Lee Single Stage Press Good Enough?

[kbm6893]

I'm gonna start reloading soon and it's gonna be a single stage press. I don't shoot a ton and having more ammo due to reloading isn't gonna change that much with work, kids, and other family obligations. I've saved a bunch of brass and have decided on either the Lee, the Hornady Lock and Load, or the RCBS kits. I will be loading 90% .38 special with the occasional Magnum thrown in, then 9MM at some point. I also have an M1 and might load .30-06 down the road.

I'm talking about loading 400 rounds or so two or three times a year. id the Lee up to it? is the Hornandy worth the extra cost? Can these presses also load .30-06?

I know I need to get dies and a shell holder, plus I will be looking to get a digital caliper and a few more manuals. Anything I am missing?

[Peak53]

The Lee is certainly up to it. I used mine for six years to load 38/357 and three different rifles before recently upgrading to a Lee Turret press for more volume. It is certainly the economy route, but quite capable of loading quality ammo. I was generally around 50 rounds/hour start to finish. One advantage with single stage is to be able to eyeball your powder charges before bullet seating. For me, it was a great introduction to the hobby and gave me a lot of confidence.

[Rule3]

Yes, a LEE single stage or any other brand will load anything. It's all a matter of how much ammo you plan on needing.

I can load say 100 round in a hour with a single stage. Batch loading. Some prefer to do it the slow and easy way, Kinda theraputic. If you need a lot of ammo then no it's not real fast.

The progressive press folks will be by soon to have you spend $700 or more on your first press.

If I were to buy a good single stage press kit today (you will need all this stuff anyway) I would get the RCBS Rock Chucker. On sale and it is all QUALITY stuff, no junk here. It has a good scale which is you most important piece of equipment. Buy some dies, powder and primers and away you go. Lifetime warranty!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS-...it/1324071.uts

[Bugkiller99]

Originally Posted by kbm6893

I'm gonna start reloading soon and it's gonna be a single stage press. I don't shoot a ton and having more ammo due to reloading isn't gonna change that much

Ah, famous last words....

But, going with your estimation of volume, Lee single stage press will meet your needs. I have the Breech Lock Challenger. You will want to get quick change bushings, I would get one for each die. That way you can get it set, and just snap it in and out.

How are you going to prime? On press? Then you will need the the Lee safety prime. Or use a hand primer? Lots of choices

You asked about what other equipment. You need a good beam scale. And powder dispenser. With your volume, you may be able to go with lee dippers.

You will get LOTS of suggestions. If you can find someone local, who is willing to let you see what they have, and give you some hands on, that may help you make a decision. And regardless of your current ideas, don't dismiss that your volumes of loading may go up. ALMOST ALWAYS that's the case.

Happy and Safe hand loading .

[kbm6893]

Hand primer. Comes with kits

Powder measure also comes with the kits

As for quick change bushings, that is what the Hornandy Lock and Load system is, correct? The kit comes with three bushings.

Beam scale? The digital ones that come with the Hornady aren't up to it?

[cmichini]

Lee is a good quality product at a good intro pricing point.

I just started as well but am only using a Lee Hand Press. I currently can reload what centerfire I need between shooting sessions. That said, I think the single stage will more than do what you need.

Get ready to reload more than you expect. It's fun and very enjoyable learning more about the details of the ammo you create, making you want to shoot it, load more, rinse and repeat.

[Bkreutz]

With the amount of ammo you want to load, the Lee press will be just fine. I had one years ago, then got a Lee turret press around 1982 and I still have it. It can't keep up to my current appetite for 9mm ammo though so I've got something more "progressive". I still use the Lee from time to time.

[ArchAngelCD]

The Cast Iron Lee single stage press will serve you well. It's my opinion the breach lock presses are a waste of money because you have to buy a breach plug for each and every die you use. That's an added cost with very little reward.

[scooter123]

I'm not a fan of the pre packaged kits, IMO they tend to be loaded with items you don't really need. I would recommend purchasing seperates and look for items on sale. If you are in western Pennsylvania you may want to consider a road trip to Ashland, Ohio. There you will find Fin, Feather, and Fur just east of the Ashland exit for RT. 250 off I-71. It's the finest reloading center in the midwest and prices on sale items are really hard to beat. For example last month they had the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme on sale for 119.95.

Now for some recomendations.

First off I've used the Lee Safety Scale and the Perfect Powder Measures and while they do work they can be a bit of a PITA to use. The Safety Scale is a PITA to zero and sensitive to vibration, so do NOT place in the same bench as your press. It's also a bit of a PITA to set with that vernier for the light poise. As for the Perfect Powder Measure, they are a PITA to adjust, fussy about what powders they'll meter accurately, and leak badly with really fine ball powders like Accurate #5. Point is, you can go cheap and get by, but you'll spend at least twice as much time adjusting settings than you would with higher priced tools.

Time and experience with the pitfalls of some of Lee's cheaper products has made me a real fan of RCBS. So, you'll find my recommendations are heavily biased to RCBS and it's because of lessons learned trying to go cheap.

Press. RCBS Rockchucker Supreme. IMO you won't find a finer single stage press for the money and it's a great value. The only fly in this particular ointment is that the primer catch tray doesn't not work well at all. Basically, when decapping your brass you'll leave about 10% of the removed primers on the floor. Keep a broom and dust pan handy.

Scale. RCBS 502. It's a 2 poise scale that is easy to zero and easy to set. The only hitch is common to all of the RCBS scales and that is that the heavy poise can be set so it's only partially engaged in the notch on the beam. When this happens your reading can be off by as much as 2 or 3 grains. Use a pencil or powder dipper to tap lightly on the poise to vibrate it fully into the chosen notch on the beam. Cost for the 502 runs about 80 bucks, less when it's on sale.

Powder Measure. Here is a case where going first class yields huge benefits in accuracy and ease of use. For handgun I would recommend the RCBS Competition Powder Measure With the Handgun drum. This is NOT a cheap measure at 121.99 at Midway but it is worth every penny. What you get is basically a tricked out Uniflow with the micrometer adjusting screw and the powder baffle. You also get a measure designed specifically to meter charges from 0.5 to 40 grains. Later on you can purchase the Rifle metering drum and micrometer screw and use it for Rifle loads. BTW, the handgun version is only available at Midway on the Net but the Fin may also carry it.

Electronic Scale. Yeah, you'll want one even though the cheap ones do tend to have a drifting zero. Frankfort Arsenal DS-750. It's only truly accurate for the first minute or two when you first turn it on but does work well to confirm you have your beam scale set properly. As for the drifting zero, it's typically around 2/10 grain and seams to behave in a sinusoidal manner with a 30-90 second period.

Case cleaning. If you want to do it really cheaply you can tie the cases in a sock and throw them in a washing machine. If you want to spend some money for a decent machine get a Lyman Case Tumbler. BTW, I am not a fan of the Ultrasonic cleaners, IMO all of the cleaning solutions that work well use an acid that will leach zinc out of your brass and shorten case life.

Dies. I use Dillon, RCBS, and Lee die sets and am happy with all of them. Given a choice I prefer the RCBS dies but that is simply because I like their decapping pin assembly design better than other makers. I also have a bag of 50 spare RCBS decapping pins.

Miscellaneous items. Lee's powder dipper set is inexpensive and handy for trickling powder into a scale to load up a small batch of experimental rounds, so I'd put that on the nice to have list. Calipers, go to www.pts-tools.com and do a search for "procheck caliper". You'll find a set of well made digital calipers with auto off and absolute zero functions that sell for about 36 bucks. Put that on the must have list. Loading trays, if you can scrounge up some trays from a box of Federal or Speer 45 ACP ammo they make good cheap loading trays. Otherwise you might want to spend a few bucks for a few RCBS loading trays. Funnel, you really don't need one, hold the empty case against the drop tube on your powder measure and every bit of the powder will end up in the case. In addition the powder pan on the RCBS 502 has a fine enough tip to pour powder into a 30 caliber case if your careful. Ammo boxes, I am a huge fan of the caliber specific MTM ammo boxes. Yeah, at about 2 bucks each they are an expense but they last a very long time and the 50 round boxes are typically a bit smaller than the commercial ammo boxes.

Bullets. For range loads I am a huge fan of Extreme Bullets and Rocky Mountain Reloading. They both beat Berry's prices by 5-10% and they are well made accurate plated bullets. Note, due to concern about lead exposure and one local range banning lead bullets I prefer to reload with plated bullets.

Brass. Haunt the local gun shows and you'll find dealers that almost always have some 38 special once fired range brass for sale for 5-8 cents per case. If you want new, check in at Starline brass daily and put in a back order when you see them open the back order listing. Note, that back order listing won't be available for more than a few hours so act quickly.

Reloading manuals. Lee 2nd, Lyman 49th, Speer 14th are all good manuals to have even if you find they don't always agree. You can also find load data on the net at the various powder manufacturers.

Primers. Are currently available and I would suggest you pick up one or two 1000 count bricks at a local Bass Pro, Cabela's, Gander Mountain, or the Fin over in Ohio. Because 6 months from now you may not be able to find primers.

Powders. This is a toughy right now because Handgun Powders seem to have vanished. First, get the Lee 2nd and make up a list of powders that seem to be suitable for your caliber. BTW, for 38 special Accurate #5 and Vihtavouri 3N37 are my preferred powders due to their excellent metering. For 357 Magnum with bullets up to 125 grains Accurate #5, for 135 & 140 grain bullets 3N37, for 158 grain and heavier bullets Hodgdon H110. Other powders you can use are Unique and Longshot but both of these meter somewhat poorly in the RCBS (+/- 0.15 grain variation) and won't meter at all in the Lee measure. There is also a long list of powders I haven't tried but others recommend, such as HP-38, Winchester 231, and a variety of others.

Yikes, I forgot about a Hand Primer. I really like the RCBS Universal Hand Primer. It has enough leverage to make the job easy, works with any case smaller than the 50 BMG, and is a good value.

[rsrocket1]

The Lee single stage press would be a great place to start for you. If you decide to move up to a turret or progressive, you will always be able to use the single stage press for other jobs such as rifle rounds, push through sizing, crimp removal or something else.

I bought a Hornady LnL AP, but bought a used Lee Breechlock Challenger press kit and used it for about a month before moving up to the AP. I use the AP for all my handgun rounds, but still use the SS press for rifle loads.

[ddixie884]

I load all of my handgun ammo on the cheapest Lee single stage press. I gave about $35.00 for it and the Lee reloading book from either Midway or Natchez a few years ago.

[chief38]

All I can suggest is that if you get a Single Stage Press loading will be tedious and long. If you spend a little more and get a reasonable Progressive Press it not only will go a lot faster, but you will enjoy it much more. The more you enjoy it the better you will get and you will more than likely start loading other calibers as well.

A lot of the cost of a reloading outfit are fixed. By that I mean no matter which type press or brand you buy, you will still need :
* a quality scale
* a tumbler
* a separator
* media
* primer tray
* Dies
* ammo boxes
* a bullet puller
* trays, misc parts and tools

So if a Single Stage runs $250 a Progressive might be less than $400 and there isn't that much of a difference. Just a thought...........

[venomballistics]

The Lee press is up to far more than 400 rounds a year, easily 10 times that.
at your rate, it'll make it to your next of kin

[blujax01]

Humm-humm-ha-hum-hum-hum...

Oh, hi there. I was just walking by and humming a little hum when I noticed this thread.

Thought I'd stop by and say that each and every one of you are absolutely correct.

[geddylee10002000]

Originally Posted by blujax01

Humm-humm-ha-hum-hum-hum...

Oh, hi there. I was just walking by and humming a little hum when I noticed this thread.

Thought I'd stop by and say that each and every one of you are absolutely correct.

Blue! I couldn't help myself! You going to shoot to reload or reload to shoot? Don't drink the blue koolaid!

[NevadaBob]

I load 9's & 38 Special with the Breechlock Challenger press. I use the Lee Pro Auto Disk, Lee 4 die set, Hornady GS-1500 scale (plus a Pacific beam scale for backup readings), and a Hornady hand held primer. I had thought about the Breechlock kit, but didn't like the reviews on the Lee beam scale. I also wanted the LPAD as well. I like the single stage because you can monitor each step as you go. Sure it's slower, but you are watching each step to make sure the completed round is correct.

[kbm6893]

Thanks for your help. So to start I need:

A press
powder thrower
scale
dies
shell holder
caliper
manuals
components

I'll price them out. As for the slowness of the single press, I am OK with that. Time spent in the garage where the kids can't bug me! Like I said, I'll be loading 1000 rounds a year of .38 at most. I only make it to the range 5-6 times a year, and I spread out what I shoot. My revolver last year MIGHT have had 400 rounds through it.

[OKFC05]

At least add a hand-held primer tool so you can prime without handling each primer. You'll thank me you did.

My revolver last year MIGHT have had 400 rounds through it.

We can fix that.. ever tried ICORE or IDPA? Nothing like shooting in public to motivate!

Add a vote for a Lee turret press, for a very few dollars more, which can be used as a single stage if you wish. Having all your dies in the turret plates, all adjusted, and never having to screw with them again is worth it all by itself! I can change calibers on a turret faster than changing ONE DIE on a single stage.

Final comment: the quality of the ammo is not affected by the price of the press or the type of press, provided it will hold adjustments. You cannot tell whether a .38 was loaded on a Dillon 650, Rock Chucker Single stage, Lee turret, Lee single stage, and so on. You CAN definitely tell if the nut behind the wheel is loose, or paying more attention to the TV than the press!

[Harley Fan]

Hi, Kevin,

Here's my little rig... as with you, I'm a lower volume reloader, now doing .38 & .357.



From L to R, Hornady GS-1500 electronic scale, Lee Perfect powder measure (Mounted to a board and clamped to my bench) a RCBS Partner press, Lee carbide dies in .38 Sp which will also do .357 Mag.

Not shown is a Lee hand-held primer tool.

The Lee Perfect powder measure is my only complaint. It is accurate... amazingly accurate... but, at $23, it's rotating action is quite hard, and I'll replace it with a much more robust one when funds permit.

I load slowly and deliberately. When I took this, I was charging cases in the expanding die. That tray behind the press is a .44 mag ammo tray and perfect for holding the .38 cartridge flange "up". I weigh out every 10 charges for accuracy check. When I get to 50, I do a "flashlight check" to make sure all 50 got a charge. No empties, no doubles.

[tim c]

don't just stay with one manual check loads at two or three loading data sites.

[Maximumbob54]

If you are going single stage then go with the Lee Challenger. Add the Safety Primer to it so you can prime on the press as it is soooooo easy and fast. Having used the breech locks I think they are worth the few bucks. Even more I like their lock ring version for a few more bucks. Set them and forget them. But honestly I would go with the Classic Turret press. It does cost a little more but it's much easier to use.

[NJM15]

I use Lee presses model 1000 , one for9. 40 and 357, and the other for .223 I have a single stage reloder press I use to deprime I use the 40 cal die to deprime all the calibers I load. and also for bulge busting. The priming system is tricky at times but you have to be sure the trough is clean ,one flake of powder can stop the operation
Generaly good equiptment with good custome service, have loaded 2000 rounds so far, at least that's how many primers I went through

[Badquaker]

When starting out, slow is good. Take your time with each step. Read the "how to" section of the reloading manual several times. Then after you have loaded a few rounds, read it again. Remember, you are working with explosives, check twice. Blowing your gun up is a horrible way to learn.

[SMSgt]

Lee press will certainly get the job done and sounds right for your needs. I don't reload massive quantities at a sitting and still use my old Model 3 Herters SS press.

I have some Lee dies, and my complaint about them is the adjustment locking rings don't lock in place, so every time I changed them the setting was off. A set of Hornady die lock rings solved that issue.

I use a Harbor Freight digital caliber and it works fine. After all, we're not building trigger assemblies for nuclear weapons. Make sure it's the .001" version as they also have a .01" version.

Sometimes starter kits can be advantageous if they include what you need and not a lot of stuff you don't. I think the RCBS starter kit is one of the better basic ones, and kits preclude buying a lot of stuff piecemeal.

Something I might suggest as a nice addition is buying a Lee hand press. They run about $25 or so, and I've found it great for prepping all my handgun rounds while relaxing in my recliner in front of the TV. It's good for pistol cases, but rifle cases are a bit too much work for it. I also prime my cases at the same time with a RCBS hand primer, which is a bit beefier than the Lee version and uses standard shell holders, another plus.

[rwsmith]

If you stay at that level of reloading the Lee will probably last you as long as you need to use it. If I had the loot, need and the desire, I could move to a turret but my single stage is doing just fine.

[RacinbobSW]

I figured I'd put my two cents worth in. The simple answer to your question is yes, the Lee single stage will serve you just fine. It may not be quite as robust as the others you are looking at but I think it's the best value out there. Only you can answer the question if a single stage will suit your needs for volume.

[gmiller0737]

The Lee Single Stage will do just fine But I would really look hard at the Lee Turret Press it will give you a little more speed & if you buy a extra turret for each caliber you plan to load you will only have to install & adjust dies 1 time.

[WaMike]

Single stage reloaders are fine. I sold my Dillon loader and went back to my old Hornady single state loader. I use a Lee (single stage) for bullet seating....probably only because I have it on hand. Lee dies are the bomb.

[Will2]

One more vote for the Lee Turret press.

The Lee Classic single stage press will do everything you need now. But, the Turret press is much more enjoyable. (I have both.)

If I knew that I only would operate as a single station press, I would still purchase the Turret. Better primer operation, better powder process, and much less die changing.

Give some thought to the Turret, as others have said, it's just a few dollars more.

Will

[gwpercle]

Yes , the Lee single stage is up to it. Get started with the single stage, Even if later you decide to go to turret or progressive tools, you will need to keep a single stage around. It will not be a wasted investment.
The Lee Kits, that have everything ( or nearly everything) to get started , are a great value.
Contrary to what some will say, RCBS and Dillon progressive's are not the only brands that you can load decent ammo with.
One bit of advice, use a hand priming tool and seat primers off the press, just works better and gets them seated properly.
Good luck
Gary

[Dave_n]

I have had three single stage Lee presses set up for over 20 years that i use for loading any rimmed round (one die in each), and then when all made, I will crimp them. I will also reload some odd-ball caibres the same way (from 0.25 ACP to 7.63 Mauser and any other shouldered case for pistols). Dave_n

[tgwillard]

I use the Lee Challenger and it works fine for my modest reloading volume.

[LostintheOzone]

Lee is a good press. I have the classic cast and I load maybe 100 rounds a week on it. They are as good as any of the other presses in the one to one fiddy price range. I have some of their dies also and they seem to work well. I also use a lot of RCBS equipment which I also like.

Lee presses and dies are popular with people who don't load a lot. Some of their other equipment is questionable IMO.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by Dave_n

I have had three single stage Lee presses set up for over 20 years that i use for loading any rimmed round (one die in each), and then when all made, I will crimp them. I will also reload some odd-ball caibres the same way (from 0.25 ACP to 7.63 Mauser and any other shouldered case for pistols). Dave_n

I've never thought of this approach.

[bbqncigars]

I bought a Lee Classic Cast solely to load 50bmg. It's a good value for the price, and it will load lesser rounds as well. ;-) Most of my single station activity though, is on the CoAx I bought in '73.

[smokindog]

Compelled to point out, AGAIN, that the blue guy proudly displays a RED cross on the bag that saves the day

OP, lots of good info in this thread and there are about a dozen others threads recently on the topic(s). I just started the reloading hobby in the last 18 months myself. It can be daunting at first but the good people here have a wealth of opinions and help!

I'm glad I began with a progressive though that may not be the right choice for you and, in the end, that's what matters. This is like buying a car. You have requirements, you have a budget, you have driving habits, you have limits, and you have preferences. Test drive if you can. I visited many stores, took advantage of some free classes (if you have a Cabelas check with them), and did a LOT of reading and youtubing.

If you can't find some of the more recent discussions on this topic, PM me and I'll go back through my "research" and share my list of threads.

Enjoy and watch out for the bug, it will bite you

Originally Posted by blujax01

Humm-humm-ha-hum-hum-hum...

Oh, hi there. I was just walking by and humming a little hum when I noticed this thread.

Thought I'd stop by and say that each and every one of you are absolutely correct.

[Biggfoot44]

Any of the LEE single stage presses will serve well. The LEE scale is cheesey. At best the LEE powder measures will require a lot of fiddling. The dippers are well suited to loading .38spl , and a cheap digital scale to confirm powder density for a particular lot of powder. I prefer a hand priming tool simply for the better tactile feedback ( aka Feel ) .

If they still make them ( or find one used ) the alum Turret Press is/ was very reasonable priced. You can ignor the turret and pretent it's a single , or when you are ready , double your speed.

[KLYDE]

About 35 years ago I purchased a entry level Lee set up. It faithfully served me for about 15 years until the frame cracked and broke in half. Full length resizing of 30 .06 for years took a toll.
I then went green and bought a RCBS RS5. Still single stage as I prefer controlling and double checking each step of the process. I never looked back and the RS5 will handle any loading chore.
I'd suggest what scooter123 stated and buy individual components. I would also buy a better grade than entry level. This will keep you happy once you really get into the hobby and eliminate a costly upgrade.
Good luck.

[Moe Mentum]

Lee works for me.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Biggfoot44

Any of the LEE single stage presses will serve well. The LEE scale is cheesey. At best the LEE powder measures will require a lot of fiddling. The dippers are well suited to loading .38spl , and a cheap digital scale to confirm powder density for a particular lot of powder. I prefer a hand priming tool simply for the better tactile feedback ( aka Feel ) .

If they still make them ( or find one used ) the alum Turret Press is/ was very reasonable priced. You can ignor the turret and pretent it's a single , or when you are ready , double your speed.

Sort of. The Lee classic cast s a good press, sturdy enough for any relading task. The lighter wt Lee presses are really ****. Sure hey wrk, so does a hammer & brass punch, but fo a few $$ more, buy the better classic cast. You never know where your reloading takes you.

[Clovishound]

I like Lee products, but would suggest you go with the Classic series. These are cast iron vs cast aluminum. They have beefier linkage as well. The cost difference is small.

The Classic turret runs just under a $100 online.

[gregintenn]

After 20 years of moderate to heavy use, I finally wore out my aluminum Lee press. I replaced it with a cast iron Lee press. My children will never wear it out.

Lee products work great and cost little.

[ageingstudent]

I decided to get a classic turret press over the single stage. I feel like it gives me the most versatility at a reasonable speed for how much I shoot and I can still check my cases visually. Glad I did my homework it was a perfect fit for me. I use it like a single stage for rifle caliber and auto index for pistol. Some Lee stuff like the safety scale and the powder dispensers could be better, but my press performs way above it's price in my opinion. I buy better quality scales, calipers, case trimmers, and powder measures (rcbs, hornady, etc). There is a better than average chance you will shoot more than you think when you start rolling your own. Doesn't hurt to buy a little more potential production capability. Plus changing calibers is a piece of cake on the turret.

[carl730]

There are nicer presses but the Lee should be adequate for what you're wanting to do. When you get your pistol dies, you'll save a lot of aggravation by getting carbide sizing dies. You won't need the calipers until you start loading for your rifle and then you'll need a trimmer also. A powder scale and measure are also needed. When I started I had a Pacific pistol powder measure that used bushings. So when I changed calibers I would change bushings. They are fixed and can't change so if I put in the right bushing, I got the exact same charge without even having to check with the scale. That measure isn't made anymore but you can get a RCBS little Dandy measure and use fixed rotors if you know ahead of time what load you want. Of course RCBS will say to check the charge on a scale, but being fixed, it can't change. Unfortunately today you won't always be able to find the powder you want and may have to settle for your 3rd or 4th choice and will be changing loads more often than you would like. I ended up with a Redding powder measure with both the pistol and rifle chambers. I like the micrometer setting so I can go back to previous settings, but will always verify with a scale. I have both digital and beam scales but have more confidence in the beams. The tumblers are nice to have but I shot for many years before I got one. I'm not familiar with how the Lee press handles priming, you may want a hand primer if you don't like the way it's done on the press. Otherwise some loading manuals are all I can think of right now.

[68lemans462]

Lee classic turret press, cast iron. LOVE MINE!

Yes, the single stage will get it done as well. My old RCBS single stage is still around here... Somewhere....

[sarg1c]

Originally Posted by Will2

One more vote for the Lee Turret press.

The Lee Classic single stage press will do everything you need now. But, the Turret press is much more enjoyable. (I have both.)

If I knew that I only would operate as a single station press, I would still purchase the Turret. Better primer operation, better powder process, and much less die changing.

Give some thought to the Turret, as others have said, it's just a few dollars more.

Will

I started with the Lee Load-all and a plastic hammer, moved up to a Lee "O" press. About 10 years ago found two Lyman 6 hole press for $15.00 Yes two. Sold one a couple days later for $15.00. About 6 mo. ago found a Lee Progressive, $10.00 at a LGS used. removed the indexing parts ... On the Lyman, one hole is for the Lee Ram Prime and a couple die sets, 9MM and .38 SPC.. On the Progressive I have a couple of three hole Plates with .204 Ruger, and the .223 Win. I have the .270 and .308 to swope out when necessary I'm not a high volumn shooter, but shoot all I want.

[John R]

Out of the brands you mentioned, the RCBS is probably the best bang for your buck.

[chaparrito]

The single stage will serve you well, but I'll second the suggestion of a Classic Turret Press. I learned on a single stage, but had to give it back because it was borrowed. I bought a CTP, but use it essentially as a slightly more convenient single stage. I have turrets set up with 9mm, .45acp and .44 magnum dies and can switch in seconds. I tend to decap and flare a whole bunch of brass in one sitting, and then come back later and load them as needed. Much more convenient and you don't lose any control of the stages, which I believe is critical to a newbie's understanding of the process.

ETA: once your dies are set on the turret, you don't have to dink around with them every time you change them. It's my LEAST favorite part of reloading and I find it really confusing and time consuming.

[oberon]

Nothin' wrong with your plan.
Now go do it.

[sarg1c]

Originally Posted by chaparrito

The single stage will serve you well, but I'll second the suggestion of a Classic Turret Press. I learned on a single stage, but had to give it back because it was borrowed. I bought a CTP, but use it essentially as a slightly more convenient single stage. I have turrets set up with 9mm, .45acp and .44 magnum dies and can switch in seconds. I tend to decap and flare a whole bunch of brass in one sitting, and then come back later and load them as needed. Much more convenient and you don't lose any control of the stages, which I believe is critical to a newbie's understanding of the process.

ETA: once your dies are set on the turret, you don't have to dink around with them every time you change them. It's my LEAST favorite part of reloading and I find it really confusing and time consuming.

GOOD POST....