Which Press to Buy?

[Calliope]

If it has to be a single stage, the Forster co-ax.

I like my Redding T-7 turret.

 

[Frank46]

Started out with the rockchucker, then with a Dillon 550B and have a lee classic press. Use the dillon for handgun ammo and the rockchucker a nd lee for rifle loadings. Can't go wrong with the rockchucker for a first press. I couldn't even begin to total the amount of rounds it's loaded. Every once in awhile take it apart, clean and lube reassemble and away you go. I've had mine for close to 45 years and it's paid for itself many times over. Frank

 

[fixitfred]

Put me down for a Rockchucker I'm on my second. I lost the first. I went up to a RCBS turret and you may want to start there. You can still go slow and learn as on a single stage. You should always plan for growth.

Speaking of growth thinking about going blue. I don't know your budget and plans and even abilities so it's hard to say definitively. Always start slow, learn it right and be safe.

 

[7P's]

I totally agree with post #8 - I think you will get more satisfaction from a progressive, because it will make ammunition just as accurate as a single stage, only a lot faster - allowing you more time to duck "honey-do" projects.

If you ever decide to go progressive - as of today, stay with either RED or BLUE.

 

[ggibson511960]

Forster Co-Ax

I reload for the pure joy of a technical hobby, not volume, and my Co-Ax keeps a couple of green "C"-presses gathering dust. A Forster press has the little mentioned advantage of quick die changes, although this advantage is over emphasized if you process cases in a proper and safe batch mode. It's not that time consuming to un-screw and screw in a pair of dies. The real payoff comes in concentricity of long rifle cases. The shell holder jaws and die pocket both allow the case to slide laterally into alignment with the die bore. You can get good concentricity with any "C"-press with enough die fiddling, but why bother? For a mere $200 more the Co-Ax will do it for you. Co-Ax's are a bit more complex than a "C", but keeping them running is part of the satisfaction. They have a compound linkage ram with just as much force multiplication as a typical "C"-press. The universal shell holder mechanism will spoil you against using traditional shell holders. The build quality is top notch, like all "C"-presses except one.

 

[jgh4445]

Another vote for the CO-AX. Do yourself a favor and visit the Forster website and review the press. You can thanks us all later lol.

 

[carpriver]

I will say get what you can afford. I use Lee classic turret I load pistol and rifle, all my dies are set in turrets and can be changed in a few seconds. It's worth a look. Just because it is low cost does not make it low quality. Check put Titian reloading.

 

[wlewisiii]

Cheapest of the style you want. None are enough better than the rest to matter. I have a CH single stage I bought used for stupid cheap. I may get a Lee turret someday but I'm not sure it's cheap enough to matter.

 

[sbrmike]

I think you are confusing "O" presses with "C" presses. The "C" presses were old Lyman, Herter's and a few others. The frames were a "C". I do not think RCBS or Redding ever made "C" presses. I could be wrong on that though.

I reload for the pure joy of a technical hobby, not volume, and my Co-Ax keeps a couple of green "C"-presses gathering dust. A Forster press has the little mentioned advantage of quick die changes, although this advantage is over emphasized if you process cases in a proper and safe batch mode. It's not that time consuming to un-screw and screw in a pair of dies. The real payoff comes in concentricity of long rifle cases. The shell holder jaws and die pocket both allow the case to slide laterally into alignment with the die bore. You can get good concentricity with any "C"-press with enough die fiddling, but why bother? For a mere $200 more the Co-Ax will do it for you. Co-Ax's are a bit more complex than a "C", but keeping them running is part of the satisfaction. They have a compound linkage ram with just as much force multiplication as a typical "C"-press. The universal shell holder mechanism will spoil you against using traditional shell holders. The build quality is top notch, like all "C"-presses except one.

 

[gazzmann]

Hands down....Dillon. Best warranty in the business!

 

[gwpercle]

The truth is , any well made single station press will get you going. Because of the magnum rifle cases you intend to load for get something beefy , cast iron C type or any O design. I wouldn't get a turret for the big rifles. I have a turret for handgun ammo but the large rifle gets sized on an old Pacific Super Deluxe C...massive cast iron.
Hornady bought Pacific I think. They make a decent press.
I've been at this over 40 years and if knowing what I now know and going to buy my first press I would get the CH4D Champion Press , you're not going to see CH4D dies and presses mentioned very often because they are not "main stream" , only experienced reloaders know about their fine products and great service....newbees have never heard of them. Check out the CH4D Champion , that's a big time sweet press.
For right now , stay away from progressives. They are fine for loading mass quantities of one caliber but for loading small lots of many different calibers , stick with a single station. You can graduate to a progressive later after learning more about reloading.
Gary

 

[joeintexas]

Another vote for RCBS Rockchucker. Solid, easy on the arms and will last a lifetime. I have loaded thousands of rounds on one and it still operates like the day I mounted it to a bench. I have found their customer service is also top notch. On a negative note, you're not going to like the primer catcher.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

In the Eighties I bought an RCBS Rockchucker and I've never looked back...

 

[2011redrider]

Actually Dillon does make a single stage loader, the BL550. Of course it can be upgraded to a progressive.

Actually the Bl 550 is a manually indexed progressive without a powder measure and priming systems included with the Rl 550. It still has four station shell plate and tool heads, so, I don't see how you call it a single stage?

 

[BE Mike]

Actually the Bl 550 is a manually indexed progressive without a powder measure and priming systems included with the Rl 550. It still has four station shell plate and tool heads, so, I don't see how you call it a single stage?

What would you call it? It sure ain't a progressive or turret, but whatever. I would still suggest a Forster for some of the rifle cartridges the OP wants to reload.

 

[Harbinger_of_lead]

Quick update... a friend of mine is going to give me a reloading set up that was his father-in-laws. His father-in-law passed away a few years ago and they boxed everything up and put it in a storage shed. Apparently my friend is not into reloading and does not need/want any money for the setup. He just wants to see it go to use.

So, I will post when I get the equipment. I am excited to see what kind of press he was using and the calibers he was reloading.

 

[montana500]

Mounting it as a permanent reloading station is the cool deal. The bench was a bit busy initially, but I now have it optimized with what I need and in its place.

I'm partial to RCBS, but all of this was purchased over 30 years and there is a fair bit of Hornady pieces. It's all good.

 

[DGT]

I was an RCBS Rockchucker fan until I tried and bought a Forster COAX. I can't say enough good things about the Forster.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Go red, Lee for me.

 

[rwsmith]

One consideration.....

If you EVER plan to load rifle cartridges get a press that's designed to handle them.