Author Topic: Which Press for someone just starting reloading? (Read 1351 times)

GrampaMike · « **on:** March 13, 2004, 02:31:57 PM »

Which press should I get to start reloading? I have a room I use just for my guns. I shoot SAs (357 Mag, 41 Mag, 44 special, 44 Mag), single shot rifles in 223, 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 7mm-08, 45-70. I have been saving all my brass for years but I do not have any equipment at all. I would appreciate any advice right now. Thanks... Grampa Mike

MINNESOTA DICK · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2004, 02:46:08 PM »

It depends as to how much ya wants to spend on a press. Lee is the low cost press and they go up in price from there. I use a Lee single stage and it works out for me.

hogship · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2004, 02:50:35 PM »

There are many real good presses out there.......but, my suggestion is to forget about all those with pot metal, aluminum, or stamped parts.

Mine is a Redding Ultramag. It's an excellent press, but probably more that you'd need.

I've heard that Lee is now making a cast iron press.....and, it has the same primer eject that my Redding has. This is a plus, for sure.

I've never seen one of the new all cast iron Lee presses yet, but if they are everything they should be, it might be a great starter press.

I started out with a Rockchucker by RCBS. (If you don't count the Lee Loaders!) It's a great press, but doesn't have that great primer eject system that I like so well. The Rockchucker will tend to clutter your table, and floor with spent primers.

Lyman, Redding, Lee, Hornady, RCBS.......all make great all cast iron start-up presses.

Hogship

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2004, 02:50:51 PM »

No question in my mine. Get a turret style press from RCBS or Redding. I have the RCBS and it works great.

long

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2004, 02:54:41 PM »

i was in the same boat you are abt a month ago.
after researching a good bit i went with the lee single stage challenger press
cabelas has the anniversary kit now for abt 70 bucks.
it seems to be a quality press and with me just starting out and learning abt reloading i feel safer doing one step at a time.
good luck on reloading what ever you decide to use
sureshot

Robert · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2004, 03:08:18 PM »

If you want a progressive later....fine, but get a good single stage first, you will always use it, even if you get a nice progessive later. Too many bells and whistles to figure out on a progressive to start out. Stick to the basics first. I am very fond of the RCBS Special 5, but the Rock Chukker is supposed to be even better,.... whichever is a good deal.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2004, 04:00:12 PM »

There are a number of really good outfits making presses and other reloading equipment. My recommendation is to start off with a single stage RCBS Rock Chucker (I have five of them at last count) and then depending upon your requirements you can move to a progressive.

There is only one way to evaluate a press and that is to try it out. If you can find some guys in your area who have different makes and models see what you can do to let them show you theirs and give it a try.

The new Rock Chuckers are a little friendlier than the older ones I have and they even have a left handed conversion. The other thing to consider is the lifetime warranty (basically a no questions asked replacement) and some really helpful tech support.

Another recommendation I have for you, because you are starting from scratch is to check for local or regional classified listings to see if anyone is selling off their outfits. I have bought used equipment like that and it is a very large savings.

dangerranger · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2004, 07:09:59 PM »

The Lee aniversery kit is a good place to start at under $75 you get enough tools to start loading. If you enjoy reloading and upgrade all the tools you have are still very useful.Lees reloading manuel is user friendly.even if you dont use there press the book is a good place to start.

huntsman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2004, 10:26:16 PM »

I got the Lee Anniversary kit with reloading manual about 2 months ago and haven't regretted it. Nothing at all wrong with it, and cost a good bit less than the other major brands. You will need some accessories that don't come with the kit. I got set up with shellholders, case length gauge, trimmer, dial caliper, dies, and tumbler for @$200. It works fine and produces quality rounds.

223Shooter · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2004, 02:31:22 PM »

I looked at the Lee anniversary kit. Not a bad set up. I decided to go with a Lyman Crusher 2. I made a good decision. I love the Lyman press. I currently load only .223. Works great for me.

longwinters · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2004, 03:26:07 PM »

The nice thing about the turret style presses is that, for rifle, you can have the dies all set up for up to 3 different calibers at one time. To switch from one caliber to another just turn the turret. It really is the way to go.

long

Stan M. · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2004, 05:12:27 PM »

I started out with a Lee Challenger. It worked well. I then decided to move up and bought an RCBS Rockchucker. These presses will last a life time and RCBS is top notch in service. The Rockchucker holds it's value fairly well, just look on e-bay.
Good Luck,
Stan

Flash · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2004, 10:41:12 PM »

What ever you buy and regardless of who makes it, count on buying another one over the years. You'll get hooked and the easier it is to reload, the more you'll shoot. It isn't any more complicated than that. A turret press(not Lee) is most likely the way for you to go. It has the integrity of cast iron and will hold a few calibers already set up. I have two Lyman Tmag's and a Dillon RL550. The one Tmag is dormant but the other is for working up loads and the Dillon is for cranking them out.

jhm · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2004, 03:40:52 AM »

Grampa Mike : After you advertize in GB Clasifieds you might want to look on e-bay there is a complete RCBS rockchucker set-up starting at $49.95 and it has sxale , manual, powder drop and some other items, of course the price will go up b-4 it is over but you might want to watch it, BTW I have rcbs ewuipment mostly and they have the best gurantee around even if you break it they stand behind it, and you will eventually break something, good luck

JIM

GrampaMike · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2004, 06:27:26 AM »

Thanks everyone!!! Since all my rifles are single shots, I am probably a single stage kind of guy, at least starting out. I have narrowed my choices to Redding - Ultramag or RCBS - Rock Chucker Supreme. But another question hit me, which company makes good die sets, or do I have to buy die sets that match my press? Thanks again, Grampa Mike.

223Shooter · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2004, 09:02:17 AM »

All of the major die mfgrs are very good. I chose Redding. They are great.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2004, 03:04:05 PM »

I don't know why thease guys wanna slam Lee so hard my Lee turrent press is 15 yrs old and well used. I shot some .357 Max round I loaded up the other day and put five of em in a .686" hole at 100yrds. Works for me. Lee dies are very good choices also. :wink:

jgalar · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2004, 03:35:48 AM »

I have never worn out a Lee press or any other Lee tool. I love the Lee turret press, I just bought a 4 hole autoindexing press and gave my old 3 hole manual to my brother.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2004, 07:40:42 AM »

Hey jgalar I just bought the kit to use the four hole auto index for my old Turrent works great with my .357s and the extra hole was just what I needed for that factory crimp die, I can load 200 rounds an hour if I need to, It switchs back to a three holer in just a couple of minutes to. Real handy IMHO.

MGMorden · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2004, 04:51:17 PM »

I just recently bought a beginning reloader setup as well, and decided to go w/ mostly Lee stuff. Got the Anniversary kit, die sets for a couple chamberings, and a Frankford Arsenal tumbler. So far the Lee stuff seems to work alright (though so far I've only neck-sized, deprimed, and primed cases

), but it does have a somewhat cheapy feel to some of the stuff. That's just first impression though. As long as this holds up for the 2 year warranty period I'll likely end up replacing a good bit of the equipment by then anyways.

Danny Boy · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2004, 06:48:26 AM »

If you in the reloading hobby for the long run, get a middle of the road type equipment. RCBS Master Reloading Kit is what I have and that would run you around $300 including a set of dies, powder and bullets. If money is no object, you can go up to the Reddings and Dillons.

You can go with an entry-level reloading kit for under $100 as well. Many are happy with them and they never switch. But if you upgrade to a better set at a later date, that is extra $100 spent. I have a history of going with the entry-level stuff and ended up spending more in the long run. Look at it this way, if you spend $200 extra to start with and it last 20 years; it is only $10 more per year (10 rounds of factory ammo???).

Watch out! This is a very addictive hobby.

Cheers!

Danny Boy

Riflemanz · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2004, 02:02:12 PM »

Here is a great kit with most items.I bought this kit to start out.Its a quality kit.RCBS is #1 in satisfaction.
http://www.natchezss.com/category.cfm?contentID=productList&category=22&brand=RC&mfgGroup=257&subgroup=1696&CFID=425429&CFTOKEN=91122354

Dave in WV · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2004, 02:16:47 PM »

I started with a Lee Challenger press several years ago. It broke last year and I bought a Lyman Crusher II press. If I had to do it over again I would buy a cast iron press and not look back. The press is the heart of reloading so why scrimp?

varmit_master · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2004, 09:46:04 PM »

Hi i started out with the Lee Anniversary kit and i could full length sized my 300wby it is a good loader for a starting out i move on to a Rock Chucker 2 loader and almost all RCBS stuff becase of the lifetime war. i still have 4 collet die's in Lee die's and they work great i just got a New lee collet for a 223 die and it had a bad place in the full length die that was leaveing marks on the shoulders of my brass call Lee and they said send it back they would send me a new one but i think the Lee for the money is the way to go starting out VM

The Shrink · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2004, 01:37:51 AM »

I will not buy more Lee dies, and for one simple reason. When you break a de-capping pin you have to send the whole decap unit in for replacement, or go buy another. With my RCBS dies I buy pins five at a time and replace them myself in a minute or less.

When I was using military brass I was breaking pins regularly. Now it's only when something isn't lined up right, usually cause I'm going too fast. None the less, I don't want to stop my loading to mail something back to Lee for a fix.

Believe me, you will break decapping pins. Maybe not many, but one or two. You are creating significant force with that press, and if a pin hits something that won't move, it breaks.

All of the major die sets are compatable with all of the major presses. Shell holders aren't. Your shell holder will be specific to your press, and you will need one for each family of shells you use.

Choice of die manufacturer is personal, and largely dependent on the degree of precision you require, especilly in bullet seating. Competition loaders have one set of requirements, cast bullet loaders have another. Unless you are going to go specialized, it won't matter to you.

Welcome to the flock, and get that brass you've saved for years re-filled so you can shoot cheaper!

Wayne

varmit_master · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2004, 08:59:28 AM »

Hi Shrink i have the Lee neck sizing die's i also have a RCBS die set for each gun and i have a RCBS universal decap die all of my stuff is RCBS just for the neck sizing die's and a 223 full length die VM

The Shrink · « **Reply #26 on:** March 19, 2004, 01:17:46 AM »

Actually, VarmintMaster, that's a good idea. The universal decapping die wasn't available when I started buying dies about 18 years ago, and I've always relied on the sets. For someone starting now that's an excellent suggestion that I would never have considered.

Wayne

GrampaMike · « **Reply #27 on:** March 23, 2004, 11:22:50 AM »

Thanks "The Shrink" & "Varmit_Master". Sounds like good advice. I ordered the RCBS RockChucker Supreme press. But there were too many levels of dies, do not know which to pick yet. I have 45-70, 30-30, 357 mag, 41 mag, 44 mag, 357 max, 45 colt, 38-55. Mike.

The Shrink · « **Reply #28 on:** March 24, 2004, 01:10:13 AM »

Mike

Look at the universal decapping dies. They will decap the case only, but one die will decap most cases. You still need a unique case forming die for each caliber, no way around this. You may need one that expands the mouth of the case, again unique to each caliber, especially if you use cast bullets. Finally you will need a bullet seating die for each caliber, and again perhaps a nose plug for each bullet nose design if you are using soft cast bullets. You will need a shell holder for each family of shells.

The sets come in either two or three dies per caliber in a nice strong plastic box. The third die is usually a expanding die for cast bullets. It's easy to keep them organized and is the way I prefer to buy them. Precision shooters have used the sleeved bullet seating dies, but they are not necessary unless you are gonna shoot competition, and I don't mean Cowboy competition!

I've modified nose plugs for my 45-70 and 40-70 and 44-40 with a little epoxy and a well waxed bullet. You get a perfect nose punch with no machining.

Wayne the Shrink

GrampaMike · « **Reply #29 on:** March 24, 2004, 04:44:36 AM »

Thank You again Wayne.

This a great forum for us beginners to pick up needed information.

Mike