Best Single Stage Press?

[Hawk]

Many of the mainstream (as opposed to "starter") single stage presses will also accept the Hornady LnL bushing gizmo.

Lee Classic Cast, Redding Big Boss / UltraMag and RCBS Rock Chucker have the larger die opening. I don't know about the Lyman.

The Redding Boss, RCBS pardner, Lee Challenger and similar will not accept the LnL.

The Forster has its own quick-change gimmick.

 

[ranger335v]

Bushy - "I reread Mrshish's post and, for the life of me, don't see anything where he mentioned a bullet swager...How did that get in here???"

I made an off-hand closing comment on the "best press" (#17), someone grabbed it and ran away with it. No relivance to Mrshich's question at all!

 

[Ala Dan]

After starting handloading life with an RCBS Jr. in late '72, I finally
graduated up to the heavy duty Rockchucker Press. I still prefer
it over all others, as it turns out some really beautiful rounds~!

 

[ranger335v]

A. Dan - "I finally graduated up to the heavy duty Rockchucker Press. I still prefer it over all others, as it turns out some really beautiful rounds.."

I consider my Rockchucker a "medium duty" press, it's good but not in the same league as Redding's UltraMag or Forster's Coax for heavy duty.

Not an argument here but a few questions over your statement ref. the RC. Why do you prefer it over all others?

I mean, in what way is the ammo made on the RC superior to that made on the other presses you've used, and what brands/models were they? What do you consider to be their short comings vs. the RC?

I like my RC fairly well but I find a few things lacking. First, it tends to loose a lot of the spent primers, those caught in the primer catcher rapidly build up enough to interfer with the primer arm's movement and the residue accumulates around the ram as an abrasive. Second, the lever is fixed instead of adjustable in length nor is it switchable - left/right - for easier use the way the Lee Classic Cast press is.

Do you not have those RC problems too or does it not matter to you?

 

[taliv]

forrster co-ax, hands down
the combination of the floating shellholder jaws, and the play in die holder allow the bullet/case/die to align themselves rather than having the case in a fixed location and the die fixed. i think it is capable of making much more concentric ammo.

as previous posters noted, it's EASY to use especially for small lots of ammo and load development because it's so quick to swap dies.

i like the priming tool better than the rock chucker because i don't have to change my die/shellholder to use it.

the only rock chucker i have is the 50BMG one, so i can't really compare apples to apples on how sturdy they are, but both are more than sufficient.

 

[thomasj15]

I recommend you to choose RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Press. I believe this is one of the best single stage reloading press.
You can check my reviews on RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Press: http://www.reloadingpresso.com/rcbs-rock-chucker-review/

 

[Woolecox]

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.

Yes, I agree. The Forster Co-Ax is the best, most accurate I have owned/used other than custom made bench rest competition rigs.

- Redding Big Boss II second choice.
- Old US made RCBS Rockchucker very good too.

I was in Academy last week and they had a Rockchucker in the box and one with the kit as well. No where on the box did either say “Made in USA”. I suspect they may be Chinese now?

 

[dh1633pm]

Concur with Co-Ax. Best press I have ever owned.

 

[joem1945]

I have a Hornady single stage L&L. RCBS makes a stronger press and the bushing can be removed and a L&L adapter installed. Use the single stage to develope loads and size/decap operations. Decaping/ sizing is dirty and I like my equipment clean. The 650 is a bit more difficult to keep clean. Learn to reload first, then move up to a 650 with the extras like low power sensor, safety powder check and the electric cases feeder.

 

[ku4hx]

RCBS Jr hands down ... for me. Mine is date-stamped 1970 and it's never failed me. Every now and then I see one for sale and I've been tempted to buy one for my son.

Scared and discolored, it still produces superior quality ammunition.

 

[Elkins45]

I recently bought a Redding Big Boss II as a supplement to the RCBS Reloader Special III that I have used since the mid-80's. I was perfectly satisfied with the RS for years but my arthritis was complaining after long resizing sessions so I splurged for a bigger press with more leverage. I thought about a Rockchucker but the USA-made Redding was on sale for just a few dollars more.

If money were no option I would have a co-ax as well.

 

[Reloadron]

I sure hope the original posted got a good press by now since he started looking in 2007. However, long as we are here I like the Forrester CO-AX as well as the RCBS Rock Chucker and even the old basic Lee O Press gets things done.

Ron

 

[Kaldor]

Will be interesting to see how Hornady's new Iron Press stacks up. It does have some decent features like the priming system. What Im interested in is how much physical leverage it has.

 

[RainDodger]

I have multiple single stage presses. I use a lighter one for seating bullets and a heavier one with more leverage for easy sizing. Get something that fits your needs. Any one of them is going to outlast you. My big press is a Redding UltraMag. Talk about heavy... it also has the room to size a .50 cal if you ever needed to. It has a long handle-throw, but it's also so easy to size large rifle cases that you barely know you're doing it.

With any of them, service is generally just a phone call or email away anyway.

Edit: like ku4hx, my light press is a 1969 RCBS Jr. If I see one for sale, I'll probably buy it. Great all-around press. If I were to buy another press today, I'd get a turret press.

 

[Paddy]

I'm looking at the iron press real hard. The priming system looks really cool, and I like the small tool holders on top. Combined with the LnL bushings, and it's hard to justify the co-ax that I've been trying to justify for a while.

I also wonder what the OP ended up with. Maybe he held off for one of these presses that didn't exist when he asked the question. It was over 8 years ago after all.

 

[GW Staar]

The press looks fine....the price with the priming machine isn't. More money than a Hornady progressive......and their progressive comes with the primer station too.

IOW's, at Grafs.....this new Hornady is listed at $240, $550 with autoprime! With autoprime, an AP is cheaper at Grafs at $446! Something's wrong with that picture.

I'd be more tempted to buy a Lee Classic Cast and a Hornady AP at this point.

 

[Paddy]

SAY THAT AGAIN?! $550!? Okay never mind. I'll stick with my summit press and my rcbs bench primer. I mean, that's like the cost of 2 co-ax!

 

[Kaldor]

The press looks fine....the price with the priming machine isn't. More money than a Hornady progressive......and their progressive comes with the primer station too.

IOW's, at Grafs.....this new Hornady is listed at $240, $550 with autoprime! With autoprime, an AP is cheaper at Grafs at $446! Something's wrong with that picture.

I'd be more tempted to buy a Lee Classic Cast and a Hornady AP at this point.

$240 if you buy just the press, which is what most people would do if they already a reloader. The primer system will probably be around $60 street cost. The $550 number you have there is for the entire kit.

 

[ku4hx]

SAY THAT AGAIN?! $550!? Okay never mind. I'll stick with my summit press and my rcbs bench primer. I mean, that's like the cost of 2 co-ax!

Considering the tens of thousands of rounds any quality press can produce, hundreds of thousands for some, $550 is a small price to pay when amortized over its lifetime. When I got my fully loaded RL550B circa 1994, it was delivered for about $450 and change. It has paid for itself many, many times over. You have to look at these things over the long haul, and not only does the hobby provide continuing pleasure, it's price on a cost per round produced is very small and getting smaller with every finished round.

 

[Toprudder]

Not to prolong a thread started 8 years ago, but several mentioned the Lee Classic Cast press. Be aware there are two versions, one with breechlock and one without. I recommend NOT getting the breechlock version. The breechlock feature itself is not bad, but if you look at the two you will notice they are NOT made from the same mold. The breechlock is a cast iron copy of the Challenger press, and the spent primer handling on those are not good IMHO. The non-breechlock classic cast has a larger ram, and the spent primers drop down through the center of the ram - much better, as the primer residue drops through instead of onto the outside. Also, the non-breechlock has the larger threaded die insert which can be replaced with the Hornady inserts.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[Paddy]

Thanks for that note. I've almost purchased one of those before, but since I have a great single press i don't know what makes the most sense for a next press. Probably another progressive in reality, but pet of me wants another single, so I can move rifle loads through a bit more efficiently.

 

[Elkins45]

I've never understood the appeal of the bushing systems. How long does it take to screw in a die? If you want a timesaver then either get a turret or a progressive.

 

[Paddy]

It's not only faster, but it keeps your adjustment set so you can swap swap all day long and your dies stay perfectly adjusted. Why wouldn't you want that? I know with locking die rings the adjustment can be kept that way too, but the bushings are tool free, instant removed and replaced and work quite well. Another benefit is hat since I made a precision ground ring that raises the bushings in my SS press, I can swap dies between my progressive and my SS as well. Doesn't come in handy all that often but sometimes.

 

[gspn]

OK...case closed then. We'll re-open the thread in November of 2022 and discuss it again.

 

[Elkins45]

It's not only faster, but it keeps your adjustment set so you can swap swap all day long and your dies stay perfectly adjusted. Why wouldn't you want that? I know with locking die rings the adjustment can be kept that way too, but the bushings are tool free, instant removed and replaced and work quite well. Another benefit is hat since I made a precision ground ring that raises the bushings in my SS press, I can swap dies between my progressive and my SS as well. Doesn't come in handy all that often but sometimes.

The only tool you need to adjust a lock ring is a Allen wrench. Not a big deal, and all dies already come with lock rings. You have to buy the bushings and they literally save you five seconds at the most. Plus you can use a spacer ring just as easily with screw in dies as you can a bushing.