New or Old... Which Reloading Press is the Best?

[fguffey]

“Also PLEASE with your answer... you MUST tell me WHY!”

My best press is the one that is bolted to a stand, I have A Dillon 550B and a Rock Chucker bolted to one stand and 4 Herter's bolted to another stand, I have 10 presses that are not bolted to anything, nothing wrong with any of them, simply put I do not use them because they are not bolted down,


“WHY the best in your opinion and WHY am I going to need it!”

You need a press because you do not have a press, after you acquire a press then claim you have ‘the best’? I have Dillon, RCBS, Lyman, Texan, LochMiller, C&H, AND A LEE etc., with 5 different models from one manufacture, I have some good presses, and am not so vain to think I have the best, I will say I know how to use a press and I know how to get the most use out of the reloading tools I have and I have tools I use that have nothing to do with reloading that save me hundreds of dollars, they substitute for tools that are nice but not necessary.

F. Guffey

 

[Jaymo]

RCBS Rock Chucker and Lee Classic Cast O frame are both damned good single stage presses.
I've used both, since I own the Lee classic and my reloading/shooting buddy owns the RC.
The Lee Classic doesn't give up anything to the RC, but the Lee Classic wasn't made when my bud bought his RC.
I've also been using the RCBS Partner press that I've owned since 96. It's a good little single stage press for pistol calibers and .223, but It's cast aluminum and requires more frequent ram lubrication than the iron frame.

My next step is to get the Classic Cast Turret press for loading pistol cartridges faster.

 

[RustyFN]

I would recommend the Lee classic turret. I am not saying it's the best press out there and this is why I recommend it.

I have six years experience loading on one. It is a very well built press and will last a life time. If you are like 90% of us out there you will get board loading pistol ammo on a single stage press in a few weeks and will want something faster. With the classic turret you can remove the auto indexing rod in around 15 seconds. Doing that will let you batch load just the same as using a single stage press. Batch loading you will load around 50 to 75 rounds per hour. When you want to load faster just install the auto indexing rod and you will be loading 175 to 200 rounds per hour. Some of the other great features are a hollow ram for the spent primers to go through and end up in a clear plastic tube, it keeps the bench and floor clean. The safety prime for me has worked near flawless. With a turret set up for every caliber you can change calibers in less than one minute. In my opinion it's a great press for somebody loading a couple hundred rounds in a few different calibers per month.

 

[GT1]

I don't think there is a more versatile more flexible press than the Lee Classic turret(The classic, not the lesser deluxe version.).
It has been said plenty of times, it is probably the best value in reloading presses on the market today at a price just over 100 dollars. It will do pistol and rifle, it runs in single stage or auto-advance(no other turret press will). Caliber changes are done in seconds as pucks(turrets) are inexpensive making having extras with pre-set dies easy.
It will outlast you, and likely outlast your kids.

There are various kits out there that will get one the press and accessories pretty much ready to bolt on a bench and start loading for around $225.
The accessories for it work well. The auto disk(I recommend the pro version) powder measure throws charges as well as any other brand. The Safety prime is simple, and works surprisingly well while keeping your fingers off the primers.

There are many options out there. The best press is the one that fits one's needs and wallet. It might not be that one, there are dozens to choose from. One would have to spend a lot more to get more, however.

 

[dickttx]

And now---which is the best Pickup truck?
Much easier deciding this than "which is the BEST press".

 

[GT1]

Like I mentioned, there is no overall right answer. Otherwise there would ony be one of each type of press on the market.

I have that Lee classic turret bolted right next to a Dillon 650. Both are great and I expect both will outlive me.

But yeah. Ford.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I have said before that the Lee Classic Turret is the best auto-indexing turret press in the world, bar none.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that it is one of the only two auto-indexing turret presses in the world. The second-best is the Lee Deluxe Turret.

If you can make do with 4 stations, it's the one. If you need more than 4, it is the worst for you because it simply won't do.

Lost Sheep

 

[Oldgoat03]

Best Press

+ 1 for the Lee Classic Turret for ease of operation, maintenance, caliber changes, auto-indexing, pistol & rifle cartridges and low cost.

 

[RustyFN]

And now---which is the best Pickup truck?

That's crazy, everybody knows it's Ford.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Single stage use, there are two excellent presses in two entirely different price ranges I would consider buying:

1. Lee Classic Cast single stage

2. Forster Coax single stage

I can afford the Forster, but I own the Lee. The Lee pushed an RCBS Rock Chucker off my bench.

Lots of other options out there. For most reloaders, the next best step is probably a Lee Classic Turret press with all the accessories.

Beyond that, you're into progressive reloading. I've owned and used most brands of progressives. I like the Hornadys, Dillons and RCBS progressives.

A press that I would consider strongly getting, but would have to have it modernized to be satisfied with it, is the Star Universal progressive. A beautiful machine, but it's designs are getting very long in the tooth now.

Any other old presses are as you find them, they may be junk or a jewel, depending.

 

[res7s]

Best single stage:
O-Frame Lee Classic Cast
C-Frame Redding Ultramag
I have no idea what kind of frame Forster Co-Ax
Best H-Frame, probably a Corbin, but any H-Frame will do.


Best turret press:
Lee Classic Turret

Best progressive:
Probably a Dillon RL-550(fewer moving parts to get bound up or out of time)

This is in the "IMHO" category. You should go look at a few and get a feel for them. Pick the one YOU like best.

 

[Elkins45]

Just curious--does anyone own what they would consider to be a 'bad' single stage press?

 

[oneounceload]

Just curious--does anyone own what they would consider to be a 'bad' single stage press?

I use the RCBS Jr. press - and while not "bad" per se, I will say it takes some effort when FL sizing some of the larger cases mainly due to its short handle and no compound leverage; otherwise, for a single stage press, it does a great job

 

[Lost Sheep]

Just curious--does anyone own what they would consider to be a 'bad' single stage press?

Very few actually bad presses have stayed on the market for very long.

However, there are good presses that are bad for the jobs you need done.

Oneounceload mentioned an example. A press with insufficient leverage will irritate you every time you size a huge magnum rifle cartridge. So, would be a "bad" single stage press. Someone who was loading less demanding cartridges would find it preferable to one perfectly suited to you (lighter, smaller, less costly).

Finding the proper fit your your purposes, now, that's the tricky part.

Lost Sheep

 

[FROGO207]

To the OP-----I bet you thought they were all going to say the press to get is ____________. Good luck with that. As you see there are as many opinions as there are presses. I would look at as many presses as I could in person,watch any in operation on You-Tube and any other source that has any info to help you choose. I would get a single stage press first and learn the reloading craft with it before going to anything that speeds up the process which could add to mistakes. Then go to a turret or progressive if needed for more output. FWIW I still load 50K+ every year on a single stage cast iron "O" frame press after many many years of reloading and never saw the need to speed the process up.

That all said the most reliable and longest lived press that you can own as well as the simplest is what you want I am sure. I would go with a cast iron "O" frame press using compound linkage. If you ever plan on loading 50 BMG or 12 gauge brass shot shells then the larger sized opening will be needed. I would try to find what you want in a used press for the savings as they rarely wear out. As long as it is not a ball of rust it will work as designed. Stick with a current name brand if buying a used one for ease of parts availability if you should find something on it that needs replacing. It is like buying a used car IMHO.

 

[Bowfishrp]

I have had a Lee classic single stage and a Hornady single stage and cant say I had any issues with either.

Oh and a life long former chevy guy here who thinks Ford is the best truck on the road!

 

[Hacker15E]

Great post, haha.

Definately an old Pacific "C" press. They usually go for 350 bucks, American, in used condition. Now as it just so happens I have two of them out in the shed, along with a large assortment of rams. I am willing to let BOTH presses go for one money, 250 dollars American, plus shipping. If you are interested in this fantastic deal, please send me a personal message.

Note to the OP: Pacific C-presses are from the 40s-60s, and are available for sub-$50 on ebay. Great single stage presses, from what I hear.