliber conversion (owning a 650, this is what I do), you need multiple tool heads with all dies setup, each tool head also has a dedicated powder measure correctly set for the powder that you use, you need multiple Primer systems for quick change between large vs small primers. I think I can do a caliber change in under 15min ( several more items need to change on a 650 for case feeding + Powder check system). I believe when I had my old 550b, I could convert in less than 10 min.

I just set up for .380 (all New). It took me 1+ hours before I could get into pulling the handle.

 

[knockonit]

hmm, never thought of it requiring a time limit or race, only to be sure of change over and measurements of all.
complacency in this particular hobby can be ugly.
just saying.

Rj

 

[Flash]

Since I use a Lee LoadMaster and I've got shellplates and turrets set up including individual powder measures, it takes around 3-½ minutes or so.

 

[87jeep]

I am not as fast or as good as the "Master". I take a solid 10-15 on the lee loadmaster, then 15 to get the bullet and case baskets up & running. Just load 9mm & 45ACP.

Grasshopper

Carry on

 

[Flash]

Before I got my second LoadMaster, I'd have to change the primer setup when going from large to small in addition to the shellplate and the turret. Mrs. Flash clocked me once when I didn't know she was there and she said it was 4-½ minutes, but I was in a hurry that day as I was going shooting the next day and hadn't gotten around to reloading for 3 different calibers I needed.

When you switch over enough times, it gets pretty fast.

 

[338lapua]

On my Dillon 1050 it is about 30-40 minutes depending on if I have to change the primer system as well as the swager. Over the years I have simplified and only load one particular bullet per caliber on pistol. I also have a reference round machined out of brass for every bullet style I use that I use for resetting seating dies if I decide to do something different.

Camdex and Ammoload machine NEVER have caliber changes. They stay set up for a cartridge and only powder weights and bullet weights or seating depths are changed, they are set with reference rounds as well.

 

[Ranger1]

Before I got dedicated 1050 machines for my calibers it would take 40 for a switch over. Now I would take this time to completely tear down machine clean bearings, races, get it looking new. Change out springs, paws etc. Put it all back together with new caliber conversion and regrease. Now that I have more machines and they are automated, a tear down, replace consumable parts clean and regrease is still a 40 min job.