For those who started with a Single Stage, Press, Share the details.

[JohnB]

The only press I have ever owned is the Rockchucker that I bought in 1971. Still using it. If I could shoot as much as I wanted I would probably buy a progressive for .45 ACP. I just buy that in off-brand bulk and reload all my rifle stuff on the RCBS.

 

[bob4]

Just started with my RCBS partner. Don't think it gets much simpler than that. Just loading rifle rounds (.270) for hunting accuracy and am having a blast. Has a primer do-hickey on it but what a POS that seems to be. I own a few guns and if I get into the pistol thing I may look at others. But for now just learning 1 thing at a time seems a good way to begin.

 

[Domino300]

Started in early 70's with a C.H. Have a Rockshucker and a Lee Classic Turrett today.

 

[DesertFox]

First was a Pacific, which I think turned into Hornady. Then I picked up a Dillon 550B and never looked back.

 

[witchhunter]

Started with a Lee hand loader (mallet type), it is marked $9.95. I bought an RCBS Jr. in 1971 when I bought my Ruger 77 .25/06. Added a Rockchucker in '76 when I bought my first .220 Swift, A lot of brass has been through it..... Prairie dog shooter. Bought my son one when he moved out, now looking for one for the grandkids. hHas anyone ever wore out a Rockchucker?

 

[mokin]

I bought a Lee Anniversary press as part of a kit some years ago. Loaded several thousand rounds with it. It finally broke to the point where I had to buy a bunch of new parts for it. While I was waiting I went out and bought an RCBS Rockchuker. Now, I have two single stage presses mounted side by side. As I am a little on the anal side about brass preperation, and use a lot of range pick up brass, I can prep all my brass, including priming the cases, then charge the cases on the Lee press with the Lee Auto, then seat bullets on the RCBS press.

 

[Hondo 60]

Started on with a Lee Challenger Breech Lock press
Like this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit

Still have it, & still use it - for short runs, to fix mistakes, etc.

 

[codefour]

Two and half years ago I started reloading. I bought a new Redding Big Boss II. Great press, but I actually like the older style Rock Chuckers better! They seem to be smoother and the linkage works better. The Redding has to be screwed too tight to get the free play out of the ram.

I also have a Rock Chucker Jr from 1967. It was my dad's favorite single stage. I still use it to as a dedicated depriming press but it will load great handgun ammo. It requires a lot of force to resize bottleneck rifle calibers though.

 

[ROGER4314]

I started reloading on a Texan shotgun shell reloader then went to a Mec 600jr. I got into metallic reloading with two Lee Loaders in .357 Mag and .45 acp then got an RCBS Rock Chucker press that I used for many years.

I bought two Dillon RL450 presses, sold them when I moved then bought another RL450 later.

I got an RL550 Dillon and really liked the interchangeable tool heads so I ordered an RL550 frame with automatic powder and primer feeds to convert my RL450 to an RL550.

Through all of that, the original RCBS Rock Chucker is still here and still in use! I have an extra, unused RCBS Rock Chucker as a backup but it looks like the old one is going to live forever!

For Christmas, I'm going to order a Mec600jr in 12 gauge to replace the one I had so long ago. It has gone full circle, now!

Flash

 

[Clark]

I started with a Rockchucker ~ 1999.
I broke that press with a Lee Collet neck die adjusted to just toggle over top dead center with 100 pounds force at the handle knob.
RCBS wanted the broken pieces.
RCBS sent me a completely new press.

I own ~ 10 presses.
I just bought another RCBS Parntner press a couple weeks ago.
I like those so much I paid retail

 

[dgod]

Me Too, then I got a Dillon Square Deal, then I kinda quit for a number of years, the restarted with the Rockchucker, and that is what I am using now.

I may upgrade to a progressiv one of these days, but being retired, I have more time tan money, so I may not. Reloading so many calibers, a profressive would be a Pain to change out for the different calabers.

Dan

Night time comfort,
Colt Agent 45ACP, CT Laser, a Remington 870 Tactical, CT Laser, and 190 Lumen Night Light.

All the time comfort,
Colt LE, 5.56mm, Quad Rails, Laser, 150 Lumen Light, 8 Magpull 30’s, a Henry 45LC Mares Leg, a Winchester Model 94, 3030, a H&K MP5, a Sig Sauer Mosquito, Savage 17HMR, Sweet 17 Scope. A Remington .243, a Beretta 92FS, a CZ 75 (Original) Still a Tack Driver), And about 20 others, too many to list.

Reloading all but the 17, 22LR and the 12

 

[anothernewb]

I have a Lyman II. Couldn't argue since a friend dropped it by for a Christmas present after I told him I bought a 1911.

 

[CountryUgly]

I'm actually just getting started. I went with the Hornady deluxe kit (seemed to have most everything I would need) It's been great so far. It's working well with RCBS and Lee dies. the Lock n Load feature is nice also.

 

[StandingTall]

Currently have the Lee Challenger and have no issues. However, I will probably be purchasing a Forster Coax in the future for competition loads.

 

[TonyT]

My firsdt single stage press was a C-H H-style press which was relaced in 1966 with an RCBS A-2 press the predecessor of the Rockchuker.

 

[bad375]

Started with a Herters #3, then acquired a C-H, moved to a Lee Classic Turret for pistol, now a LnL for pistol, still use them all

 

[JimKirk]

Started loading on a friend's Herter press(1965).... my first press was a RCBS Rockchucker(1969/70).... bought a Bonanza CoAx('71/72) ...I've owned several other press in the time between then and now ... I'm back down to just one, the Co-Ax...

 

[Still Shooting]

I started reloading back in 1962. My Dad gave me a Pacific "C" press for Christmas that year with a scale, a chamfering tool, a brick of primers, a pound of 2400, and a box of Hornady 45gr. bullets for my .22 Hornet. I was 16. I bought a Dillon RL 550 in the mid-80's (about 2 months before they came out with the removable toolhead!) when I got into handguns and a Mini-14. I still did (and do) most of my rifle reloading on a single stage press, and 3 years ago I replaced the old Pacific with a Redding Big Boss, which I really like. I load handgun, .223, and .30 carbine on the Dillon.

 

[K-Rod]

Last Christmas the wife got me a Rockchucker master supreme kit. Within a year I'm loading 13 different calibers & love it! I added the Hornady Lock-n-load conversion kit & put an RCBS auto prime system on it. A couple months ago I bought a 550b for pistol calibers. I like the Dillon for cranking out pistol ammo but the cover comes off the RC more then the cover on the Dillon.

 

[Capn Jack]

First Press

RCBS Jr. and I still use it. Bought it in 1961.

Load everything from .223 > .458 Socom.

Jack...

 

[KevinR]

Started with a Rock Chucker in 1987 still using it today. Never considered using anything else.

 

[chriske]

I started on RCBS RockChucker in 1980 & still use only that same first press.
I reload only handgun calibers (.38Spl. - .357 Mag - .44Spl - .45 Colt- .45 ACP)

 

[Hacker15E]

Started with a Pacific press that has been in my family for decades. Like this one:

 

[Red is Dead]

I started with my granddad 30 plus years ago with his old CH C frame. Then upgraded to a Hornady/Pacific 00-7. Still use the CH and 00-7, and have since upgraded with 2 Lock-n-Load single stages and 2 Lock-n-Load Ammo Plants and never looked back. Seems like I am never done upgrading the reloading equipment!!!! LOL

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I too started with a Lee anniversary kit. A few years later I saved my pennies for the RCBS Rock Chucker press. I still use some of the LEE items such as the hand primer and primer pocket cleaner but I have upgraded most other things over time.