Need 1st press advice, what do you suggest?

[15Krounds]

Midway has a sale on the RCBS Summit for $150.

RCBS Summit Single Stage Press

I know I'll need a case trimmer, decent scale, primer pocket swager (for crimped .223), some kind of case cleaner. What else will I need?

I plan on loading mostly .223/5.56 and .40 S&W and maybe a little .270

If you were starting off fresh again, what would you do? I currently load shotshells.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

the summit looks like a nice press and will last a couple of life times. a decent price, too. You will need a hand or bench priming device, as this press has no priming feature on it.

 

[scooter123]

The Summit was a new design a few years back and it really doesn't seem to have "lit up" the market. Probably because it was more expensive than the Rockchucker which has been a standby going on forever. At that price it's about the same as the Rockchucker and there are probably some small benefits to it's open front construction. However, as a Rockchucker user I don't see enough advantage to get me to go out and buy one. I can tell you that RCBS sells good value for the money, so I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to recommend anything they make. FAct is that my scale, powder measure, dies, case trimmer, and hand primer are ALL RCBS and I didn't start out with RCBS, I migrated to RCBS after I found a less expensive brand to be distinctly lacking.

 

[novalty]

Oh no here we go again...

 

[Joe in SC]

RCBS Rockchucker, not only as a first press, but one for the long haul.

 

[ChiefStealth]

IMHO, it depends on the volume of reloading you'll be doing. Folks tend to shoot up .223 and .40 pretty quickly. Yes, you can reload 200 rounds of .223 & 200 rounds of .40 on a SS press. It will take quite a bit of time, though.

 

[fredj338]

I started with a ss press, but if starting today, I would jump into a Dillon 550B. Use it as an inverted turret, loading one round at a time thru all the processes. Then later if you need to, like loading a lot of 223 or 40, then use it as a progressive. This will save you $$ in the long run because you'll only buy once.
As noted, it comes down to volume. If you only loaded for a bolt gun or magnum rev, a ss press may be fine. Any semi auto will eat 100rds in short order & that will take you about 75min on a ss press. On a 550B, about 15min.

 

[OKFC05]

If you're going to learn on your own just by reading the instructions, there is merit to getting a single stage, but if you shoot much .223 and pistol, you soon will notice it is sloooow.
I think virtually every instructor will suggest you get the press you will ultimately need, and learn how to use it with an instructor or mentor. I've started more than one out on a Dillon progressive with no special issues.
If I had known what I know now, I would have bought a Dillon 650 right off, because you can load one cartridge at a time, or load it up as a full progressive, and I shoot a LOT of pistol ammo.

 

[THEWELSHM]

I bought the lock and load AP as my first press, and glad I did. Then I picked up an RCBS JR3 on ebay for $50. I use both presses and they compliment each other well. I called for parts that were missing on the RCBS ( 1978) and they mailed out a couple of days later for free. Consider buying a used press and sending back for FREE service? This service applies to RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Dillon and a few more.. All of which you cant go wrong with aka Ford, Chevy, Dodge etc

My 02

thewelshm

 

[Bocephus]

I agree with the suggestion on starting with a Dillon if you are going to load a large number of rounds. It is not a difficult press to learn and Dillon is always available for assistance.
I have loaded on 550's and my 650 for years and their no BS warranty is pretty good. I did pick up a used 550 and sent it to them for updating and repair. They charged me $150.
I also have a Rockchucker that I use for hunting loads.

 

[SMSgt]

Save up for a Rockchucker reloading kit that will have most of what you need to get started. I've been loading rifle and handgun ammo since 1975 on a single-stage press and have no reason to change now. I don't need massive quamtities of ammo to justify a progressive press.

 

[george_lehr]

I'd always want to have a single stage press around. Mine is an old Lyman that I bought used over forty years ago. I use it to decap cases before I tumble them and to apply the factory crimp for completing the reload. It's easy to change the dies and shell holders to suit all the different calibers I shoot (.32, .38, .41, .44 & .45).
I shoot a lot, but don't mind taking a little more time to produce reloads. I prefer to use a hand priming tool, even though my Lyman and Lee progressive presses have the means to prime cases.
George

 

[15Krounds]

Thank you all for your thoughts here. I have looked at the Dillon RL550B. While I agree to buy once, I have a hard time justifying spending that much right now. I shoot about 1000 rds of .233 and 1000 of .40 S&W a year. I wish it were more, but that's what I've had time for.

If I get the Dillion I know I'll be in for at least $1,000 to get started and then I'll have to buy all the bullets, primers and powder yet. I could buy 4,000 rounds of .223 for that right now which would be 4 years of shooting.

I was thinking I could get into reloading for $300-$400 to get started and it would be worth it to me.

Good idea about watching for a used press. I will certainly do that.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[SLT223]

Ammoload. I've heard Camdex are junk, but I have no experience with either

On a more serious note, I went straight to progressive, and I'm sure glad I did.

 

[hanno]

If you want a single stage, consider the Lee Classic Cast (LCC). It is a very solid press and the depriming system is far superior to the system on the RockChucker (I have a RockChucker 2 which is now unused). You can get one for just over $100 at Amazon.

If you want to spiff up the LCC a bit, get the Hornady Lock N Load Conversion kit. The Lock N Load bushing screws into the LCC allowing for quick die changes. Another improvement is the Ergo Handle available from Inline Fabrication. It is an improvement over the stock LCC handle.

The "improvements" suggested above are not because of any deficiencies with the LCC, they just make it better. I also put a LNL Conversion and the Ergo handle on my RockChucker.

The RockChucker is a fine press and I got many years of use from mine. I just much prefer the depriming system on the LCC and consider the Lee the better press.

 

[Tadeus67]

I have a Dillon 550 B, a lee pro 1000 and a single stage Lee (the very basic model). All have worked for me for the past 7 or 8 years. I surely reccomend both brands. Have a lot of dies from RCBS and are excellent!

 

[george_lehr]

I was thinking I could get into reloading for $300-$400 to get started and it would be worth it to me.

You can certainly do that. Speaking for myself, my reloading buddy and many others I know around my age, we all got into reloading with single stage presses. If you can find a good used one, you can save some money there (check out some gun shows). Buy a couple die sets, a hand priming tool, a powder measure and a scale and you're equipped to reload.
Also, let me tell you that I have some Lyman and RCBS dies and they're fine, but while they cost more, they don't seem to work any better than my Lee dies do.
George

 

[MyDads38]

Whether you use the auto-index feature or not, the Lee Classic Cast 4 hole Turret press would make things quicker and more efficient, in my opinion. The dies will always be set up in their respective turret, only takes seconds (<few minutes max) to change calibers and with any of the available powder measures, makes reloading pistol ammo very quick and easy. I do not like the powder scale (Lee Safety Scale), get an RCBS or Pacific/Hornady. I use Lee dies, but have used RCBS/Lyman.

I have an older (1978) RCBS Reloader Special press, which still gets used for de-capping and 223 rifle rounds. A good single stage press will always serve a purpose! Good luck in your quest and happy loading!

 

[fredj338]

If I get the Dillion I know I'll be in for at least $1,000 to get started and then I'll have to buy all the bullets, primers and powder yet. I could buy 4,000 rounds of .223 for that right now which would be 4 years of shooting.

I was thinking I could get into reloading for $300-$400 to get started and it would be worth it to me.

Good idea about watching for a used press. I will certainly do that.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Yes & when you shoot it up, you only have a pile of brass. Reloading isn't for everyone, but If you shoot 500rds of anything a month, you are saving quite a lot of $$ over the years.
You certainly can get into reloading for about $400 for one caliber. Get a Lee classic cast turret (LCT), good scale, decent powder measure & some misc tools, right about $400. The LCT is faster than a ss press, cheaper than a progressive. About all most shooters need. A 550b with everything for one caliber, about $800. Twice as much, yes, but also more than twice as fast, if you need the volume. If starting over today, I would go 550b & never blink about the cost. Over 20yrs, the cost is $3.33 a month, less than a gal of gas you use you go buy ammo at Wally every month. The cost of ammo will only continue to go up. Buy your gear today, fix the cost, you'll shoot for 50% less for decades.

 

[bbqncigars]

Get a true progressive press (Dillon 650 or Hornady AP) if you're going through a butt load of ammo. Otherwise a good SS or turret (Lee best buy in both) should keep you shooting for minimum bucks. I still use my original SS press (CoAx) regularly. A Lee Classic Cast handles the big rifle ammo (50BMG). A Hornady AP keeps my 25-20 Marlin fed when the Dillon 550B couldn't deal with the fragile (and scarce) little bottleneck cases. Buy the right press for your needs. Hopefully, you won't learn the hard way that a particular piece of gear is a waste of money.