A Good First Press

[nordaim]

I am finally looking at getting into reloading, for various reasons, and was wondering what all of you would recommend for a good first press/kit.

I had first looked at the Lee Anniversary Kit as an inexpensive place to start, but the more that I read reviews and looked around, I have been moving towards an RCBS RockChucker Supreme Master Kit. I figure if I get enjoy reloading and am happy with the results I am getting, that it is worth the additional upfront investment.

The price on midwayusa.com is good, but am going to order locally so that I can support my local gunshop (Backwoods Outfitters for those in the south central PA area).

As a note I am looking, at this point, to reload .30-06, .30-30, 7.62x39R, and 7.62x54R, .40S&W

Any comments, concerns, other recommendations?

 

[HogRider]

The RCBS RockChucker Supreme is a great press that will last you a lifetime.

 

[nordaim]

Is there anything in particular I should know about the RockChucker that I might have to worry about?

Also, what is a reasonable number of rounds per hour out of this press?

 

[HogRider]

I had a Rock Chucker once. The only thing I wasn't to crazy about was the primer catcher (primers jumping out and falling to the floor). Other than that this press was great and I hear the "Supreme" is even better. As far as "rounds per hour" it will load as fast (or slow) as you can go. I have switched to a turret press and now to a progressive press so I don't remember the output of a single stage press.

If you do mainly Rifle ammo you should be fine, but if you are considering high volume reloading for pistol check out a turret press.

Nevertheless, a single stage press is a great way to start reloading - specially if you have no experience and want to learn the basics.

 

[ocabj]

Go with the RCBS Supreme Kit. I have a Rockchucker myself. Solid press.

And if you decide you don't like reloading for some odd reason, you can resell the kit and get back most of your money. RCBS presses depreciate very slowly.

 

[Black Snowman]

Both my presses are Lees and I've used a Special 5 and a Rock Chucker in the past. Can't go wrong with the RCBS kit.

 

[JNewell]

All of the above is true...but at one point when everything of mine was in boxes and I needed a stopgap I bought the RCBS "Partner" press. Guess what, I still use it. In reality, there are very few reloading tasks that require a press like the Rockchucker. The value factor with the Partner is very high. I'd say the same about the basic Lee press as well. You are unlikely to wear either out in a lifetime unless you a loading at production levels...and in that case, you're going to use a progressive anyway, but a decent (doesn't need to be deluxe, IMHO) single stage press will always have its uses.

 

[BenW]

I'll jump in and say there's nothing wrong with the Lee single stage kit if you want to save some money. Nothing wrong with the Lyman or RCBS single stages either if you want to spend the extra money. My view is this: Either you'll start reloading and decide you don't like it, or maybe you just want to do a few hundred rounds a year for the hunting rifle. In that case I don't think there's any single stage on the market you'll wear out in your lifetime at that reloading rate. If you give up completely, you're not out too much money. The other scenario is that you'll love reloading and want to do thousands of rounds a year. If you do, you'll end up buying yourself a progressive or turret press and maybe just use the single stage part time, in which case it still won't be money wasted. YMMV.