Best beginner press?

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Aug 28, 2017
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I've played around and had success with Lee Loaders and am ready to make the step up to a press setup (need to full length resize some stuff). Mostly rifle, some pistol . . . hobby level stuff.

The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme looks like the best thing going, but I'm open to any suggestions . . . and wondering if I'll regret not going with a turret (of which I like the New-ish Lyman).

I usually 'invest' in the middle of the road as far as equipment goes. Better than I need, but always good enough . . .
 
I got my Rock Chucker Supreme in 1973 its turned out 10's of thousands of rounds and just keeps doing so. Look around at gun shows/gun forums and you can pick up some quality equipment for a very reasonable. My experience tells me the turret equipment unless you go to a higher level like the Dillion don't waste your money.
 
In my opinion , the Lee Cast Iron Turret Press is the best value for the money .

https://leeprecision.com/4-hole-classic-turret-press.html

If you go for a single stage press , I suggest this one .

https://leeprecision.com/classic-cast-press.html

How ever , the Challenger , is not bad . Although , I personally see the breech lock system as more a solution in search of a problem . My Challenger press is an older one that does not have / use the breech lock system .

https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-challenger-press.html
 
I've had Hornady single stage press for about 15 years and a Hornady progressive press for over 10 years. Very happy with both of them. The single stage is my favorite; love how it slows you down and allows a high level of consistency.
 
Originally Posted by MVFarms
I've played around and had success with Lee Loaders and am ready to make the step up to a press setup (need to full length resize some stuff). Mostly rifle, some pistol . . . hobby level stuff.

The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme looks like the best thing going, but I'm open to any suggestions . . . and wondering if I'll regret not going with a turret (of which I like the New-ish Lyman).

I usually 'invest' in the middle of the road as far as equipment goes. Better than I need, but always good enough . . .


RCBS Rock Chucker is very nice. Based on your "middle of the road" comment that would be your best choice. I use a lot of RCBS reloading equipment these days and I really like it.

I started with the extremely manual Lee Handloader kits in the beginning and then bought the Lee Anniversary kit, along with a better RCBS hand priming tool, and have been using the Lee Challenger press for 19 years, now. It works. My freind has the RCBS Rock Chucker and it is a step up from the Lee Challenger.

I think you are smart to stay away from the turret style presses, especially as a beginner. Afterall, with ammo prices as low as they have been in the last 10+ years, it's tough to reload some calibers for much less than you can buy factory ammo. You can make *better* ammo than the factory stuff, though, but you don't typically do that on turret presses. For accuracy, it's about quality, not quantity, and single stage presses are better for that.
 
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depends on how much ammo you load a year . i go through 10k plus and a single stage would be torture. if you want all around can do most stuff a dllion 550 will do both rifle and pistol . you can use it as both a single and progessive.
 
With out doubt the best press to learn on is a Dillon 550. I started loading in 1976 with a Rock Chucker press a friend left at my house for me to use. 1991 I bought a Dillion 550 and I am still happy.. i have taught 5 people to reload on the Dillon 550 and they all purchased their own Dillon 550s and are very happy. I have loaded on the Dillon 550 38 special and 357 mag , 9mm, 40S&W, 45acp, 223, 308, 30. 06, 300 Weatherby mag and 338 Lapua
 
Originally Posted by CT8
With out doubt the best press to learn on is a Dillon 550. I started loading in 1976 with a Rock Chucker press a friend left at my house for me to use. 1991 I bought a Dillion 550 and I am still happy.. i have taught 5 people to reload on the Dillon 550 and they all purchased their own Dillon 550s and are very happy. I have loaded on the Dillon 550 38 special and 357 mag , 9mm, 40S&W, 45acp, 223, 308, 30. 06, 300 Weatherby mag and 338 Lapua

I would second that and add if you wanted to start slowly and build up, you could buy the BL550 which is in essence a single stage press like a Rock Chucker. The difference is the BL500 can be converted to an RL550 and become a progressive press WITHOUT losing the investment like you would with nearly any other single stage press. I have 2 XL650's, 1 RL550C, and an SL900 from Dillon and their total "no-BS" warranty is the best on the market. I sold an RL550B a few years ago that had reloaded no less than 100K rounds and it was still going strong.
 
For precision rifle, consider Forster co-ax (if you're interested in precision, as opposed to mass reloading).
 
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I've got the Lee Classic Cast and like how it confines the spent primers. It will do it all with ease. Even 50 cal. Case forming is a breeze. And the three point mounting system.
 
The Rockchucker kit is pretty decent. If you aren't planning on shooting a ton the single stage presses are fine. Even if you do decide to go progressive later having a single stage around is nice.
 
A RockChucker was my first press. Big and monstrously heavy. Worked fine. Sold it long ago in college. Used a Lee hand press thereafter (still have that one).

Had a Lee Challenger. Not bad.

Have a Lee Classic Cast. Excellent press, and a far better value than any of the other companies' wares.

I'd like to try a Forster Co-Ax one day.
 
Snoop around yard sales and Craig's List there tends to be a lot of really nice reloading gear. My buddy just landed a whole load of first class gear someone was selling off a deceased relatives estate. He said you see a lot of reloading gear like that if you like wandering around some.
I'm still using the same Rock chucker I bought in1982. It does the deed . For dies I have a mix of Lee and RCBS. They all do the deed. Lee are a lot cheaper while RCBS are nicer, pick your poison.
 
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IMO I'd go right to the Dillon 550. I did this because I like ,44spl, but it's $$ per round even in bulk.

Decap, clean, dry, fill.

Not that simple, but my 2c. Build the process and muscle memory.
 
As far as reloading quantity . . . probably pretty little relatively:

I foresee batches . . . probably:
100 x 223 at a time
50 x 30-06 at a time
50 x 30-30 at a time
20 x 243 at a time
20 x 45-70 at a time
Not even sure I'll get into pistol

More just to enjoy the process than being a time/money saver. Maybe 90 mins per week as relaxation . . .
 
re: $

I'm thinking a $200 limit for the press . . . so that may exclude Dillon.

I've already got scale, case trimmers and other stuff, but the kits do look like a good deal to have backup accessories, so I may go over that budget to get a kit.
 
Originally Posted by MVFarms
re: $

I'm thinking a $200 limit for the press . . . so that may exclude Dillon.

I've already got scale, case trimmers and other stuff, but the kits do look like a good deal to have backup accessories, so I may go over that budget to get a kit.


Well if you aren't doing any major case reforming or 50 Caliber or the real big magnum cases I'd simply pick up an RCBS Jr. probably around $50 if its like new and should last you a lifetime.
 
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