Best reloading press for...

working up test loads? I just got a Dillon 650--love it--but have quickly concluded that it's best for churning out load combos that you know to be good for your pistol. What do you all recommend for small runs when you're trying to find that perfect load?

i do 30 rounds. i've only had to take down one batch from too light of a load.

Reverted to a 550BL for those tasks...

I have a Dillon 650, for small batches (<100)  you can't beat a single stage press.

I have a 550 that I use for rifle and a square deal for .45. I load tests on the SDB or a Rock Chucker.,

just throw 30 cases in the case feeder and reload them.  If you keep the shellplate up near the powder funnel you can adjust the powder and handle cycle the powder bar

I do single stage for load development. Once I know what I want, the 1050 makes short work of a bulk order.

If its just powder changes, I pull the round out after its charged on the progressive, dump it in the scale powder pan, take some out or put some in to get the charge I want, then back into the press and continue on.

I really like the idea of always having a single stage ready for something... whether its load developing, loading a odd ball round you end up with, or just some odd ball job where you don't want to mess with changing your progressive/turret...  Most any of them will work well frankly... I have a old Lee Challenger that might be simple, and cheap....  but she keeps ticking.

I still have my RCBS Junior and a RCBS Rock Chucker. Both work great for small batches. I also use a Lee Classic Turret press for loads I don't need a bunch of like 44 mag or 400 Corbon. Any of those presses would work great for test batches.

Len