Which Press to Buy?

[linde]

. . . I am going to start acquiring reloading equipment and would like a recommendation on which brand of press I should buy. I want single stage, quality construction. I am not interested in speed, I want quality and accuracy. Compatibility with available dies and other components is also a concern . . .

I might be reading your post incorrectly, but you are mistaken if you think you are sacrificing quality and accuracy by using a progressive. If you are dead set on a single stage the above suggestions are all good.

I have found both single stage and progressive presses very desirable . . . but satisfy very different needs.

An RCBS Rock Chucker single stage is my only choice when I'm starting with a new caliber (especially a necked rifle cartridge) and/or using once-fired brass. In these cases I spend extra time carefully inspecting everything at each stage. I pay particular attention to preparing the primer pocket - especially in the case of military-crimped brass where I use a primer pocket swage - and place the primer by hand the first time.

A Dillon 550B Progressive is my press of choice for calibers I frequently reload with brass I've prepared before.

I can get quality and accuracy from both.

Good luck in your new endeavor . . . take your time and pay attention and you'll enjoy the experience.

Russ

 

[rwsmith]

Just make sure.......

Just make sure it has enough clearance for long rifle cartridges if you EVER expect to do any rifle cartridge reloading.

 

[flintsghost]

Rockchucker is the strongest and most versatile of all the single stage presses. You can do all the loading you want with it. In addition, you can trim cases with a file trimmer or automatic. You can swage bullets with the correct dies. It will handle all lengths of cases and for the very largest African cartridges you can remove the nut at the top and use larger threading dies. There are other presses like Bonanza that are OK but none so versatile. Used Rockchuckers can still be found with the light green paint which are cast iron. Later ones with the shiney green finish are Meehanite which is a cast metal conglomerate that is not quite as strong as the original cast iron. The only press that is superior is any one of the A series, preferably an A2. The A2 and A3 are cast steel and much stronger and higher leverage. The A4 is also Meehanite.

 

[damienph]

Another vote for RCBS. I have two Rockchuckers and a Reloader Special. Good, strong presses that will last more than one lifetime. I also have a lightweight RCBS Partner that I use just for depriming. It is a decent little press but nothing like the big iron presses.

If you change your mind about single stage only; the Lyman T- Mag or T-Mag II are great ones too.

 

[oldman10mm]

I have a Lyman turret press from back in the 70s',still strong and tight. I love the turret aspect in the regards of having 4 positions mounted(size/decapper,mouth flarer,seater/crimper,powder dispenser) and can go back a step if needed without having to remove/add something.

 

[cfplinker]

Most of the major players are mentioned in the previous threads. While you are looking at them take a look at how the spent primers are collected remembering that the ones that are not collected by the press will be found by the spouse and or kids assuming that you have (or will have) any. Also look to see if there is a primer feeder available for the press. This makes the priming operation much easier than taking each primer and placing it in the primer cup. Lacking a primer feeder I would seriously consider some type of off press priming.

 

[Clovishound]

All of the single stage presses will produce quality ammo, if you do your job.

Any of the cast iron full sized presses will probably outlast you. Look at price and features.

I like Lee classic presses. They are a good value and robust. The spent primer system is very convenient, and will not spill spent primers all over the floor.

I would also advise looking at a Classic turret by Lee. It can be used in single stage mode, and has the convenience of having all your dies mounted and adjusted in the turret plate ready for the next operation in less than a second. Later down the road, you can use it in continuous mode, if you so desire, to speed things up. I find that I am more likely to make a mistake when I am pulling and replacing the same case in the press for different operations.

RCBS also makes a great press, although you will pay more for it. They are an extremely popular single stage.

 

[Steely85]

For a SINGLE STAGE press I would go with a Redding T7.

My Rockchucker is rusting away in a box in my shed since I bought the Redding T7 about 8 years ago.

Pay once, cry once.


Redding T7

 

[cowboy4evr]

well I guess I will be " the other guy " as I started reloading with the Lee Classic Hand Loader Kits , then moved on to the "Lee Challenger " single stage kit . It includes just about everything but the powder , brass , primers , and bullets you want . I have used it for several years and am most pleased with it . It is aluminum " O " type in construction , very sturdy and well built . I have reloaded any rifle round I wanted it to , no problem . It is not expensive to buy . I feel it is a good way to start to see if you really like reloading . There is a lot of good suggestions above but they all cost a lot more . Lees warranty is as good as anyones . Read the reviews on the Lee press before you buy any other brand . Good Luck

 

[deadin]

I've been reloading since I was around 14. (That's more than 60 years ago.) I started with a Lyman (or was it an Ideal?) 310 tong tool. Went to a Lee Loader at one point. (That didn't last long.) Finally bought a Rockchuker and still have it. In fact I have two. I also have a Lee Single Stage, mainly for loading of pistol rounds. It's mounted on a 2x4 and can be clamped to a bench most anywhere. I think there's a couple of Lee Hand Presses in the cabinet. (Handy for load development at the range.)

I'm not one who shoots great number of rounds at one session so the need for a high production rate really doesn't apply. I did try a Lee progressive at one time. I found that it just screwed up too often for my comfort. ( I know, I know, I should have bought a Dillon. ) I also found that the extra expense of the press and acessories didn't do anything fit my needs.

I find reloading to be relaxing and am in no hurry. This, plus the fact that most bad loads I have seen (double charge, no charge, mashed primers, etc.) came out of progressive presses.

I don't know just how many die sets I have squirreled away. I have a bad habit of wanting to have the ability to reload for every gun I have. I may not shoot the gun more than 10 or 20 rounds, but I'm ready for more. (Maybe it is more of an obsession?)

Anyway, I would strongly recommend that anyone just beginning in the reloading game start with a single station press if for no other reason than to learn all of the steps required to make a good and safe reload.

 

[Mals9]

I have been reloading 30-06 for 3 years now with ther Lee Breechlock single stage. It is a all I have used so I cannot comment on the others except to say they have good reputations. The Lee have been 100% reliable and is relativley inexpensive. Will be starting 9mm this weekend.

Mals

 

[Geno44]

One point, only lightly touched on in the above posts is what calibers are you going to reload? I have two RCBS Rockchuckers, one RCBS Jr. (my first press) and two Dillon 550B's. If you buy a large single stage like the Rockchucker, you are moving a lot more mass than you need for smaller cartridges. If you are reloading 30:06 the RCBS Jr. will require some pretty good effort in the sizing operation.. The Jr. will do either one but is a good choice on the smaller calibers. The Rockchucker will do either one but is better on the larger calibers.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I really like my Redding T-7. It's about the same price as the top tier single stage presses on the market. I've picked up 2 more turrets to add calibers and on press priming to speed things up. I'm loading more ammo than ever now and to be honest if I could do it all over again (and with what I know now) I'd just buy a Dillon 550B.

 

[lrrifleman]

As mentioned by many, it would help to know what cartridges you intend to load.

My dad and I bought an RCBS Junior back in the mid 70s, and it has loaded an untold number of cartridges. In the late '80s, I started with Dillon, and the Dillon is used exclusively to load my handgun ammo. The RCBS Junior is pulling Yeoman duty loading match grade 223s, 7mm Remington Magnums, 308s, and 30-06s, and my 41 Magnum. It will also load my 25-35, 270, and maybe a return to 45-70.

Meanwhile, the Dillon is reserved for: 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 9mm Luger, 45 ACP, 380, and 30 Carbine.

My strongest suggestion, especially if you are loading rifle cartridges, is to get a cast iron framed press, so it will not flex when you apply the pressure/torque necessary to full length resize your rifle brass.

 

[gregintenn]

Lee Classic Cast. It'll do anything the others will do at a fraction of the price.

 

[Ceapea]

I like the looks of the new Hornady Iron press, and I was very close to buying one. But for what ever reason, I went with the Forster Co-Ax Press and I couldn't be happier. There are some unique features that make it stand out. Check out their site.

Co-Ax(R) Reloading Press | Forster Products(R)

 

[Wise_A]

I want single stage, quality construction. I am not interested in speed, I want quality and accuracy. Compatibility with available dies and other components is also a concern.

Rounds per hour, quality, and accuracy are not mutually-exclusive. Many competitive bullseye shooters, for example, load on progressives. Accuracy is not a function of the press, it's a function of the reloader.

For the average pistol cartridge, there is really no advantage in using a single-stage press over a turret.

The questions I would ask are:

--How much/how often do you intend to shoot? How much do you want to shoot?
--How many different cartridges do you want to load?
--What cartridges do you want to work with? More inexpensive cartridges like 9mm aren't really worth reloading on a single-stage, but make sense on a progressive.
--How big a batch do you want to work with? If you want to pick one load and stick with it, a progressive is great. If you want to experiment a lot, turrets are a better option.

Now, you can still get a single-stage, try it out, and then get a turret or a progressive later. Lots of reloaders will keep a single-stage around either for jobs that are tougher on other presses, or for things like depriming prior to tumbling.

 

[iouri]

Is that a trick question ? Go Blue and never look back

 

[Cdog]

Thirty some odd years ago I started with a Rockchucker.

Over the years I've owned a pile of presses. Of the single stage presses there's one characteristic many share that I detest. "Camming Over." Camming past TDC is an unnecessary feature that serves only to make die adjustment a more tedious task.

I prefer the feel and features of the Lee Classic Cast series.

None cam past the top of the stroke. Die adjustments, especially seating/crimp are a piece of cake.

Regardless of color, the single stage presses work. It's the features and peculiarities of the press that I consider.

 

[Skeet 028]

While I have been loading for many many years I use Blue Red and Green..and not in that order. Starting out get a single stage press like many have said. Very hard to beat a Rockchucker. They are easily found used also. Bought one in July for 30 bucks...with an aluminum primer catcher. Heck I still have many single stage presses made in the 50s and a really old Pacific that dates from the late 30's early 40's. Unless you are truly a klutz you can't mess 'em up. All that being said purchase well made dies and first and foremost get more than one GOOD reloading manual and if you have any questions after reading them..ask them here. A lot of knowledge on this board.