Which Press to Buy?

[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.

 

[Thomas15]

Collect 'em all!

 

[Harbinger_of_lead]

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.

Nice press table. I like the heavy slab construction

 

[hdwhit]

If you're looking for a single stage press, my recommendation is to get one made of cast iron since it has less "give" than aluminum.

I bought an RCBS Reloader Special when I was 18 and nearly 40 years later, I still have it and I'm still making ammunition with it. I prefer RCBS because I have found their customer service to be better than their competitors (and I have equipment from pretty much every one of the major companies); although with the exception of Lyman, I have found everyone to have very good customer service.

 

[Skeet 028]

If you're looking for a single stage press, my recommendation is to get one made of cast iron since it has less "give" than aluminum.

While the above is true there are quite a few presses made of aluminum that will work for most handgun rounds. Even a Lee will do most handgun rounds(and I am not a Lee fan). I bought an old but nice condition Montgomery Ward press(made by CH?) to load 30-30. It is aluminum and does just fine. Even the dies are M-W brand..but not aluminum. There are any number of good presses sold even at gun shows for a very reasonable cost. The reloader special is a very good press. I saw one in exec condition at the gun show in Billings last weekend for 35 dollars... with a couple shellholders included. An excellent press to start out with. It really isn't rocket science... Buying used and cheap leaves a lot of money to buy components or save the money for a later upgrade. The old press I mentioned above cost me 5 dollars with the dies. You'll spend more at a quick stop at a convenience store. And for 10 dollars more I got a nice Ohaus 1005 scale in like new condition... with the instructions. So even if you are frugal(cheap)...look around and find a good used press. It's almost impossible to wear one out

 

[Thomas15]

I agree with Skeet 028. Nothing wrong with buying new but if your looking for a deal, used is the way to go. Also, we put a lot of thought into the actual press and tend to settle on just any old scale. A good scale, not one that "just works", is important and a great convenience.

 

[Skeet 028]

A good scale, not one that "just works", is important and a great convenience.

Couldn't be said any better. Glad you brought it up..Heck with a good scale and a Lee Loader or a Lyman tong tool really good ammo can be made. I knew an old fellow who had a Lyman tong tool for his S&W Highway Patrolman. When he passed away I found 40 boxes of 38's and 357s on the shelf in his garage and at least that many more cases in coffee cans. I was totally surprised. His wife told me he would spend an hour or so many evenings loading ammo. I have the old tong tool and dies I gave the Redding scale to a fellow that needed it

 

[joe44va]

RCBS stands for Rock Chucker Bullet Swage, which is tough duty for a press. The Rock Chucker's are the Tanks of presses IMHO. Mine is over 40 years old and is still tight. For Handgun loads I now use a Dillon RL550B. Lyman, Redding, and Hornady also make good presses and would serve well. A Rock Chucker is still my favorite.

 

[Skeet 028]

RCBS stands for Rock Chucker Bullet Swage, which is tough duty for a press. The Rock Chucker's are the Tanks of presses IMHO. Mine is over 40 years old and is still tight. .

Yep it does stand for Rock Chuck Bullet Swage...but the Rockchucker came more than 20 yrs later. It is a good press but was not designed for bullet swaging...that was a much bigger stronger press and cost considerably more than the RC. The Rock Chucker press was downsized for reloading and it is still a great press.

 

[Jack71]

I've been reloading for over 45 years and there are a lot of good single-stage presses out there, but my favorite (like many other people here) is the RCBS Rockchucker. Mine is an older model dated 1979 that I bought used. It's still tight and good as the day it was made.

My first real press was a Lyman Spar-t turret I bought new in 1971. I still have it, and it works fine, although the ram is getting a little loose after untold thousands of rounds. I could get a new ram and it would probably be a lot tighter. My point here is it is hard to wear out a good cast iron reloading press.

I enjoy reloading and find it a relaxing hobby. And I like shooting ammo that I made myself.

 

[montana500]

Nice press table. I like the heavy slab construction

Thanks! I made two of these from a neighbor's Red Fir that was leaning towards his cabin. The other is for general purposes and not bolted to any studs. It don't move either, weighing (I guess) about 150lbs.

 

[Skeet 028]

I had a fellow just give me 2 4x8 sheets of exterior 3/4 plywood. They used it for a concrete form. So...Am going to make a bench top with double 3/4. Going to get rid of 3 tables I use for reloading benches. Should be strong enough for a bench top. Fun and games. He also told me I can get more if I want...

 

[BE Mike]

I had a fellow just give me 2 4x8 sheets of exterior 3/4 plywood. They used it for a concrete form. So...Am going to make a bench top with double 3/4. Going to get rid of 3 tables I use for reloading benches. Should be strong enough for a bench top. Fun and games. He also told me I can get more if I want...

1 sheet of 3/4" should be more than sturdy enough for reloading. IMHO, a 1 1/2" reloading bench top is way overkill, but that said, over-engineering can't hurt. It just makes drilling the holes for mounting tougher.

 

[Skeet 028]

1 sheet of 3/4" should be more than sturdy enough for reloading. IMHO, a 1 1/2" reloading bench top is way overkill, but that said, over-engineering can't hurt. It just makes drilling the holes for mounting tougher.

You may be right but when I get done I can end up with 2 as I will cut it to 28 inches wide Use the two 16 inch pieces for the underside and one 28 inch for the top...the other 28 inch I will use as another bench. I will put the Dillon's on their strong mounts on it. Also have a Redding T-7 on a strong mount...or if I can get another piece from him I will make a bench for my lathe. I need a bit more sturdy place to mount it. I also have a South Bend Light 10 cabinet lathe I am gonna have to let go..Good lathe but with 5 lathes left..something has to go., The little Unimat resides in a large ammo can so it is out of the way...but I haven't used it in a couple years..May sell it too. Then again on the bench...being I have Scotch ancestors the key word here was FREE. And I have 10 8ft treated 4x4s I can use for the legs. They were also...FREE! I knew I would find a use for them...yippee

 

[BE Mike]

You may be right but when I get done I can end up with 2 as I will cut it to 28 inches wide Use the two 16 inch pieces for the underside and one 28 inch for the top...the other 28 inch I will use as another bench. I will put the Dillon's on their strong mounts on it. Also have a Redding T-7 on a strong mount...or if I can get another piece from him I will make a bench for my lathe. I need a bit more sturdy place to mount it. I also have a South Bend Light 10 cabinet lathe I am gonna have to let go..Good lathe but with 5 lathes left..something has to go., The little Unimat resides in a large ammo can so it is out of the way...but I haven't used it in a couple years..May sell it too. Then again on the bench...being I have Scotch ancestors the key word here was FREE. And I have 10 8ft treated 4x4s I can use for the legs. They were also...FREE! I knew I would find a use for them...yippee

I load on my Dillon 550 while seated. My 650, I load while standing. The 650 is mounted on a "strong mount" and the 550 is mounted directly to the bench. I load on my single stage while seated, as well. My bench height works well for those techniques.

 

[Skeet 028]

I load on my Dillon 550 while seated. My 650, I load while standing. The 650 is mounted on a "strong mount" and the 550 is mounted directly to the bench. I load on my single stage while seated, as well. My bench height works well for those techniques.

I do most of my loading standing up except when using the old A2 presses. Having 5 Dillon's I don't have a 550 press. I do have an AT 500 which is somewhat like the newer(but not better) BL550. When loading my shotshells I sit when doing 20-28 ga but stand for some odd reason when I do 410...All on Spolar machines...or some P-Ws . All Progressives so I don't do the dyslexic stuff. Ridiculous... creature of habit is what I am. I happen to load for 47 different rounds at this point. I quit some...like 25 and 32 Autos