I am finally settled in my new house after moving back from Guam, and am going to start setting up my reloading bench. In the past I had used a Rock Chucker Supreme, but wanted to get suggestions on other presses before I make a purchase. My rifles range from a 257 Weatherby up to a 450 Rigby, and I am planning on adding a 416 Rigby this year and possibly a double rifle, either 450NE, 470NE, or 500NE in the next year or two.

What press do you recommend and why?

Redding Ultra-mag. Big enough throat, quality, front load, lots of leverage.

Lee Classic Cast. Plenty big and plenty strong without breaking the bank. I have used mine for years for everything from 7x57 to .577 and it works great.

I own both RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme and Lee Classic Cast, also RCBS AmmoMaster.
Have used all three.
The first two above are OK, especially since Lee got rid of the brass toilet bolt and started using all-steel parts.
The AmmoMaster by RCBS is always first choice for me:
It is bigger and easier to use without fussing and fiddling with fingers to get the bullet started into the die hole in the crowded space above the case mouth, like with the two smaller ones above.
Ammomaster is huge and easier by comparison, no fuss or fiddle, and always gives excellent ammo results, from 22 PPC through 50 BMG in my experience.
Get AmmoMaster.
You won't be sorry.
So what if it is not a cast-metal O-Ring like the two smaller ones mentioned above?
AmmoMaster is precision-machined with 3 pillars of steel:
3 points determine a plane.
Results determine efficacy. AmmoMaster is as good as it gets.

rcbs supreme for anything over 3.65 oal or so.. hornady lnl AP for everything smaller -- and i can use my mill for anything bigger

+1 on ammomaster
Hornady is same press

Another Lee Classic Cast user...

Have old RCBS Rock Chucker and needed something for loading longer carts...

Never had an
issue with the Lee...

I have the Lee 50 BMG Cast version, RCBS Ammo Master II, Two Forster Co-Ax, Redding Ultra-Mag, RCBS Rockchucker all set up on the same bench for different cartridges. However when it comes to the Nitro's and Rigby cases I always use the Ultra-Mag. The Lee gets used for crimping with the large 1.5" Factory Crimp Dies. And in my opinion the Ammo Master is too big except when I am loading 50 BMG.

I use Lee Classic cast for 600Nitro. For most of the rest i now have a Forster Co Ax.

Cheers, Chris

I like the RCBS AmmoMaster II because it's easy to change the top plate in occasions where the dies have different thread sizes. I use one plate and adapter bushing for my .505 Gibbs and .600 OK dies, a second plate for the RCBS bullet pullers for these cartridges, (no bushing), and a third plate for the big Lee Factory Crimp dies for these calibers,(also, no bushing).

Thanks for all the responses, now I have a good starting point for some research. I liked my Rockchucker Supreme, but it was just barely big enough for the Rigby which made loading a hassle.

Been using a Lee Classic Cast for several years now. Fantastically strong!

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
I have the Lee 50 BMG Cast version, RCBS Ammo Master II, Two Forster Co-Ax, Redding Ultra-Mag, RCBS Rockchucker all set up on the same bench for different cartridges. However when it comes to the Nitro's and Rigby cases I always use the Ultra-Mag. The Lee gets used for crimping with the large 1.5" Factory Crimp Dies. And in my opinion the Ammo Master is too big except when I am loading 50 BMG.

ditto on the Ultra Mag---it's a beast

Buy a Redding Ultra Mag and never look back!
Doug

quote:

Originally posted by 600 Overkill:

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
I have the Lee 50 BMG Cast version, RCBS Ammo Master II, Two Forster Co-Ax, Redding Ultra-Mag, RCBS Rockchucker all set up on the same bench for different cartridges. However when it comes to the Nitro's and Rigby cases I always use the Ultra-Mag. The Lee gets used for crimping with the large 1.5" Factory Crimp Dies. And in my opinion the Ammo Master is too big except when I am loading 50 BMG.

ditto on the Ultra Mag---it's a beast

that is a beast! the old thick bair press i use is the heaviest built c press i've ever seen....... i have a little lee reloader c press i use too.. side by side on the bench so i do 2 steps at a time as i have an extra die body set and enough parts to make it all work.........

PRAY FOR OBAMA... PSALMS 109:9

Another vote for the Redding UltraMag.

I use the big turret presses, I'm to lazy to change dies all the time.

I have a Rockchucker Supreme which I really like. It does most things very well. However, if I had to do it over again, I'd probably look at the Redding T7 Turret Press. I've not reloaded with the T7 but I have played with a store display model and it was very smooth and seemed to be stoutly built.

Anybody seen this one?

http://www.skinnerpress.com

Redding Ultra

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I use the big turret presses, I'm to lazy to change dies all the time.

I never really thought about a turret press, but I looked up The Redding T-7 on YouTube and it looks very interesting. Any other suggestions on turret presses?

You can take a T-7 turret to a machine shop, have em open up one die station. Get an insert for the Ultra Mag, bout 25 bucks. That lets you use all the stations, or take out the insert, and be able to use a one of the bigger Lee crimp dies.
Takes up a smaller foot print on the bench, lets you keep all 7 stations operational with standard dies, and use larger bodied dies.

I use two presses for all of my reloading. My favorite is an RCBS A-2 and the other is a RCBS, single stage Ammo Master. The Ammo Master will handle any of the large cases with ease.