Lyman T-Mag Press vs RCBS Rock Chucker

[Dixie Dude]

I can get either of these two kits.  The Lyman comes with better accessories and is a turrent press.  The Kit is $334 at Cabelas with electronic scale and a case trimmer.  The RCBS comes with beam scale and no case trimmer for $269.  All other accessories are the same except Lyman doesn't have a case loading block which I can make from a scrap piece of wood.  What do you guys think would be the better value?  Anyone have experience with both?  Cabelas prices are about the same as several other on line dealers.  Thanks.

[Hairtrigger]

What caliber are you reloading? You may not need a trimmer as you are just starting out. You can use trim dies
I would not have a digital scale without also having a beam scale. I use the beam scale to double check on occasion... guess I could get check weights but a second scale comes in handi.
The Rockchucker has got to be America's favorite and best all around  press.

[woodchukhntr]

I've had a T-mag press for years with ) problems.  It has the leverage to do what I want to do with it, loading up to .30-06.  I also had a Rockchucker which was just as good, but I like to have the turret, allowing more die options.

[Dixie Dude]

I will be reloading for the following calibers (most expensive to purchase first then on down):  .35 Whelen, 45-70, 30-06, 308, 35 Rem, 30-30, 300 WM, 270, .357 mag, 44 mag, 9mm, .223, 7.62x54R, 7.62x39.  Later I would like to do .338 WM, and .375 HH.  I have, or my SIL and my brother has the first series of calibers.  I want to buy rifles for the later two. 

[Dand]

I use a T-Mag now and used to load on an RCBS JR - (no nowhere near a Rock Chucker).

With the long list of ammo you want to load I'd seriously consider the new Lee Classic Turret or whatever they call it with the cast base - unless you think you will be doing major case forming or bullet swaging.  Case forming and swaging - RCBS Rock Chucker for sure.

I like my T-Mag but the turrets are expensive ($30+ Lyman vs $9 -$10 Lee) and not near as easy to change as the Lee. With the Lee you can use the auto index option for your handgun rounds and set up a progressive operation - get a Lee ProAuto Disk and Lee dies that allow dispensing powder and case mouth belling at the same time -very handy. I use them in my Lyman but the Lee auto index looks handier and might add a margin of safety.  Plus you could have only one cartridge worth of dies in a single turret and avoid any confusion.

You can go to batch loading for the rifle rounds and keep each die set in its own turret with the Lee.

I now load for 5 hand gun cartridges and 5 rifle.  I'm have been seriously considering getting the Lee with all the good press its getting.  I have 4 Lyman Turrets but it always seems I have the wrong one on the press when I go to load.  It takes a few minutes to switch, and in some cases I need to  remove dies to put in dies for one of my less frequently loaded rounds.

Some times I find that spindly little rear turret support on the T-Mag a pain as there is enough variation in some of my turrets to require adjustment and its so skinny I worry about snapping it off one day if I'm careless.  But I've used the T-Mag since about 1992 with little trouble. The RCBS turret and Reddding Turrets appear much sturdier in that regard.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps.