Need opinions on reloader

I really like manual turret single stage presses. Load all your dies up and just click to what you want. I resize and flare in one operation, prime with a hand primer, load powder, seat and crimp in the last operation. My press is a Lyman and I’d say the quality is “pretty darn good.”

Bannockburn70 said:

Hey fellas, new to site, new to metallic cartridge reloading. I have reloaded shot-shells for many years but this requires a little more attention to detail. I need a press. I know everyone has their favorite but I’ve been looking at the MEC single stage. Mostly because MEC is top of the line in shot-shell reloading in my opinion. Any input will be appreciated. Good or bad. Thanks

Click to expand...

What do you plan to reload? Rifle? Pistol? How many and for what purpose?

I started reloading over fifty years ago on an MEC shotgun press, and it worked very well for me. But when I transitioned to centerfire cartridge reloading I went with an RCBS single stage press (after a set of Lee Classic hammer dies). At that time I don’t think MEC even offered a cartridge press, and I have zero experience with them. All I can say is that the three RCBS presses I’ve owned have performed very very well. I have no doubt that Lyman, RCBS, Lee, Redding and Forester presses will perform wonderfully for you.





.

If handgun only, I'd recommend the Dillon Square Deal. Very simple to use and learn on. Not overly expensive. Great customer service, just call and they will replace anything broken or walk you through any question you have. Lots of ammo completed with every pull of the handle.

Howa 9700 said:

What do you plan to reload? Rifle? Pistol? How many and for what purpose?

Click to expand...

That... ^^^

A RCBS Rock Chucker is the 800 pound gorilla in the forest as far as single stage presses go. I have MEC shotgun reloaders and MEC does shotgun very well. I wouldn't buy a MEC for metallic cartridge reloading nor would I buy a RCBS for shotgun shell reloading.

I have 7 MEC shotshell loaders. The oldest is 40 years old.

I have RCBS RockChucker for metallic. I have used it for 40 years

Bought a Dillon 550, 2 years ago. Most times, I find myself using them RCBS.

Layman, Forrester, Redding, all will do what you need. Look for a pre-loved press, they last forever, unless serious neglect / abuse. The RCBS starter kit has ALMOST everything, but your may be better off buying what YOU want or need, separately.

If you are loading bottleneck rifle rounds, stick with a single stage.

Most of my dies are RCBS.

For straight wall (pistol) dies get CARBIDE, when available

I have a RCBS Jr

I have a Redding T7 Turret

I gave a MEC 900G

I have a Dillon 550C.

The Dillon 550C is by far my favorite for metallic cartridges.

Howa 9700 said:

What do you plan to reload? Rifle? Pistol? How many and for what purpose?

Click to expand...

► I'm with Howa. You don't set up a child's lemonade stand to serve 5 different flavors to 2000 people per hour. We can't identify a solution until you define the problem.

► Most presses are optimized for a specific type of loading (rifle vs pistol), or a specific volume of output. Once you define your needs, then we can easily narrow down your press choices to 3 or less. Now, there is always someone who is an "out lyer". That is, someone willing to spend $10,000 to make 200 rounds per week simply because they have far more money than time. If that describes you, simply identify yourself.

I would go with an RCBS rock chucker, reliable and bullet proof, great way to start, and it will still be around for your grandchildren.

Charlie98 said:

That... ^^^

Click to expand...

Yeah, definitely thirded. Caveat being there’s not much you can’t reload on a good single stage press. Maybe not fast but if you’re not looking for factory production numbers a good single stage like the RC or Lee Classic will work well

GeoDudeFlorida said:

Yeah, definitely thirded. Caveat being there’s not much you can’t reload on a good single stage press. Maybe not fast but if you’re not looking for factory production numbers a good single stage like the RC or Lee will work well

Click to expand...

Well... that's my thought. Certainly, if he is loading shotshell on a MEC, it's fairly progressive... but it just depends on what he's shooting, why, and how much.

Charlie98 said:

Well... that's my thought. Certainly, if he is loading shotshell on a MEC, it's fairly progressive... but it just depends on what he's shooting, why, and how much.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

I have 7, 1 is a progressive. The Grabber. IIRC

Seedy Character said:

Not necessarily.

I have 7, 1 is a progressive. The Grabber. IIRC

Click to expand...

Sorry... by that I mean progressive for a shotshell press. I had a Sizemaster, you had to manually advance the shell to the different stations, but the assembly was 'progressive.' if you see what I mean. I should have clarified.

Misplacedtexan said:

I would go with an RCBS rock chucker, reliable and bullet proof, great way to start, and it will still be around for your grandchildren.

Click to expand...

Ha! Actually, MY youngest grandson had to buy his own Rock Chucker last year because I'm still using mine, and have been since 20 years before that grandson was born.
So it will be one of my great-grandchildren my Rock Chucker will still be "around for." I hope they can find components by that time, because I'm not saving any for them.

All single stage presses work bout the same. I use three, a lee challenger, a Lyman Spartan, and a lee hand press. The spartan doesn't have the leverage that the lee challenger does, but is better quality.

You should learn on a single stage, and then move to a faster press. If you buy used, you can recoup your investment if you deside to change varieties.

Bannockburn70 said:

new to site, new to metallic cartridge reloading. I have reloaded shot-shells for many years but this requires a little more attention to detail. I need a press.

Click to expand...

Welcome to THR and the wonderful hobby of metallic cartridge reloading some of us consider a passion.

Bannockburn70 said:

I know everyone has their favorite but I’ve been looking at the MEC single stage. Mostly because MEC is top of the line in shot-shell reloading in my opinion. Any input will be appreciated. Good or bad. Thanks

Click to expand...

If you are looking for a single stage press, you will certainly get a lot of "favorite press" recommendations.

Personally, any "O" ring type single stage will do but if you reload many calibers, breech lock type will allow you to quickly change out dies - https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-challenger-press.html

If you are loading mostly pistol and shoot a lot (Say more than 100-200 rounds a month), as many suggested, you will quickly tire of reloading on a single stage and will want to load on a progressive.

I've always used MEC for shotgun; the same 600 Jr. since 1972, and more recently (this summer) a 650. I am a big fan of RCBS, been loading on the same one since '74.
As live life says, any "O" press will do, stay away from the "C" presses. (I think Lee is the only one that still makes one.)
Start with a single stage press, even if you shoot in volume. You'll get the basics down, and if you go to a progressive, that single stage will still be handy for working up loads, etc.

I have a Mec Marksmen it's a great single stage press I only it use it for loading rifle but I have no complaints

entropy said:

I've always used MEC for shotgun; the same 600 Jr. since 1972, and more recently (this summer) a 650. I am a big fan of RCBS, been loading on the same one since '74.
As live life says, any "O" press will do, stay away from the "C" presses. (I think Lee is the only one that still makes one.)
Start with a single stage press, even if you shoot in volume. You'll get the basics down, and if you go to a progressive, that single stage will still be handy for working up loads, etc.

Click to expand...

No, Lymans still makes the Ideal C-style press. They do have their uses.

Well 4 out of 5 of yours are the same as 4 out of 5 of mine.

I'm using a 2nd hand Lee Challenger breech lock press for all of it. As Mr. Lee put it in his book, most O style presses are at least 20X stronger than they need to be. The Lee press is 3X stronger than it needs to be. I was all set to go big and bold cause in general, that's how I roll, and then used the Lee press because that is what I had........and found out it will in fact load standard ammo just the same as all the rest.

I own and use an older very solid RCBS Rockchucker. I also have a Forster Co-Ax single stage pres which is very precise. My third press is a Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press which I use for most of my handgun cartridges. The Classic part is important, don't buy the Deluxe model.

RCBS has been making their Summit Single Stage reloading press for a short time now and it's similar to the Forever Co-Ax but it's heavier and costs less. I think if I didn't already have the Co-Ax I would buy a Summit press.

That MEC press you are looking at seems to be extremely heavy and more suited to loading the 50 BMG than the rifle cartridges you listed but it's hard to tell from pictures. I see no reason to think it's of poor quality because MEC wouldn't chance hurting their brand so if it's not huge that is probably a good choice too.