chief99
Member
I know I will get a lot of different answers to this question . What would you consider the best , most durable and simplest press to use for a beginner rifle loader .
Best press - Rifle
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Rcbs rock chucker deluxe kit, 300 dollars and I think rcbs is still doing their rebate. This is what I use to load 5.56.
There's also a YouTube series under Johnny's Reloading Bench. Look for his beginner reloading series. He reloads a bunch of rifle ammo on a 130 dollar kit from Lee that seems to work ok.
-Safety is no accident, unless you accidentally leave the safety on when you intend to shoot.
There's also a YouTube series under Johnny's Reloading Bench. Look for his beginner reloading series. He reloads a bunch of rifle ammo on a 130 dollar kit from Lee that seems to work ok.
-Safety is no accident, unless you accidentally leave the safety on when you intend to shoot.
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GarySTL
Member
RCBS rebate runs until the end of the year. $10 on a $50 purchase and I believe $50 on $500.
adcoch1
Member
Lee classic turret press is a good way to go if you plan to load more than one caliber very often. But the rockchucker is an amazing press for how little it costs.
Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk
Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk
ArchAngelCD
Member.
There are several that are excellent. I have a RCBS Rockchucker and it's great. Lee has a Classic Cast single stage press I would buy today if just starting out. It's not that it's better than the RCBS, I just like how it handles spent primers better. Lee has several SS presses, I'm recommending the Classic Cast not the others.
Either will serve you, your children and possibly your grandchildren if we are still allowed to reload by then lol.
I don't recommend the breach lock system. I feel its an added cost with very very little return.
Either will serve you, your children and possibly your grandchildren if we are still allowed to reload by then lol.
I don't recommend the breach lock system. I feel its an added cost with very very little return.
2011redrider
Member
Rebates on RCBS went up this year on the 300.00 limit to 75.00. Took about 6 weeks to get mine.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Midsouth Shooters has the RCBS RockChucker Supreme Master reloading kit on sale for $299.99, that's a $42 savings. With the rebate it will cost you only $225. I know it's one penny short for the rebate but you will need dies which will easily put you over.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/000449354/rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit
If bought separately the press and scale would coast you more. Everything else is a bonus. Believe me, that is an amazing deal with the hand primer and powder measure included. That is about $450+ in tools. (not that any of us would buy them separately lol)
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/000449354/rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit
If bought separately the press and scale would coast you more. Everything else is a bonus. Believe me, that is an amazing deal with the hand primer and powder measure included. That is about $450+ in tools. (not that any of us would buy them separately lol)
While some people do upgrade their presses at some point, many will be passing their "first" press on to their heirs. In my case it will be part of my estate since neither of my heirs want to reload.
Pretty much every press sold today is durable. I happen to prefer cast iron over aluminum simply because the iron has greater rigidity.
All single stage presses are about as simple as it gets.
Since this may end up being a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, you need to think about whether you need a single stage press, a turret press or a progressive press and then buy accordingly.
chief99 said:
Most durable: Redding Big Boss II
Simplest: Forster Bonanza Co-Ax...you don't even need shell holders
Best value for a beginning loader: Lee Classic Cast
What you'll notice about all the presses I've mentioned is the common handling of spent primers...keeps primers from popping all over the press and sends all the debris out the bottom
devils4ever
Member
A couple of years ago I decided to upgrade from my Lee press that came with the Anniversary Kit. After a lot of research, I picked the Redding Big Boss II press. I don't regret it. It is big and heavy and will last forever until I pass it on to my son. The RCBS Rockchucker press was a close second.
That said, there's nothing wrong with the Lee stuff. I've loaded 10,000s of round on it. It's a good deal for the money, but it's not the best or the most durable.
That said, there's nothing wrong with the Lee stuff. I've loaded 10,000s of round on it. It's a good deal for the money, but it's not the best or the most durable.
Cheesemaker
Member
I am happy with my Redding Big Boss II too. I walked a very similar path to what devils4ever wrote. The Lee stuff worked fine too.
What is the largest cartridge you will load? 50 BMG has its own requirements. Some of the longer cartridges e.g 338 Lapua may do better on a bigger press - like the Redding UltraMag.
What is the largest cartridge you will load? 50 BMG has its own requirements. Some of the longer cartridges e.g 338 Lapua may do better on a bigger press - like the Redding UltraMag.
Sunray
Member
"...for a beginner rifle loader..." RCBS Beginner's Kit. More for the warrantee than anything else. As mentioned, there really is no 'Best' anything.
Been loading on a Redding(bought when they and RCBS were the same place) for 40 years with no fuss. However, I set a letter(no Internet then) to RCBS asking where I could buy decapping pins in Canada. They sent me a list of dealers and a package of 6.
Been loading on a Redding(bought when they and RCBS were the same place) for 40 years with no fuss. However, I set a letter(no Internet then) to RCBS asking where I could buy decapping pins in Canada. They sent me a list of dealers and a package of 6.
Offfhand
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The best, in terms of quality, and also the simplest, is the John Loh press. Which also has the advantage of integral mounting clamps which permit quick attachment, or removal, from loading benches. However, they are not inexpensive, pricewise, as compared to most other presses.
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
I have used lyman and RCBS single stage press but for me this one is hands down
the BEST http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/26...ter-_-265719&gclid=CMOwmbuW9M4CFQ-QaQod-T8HLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpLwDBWI28
the BEST http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/26...ter-_-265719&gclid=CMOwmbuW9M4CFQ-QaQod-T8HLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpLwDBWI28
Has anyone worn a single stage press out? I don't think durability is an issue.
All the single stages are about the same level of complexity (on par with making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) but the co-ax is easier and faster. And I hi I the mechanical advantage is better.
I think the co-ax makes better rifle ammo.
All the single stages are about the same level of complexity (on par with making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) but the co-ax is easier and faster. And I hi I the mechanical advantage is better.
I think the co-ax makes better rifle ammo.
Orcon
Member
I started with a Lee turret press. It was okay but not what I needed. Sold it to sigsmoker when I bought my Forster Co-ax. I love the Co-ax but I don't use the built in priming system.
BTW sig, I found a priming arm for that press do you want it?
BTW sig, I found a priming arm for that press do you want it?
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LUCKYDAWG13
Member
Orcon
I started with a Lee turret press. It was okay but not what I needed. Sold it to sigsmoker when I bought my Forster Co-ax. I love the Co-ax but I don't use the built in priming system.
BTW sig, I found a priming arm for that press do you want it?
you need to try the built in primer it works great
I started with a Lee turret press. It was okay but not what I needed. Sold it to sigsmoker when I bought my Forster Co-ax. I love the Co-ax but I don't use the built in priming system.
BTW sig, I found a priming arm for that press do you want it?
you need to try the built in primer it works great
Elkins45
Member
This sounds like a good list to me, but the RCBS kit on sale does as well. Midway has the co-ax at $30 off right now.
I have two: a Redding Big Boss II and a RCBS Reloader Special 3. The RS3 was bought in the late 1980's and has served me quite well for close to 30 years. I shoot more than the average person but it's nowhere even begun to show appreciable wear. I just bought the Redding because I wanted more leverage for case forming.
The Redding is still made in the USA if that matters to you---that's why I choose it over the Rockchucker.
Blue68f100
Member
I've used both RCBS and Redding, both are good presses. The Redding Boss II is the better press for handling primers. Goes down the center of ram to a tube that can be placed in a bucket. If you press primer the Redding Boss II with the auto primer fed system works very well. The only bad thing is that the supply tube only hold 99 primers. So the last one has to be added manually to the seating anvil.
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