Can I Get some Opinions?

[squirrel_hunter6]

Can I Get some Opinions?

Hi All,

I am thinking about getting into metallic reloading. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone that reloads, so I am asking you. I am looking at three presses with kits. They are the Hornady Lock-and-Load Classic Kit, the Lyman Crusher 2 Expert Kit, and the RCBS Rock Chuker Supreme Master Kit.

I went to the local Gander Mountain and they had a RCBS Rock Chuker on Display and I thought it was nice but it’s hard to form an opinion without actually using it. On MidwayUSA’s website all three of the press kits above have a 5 star rating, so maybe it’s like what one reviewer said “pick your favorite color.” If that’s the case then I will go with the Lyman .

I have bought and read two reloading manuals. I got Hornady’s 7th Edition and Lyman’s 48th Edition Manual. I like the Lyman manual the best so that is pushing me towards buying a Lyman Press. Another thing I liked about the Lyman press kit is it comes with a case trimmer.

I will be reloading for:
1. 243 in a Remington 7400
2. 25-06 in a Steyr Prohunter
3. 30-30 in Marlin 336
4. 308 in Remington 7400

I would like to hear from people who have used the presses mentioned above and why you think one is better than the other.

Thanks for your input! 

[Val]

Indeed those are all good presses. I would go with the RCBS because their customer support and warranty is legendary. Also have a look at the RCBS Turret press. It allows you to have more than one die set up at a time. I like mine because if in the process I discover a case problem, I can go back to the previous dies withpout having to remove and readjust the current die I'm using. You'll also need a good set of calipers, a case trimmer, and a trickler.

[beemanbeme]

I have never used a turret press. There are those that say they will "detent" into allignment as precise as a single stage press.  I don't see how that can be true.  I have used single stage presses for all of my reloading career and have never felt undergunned nor slow.  Presently, I am using two RCBS presses (one probably older than most of the readers in this room. ) and a Lee.  They all give me good service.  While the Orange Crusher and the Supreme will give you much more power than you will ever need, if you start at the top, its hard to go wrong. 
Its really a hard call among the single stage presses but I think I'd start out with the RCBS kit. 

[Old Syko]

Honestly, either of the 3 presses you mention will do you a fine job, no doubt.  I bought my Rock Chucker 37 years ago and it has loaded countless thousands of rounds ranging from some of the smallest to some of the largest available and done so without a hitch.  You can't go wrong with green as they have had a large hand in setting the standard for reliability and dependable design and are more than happy to stand behind their products.  I understand from a friend of mine who has the Hornady that they are the same way as he damaged his press, called them up, and they refused to take his money for repair parts.  Lyman on the other hand has been hard to deal with for me twice over the years.  The last time was quite recently.  I guess you could get a Rock Chucker and paint it any color you wished if that was really an issue.  

[gary0529]

I have been reloading since 1962 and for the first 44 years all I had was a  RCBS RockChucker. You cannot go wrong with it- it will load just about everything short of 50 cal monsters. Pretty much indestructible and like was said prior- RCBS is legendary in their support- I have admitted to them that my stupidity broke it and they still send me new parts to fix it -
I load for 7 rifle calibers and 6 pistol calibers and cannot say enough about RCBS.

Now, with all that praise for them I also have a Hornady LnL progressive with the case feeder just because I retired and had more time to burn ammo.
I use it almost exclusively for 9mm, 38/357 and 45 since that is what i burn thru the fastest, I do however, load my bulk 223 to feed the "black gun" but when I want truly precision ammo for benchrest I go back to the single stage press-mostly because I am loading only a relatively few rounds for a very specific need.
I really like the Hornady set up- I find it is easy to operate, simple to change out dies, cheaper than a Dillon-PLEASE - Dillon lover's I am not bashing- great press and company, I just preferred the Lock N Load.

In a nutshell, if you will not be loading large quantities of ammo, stick with a single stage press or look at Redding's turret press-don't have one but have read nothing but good things.

If you are going to be reloading mucho grande volume of pistol ammo, look at progressives but not til you learned on a single stage or turret(nothing but a modified version thereof)

Just my 2 cents

Gary

[SHOOTALL]

RCBS , they take care of the customer , the one you mention is simple to use , get a few reloading manuals and follow to the letter ! i had no one to teach me , so i followed the book ( speer , hornady , nosler , r e lee and hodgon ) when i started and still do !
most of the time , if i change something i check with someone who has tried it before .
i have the three presses you mentioned , i paid for the rcbs the other 2 were gifts from people who gave up reloading , i have a progressive also but like the rcbs the best for accurate loads . IMHO good luck !

[Icy Straits]

Another consideration if you are on the fence, Hornady is giving away 500 bullets with Classic kit or 1000 with the progressive. Check their website. Pays for a pretty good chunk of the equipment at retail.

[quickdtoo]

I'll second Icy Straits recommendation, I've got a bunch of almost free bullets from them just for buying their die sets.

Tim

http://www.hornady.com/get_loaded.php

http://www.hornady.com/media/get_loaded.pdf

[Graybeard]

I have both the Hornady LNL Classic and RCBS. The Hornady is my go to press that gets used when I'm doing reloading. I've really come to like it.

[PlacitasSlim]

I will vote for the RCBS. My first press was a RCjr., which I still use. A Rock Chucker next and then a  Pro2000. RCBS is the gold standard by which all other single stage presses are judged.

[wncchester]

I understand your concern but no one markets "bad" reloading tools, all give good service.  Some tools are better values than others but that's personal thing. 

My first press, in '65, was a Lyman turret.  It's still on my bench and works as well as ever.  Added a Rock Chucker 2 in '88, it's working well also.  Also have a couple of small Lee alum alloy presses that work well for certain chores.

All that said, IF I had to start over with only one press tomorrow, I would go directly to a Lee Classic Cast.  It's well made of all steel/iron, has a larger ram than my RCBS, has an adjustable handle and the primer catcher works!  Costs a lot less too.  Spend more money on dies!

For dies, I'd go to Lee or Lyman (especially for cast bullets) in carbide for handguns, Foster BR for rifles.  Scale would be an RCBS 1010 not a digital.  Add a Lyman Universal case trimmer, with all accessories.  Get either a Redding or Hornady powder measure.  And RCBS Case Mics for all my bottle neck cases so I can set the FL sizing dies correctly.  For bottlle-neck sizers, I would want the  Lee collet dies.   And the Lee Auto-Prime tool too.

MEANING, I have no brand loyalty, I use the specific tools that work best.  Therefore, I'd take no brand's "kit" with limited and pre-chosen tools for my loading.

But you must make your own choices and live with them!  Take comfort in knowing it's all good stuff, no matter the color!

[Coyote Hunter]

Been using my Rockchucker since 1982 and have turned out over 20,000 rounds on it.  If it was to do over I'd get another.  The Hornady Lock-n-Load Classic would be my second choice.

[jeclif]

rcbs  with their life time   warranty

[The Sodbuster]

I bought a Rockchucker Supreme kit about 4 years ago and am happy with it.  Don't have any experience with other starter kits you mentioned.  Accessories I consider "must haves" that did not come with the RCBS kit include: calipers, case trimmer, and tumbler.  As far as dies go, I like Hornady and Redding better than RCBS dies.  I guess I like the Reddings because I don't need a screwdriver or wrench to adjust seating depth on the seater die. 

You're getting into a great hobby.  Good shooting!

[ihuntbucks]

I have 3 Lyman's and 1 RCBS you mentioned.I am sure any of the 3 will do you well.Of the 3,pick the "cheapest",cuz I think any of them will be fine........Rick

[OLDHandgunner]

I started out with a RCBS Jr back in the 60's ( all I could afford then ). Loaded 10's of thousands of rounds with it with no problems. Then moved up to the RCBS Rockchucker. This press does all my rifle loading. My Dillon does all my pistols now.

[longwinters]

I started with the RCBS Turret kit.  I would not hesitate to go with the same press again, but would probably not go the kit route again.  It was a good price, but there are a few things I replaced with other makes as I became more experienced.  As far as a Turret press putting out accurate loads . . . my concentricity gauge shows excellent results as do my targets.  But even if you don't go turret, RCBS is the standard. 

Cannot say I like the lyman stuff.  Have a buddy that went that way, more stuff in the kit and a cheaper price.  Two years later he sold it and went RCBS.  Neither of us liked their powder measure, the scale or the primer set up.  The press was very solid but no matter how he adjusted it, it felt like you were always over-caming like full length resizing even if you weren't. 

But make your choice as best you can.  You will be changing something down the road guaranteed.

Long

[squirrel_hunter6]

Thanks for all the replies!

It looks like my choices have narrowed done to either Hornady or RCBS. I like the free bullets deal you get with the Hornady press. By the time I bought the press and dies I would have bullets out the wazoo! 

[gypsyman]

Started out with a Rock Chucker over 30 years ago, now in one corner is a Dillion for all my blamo ammo, and in the middle is a Redding ,7 station press, for my serious stuff. I don't think you can buy a bad press nowdays, just a matter of what you think you like. We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!! Remember (12/7/41)(9/11/01) gypsyman