Ready to reload, have a question about Presses

[DoubleA]

Hello all,
I am ready to start reloading, and need some help with press info.  I want a fairly good quality and fairly reasonable priced press to reload all of the following.  Thanks for reading and thanks for any info in advance.

9mm- light plinking rounds - about 500 rounds a year
45 acp- all types of rounds - about 500 rounds a year
44 mag - all types to include hunting - about 100 a year
6mm -  all types to include hunting and varmiting - about 200 a year
7mm - all types to include hunting (deer, mulies, elk) - about 10-50 a year

Was thinking about a RCBS single stage press, not sure what type, and I may add some calibers like a 300 win mag and a 444.  
Thanks,
~DoubleA~

[Castaway]

I think you're on the right track.  I shoot more than you are planning to and don't feel the need for a progressive.   You can't go wrong with a RCBS or Lyman press.  Both are responsive to phone calls and stand behind their products.  They both make a "kit" that has all the hardware you need but dies.  For pistol, I'd add a Lee disk kit and use Lee dies.  It does two jobs in one; bells the case and drops a measured powder charge.  Saves a step.  Regardless of what brand you go with, for pistol dies, be sure to get them in carbide.  The few dollars more upfront will save you lots of labor in the long run.

[DoubleA]

Thanks Castaway,
Will there be any limitations to a RCBS such as a Rock Chucker as far as length of caliber that can be reloaded with it?

[Dand]

Any good single stage will be fine.  BUT if you start shooting that 9mm much more you're gonna wish for something faster and easier.  Those tiny cases get to be a pain to handle - and that's where a progressive or semi progressive setup on a turret press may interest you. I went to a Lyman turret just because of the 9mm loading I was doing.  One of the recent Handloader magazines had a review of some of the turret presses - you may want to check it out.  The Rock Chucker press is the gold standard for comparison of most other single stage presses but I think its a bit limited in the height of its opening - it may be a squeeze for the 375 H&H and other new long magnums.   My Lyman turret has a much longer opening - better go take a look at some to assure yourself.  If you want to save some bucks check out ebay - there is usally a lot of presses available at modest prices.

[Paul H]

Thanks Castaway,
Will there be any limitations to a RCBS such as a Rock Chucker as far as length of caliber that can be reloaded with it?

The Rockchucker does have a hight limitation when dealing with long rounds such as the 416 Rigby, 505 Gibbs and the various 3-3 1/2" NE rounds.  The advantage of the rockchucker is it uses a 1 1/4"-12 bushing threaded 7/8-14" internally so that you can use larger dia dies.

The only round I load on my rockchucker is 500 Jeffrey, as the dies have a 1-14" body, so require a press larger then the co-ax.  I do have to finagle bullets into the seating die, but it isn't an issue.

I'm personally a huge fan of the Forester Co-ax.  It is an expensive press, but it is much faster to change calibers for then the traditional screw in single stage press, and the shell holder jaws are also faster then a conventional shellholder.  

I load 50-100 rounds a week on the co-ax, and have never felt that I need to get a progressive due to speed.  If you load 500 rds a week, then sure, go with the progressive, but 500 a year, you'll spend more time converting from one caliber to another then you would loading on a single stage press.  You can always upgrade in the future.

While RCBS has a good warranty, and reputation, I think to some degree their products are over-rated, and they certainly aren't top of the line.  Redding and forester make much higher quality products, and the price isn't much more.  On the other hand, I've found Lee products to be very servicable, and they make quality ammunition for a minimal cash outlay.

[IronKnees]

Guess I will toss in my two cents too. I have a Rockchucker as well as several other brands. Fact of the matter is, the RCBS Rockchucker is the press by which all others are judged... you will not go wrong with it...

[KN]

I'll add a bit here too, I use a single stage for all my loading except 9mm, and 45acp. For those two I have Dillon Square Deal. I usually load 600 to 800 rounds at a time for these callibers so the Dillon is a real time saver for me. Decent price too but its limited to handgun callibers.  KN

[IronKnees]

KN... sounds like you do pretty much what I do... I use single stage for ALL my rifle loads, and usually .45 ACP, but I do use a Lee Turret press for loading large lots of .38 specials, etc... But for the most part, I like to tinker, and "fuss" over most of my loads... Dave

[Flash]

I would recomend the Dillon 550B. The tool head holds all the dies and once it's set, you can remove the tool head along with the dies for the next time and save their settings. Second, the loading process can be as fussy as you like because the machine won't do anything you don't make it do. Third, loading can be done in a fraction of the time, unless you rather sit at the reloading bench and use up time with a single stage. The ram stroke allows the use of all calibers, except the 50 BMG and the acceptance of dies. This is where the Rockchucker shines. But, unless you own a 50 caliber Browning Machine gun or have a passion for sitting in your basement reloading ammo, you should consider the dillon. Go to www.dillonprecision.com and at least check out their products. Their quality and engineering is superior and second to none. Their " No Bull crap Waranty" is just that, and for a lifetime too. They might cost a little more but most high quality products do, compared to their lower quality counterparts. Personally, I would much rather invest in the future capability of producing more ammo and shooting more often, then I would investing in a time consuming process to keep me in my basement more.

[Tom W.]

RCBS had a new press out, the Rockchucker Supreme, that is a bit  bigger than the older models, and is supposed to handle the new longer cartridges. It's right at $100 from http://www.midwayusa.com. You won't be upset with RCBS.

[Alice Cooper]

if you're not gonna load more than that, pick up an old lyman spartan press on e-bay for 25 bucks.it'll be with your grandkids! i got one that i've used for years,still a good press...

[BobMachus]

I have used what is now sold as the Lee Anniversary set for over ten years now.  I loaded 150 rounds each of the last 3 days in calibers including .45LC, 38sp, .357, and .223.  I have added a few things over the years like a Lee Auto-Prime, and a Lyman case trimmer, but I am still low tech.  I know Lee products are frequently maligned, but it has always done what I have needed, the biggest round I have loaded in 7mm Rem Mag.  My Savage .223 shoots 1/4" if I do my part and 3/8" all day with the loads I make.  I agree with Alice Cooper and there is no reason to spend tons of money if you don't want to.  I periodically think I need a progressive, but I would rather spend the $800 that a Dillon setup would cost on components to load with what I have.  Any single stage O-Frame press will work fine for years and years for the quantities you say you will load.  Good luck and have fun.  Handloading is a great fun unto itself.

Bob

[DoubleA]

Thanks to all, and thanks for the information.  Still have a pocket full of money, and no press.  I'm still in the shopping phase, looking for a 'good deal' locally or on the net for someone ditching a setup, untill the craze gets too bad.  I'm still looking at the RCBS single press, probably the Rock Chucker, which I think can be converted to a piggy back progressive press(if anyone uses this setup, please give me some feedback), that way if I really 'feel the need', I can upgrade.

[jterrio]

I have the rockchucker also. I load 38/357, 45acp. 44mag, 30/30, 7/30, 30-06, and 300 win mag. I have been quite happy with this press. I picked up an original Piggyback attachment for it and use that for the 357 and 45acp. Kept clean, it will produce plinking or competition rounds at about 350 to 400 per hour. That's assuming no one bothers you once you get on a roll. It's the best of both worlds. I can use the progressive attachment for target loads and in a mater of minutes I can have a single stage press. I use single stage for rifle cartridges and any time I'm loading at the maximum of a load range so I weigh each charge.

[DoubleA]

Thanks all for the information.  I went out today with all my Bday money and money from a never used pistol sale, and bought a Rock Chucker Master Reloading Kit for just over 250.  I also bought a set of carbine 3 die set 44mag/44spec, 1000 cci magnum 350 primers, various 300 grain 44 mag bullets, 44 mag shell holder and a pound of H110.  I have about 200 once fired win brass to get me started........  Here is what I got in the Master Reloading Kit.

-Rock Chucker Press
-5-0-5 Scale
-Trim Pro Manual Case Trimmer Kit
-Uniflow Powder Measure
-Case Lube Kit
-Deburring Tool
-Automatic Primer Feed Combo
-Hex Key Wrench
-Powder Funnel
-Case Loading Block
-Primer Tray-2
-Speer Reloading Manual
-5 Dollar Alliant Powder Rebate Coupon

Can't set it up yet, maybe until the new house if finished, but will be tinkering and getting all the brass clean, and doing some more reloading research/studying.  I think it's gonna be a while till I get all this downpat.  Appreaciate any follow up suggestions from you 'experts'.
Thanks,
~DoubleA~

[Alice Cooper]

you did good.but beware, you may soon find yourself checking garages for used wheelweights!I spend a day or so a week picking up spent bullets from the range to mold into bullets.just last week, in about half an hour, i scavenged enough to make 422 200grain semiwadcutters for my .45 acps...well, i had more lead than that, but i'm still weak and my arms gave out before my ardor for casting did.read alot, think alot, and stay with published data, and soon you too may get the exalted name at the local range..."brass buzzard"...