Wanting to get into reloading (I think)Can't decide what press I'll be happy with. I have read through alot of the post and there really doesn't seem to be a favorite. I'll be loading several different calibers. The single stage press seems to me it would be pains taking changing dies all the time. I am kind of leaning toward the RCBS turet press and have thought about the Hornady lock n load auto progrossive

Any advice or pros and cons of the above presses

Thanks

I started reloading with the RCBS Master Kit which included the Rock Chucker single stage press. I still load all of my rifle cartridges on this but eventually bought a Hornady L-N-L auto-progressive that I now use for pistol ammo. I tried a little rifle loading in the L-N-L but with lubing and length trimming it was more bother than time saving, IMO. I use ball powders for pistol (flake, disc,etc.) which flow throw super consistently through the dispenser but stick powders for rifle which often times drop +/- .5 grains amd once in a while farther out than this. If taking baby steps to start off with doesn't interest you then I would recommend the Redding T7 Turret press, which can be used in single process fashion until you get the hang of each stage comfortably. Well thats my 2 cents worth on this subject.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightboy:
Wanting to get into reloading (I think)Can't decide what press I'll be happy with. I have read through alot of the post and there really doesn't seem to be a favorite. I'll be loading several different calibers. The single stage press seems to me it would be pains taking changing dies all the time. I am kind of leaning toward the RCBS turet press and have thought about the Hornady lock n load auto progrossive

Any advice or pros and cons of the above presses

Thanks

As I've told others, start with a kit from either RCBS or Redding. If your heart is set on a turret, go for the Redding...

quote:

and have thought about the Hornady lock n load auto progrossive

It's an excellent press....but not for a newbie.

Start with the single stage press.....it's a good start!

20 + years and still using the Rock Chucker single stage for all my rifle loading (6+ calibers and counting up!). Progressives are best for pistols, in my opinion. As a novice, stick with the single stage. Much less to go wrong and will let you learn a bunch about the process. Safety first, always.

You can start with RCBS, LEE, Hornady kits. There is not a big diference when you are a beginner.
But at first I'll to decide the use that you'll made for this, and learn on a good reloading book all the steps, then if you are looking for the best result you need to buy good quality press, but not even the hi price give the best quality.
Faina

I like a turret press. No need to constantly setup and tear down dies. Setup for two calibers at any one time.

Another vote for single stage. You don't say whether you're planning to load for pistol or rifle, but I fail to see the advantages of loading rifle ammo on a progressive, unless you need to load up batches of several hundred cartridges regularly.

I'm a bit of a nitpicker when it comes to my rifle ammo. If it doesn't shoot better than what I can buy over the counter, I have to ask myself why I'm reloading. I do funny stuff like uniforming primer pockets, measuring and trimming case length on every reload, etc. To do all this with a progressive has to defeat the object.

Having said all that, I have often hankered for a progressive when churning out hundreds of low-pressure handgun 'plinking' rounds at a sitting. Here, critical accuracy and consistency is not a requirement. My full-house carry loads I still prefer to assemble carefully and painstakingly (50 at a time), checking and re-checking everything as I go.

Fussy old fart, aren't I?

Can someone explain to me what they mean by "screwing dies in and out all the time" or "setting up and tearing down" dies? Whats the big deal? You pick your caliber, you get it set to where you want it, you set the lock ring, and you're done. Next time you simply screw it in. No fussing around.
I will process all the brass I'm loading through each step before moving to the next, IE, all get sized, then all get primed, then all get charged, etc.
If you are planning to take each case through each step individually, then yup, you're going to spend a lot of time spinning things in and out, but I have never heard of ANYONE who takes one case at a time through each step.

Wrightboy, what calibers are you planning to load, and in what type of firearm, for example, 243 in a rifle. Or 38 special in a revolver. How much of each annually?

284 Win---Before I bought my reloading equipment,I had a turret press in mind. Then I read that for MOST the turret press just became a place to store dies. There is one fellow that posts here that uses a turret and takes each round through the full process before removing it. Doing it that way does preclude some steps that I like to do---but he says are not necessary---wiping off sizing lube,cleaning primer pockets, measuring for length and checking for split necks after sizing for example. For myself,I started single stage and remain single stage as I figure even doing them one at a time,enough stuff can go wrong and I have a better chance of catching it. I do reload for my son in law,grandson and myself--not like keeping an Army supplied and the RCBS Rockchucker has worked well for 40 years,may not like it after I get it broke in.

If you just "think" you want to get into reloading, get the Lee kit. Then if you decide it isn't for you, you're out $150.00 instead of several hundred. If you do like reloading and somewhere down the road (maybe quite a ways) you want to upgrade, sell your Lee press --there's really nothing wrong with their Challenger press-- or pass it along to a beginner.
First off, get you a good reloading book and read it, cover to cover, a couple of times. That'll help you decide.

Most folks start w/ a single stage. I did & still use one for most of my big game rifle rounds. A progressive like the LNL or 550B is great for mass producing ammo & I have a 550B for all my pistol ammo. The single stage is slow but it makes you focus on the task at hand instead of watching the machine work. Like 284 said, you set your dies up only once. You run your cases thru each step before you change dies. I can load 75 pistol rounds in an hour on a single stage, using a powder measure to throw charges. You can do abit better w/ rifle rounds (less steps) & I rarely shoot more than 40 rifle rounds at a time. Start w/ a single stage kit & then you'll know what you NEED in a progressive.

Welcome to the Forum!
I started with a RCBS Rock Chucker Single stage press and have never upgraded. Never felt the need. I recommend it to you get it and never look back…

quote:

Originally posted by wrightboy:
Wanting to get into reloading (I think)Can't decide what press I'll be happy with. I have read through alot of the post and there really doesn't seem to be a favorite. I'll be loading several different calibers. The single stage press seems to me it would be pains taking changing dies all the time. I am kind of leaning toward the RCBS turet press and have thought about the Hornady lock n load auto progrossive

Any advice or pros and cons of the above presses

Thanks

You'll never go wrong with an RCBS press. For dies, I believe Redding, Forster, RCBS, Hornady, or Lyman products will all produce ammi better than the factory stuff.

Thanks to everyone for the help. Looks like the majority is saying start with a single stage. That's probably where i need to start, but I have to ask. A couple of you reccommended the Redding T7 over the RCBS. Why better quality. I haven't seen the Redding in a kit, only the press. The RCBS does come with a kit and that's why I was looking at it. I have some calpiers and a digital scale, but would have to purchase everything else seperate. Not sure the scales are good enough either

Once again thanks for all the advice

I am also new to reloading. This fall I decided to go in for a pound vs. in for a penny and purchased the Hornady L-N-L AP press with the case feeder, beam scale, dies for 9mm 38/357 and .223, shellplates and all the fixin's.
I believe I am mechanically inclined (aeronautical engineer, and son of a mechanic) so I did not experience any start-up problems. I learned volumes from this forum and the threads it leads to. The only problems I have encountered have been with the primer feed system that kept jamming, due to the inner tube rising up allowing the primers to get cocked and jam under it. I fixed the problem by wrapping tape around the inner tube and securing it to the outer (safety) tube. Works great now. Other problem had nothing to do with the equipment just my own lack of attention. I am by no means qualified to rate this press versus others, and even my high satisfaction with the L-N-L is based on very limited experience (2000 rounds of 9mm, 1500 rounds of 38 spl and 1500 rounds of .223/5.56mm.
Good Luck to you in whatever your choice is,

Pat

There are two different extremes in reloading.
Those that want to handcraft each and every round and normally are willing to invest the time to do that. They may not be high volume shooters but sometimes they are. They will usually use a single stage press.
The other end of the spectrum just wants to turn out ammo as easy and as fast as possible and get it over with. These folks are less inclined to be so detail oriented and will use a progressive of some sort.
The "one at a time loaders" tend to be the rifle shooters. The "hurry up and get it done because it is boring" type guys are usually the pistol and shot shell loaders.

I use a single stage because I shoot mostly rifles and my shooting is usually deliberate. I can tell the difference in accuracy between loads.
Shotshell loading is pretty boring to me and I would use a progressive if I shot a shotgun more. Same goes for a handgun.

If you can afford it, I would look at a turret press. They allow you to adjust and play with things easily, yet you are not constantly swapping out dies. I think that progressives are likely to be very frustrating to start reloading on.....they can be a pain for anyone, and are not easy to learn on.

Enjoy the new hobby!

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by wrightboy:
Thanks to everyone for the help. Looks like the majority is saying start with a single stage. That's probably where I need to start, but I have to ask. A couple of you reccommended the Redding T-7 over the RCBS. Why, better quality? I haven't seen the Redding in a kit, only the press. The RCBS does come with a kit, and that's why I was looking at it. I have some calipers and a digital scale, but would have to purchase everything else seperate. Not sure the scales are good enough either.

As a general statement, Redding equipment surpasses the other major makers in design and fitment (quality). RCBS supplies Ohaus scales under their own brand; both Redding and Ohaus are first line. And, you may want a beam scale just to keep your digital piece "honest".

The Redding T-7 turret is loved by everyone who uses it. If it is attractive to you, don't be put off by its not being available with a kit. The only major piece in a Redding kit is the scale. The RCBS kit also furnishes their powder measure and hand priming tool, but these are not preferred pieces. Redding's 3BR powder measure is extremely popular, as is Lee's AutoPrime hand tool. The rest of the stuff in kits is pretty generic, with the exception of the Redding powder trickler furnished in their kit (it's another top choice).

If you decide on a single-stage kit, again Redding is recommended. Their Boss or Big Boss II presses are, in my opinion, better pieces than the RockChucker now being produced. A Redding Big Boss II kit will provide you with an excellent start to a top notch reloading set-up.

Get a Sinclair catalog. Lots of specialized tools and gauges, and it can be very educational.

Wrightboy, I see you're still checking in, but haven't answered my question about what you actually plan to load. Pistol by the bushel? Rifle for target shooting? Blasting ammo for a semi-auto 223?

What you plan to do with it has a bearing on what opinions we offer.

I find I enjoy handloading "almost" as much as shooting. Therefore I think you should lean toward the middle of the price range, at least on your equipment. 1. The "good stuff" Works better.Adding to your pleasure. 2.Allthought reloading equipment doesn't have huge resale value, It's allot easier selling good stuff over junk.

To answer the question of what I'll be shooting.
9mm and 357 in pistol. Just killing beer cans mainly. I do hunt some with the 357.
204,223,243, 7.62x39, 3006 and 7mm mag. The last 4 my son and I mainly hunt with. We will wast a little ammo, but mainly hunting. The 204 is shot quit often and the 233 is a Ruger 556 which is a semi-auto, 3 round burst, or full auto. When I shoot it I shoot alot and usually would shoot more if I had more ammo

To answer the question of what I'll be shooting.
9mm and 357 in pistol. Just killing beer cans mainly. I do hunt some with the 357.
204,223,243, 7.62x39, 3006 and 7mm mag. The last 4 my son and I mainly hunt with. We will wast a little ammo, but mainly hunting. The 204 is shot quit often and the 233 is a Ruger AC556 which is a semi-auto, 3 round burst, or full auto. When I shoot it I shoot alot and usually would shoot more if I had more ammo

I'll be shooting 9mm and 357. Mainly killing beer cans, but I do sometimes hunt with the 357
204,223,243,7.62x39,3006,and 7mm rem mag. The last 4 my son and I hunt with. We'll waste a few rounds, but mainly hunt. The 204 is shot regular and the 223 is a Ruger AC556 which is a full auto gun. Lots and lots or rounds

quote:

Originally posted by wrightboy:
I'll be shooting 9mm and 357. Mainly killing beer cans,

quote:

the 223 is a Ruger AC556 which is a full auto gun. Lots and lots or rounds

quote:

I wish you'd have said so before, I'd have recommended a Dillon 550...

+1 for the Dillon 550.

Strongly recommend you get additional die holders -- dies are set up once in the holder and you can change calibers very quickly. Dillon sells "tool holders" to store these on the back of your bench...

If you have additional funds (over time, this can be rationalized, but maybe not at first...) you can get additional powder measures, so you don't even have to swap and adjust this component.

I load .45ACP, .44Rem Mag, .243 Win and .30-06 Sprg. Except for the .44, these all use the same shell plate. Also, they all use a large primer tube.

If the calibers you are loading are a mix of large and small primers, you will have to change the primer tubes. OTOH, I believe 9mm, .357 and .223 all use small primers (well, small pistol vs small rifle, but same size) so at least your "lots and lots" calibers won't have primer tube swapping.

Dillon has excellent service, reasonably priced spare parts, and an excellent reputation for reliability.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a kit. You'll need a decent vernier caliper to measure case length, a case length trimmer, and headspace gauges (for the rifle calibers). An inexpensive digital powder scale is far easier to use than a balance type. Kits rarely include these, and you'll be happier selecting them as individual tools. (BTW, I've run into the term "headspace gauge" to refer to two different tools -- the first is a cartridge gauge and measures case overall length and headspace from the shoulder, while the second is used for measuring headspace in the chamber of a rifle. For reloading, you want the first.)

Reloading is an enjoyable extension to shooting. I'm not sure I ever saved any money, but I do feel I have more control over the entire process.

Wish I'd known about what you were shooting....

For pistols and progressive unloaders progressive reloaders do make a lot of sense....


Cheers,

Dan

Thanks for all the info. I decided it would be best to walk before I run so I ordered the RCBC master supreme kit. It will be my Christmas present so I won't get to use it until then, but I did borrowed a Lee Challenger press and made a few 223 shells. I used a Hornady 55 gr V-max bullet and loaded 3 different charges using Varget. Haven't got to shoot them thru the cronmy yet. Took me forever to load them. I wasn't too happy with the Lee scales so compared every load to a set of digital I have. didn't really trust the digital either, but it weighted heavey that the beam so I used it to make sure I wasn't loading too heavy. hope to shoot thru the crony this weekend. I still can see a progressive in the future for the pistols and the Ruger AC556. I am hooked and haven't started yet

You will not be hurt by your decision as lots of good stuff comes in that kit. Try it for a year or so as you will surely develop preferences for certain types/brands of equipment, let alone acquire valuable experience.

Turret presses are a good compromise, but they're not for the person who owns a class III firearm. Here you will be well served by a Dillon 550B and Dillon's dies. Capable of high production rates and well supported by the factory, everything about Dillon's equipment is first rate -especially their customer service.

There are those who will recommend other presses, but IMO they either will not fork out for a Dillon in the first place, or have never bought/sold/traded quality used equipment. Used Dillon equipment draws near-new prices and there is a reason why: quality, no B/S warranty and factory support.

I started reloading a few years ago. Started with the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit also. Great Kit!

I just finished upgrading the Rock Chucker with the Piggy Back 4 progressive. I'm impressed with the quality of RCBS products.

Took a few hours to set up, and haven't put it into 'production mode' yet. But I think I'll be happy with it. Seems to be identical in operation as the Pro 2000. If I need to go back to single stage, should only take about 15 min. to convert back. But I could still use it as a Turret type operation if desired.