I'm running progressive for my match ammo and practice ammo loading with VLD bullets.... I do a hybrid approach that is not 'true" progressive but is still pretty efficient. Shooting 100 - 150 center fire cases per week it really starts to be a time commitment so I agree with finding any efficiency possible.
I run brass prep separate from loading, two separate Dillon toolheads. Toolhead 1 is decapping die, FL sizing die, expander mandrel, all dies floated with O-rings. I use the alcohol/lanolin lube which goes on quick and works well. I can do 100 cases in maybe 6-8 minutes on my 550, you would likely be faster with a case feeder and 650.
I then tumble the brass again to clean the lube off, then run all the brass through a Lyman case prep center. Primer pocket clean, chamber, deburr, neck brush. Takes about 8 minutes for 100 cases. I'll then box that brass up as ready to load, either for match use or for practice ammo.
Loading for practice ammo is done on another toolhead. First die is a depriming die to clear out any media from the flash hole, then case is primed on the press. Second is Dillon powder measure (XBR 8208 meters great and is my practice powder), third die is bullet seating. Loading 100 cases with bullet/powder/primer is maybe 15 minutes.
For match loads I just swap out the Dillon powder thrower and use a funnel for weighed charges instead.
Treating every firing of brass as though it's full match grade brass takes me about 40 minutes per 100 cases... that's tumble (not counting the tumbling time), anneal, lube, progressive press brass prep, tumble, Lyman case prep center, box cases up. Add on the loading side and I'm just under an hour per 100 cases for quasi-match grade practice ammo (shoots 1/4 MOA and SD of 8).
If you wanted to speed up further, skip annealing every firing, maybe Lyman case prep every second or third firing, You could probably get down in the half hour per 100 cases range. If you're running just a 223 trainer not anything match grade I'd not worry about it at all only champfer deburr when you trim and just progressive press the ammo straight through and tumble off the lube from the loaded rounds.
