Murph, one of the advantages to the Lee Classic Turret Press is that you can use it like a single stage loader. You can punch out the primers, you can prime the casings, you can charge with powder and seat the bullets and you can put the factory crimp on. Each of these (other than the charging and seating) can be done at your leisure. The Classic Turret Press is really a semi-progressive, taking 4 yanks on the handle to "build" a round, whereas a true progressive does it in one pull once you have it all up and running.
If and when you decide to purchase the Classic, check out kempfgunshop.com. They have it in a kit form that allows certain upgrades and because it's all on one screen, you can really see what the hell you are ordering. I originally bought it in 45ACP, upgraded the powder charge to the Pro Auto Disk (big-time worth it), added the Safety Prime System which works really good and does both small and large pistol primers, the Lee Safety Powder Scale, the Kinetic Bullet Puller and Dial Caliper. (The caliper is good to have but since purchasing the Dillon case gauges for 45ACP and .380ACP I hardly use it anymore. The caliper cannot tell you if your finished rounds will fit in the barrel of your firearm like the case gauge can. I bought those from Dillon for about $25 shipping included. I check every single round.)
Total cost for everything but the 2 Dillon Case Gauges: $230.75 plus another $99.95 for the Thumler UV-10 Brass Tumbler which works just great.
Cost per box of 50 45ACP (without having to buy the brass): $9.38 per box. If you have to buy brass it's about 19 cents per cartridge, bringing the cost of a 50-round box of 45ACP to $18.98. Not much saved there, but once you save your brass, that cuts the cost by a pile!
36 boxes, if you have your own brass, should cover the cost of the Classic Press and a Tumbler. Plus you still have that reloading hobby all the while.
