[Tack4595]

Hi,
I'm new to handloading and just beginning to purchase gear. I will be loading for a 5.5x55, .308, .300 Win Mag, .375 Win and .357 Magnum.
I have the oppotunity of purchasing either of these presses. The Redding is about $40 cheaper but I don't want to make a mistake. Which is the better press?
Regards
Tack

[lgbloader]

Which is the better press?


This is a bad question. They both are good, however, the Big Boss is more preferrable by me.

LGB

[Horsemany]

I'll offer what I've noticed. The Rockchucker seems to be a bit smoother and tighter IMO. That may have to do with it being heavier construction. I've only played with a friends Redding a few times though. The Rockchucker is flawed IMO because it sends spent primers out the back of the ram and some end up on the floor. That also creates some debris on the ram that makes it need to be wiped clean more often than the style that drops them straight down out the bottom.

They're both great presses. I've never wished I had anything other than my Rockchucker Supreme. There's not many things I own I can say that about. I've heard the Redding customer service is big on New York attitude but I've never used it. RCBS has some of the best customer service in the biz IMO. They almost won't let you pay for things.

[BigJakeJ1s]

The Redding Big Boss II and UltraMag are their presses that have the through-the-ram spent primer handling. The Boss and Big Boss do not. The Big Boss can be upgraded to the BBII for a $40 replacement ram.

The BB, BBII, and UltraMag also have a threaded die hole bushings that can be removed and replaced with the Hornady LNL press conversion bushing, allowing the use of LNL-equipped dies for very quick and easy die changes. The Redding Boss does not have the threaded die bushing, and cannot be converted to LNL.

The Lee Classic Cast also has through the ram primer handling, and the threaded die bushing too.

RCBS, Hornady and Lyman single stage presses all have similar spent primer handling (sucks).

At the top of the single stage press food chain is the Forster Co-Ax, with its own snap-in/out floating die retention system, automatic shell holder jaws, and through the ram spent primer handling. Plus a host of other design features not found on any other press.

Hope this helps,

Andy

[GW Staar]

Both presses will last multiple life times as long as they are cared for. (don't let them rust and keep the ram & ram hinges clean and greased) Dies and shell holders are interchangeable.
Get the Best price and grab one before the prices go up. If they're taken care of your grandson can give it to his grandson.:)

[ranger335v]

Other than spent primer handling, all of the presses of the same general type are fully equal in strenglh, performance and durability; Redding, Lyman, RCBS, Hornady, Lee. Pick a color you like and buy it, you can't go wrong.

The Redding Ultramag and Forster Coax are slightly "better" presses, at least in a few respects, but each has some draw-backs that some folks don't care for.