Why 10 Station's?

Why 10 Stations?

A common question we receive at Mark 7 Reloading is, "Why do our presses feature 10 stations?" While this may seem straightforward to seasoned reloaders familiar with 7-station presses, it’s not immediately clear to those newer to reloading or progressive systems. The key advantage of a 10-Station toolhead lies in its ability to separate specific die operations, allowing each station to perform a dedicated function for enhanced precision and efficiency. Below are some of the key benefits:

Separation of Sizing and Decapping
By using a universal decapping die, the decapping pin can be removed from the sizing die and installed over the priming station. This setup not only allows the sizing die to have its own dedicated station, but also enhances the centering and hold-down of the case, leading to more consistent priming.
Separation of Flaring and Powder Drop
Separating these two functions improves both the quality and control of the case mouth flare. This configuration also ensures that the powder measure is solely responsible for dropping powder. Systems that combine flaring and powder dropping can cause brass to stick to the flare plug, which can dislodge when the toolhead lifts, potentially disrupting the powder measure and leading to inconsistent charges. Our powder measures are specifically designed to drop powder, and attempting to use them for flaring can damage the mechanism.
Dedicated Bullet Feeder, Powder Check, Seating, and Crimping Stations
With fewer stations, you may be forced to combine some of these critical functions, which compromises both time efficiency and the overall quality of the reloaded rounds. By dedicating a station to each of these functions, our system saves you valuable time and ensures greater precision, allowing for more effective and consistent reloading without the need to frequently switch dies.
Station Separation Produces Superior Results
Combining critical operations like some other die makers, such as seating and crimping, can result in subpar outcomes, such as bullet jacket damage, which affects both accuracy and consistency. Separating these functions maximizes the potential of each round, ensuring higher-quality ammunition.
Freedom of Customization
Although the 10-Station toolhead offers ample space for advanced setups, you don’t have to use all 10 stations if your current needs don’t require it. For example, if you’re primarily reloading basic pistol ammunition, you can use the 10-Station toolhead as you would any other. The additional stations, however, provide future-proof flexibility, allowing you to expand your reloading setup as your needs grow.

These are just a few of the many reasons why a 10-Station toolhead offers significant advantages for serious reloaders. If you're unsure where to begin, explore our recommended setups below. By clicking on the image of the toolhead or selecting the "Setup" button, you can take a closer look at each individual station and see how the system is designed to optimize your reloading process.