Best Single Stage Press?

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mrshish

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I am going to start reloading and want to begin with a single stage. I'm going to learn on some of my low volume rounds like 45-70 and after I feel comfortable get a Dillon XL650 for pistol rounds and high volume.

I know you can always use a single stage for this or that so I want to get a good one. Also because I plan to get a 650 I'm not interested in a turret, I just want something basic I can take my time on.

While we are at it is there a "best" loading manual?

Thanks for the help.
 
Compound O

Any of the compound leverage presses with an O frame (not an open on one side C frame) will do you right. I've used Pacific, RCBS Rockchucker, and Lyman's heavy duty model with equal sucess. All work great. I'm sure I have an extra one (or 5 :D) I could make you a great deal on if you're not far enough away that freight screws us up. (PM me if you're interested.) If you set it up kind of portable, so you can size while watchin' TV (works kind of like knitting, except for the powder charge which needs ALL your attention TWICE) you may find you don't need the Dillon. I like the Dillons, and have nothing bad to say about them, but haven't tossed the $. I keep a rockchucker C-clamped to my desk in the "Dining Room" and that's adequate for all but the heaviest sizeing duty. I can load about 2000 rounds a week without breaking a sweat.

I know I'll draw some heat for some of these opinions, but I've loaded for 35 years, shoot 1000+ rounds a week, and have yet to have a misfire or "dud" so a cheerfull & well meaning :neener: to the nay-sayers!
 
Any of the big names will work just fine. RCBS, Lee, Redding, Hornady, Forster; take your pick.

Everyone has their favorite brand also (I prefer Redding). I would suggest purchasing whatever has the most support in your locale. Getting help or parts would be real easy.

As far as the load manual, buy the one from the components you're using (ie, you're loading Hornady bullets, buy the Hornady manual). You could also buy a caliber specific Loadbook that has everyones data in one location. Cheap and pretty handy too.

image


Ed
 
Manual

Not trying to hijack your thread, and mean no disrespect to Ed's opinion, but for my money Hodgdon Manuals are the most realistic. Actual loads seem to chronograph much closer to their data than most of the others.
 
I believe that the Redding Boss or Big Boss is the best made single station press for precision and accuracy out there. That's what I have, and JMHO.
 
Ditto what esheato said. I happen to use a Forster for rifle rounds & love it. I also use the referenced load book for certain calibers, plus there is reliable reloading data available on-line (I use Hornady & Hogdon site data a lot; print it off & put it in a 3-ring binder . . . assuming you have access to a printer, it doesn't get much more inexpensive than that).
 
Dump the single head press and get a turret press. I have two which are just great, the Lyman T Mag and the Redding T-7. The T-Mag costs less and is just excellent. I just don't like the primer cup. Primer cups allow primers to bounce out of the cup and on to the floor. The T-7 has a hollow ram, primers go through the ram, through plastic tubing, and into a cup.

The advantage of these turret presses is that you can be lazy. I just leave my turret press head loaded with three sizing dies and two decappers. And one space open. The three sizing dies are the rifle calibers I most often use.

By having more dies on the top, you can have bullet pullers, etc, on the tool head which will allow you to correct things instantly instead of having to remove a die, install a die. Which is what you do with a single head press.

That said, whatever you get, get something with compound leverage and is made of cast iron. I used a RCBS rockchucker for twenty years, sold it, and it is still going strong.
 
You might have a look at Lyman's 48th Edition while you're at it.

The Load Book, that esheato mentioned, is fair , but has little information on the "How to" reload. And its calibre specific...The Load Book is compiled of several load manuals combined into one very small (5" X 7" [?]) book. Hence it is missing a lot of information. A good book after you have the basics down. I had two and I gave them away when I figured out that I had more information on load data in my Sierra and Lyman manuals.

Your decission to get a single stage press is a good one. When you feel confident then move up to a turret or a progressive. And too, you will have a better idea what you want your advanced press to do for you. Get one of the "O" presses. You will always have a use for a single stage even after you get a turret or progressive press.
 
Compound O and cast iron. Beyond that, what your retailer already has if shipping is prohibitively expensive.

If you go Dillon, check out Enos.
 
Bought a Lee Classic cast press , a very solid cast iron press and the price was around $65 or so last year. It has loaded the most accurate ammo I have ever fired and I am very satisfied with it.
 
I have used allot of single stage presses, but the Forster [old Bonanza patent] Co-ax is the best.

Virtually everyone who has owned a co-ax thinks they are the best.
They don't use shell holders.
The dies snap in and out.

That is not a big deal for load 1,000 identical rounds, but 10 of each for some different cartridges, and you can't go back.
 
Phil Sharpe and Earl Naramore have never been surpassed as the best loading manuls - not to be used as data manuals of course.

I'd suggest a Rockchucker for a single stage but Redding with a variety of models and Forster/Bonanza CoAx are at least as good and maybe better. I mostly use a CoAx for rifle. Odd balls such as an H or in my case the Hollywood Universal Turret can be handy for pistols and other variety - the Hollywood goes all the way to .50 Browning - the Rockchucker doesn't. If there is an interest in the really long case cartridge then of course that determines the single stage choices.
 
For a press, I'd make two recommendations, one on either end of the $ spectrum:

low$: Lee Classic Cast. Does everything the other O-frame presses do (and more than some) for less $.

higher$: Forster Co-Ax (what I now use). Best designed, best built press out there. Redding UltraMag is close, particularly if you plan to load some of the REALLY big boys.

For loadbooks, be careful about the specific caliber you get one for. Many (most?) are sadly out of date, and do not have data for newer bullets or powders. Check with powder manufacturers' websites for free data, but get Lyman, Speer, or Hornady reloading manual for all the how-to info. "ABC's of Reloading" is a perennial favorite for how-to info, but no data.

Andy
 
I'll second BigJakes observations and add a little.

The Lee Classic Cast is as stong, or stronger, than any other simular "O"/compound press available. It's well made, in the US, has a large diameter ram for longer wear, lever linkage is adjustable for length and angle, the spent primer catcher actually works and the price is right. (Anyone want to swap me a new one for my old RCBS RockChucker II?)

The Forster CoAx is a great tool but at a price that turns most of us away. I love the snap in-out die system and shell holder. And it has the best spent primer catcher I know of, it works even better than Lee's.

If you ever expect to swage jacketed bullets or form .22 cal. wildcats from the .50BMG, Reddings Mag would be the ticket.
 
If you really want to swage jackets/bullets, a Corbin press should be in your plans. They have two settings of the toggle, one for reloading, the other (higher leverage) for swaging. The co-ax has plenty of leverage for case forming, just not enough ram travel for the really large cartridges, whereas the ultramag has plenty of both leverage and travel for large cartridges (and takes larger diameter dies than the co-ax).

Andy
 
I've got a 35 year old RCBS Rockchucker; it's had a lot of use, been factory rebuilt, and is in perfect condition. Only problem is that the new Rockchuckers are nowhere near as well-made as the old ones. Last time I was in Gander Mountain I felt like I was looking at, 'green junk'.

I've got that heavy old Rockchucker on one end of my workbench and a Dillon XL-650 on the other. No matter what, you'll always need a single stage press for something; so don't get rid of it. (Makes better rifle ammo; and, it's a great time saver on setup between different calibers, too!)

I'll cast my vote for either a Redding, Big Boss II or their T-7 turret press.

(Suggest you study the turret design carefully - It's more useful than the single stage you're presently looking at!)

Reading Catalog
 
I was about to say Lee Hand press but I couldn't get that thing to deprime my .444 case yesterday (must be a hot load ) .I would have to go with Lee classic "O" press ( I think it is a new version of the old O press).You probably need to mount it on a good table. I use Lee hand press to deprime other rifle case while watching television.
 
I am going to have to agree with the guy who said the Lyman T-Mag. The damn thing is just a rock solid work horse, and you can leave your dies set up to save a bunch of time, just switch heads.
 
I know you asked for a recomendation for a single stage press but years ago when I bought a 45/70 ammo was scarce. I got a Lee turret press it was a 3 stage and it produced alot of great ammo fot the sharps. Think of it like this its a 3 or 4(depends on what tool head you have. in one single stage press.
 
I like the hornady. It uses the LNL bushing system so you can quickly swap out dies.
 
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