I have never reloaded and I am going to buy a press, all I have to go off of is reviews from online sites, what do you think of these?

Lee Deluxe Auto processing single stage $79.99 Four and one half stars

Redding Big Boss single stage $193.99 Five stars

Redding Big Boss II single stage $224.99 Five stars

RCBS Summit single stage $245.99 Four and one half stars

The less than stellar reviews on the Lee and RCBS presses seem to have the same issues reported by multiple customers.

RCBS Rebel single stage $231.99 Four stars

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

For hand guns a Lee Classic Cast four station turret press. For rifle rounds a RCBS Rockchucker Supreme. You could pick up a used one on line. That is how I got my first reloading press.

I'm surprised, but maybe not. RCBS HAS been an iron staple in reloading, especially the Rockchucker. Have they slipped in quality?

I wasn't really aware of the Rebel and Summit models. The Summit seems extra nice, but I get by with my basic Rockchucker.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Those monster Redding presses are great! But way overkill for 99.5% of reloaders.

I moved and had to downsize my reloading to one 5' bench (from 14' of benches in the farm house.) There are 3 loading spaces, on the far right is a Redding T-7 that I bought about 1992, in the middle is a Dillon 550b I bought as a 450 in 1984, and on the left is a changeable plate for a Bullet sizer and a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme I bought used in 1995. The supreme is set up with the Hornady replacement Lock-N-Load adapter so the loading dies just twist and lock.

These are the presses I down sized to, I had about 8 set up before! Been loading since 1979 and am sure with either the Supreme or the T-7, YOU WOULD NEVER NEED ANOTHER PRESS! (you may have wishes, but won't need!) 50 BMG and some Elephant rounds would require a different press, but are you going there?

Ivan

I’d go with the Redding Big Boss!

I’d go with the Redding Big Boss!

You'd be hard pressed to find a better more versatile press than the Lee Classic Cast Turret. The Classic Cast single stage is rock solid too.

Leave the auto advance feature off the turret model and use it as a single stage.

I've loaded match quality quality rifle rounds with one since they were first introduce.

Caliber change is as easy as dropping in another $12 turret and the appropriate shell holder.

Most people that bash Lee Classic Cast series of presses have zero experience with one.

You can spend a lot more if you want, but it simply ain't necessary.

I also own RCBS and Lyman Crusher presses. My first press in the mid 80's was the Rockchucker. The RCBS turret press I had worked ok but boy is way over priced.

Another reason I prefer Lee is their dead stop feature. When the ram is raised it stops at the top of the stroke. Period, no cam over past the top to make die fine adjustment much more tedious than it ever need be.

Now is a bad time for shopping anything firearm related. Hands on is the best way to shop. Try before you buy!

If you don't already have primers, etc, a press ain't going to be much more than a paperweight.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

Redding T7 is well worth the look.

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The American dream is alive

Lee classic 4 hole turret press. I have one of the older ones and it performs very well after thousands of reloads. RCBS, in my opinion, is way over priced!

I have the RCBS Summit press, the only reason was that I did not want the press to overhang the bench I was going to use. It fits flat anywhere on the bench. I have loaded from 38 sp to 12.7 x 42's, the only issue I had was not seating the handle firmly in the press and snapped off the small threaded stub, easy fix by drilling it out and threading a stud in it's place.

I started out with a Hornady "Lock 'N' Load" single stage, still using it 8 years later, with more stuff added. I've used several brands of dies, the Hornady and RCBS are my favorites. I load for three rifle and six handgun calibers.

You could also consider getting the cheapie Lee to get your feet wet, with the plan to relegate it to universal decapping once a little experience tells you what you’d really like.

IIRC Redding has a kit that includes their powder measure, trickler, and beam scale---That's 1st quality top notch gear that would cost you nearly$300 more if purchased individually. It might be worth considering.

RCBS Rockchucker kit will do you right.

I use the Lee 4 hole classic turret also. I have turrets set up for 45 ACP, 38 spl, and 9mm. Just swap turret and dump powder in and start loading. I get to see each operation and finished round for good QC. For my small operation I can't see buying anything else. I did try the Pro 1000 one time and never could get it adjusted right. I sent it back and got the classic turret and have been using it for several years with no problems.

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Ron
Southern IL

Find out what is in stock first. No problems with any of them, they all do slightly different things, slightly better than the others. What will your volume be? Single stage presses loading several hundred rounds a week take time. Rifle cases take a lot more length than pistol. Will you be case forming brass? The lee will do an adequate job for the cheapest cost but will take some continual tinkering IME. The others will be slower.

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Front sight and squeeze

This...

Without knowing how the press will be used, it's hard to give helpful advice.

I started reloading on my dad's Hurters #3 press in 1956 with his teaching the first press I purchased was a RCBS RC, I have had several different presses over the years ( Lee progressive, Lyman orange crusher, Rcbs Jr, but always went back to the RCBS RC or RC ll, and a Green Machine for my bulls eye shooting. ) I purchased a RCBS Supreme a few years ago and Hated it ( lighter mot heavy cast iron and hated the primer system ) couldn't wait to get rid of it and bought a older RC ll off e-bay and that is the only press for me.
I prefer Redding dies first RCBS second. I have no use for any Lee products as I have tried their presses, dies and molds and found them not satisfactory for my needs.
73 years old and still reloading from small pistol calibers to the monster 475 A&M Magnum
Get a good scale and set of check weights .
well good luck and if I can help just PM me.

to quote my dad ( that is what makes horses racing so great everuone likes something different).

I bought a used RCBS “O” style press for $40 found in the sales section here. I figured I better learn with the basics. Manufactured my first loads last weekend (done while away from home), with a press mounted to a sawhorse. Fired them yesterday and they did fine. I have new RCBS dies but had to use lee carbide for the seating due to not having the right seating fit (kept deforming the soft point).

It took about 15 - 20 loads to get a feel, but I am still quite slow

The real question is where are you planning to get the components these days ? As for the press, since you're just starting out I'd suggest reloading kit. Any of the kits Lee, RCBS, Redding will get you started just fine.

I have a old 1960 RCBS that is still ticking and has yet to break.

The company has a great return for free new parts, if needed and
their parts are usually in most sporting good stores.

The other companies might stand behind their units but I never needed to buy one.

I have used Lee products since the 80's, the single stage and the 3 hole turret. 2 yrs. ago I got the Lyman American, it has an 8 hole head that I have 2 set of dies on one in 38 and 357 and another head with 9mm and 45acp.

I got rid of My RCBS Summit, and got a rock chucker. I would recommend either the Redding, or the RCBS. I've been reloading since the late 60's and use RCBS, Redding, and Dillon. All are of exceptional quality. I just didn't like the Summit functionally. So used to the ram going up.

Watch ebay or another site for a used RCBS Rockchucker or a new Rockchucker kit

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I would stay away from any presses that are marked with "Lee." I like their company and I use a few of their tools, but I've never liked their reloading presses. The Redding is going to be fantastic. I would get either one of those before the others you list.

My BIG BOSS rocks.

And its Made in USA!

It doesn't matter what press you get, they all do the same thing. But you will find it's nearly impossible to find components , Good Luck.

Welcome to the S&W Forum, the Best their is.
Accept no Substitutes.

What is being Reloaded; Pistol, Rifle, or Both.

Partner size Press = Pistol/Revolver.
Rebel size Press = Pistol and Rifle.
Summit (Dies lever up/down) = space saving, Pistol/Rifle?

I suggest; if you do Rifle you will want something like the Rebel or a little bigger.

I reload a lot of Revolver cartridges (easy), so I was quite surprised
this week while cleaning up and sizing 270Win., wow, a lot of
leverage required.

I have two presses; a very small Lee (priming/seating bullets/crimping)
and a RCBS Jr. press (sizing).
Oh yea, forgot about the Hornady press, but don't have it up yet.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

44 magnum around 300 monthly and 5.56 around 500 monthly.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

44 magnum 300 a month and 5.56 500 a month, I will be doing 357 magnum 300 a month once my 357 magnum ammo on hand goes down some.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

....get a reloading manual with a good 'how to' reload section. There are lot of reloading videos on the net now, but I use them for auxiliary info rather than a primary source. (Some people on the net give out not so proper advice). Videos are good for parts I don't understand. SAFETY is first in reloading and different types of cartridges have their own quirks.


Anyway, it's going to take a while to learn the details of reloading, so while you are collecting your gear and components, you can develop an understanding of what's involved.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

What do reviews say in general about Lee and RCBS presses?

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Well I started with LEE Turret and Dies. IMO, Lee Dies are as good as any, their presses... OK. There are many better, but you can't go wrong starting out with a LEE turret press.

My upgrades have been adding Redding dies/parts, and some RCBS things like tricklers and such... The bottom line is..... KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN, because most manufacturers are so close in quality to each other that they all work together. Sure someone/troll will disagree, but by and large dies/parts are interchangeable, the PRESSES not so much. Just my opinion...

LEE dies are set up different from other dies. I made the mistake of assuming they were like all the others and got really frustrated until I wised up and read the directions. Funny, I haven't had problems since.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I started reloading in college in the 1970's. 9mm only, with an RCBS Rock Chucker. Then boxed it up and put it in storage for 40 years. Decided 2 or 3 years ago to start reloading again, so I got it out and resumed, only not 9mm. 38 Special and .45 ACP. (9mm at the time was $10 per box, I don't shoot much 9mm, and it isn't worth reloading for me.) After a few months, I decided to buy a Lee Classic Turret. I like it. Same number of cranks on the handle, but much less handling of each case. No regrets at all. I don't rush. With the Rock Crusher, it took me about 1.25 hours to load 100 rounds. With the Lee, about 45 minutes.

So...I'd vote for getting the Lee Classic Turret. They're cheap. They work. You may not even like reloading, in which case you won't be out much money. Use it as a single stage to start if you want. Then use it as a turret. If you ever want to upgrade to a true progressive, you won't be out much money.

Hard to go wrong with a rock chucker. It's built like a tank and they last forever. It's all I've ever used and I've never regretting getting it. Strong enough to easily size rifle cases fairly effortlessly. No one has them now, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used one. Once you learn each step and become proficient at loading consistent quality rounds, hopefully by then, if you want a progressive press to load faster, some will be available at a good price. I have a feeling lots of people who decided to get into reloading but couldn't find components will soon be unloading their unused presses.

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What could possibly go wrong?

That's a pretty sizeable amount of ammo. It takes me about an hour to load 100 rounds on a single stage press. Do you have an extra 10-15 hours to load ammo every month? I'd either be planning to upgrade to a progressive press shortly after learning or just start on something like a Hornady Lock N Load or Dillion 650. I can operate my Hornady LNL just like a single stage press, turret, or progressive. I started on a RCBS rockchucker and upgraded after about one year. My only regret was not buying the LNL sooner. I still use the RCBS for sizing bullets and seating bullets with some rifle rounds.

Case prep and sorting count for some more time. You might think about starting with a basic press to learn on, then upgrade like reddog suggests. The single stage will always be useful for some jobs.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

RCBS has great customer service! I have a very old Uniflow powder measure I picked up at a swap meet that needed some help. They sent me the parts, no charge! That's pretty impressive service. The Uniflow is an excellent measure BTW.
That said, I'm not all that impressed by the cheaper alloy model RCBS presses---however the steel Rock Chucker is a classic and I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed with one----well worth the few extra $$ if you go with RCBS in my opinion---it's the press that made RCBS famous!.
Lee does make some decent stuff. I like their hand priming tool and their higher end presses like classic cast and classic cast turret are pretty good choices. I also like their hand press and carbide die sets.

My reloading bench is an esoteric collection of RCBS, Redding, Lyman, Lee and Hornady gear---very little purchased new---but it all works well together.
My advice: Make sure you get carbide dies for your straight walled cases (.44 Mag/Spl. in your case)
Have fun!

Buy Redding and never look back....IMO

Many years ago when I wanted to get into reloading, I asked my shooting buddies who I knew reloaded what they'd suggest for a single stage press . All but one recommended an RCBS Rock Crusher, and to maybe get a used one that was in good shape to begin with. I did just that, and found a very nice , slightly used crusher, and I still use that very same press today for all my 11 different calibers that I reload. Whenever available I got new RCBS, or Redding carbide dies, and have never had any problems. I'm retired and don't go several times a week to the range, so I can, and do, reload at my own pace, and am never in a hurry.
RCBS gets my vote .