Hello AR
This topic might have been covered 1256 times, but i got tired searching.
I'd like to start reloading and get a single stage press for the beginning. I was looking at RCBS and LEE (more affordable) Which one would be the best for the money?

Get an RCBS rock chucker and it will have the power to needed in bigger calibers as well.later on. van

The Lee aluminum frame O-press will do anything you want. It might eventually wear out (after about 1,000,000 cycles), but if it does you'll have long-since amortized its cost. For a beginner, it's a true bargain.

(Hint) Lots of guys loose interest in reloading and sell their stuff after a few years of its sitting in the garage for cheap. Watch the local classifieds, Craig's List, or ebay and you can pick up a bargain. There's absolutely nothing wrong with used reloading equipment, and it's usually in top condition except for a little dust or surface rust.

You can't go wrong with the RCBS Rockchucker. I have one and its built to last a lifetime.

I have four presses now, one is a RockChucker II that I use on a regular basis. I have to say that it's good, as good as any other of its type. But, in all honesty, it's really no better than the others of its type. (My apoligies to those who have strong brand loyalty to inamimate objects, I'm just calling them as I see them.)

I often see comments on how long someone's press has served faithfully, usually a green one. But, on the other hand, I have never heard of anyone who acutually wore out any press, no matter what color it was. I have heard of several Lee aluminum alloy presses being broken somehow but I have to wonder if the user wasn't being a bit ham-fisted to do so. But I've NEVER, ever heard of any modern cast iron press from Lee, Lyman, Hornady, Redding, Forster, RCBS or others wearing out or breaking. So, I must guess they are all quite good.??

I believe the newest Lee "Classic Cast" (cast iron) press is every bit the equal of my RC and it costs MUCH less. And its spent-primer catcher is much superior to the RC catcher. And it has a much more user-friendly adjustable lever arm. And it's made in the USA. (I understand that the current RC frame, at least, is now coming from China.) So, if I had to replace my old press tomorrow it would be with the Lee, no question. But, on the other hand, the life-time warranty from RCBS may be worth what it costs for those who tend to abuse or neglict their reloading tools.

Well, RCBS only has a two year warranty - IIRC - on their electronic scales & dispenser. I only mention that so if you are considering any digitals you should know about what they seem to expect the life span of those tools to be, on average. Their beam scales and manual powder measures carry the greater warranty. The RCBS (Ohaus made) 1010 and 505 scales are very excellant tools.

In 42 years of handloading using a WIDE range of equipment brands, I've only had to go to customer service for help twice. One was for a broken RCBS part and they did give me excellant service, so I applaud that. The other, well I had to pay for the part but it wasn't much.

For the one thousandth two hundred fifty seventh time:

FORSTER CO-AX

I'll even include a link to make it as easy as possible:

http://www.natchezss.com/category.cfm?category=475&brand=FP&catLevel=2

I cannot, however, click it for you.

I get tired too. But mostly from lazy people.

perkele

Bless you

I like Natchez but Cabelas crushes that price on the co-ax...indeed a fine press

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standar...=cat20847&id=0024161

If I had to start over, with the benefit of experience the Forster Co-ax would be Number one.
The Rockchucker would be Number two.
I have broken/sprung/ruined two Lee presses. One a cheap C-Frame press my fault, I asked it to do too much. The second one was one of the aluminum O-Frame presses.
It took a while but I finally remembered some advise I was given when learning to wrench cars as a part time job while going to collage. "Buy the best quality tools and cry only once"

muck

Guys, I agree whole heartedly that the best conventional press on the market is the Co-Ax. That said, the question was what's "best for the money" the Lee OR RCBS.

The Lee "Classic Cast" is NOT aluminum and it costs about one third, or less, what a Co-Ax does. And it will do its job almost as well. I think!!

I have 1 Lyman turret, 1 Rock Chucker, 4 progressives (C&H, Dillon, and others), two shotgun progressives, and a Corbin.

I bought the Lyman turret first. A major mistake. Then the Rock Chucker. It's still in use going on 40 years. Good strong, reliable, tough press. Best reloading investment I ever made.

I have a lee classic cast and lee challenger. I have always wanted a Forster CoAx. I ordered one from Cabelas a few weeks ago and it is definitely the cadillac of presses.

The LEE Classic Cast is a good press. I prefer it to a RCBS RC any day. You cant go wrong with either of the presses you mentioned.

I'd personally buy the Lee CC and spend the money saved on a couple sets of good dies.

Good Luck

Reloader

RCBS A4. There is no competition. I can side a 505 Gibbs or 50-140 (3.25"case) into the shell holder and set a 1.5" long bullet in the case mouth and seat it. It will also load 50BMG or other oversized cartridges, like the 505 Gibbs.

Rich
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
For the one thousandth two hundred fifty seventh time:

FORSTER CO-AX

I'll even include a link to make it as easy as possible:

http://www.natchezss.com/category.cfm?category=475&brand=FP&catLevel=2

I cannot, however, click it for you.

I get tired too. But mostly from lazy people.

I got a co- ax two days ago.
I have de capped and sized 100 rounds of 223 and 100 rounds of 45acp.

There is no question it is a better press than my Rockchucker, but I am not that much faster, yet.

I wouldn`t give my Co-Ax up for the world but the question was "best for the $$". I believe for a newbie looking to get started as reasonably as possible with decent equipment I start my search with the new Lee Classic. The RockChucker is IMO a better press but it runs 2x the money and I am not sure it is 2x better. The Lyman Orange Crusher is another fine choice. I don`t care for any of the aluminumn presses out there. I definatly prefer RCBS, Redding, or Forester dies to Lees, except for the Collet neck sizer dies. Although I have a few sets I have to admit they too have their quirks, and might not be the best for a beginner.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
RCBS A4. There is no competition. I can side a 505 Gibbs or 50-140 (3.25"case) into the shell holder and set a 1.5" long bullet in the case mouth and seat it. It will also load 50BMG or other oversized cartridges, like the 505 Gibbs.RichDRSS

My Hoolywood Senior roger

quote:

Originally posted by tnekkcc:
I got a co- ax two days ago.
I have de capped and sized 100 rounds of 223 and 100 rounds of 45acp.

There is no question it is a better press than my Rockchucker, but I am not that much faster, yet.

Those 223 and 45 cases are light duty stuff for the co-ax. You'll really appreciate it once you resize larger brass cases.

I'm loading some 32 S&W Long pistol cases now, and the weight of the press handle almost resizes them by itself. And spent primers fall nicely into that plastic jar.

I don't think Forster\Bonanza has needed to change this design for 40 years. The Cadillac of presses? It might even be better than that.
Only thing is, like all single stage presses, it's slow.

All right guys, how about good dies for 300wsm and a non digital scale? what else do i need? besides cases, primers, powder, bullets and manual?
do i need a case trimmer if i use new shells?
i tried to get on the chat, but i can't get on?

your opinions really help a lot.