Gentlemen

I spoke to some shooters/reloaders at the range and it seems like people favors different features on a reloading press.

What type of press do you use, what things are you looking for picking a press?

/ JOHAN

Johan,
Not that I'm looking now, but 20-some years ago I chose an RCBS Rockchucker. I haven't felt the need for another press since. I selected the brand for the excellent reputation and widespread use, and the model for the strength to handle any task to which I might apply it. It has performed flawlessly to date. I am very happy with my choice. And the green color matches so many of my other reloading tools! >>>>>Bug.

I use the Lyman Orange Crush. The opening is a little larger than the rock crusher. Makes loading large cases a little easier.

I've had about 10 or 11 presses. Presently I'm down to 5. The order in which I prefer them is, #1 Forster Coax, #2 Lyman Orange Crusher, #3 Rockchucker. The Coax is useless for pulling bullets with a collet puller. It's also inconvenient on the Rockchucker because the handle is too close to the die and puller and sometimes interferes. The Orange Crusher has the closest tolerances and an offset handle and is far more convenient for bullet pulling than the others. The Dillon is a different category as is the Lee Challenger, which is what I take to the range, "just in case".

If you are considering a progressive press here are a few items.
I have a Dillon 650 and a Hornady Projector. Both are progressive presses. Both have great service and warranty to back them.
The Dillon has more parts and is a bit more intimidating when setting up for the first time.
The Hornady is a bit less expensive.
Older Hornady's had a weak primer system and the case kicker took a bit of attention to keep going.
The Dillon is a quick caliber change at a higher price.
If you go Dillon I would suggest avoiding the Square Deal as it uses unique dies.

[ 08-25-2003, 05:32: Message edited by: Hairtrigger ]

Gentlemen

Just curious. I got a Rock chucker today and is fairly happy with it soo will look for something new. Redding Ultra mag seems to be a nice tool, has anyone used one???

/ JOHAN

[ 09-05-2003, 22:23: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Here's something neat you can do with the Rockchucker.

Hornady sells an adapter that goes into the Rockchucker press. It allows you to use the Hornady Lock-N-Load bushings on your dies. You just take out the shotshell adapter that's already in the Rockchucker and put in the Lock-N-Load adapter. I've been doing that for about a year now. I recommend it.

The only thing that is incovenient is that Redding reloading dies won't fit in their original boxes as well with the L-N-L adapters on them. However, you can buy RCBS die boxes that will work OK. I've seen Hornady die boxes for sale too.

The "new" Rockchucker press has a larger opening to make reloading those tall cartridges easier.

To me the key to judging a good press is the amount of concentricity I get with my reloads. The RCBS Rockchucker works well, is convenient to use but too often my reloads end up .006-.007" out of round. That's a bit too much. Unfortunately, that's about the norm. A couple of years ago I started switching over to the Wilson knock out neck sizing dies and a small mallet, and I've been delightfully happy with it. Now my runout is on the order of .001-.002". I can live with that. The Redding bushing dies are a step in the right direction, but you're still at the mercy of your press. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

If you are reloading ONLY pistol and straight wall cases,a smaller press should work. Who does that? My pick is the RCBS Rockchucker,don't know how well they hold up,only had mine 36 years. Someone posted about the handle interfering when pulling bullets with a collet puller. I honestly couldn't figure what problem he was referring to. It pulls on the upstroke and handle is about half way down,I use the heel of my hand to bump it and it's nowhere near the puller.

I love the rockcrusher. Another thought if pistols or high volume rifle are being used is the dilllon 550, or AT550 (that can be convered later to a progressive)

Great choice in the opinions so far

Hcliff

[ 08-28-2003, 01:32: Message edited by: Hcliff ]

For me, that would be "which presses?".

I like to load at the range.
One thing I like to do is find out how long brass lasts with a load before the primer pocket becomes loose. So I load and fire the same case over and over:
1) Decap the primer with a Lee reloader press.
2) Clean the primer pocket with a hand tool
3) Clean the neck with steel wool.
4) Rub on sizing wax by hand.
5) Partial full length size without expander ball in RCBS RockChucker Press.
6) Prime with Lee Ram prime II in Lee Reloader press.
7) Throw or measure a charge into case
8) Seat the bullet in sleeved seater die in the RCBS Partner press.
9) If I seat too deep while adjusting the seater die, I pull the bullet with an RCBS or Hornady bullet puller in a Lee Reloader press.

I have gone through 6 different loads of 5 shots each all with the same case. That is 30 loads in a row on the same case.

I probably have not had my rockchucker long enough to comment on it- only had it for 25 years , but it has never failed me. very good press, very good price.

I broke my Rockchucker, but they sent me a new one, for free, with all the stuff that comes with a new one.

It is no great trick to break one. Just get a non compressable load right at top dead center, and it will break.

Johan
I have to use the big RCBS for the 450 No2 and the 450/400 3 1/4", and the 9,3x74R. For other rifle ctgs I use the Bonzanza CO-AX, which I like very well. For Pistol I use the Star Machine Works Progressive Loader.
The CO-AX loads very concentric ammo....However for my Palma rifle I used Wilson Hand Dies.

I like to set my dies and leaving them set. I end up spending alot of time measuring diamentions of spent cases from the chamber of the rifle that I'm reloading for. So I may do a partial resizing on a FL resizing Die. The results from the targets are recorded and kept for future use. To do this, the only press I use has multiple dies ports, is the Redding T-7. It's strong, plus you can transfer tool heads out. Works for me.

RCBS's rockchucker is a classic, but I'll still second the nomination for the CO-AX. As for progressive presses, there is only one to have DILLON.

I'm ashamed to admit how many reloading presses I've had over the last nearly 30 years. I've tried almost every one out there. I seem to prefer two over all others, and the choice might suprise you.
First choice would be the Hornady 007. I like the size of the opening, it's plenty strong for any operation, and I like the way it primes. It catches every single spent primer too.
My second choice would be a Lee turret press. It is strong, fast and primes well. Probably the best value in a press available. The only thing I don't like is it needs a decent primer catcher.
I've used priming tools from almost every maker and now prefer to prime on the press. I've gotten almost benchrest results and it's only a matter of practice to seat by feel on either the Hornady or Lee.
I feel the RockChucker is a very good press. Probably way stronger than need be. It has a crappy primer catcher and primes horribly. The new Rock Chucker Supreme improves on the priming and catching spent primers. Still way heavier than needed though. In normal reloading over 30 years, I've never stressed a press much at all.
The Lyman Orange Crusher is in the same category as the Rock Chucker, it has a much better opening, though. I must say Lyman is the only press I've ever had that was defective. I got a misaligned one years ago and Lyman replaced it immediately. I thought they handled it very well. People talk about gurantees and I agree, RCBS is probably the best in that category, I salute them. Hornady is very good also, and their people are every bit as helpful and concerned with your needs as RCBS. Those are the only two I've had to deal with, so I can't comment on the others.
The Forster Co-Ax is a very well made press that does everything well, and you pay for it. To be honest I get every bit as good concentricity with my Lee and Hornady as I did with the Forster. I don't care for how the dies are mounted in it and having to have the special rings, any more than I like the Lock n Load rings. Just more stuff to hassle with. If I don't have 15 seconds to change a die, I'll take up another hobby. It's seems like a solution to a non existent problem, IMHO.
The Redding Boss is a nice little press. The opening is a little small and I kept banging my fingers inserting shells. It does not have auto primer feed, but it catches primers well. The bigger Boss is an improvement also.
The Redding Ultra Mag is on the order of 100X stronger than needed. Maybe if you want to swage bullets it would be the ticket, but I doubt it. I'd probably buy a bullet swaging press for that. People talk about this press or that being able to swage bullets, but I've only met a handful of guys in 30 years that actually did their own, so that's a non issue.
I would be willing to bet that 95% of reloading is done making 30-06, 270, 308, 45C, 44mag, 357mag, 45 auto and 9mm. If that's all you're loading ANY press available will do the job, and the ammo will be more accurate than 90% of the custom rifles can utilize. I used to load for a Shilen barreled bench rifle, with a Lee Loader and a Lee Reloader Special press, and got 1/4" groups with it. I loaded my favorite load one time with Wilson dies, and my neighbor's Lyman Orange Crusher and couldn't tell the difference.
Convience is the big difference, buy what you like. In the strength category you're paying for hype. An Ultra Mag costs nearly 5 times what a Lee Turret press does and won't do much more. It costs nearly twice what a Hornady 007 does and won't do anything more for most people. But, it sure is a well made press.
I don't mean to sound like a know it all, because I don't. I'm learning new stuff all the time from this and other forums. I'm really just an inveterate tinkerer that's tried a lot of stuff.
These are just my opinions and you'll likely get many differing ones. I respect them all. It's like asking what kind of car you like. We all know Chevy's are the best, but you'll still get some knucklehead who recommends a Ford every once in a while, just to be different. Go figure. Why don't they go give their head a shake?

[ 08-28-2003, 17:08: Message edited by: Bobby ]

Bobby, that was a great post! Not so much for the specific products you like, but you seem to have level headed approach - and you present it well.

About presses: I have been pretty chuffed with my Co-Ax. Got it not that long ago, pretty slick machine, though hard to change from one caliber group to the next. Before that I used a Hornady 007 for years - without much reason to be unhappy.
- mike

The trick to the rockchucker for decreasing run-out is to take a "washer" manufactured by the gunsmith, place it on the shell holder, and have it be the space between the die body and the ram. Run the ram with the washer on the shell holder up until it presses up against the die body,..and while maintaining pressure,.lock the lock ring. Now you have squared the die body, to the ram, and not to the press. That washer can be made on the lathe at the gunsmith, from a peice of stainless which is cut from the rear portion of a barrel blank, and the smith can get it to within .0001" +/- all the way around. That contact between the ram, washer, and die body makes the whole operation straight. With my redding bushing dies and Lee collet dies I am getting .001-.002" run-out in the rockchucker

it is the only press I have owned,..so I can't comment on how it compares to others,....unless I compare it to my arbor press with the wilson dies,..which is unfair.

I just bought a used Co-Ax press and am looking forward to using it. My first question is where is a good source for the special lock rings for the dies? Most of my dies have the smaller 6 sided lock ring. I would have to replace around 48 lock rings.

Appreciate your help.

To safarihunter: You can get Forster lock rings at Lock,Stock & Barrel! Only $2.75 each! #011321 ! Ed,

I pick up used locking rings at gun shows.

My Rockchucker has not produced any non-concentric rds that I know of. I use the Redding Competition die sets and neck turn to maintain uniform and consistent neck thickness. I measured some 7mm Rem Mag rds awile back on a buddy's gauge - 0.001" max run-out.

This press is actually for sale in the classifieds by the way - want to try something different (Redding turret, Forster Co-Ax, etc.) I still have an older Rock Chucker if I need it.

I have a Rockchucker that I started out on 20 years ago. Great press and plenty strong. Problem is, single stage presses are slow. As a result I very rarely use it anymore because about 10 years ago I upgraded to a Dillon RL550B and haven't looked back.

This may sound strange, but I have both a Rockchucker and a RCBS Partner press, and, frankly, the Partner press produces MUCH more accurate loads than the Rockchucker! Maybe the slacker tolerances allow everything to line up better?

I'm another co-ax fan. I like the quick change of the dies, and the lack of shell holders. It is both faster to use due to it's features, and more accurate. The downside is you can't use a collet puller, and you can't use larger dia dies.

I picked up a used Rockchucker to take my 1"-14 dies for the 500 Jeffrey. The upside of the rockchucker is it's a robust beast, the downside is the opening is too short.

I used to have a Lee Challenger, and it loaded thousands of rounds w/o complaint. I ended up selling it to a buddy to start him out re-loading.

I would like to get a Dillon progressive for cranking out 357 and 480 rounds.

Heavy work, I use an RCBS A2, hell for stout and worth it if you can find one. For pistol, I like the C type Pacific press(too late in my life to go progressive) Also use a Rockchucker and Jr press that are both about 30 yrs old.
Don't prime with a press, but use an RCBS automatic tool that I mount in a vice. Also use the K & M hand tool. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't use a hand primer with bulk feed.
BTW, good post on setting the die lockring with the ram holding the die straight...dennis

I don't intend to start a civil war here, but I have a RCBS Rockchucker AND a RCBS Partner press. I load for 270 win (Hornady dies) and 223 rem (Lee RGB dies) and quite frankly, can't tell the difference between the two! Both will load ammo that groups at less tha half MOA, and the Partner gets my vote, 'cause I can take it with me when I'm hunting if I need to reload some more ammo.

I've used my Rockchucker for many years, so many I can't remember when I got it. I've never felt the need for a portable press or for a progressive. Very satisfied.

Still using my RCBS A-2 I got used maybe 40 years ago. SLW