Starting out, which one?

[Oracle]

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

 

[Edcnh]

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.

 

[rwsmith]

I'm surprised.....

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.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

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

 

[Ruger 13]

I’d go with the Redding Big Boss!

 

[Ruger 13]

I’d go with the Redding Big Boss!

 

[Cdog]

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.

 

[RussellD]

Redding T7 is well worth the look.

 

[jake1945]

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!

 

[Oldfrt]

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.

 

[Hair Trigger]

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.

 

[mikerjf]

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.

 

[Father Joe]

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.

 

[SMSgt]

RCBS Rockchucker kit will do you right.

 

[Ron IL]

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.

 

[mtgianni]

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.

 

[reddog81]

What calibers will you load and how many rounds will you be shooting each week/month?

This...

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

 

[OLMDDat71]

RCBS

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).

 

[__steve__]

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

 

[iouri]

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.