Hey guys, sorry to those of you who may remember me asking a press question on reloading a while back. I cnanot find the damn thread and figured this was the group to ask this time.

I have an OLD RCBS Jr. press that I use right now, it is a bit small for those of you that haven't seen them. I am in need of getting something that will let me load my 375 and the 458 Lott when it gets back. something that will accomade all the magnums, rigby, weatherby's etc., but no need for the 50BMG stuff.

What are your guys opinions on the different single stage presses that you have used? I would even entertain turret press thoughts, although have never used one. I am going to try to stay on a reasonable budget though, no need to bankrupt myself getting a fancy press when a solid simple one will do.

thanks all,

Red

The RCBS Partner Press is the least expensive "O" press that I know of that will handle the H&H-length rounds.

George

I have a Dillon RL550B and have loaded up to 30-378 on it without any problems. When I got into my 470, I had to email the factory and they sent me a special order base plate and adapter to load for it. The powder measure is fairly accurate with ball powder. Try one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

George, My brother in law just offered me an old Lyman single stage and a Rock Chucker he has had forever. I guess everyone wants progressives theses days. Will these work as well? I am just starting to reload for the big bores. Got too expensive to buy ammo.

Mike,
The Rock Chucker certainly will. Check with Lyman ( Lyman as to whether their press will handle those rounds.

George

The new Rockchucker has a larger window & will handle the bigger rounds. I had a JR & found it too much of a hastle so I bought the Ammomaster. It will handle everything up to & including the .50BMG.

I still use my 30 year old RCBS JR press for 375, 416Rby & 510/460Wby. I have to place the bullet up into the die, then insert the case into the shell holder with my other hand, but it works. When my Lott is ready, I suppose I'll use it for that too.

I have been loading the .375 H&H and 458 Win. for the last 4 to 5 years using the Lee Challenger Press. This press only cost $17 - $20 @ Midway USA and it work fine to load these cases. It will load the Lott with no problem too. I did break one of the zinc die castings that bracket the handle. This will happen if the handle cross bolt gets lose over time and the handle will then load the zinc casting. So just check the cross bolt for tightness now and again and this inexpensive press will serve you well for a long time.

However Lee has a new press out called the Classic and it is built even stronger than the Challenger. I recall the price on this as about $60. This should do a fine job too.

I, too, have been using an RCBS Jr. for the past 30+ years (and had to replace some parts recently due to wear), but I just got a Redding Big Boss press for my larger cases, and I think it is going to make it much easier to handle the .416, .375, and various long black powder cartridge cases.

RCBS supreme... best 99 bucks I ever spent... well, other than that time south of the border!!

jeffe

I have been using a Lyman O Mag press for loading the H&H cartridges. It works great & has plenty of length. Lyman doesn't handle them anymore but I have seen them for sale on e-Bay from time to time. You could look there.

I love my Redding Ultramag.

the supreme will handle upto 4.5" rounds, without backing the die out to seat/crimp (577 nitro, for instance) and has TONS of leverage....

Same here with my 24 year old rock chucker - works fine with 338, 416 rem and rigby, 450 ackley, 460 woundabeast and 510/460 improved - have to set the bullet up into the die when seating but not a big issue as I don't get in any hurry when loading - KMule

I use my RCBS Rockchucker for everything up to 577 Tyrannosaur. For that one you need a new innerring which suits the largediameter dies needed for the 577 T-Rex. It works flawlessly.

I have an old Rockchucker and it works well. For long rounds like the .416 Rigby I need to tilt the round in when seating a bullet, this is no real issue however.

this is why i like the supreme... i got a nasty bit from a 416 rem on my ancient RC, (wife was HELPING and worked the lever a tad too fast.. finger is still there, so i guess she missed)... it was awkard to slip the 416 bullet in the die, and then slip the brass in under, (both hands)... now, even 577 is as easy as a 708

jeffe

HI,


I just went through the same thing, I am going to just get a rock chucker surpreme,they have a long history of use and the surpreme is made for longer rounds and cannot beat the cost,Kev

.... when I was younger and "in a hurry", I did that more than once - I remember the pain so I slowed down - reloading is kinda like tying flies for me, relaxing - 'course it is also nice to assemble a round or a fly that is the final connection to the game animal (knowing that you "built" it) - KMule

Here's the best bargain going for a heavy duty press.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/leepress/index.asp

I've used a Lee classic, Lyman T-mag as well as a Forster Co-ax, and any of them will handle up to the 2.8" cased belted mag case. I only got rockchucker for my 500 Jeffrey, as the die bodies are 1" dia. I would have preferred going with the Redding mag press, but was too cheap the pay the difference.

My first loading tool was a Lyman 310 tong tool, I still have it, and a set of 22 hornet, and 30-30 dies.

On my bench I have three presses! An old RCBS Jr, that is used, today for handgun ammo, and small things like 22-250, There is an old RCBS Big Max, for large NE rounds. It will handle even the 475#2 NE which is over 4" loaded, and will handle the large size dies of things like 577 NE, to 700 NE. The leverage in the MAX will work quite well for forming brass, as well. The Big Max is a little slow to use, and recently I bought an RCBS Ammo master, and it is a dream to use, and will handle anything I'm likely to ever load! If I had only one press the Ammo Master would be my pick! The one thing I would never do is buy a aluminum "O" press of any make!

Fazak,

people always question lee's longevity how do you think the lee wil lstack up against say a redding UM & RCBS RC11 over the long haul ??

I've had a Rock Chucker since day one, a Dillon 550 for a few years and just recently got a Redding T-7 Turret press. The Redding had a little more clearance space than the Rock Chucker does and is real solid. Costs a bit more, but that turret with 7 die stations is handy... can keep two or three calibers on a turret.

steve

For long cases I use a redding ultramag

I just gota RCBS ammo master and am very pleased with it. It is being used for the 50 BMG.