Good press?

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Monkeybear

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I used go reload .357mag. About eight years ago I stopped. Looking to get back into it because I really enjoyed it.

Looking to reload .357 and 7.62x39.

I used to use all Lee equipment. I had a little load kit that required a nylon hammer and a four stage turret. I was planning on going with Lee again but just thought I'd get a few quick opinions about the best current options.

ETA: I make quite a bit more now than I did then so Im interested in hearing recommendations of complete kits from all makers.
 
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My advice for somebody just starting out is to buy as good as you can afford. It's best to have a press you won't grow out of, one that will in fact last 2 lifetimes. I recommend you start with a single stage or turret. Even if you eventually buy a progressive, you will always use a single stage or turret.

Single stage presses that fit that requirement in my view are:

Cast iron single stage presses:
Lee Classic Cast
RCBS Rock Chucker
Any Redding Press

Cast iron turrets:
Lee Classic Turret
Rcbs Turret
Redding Turret

My personal favorite since 1972......Rock Chucker.
 
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Lee Classic Cast Turret. For the $$$, you can't beat it. If you need other supplies, get the kit from Kempf's Gun Shop (online).
 
RCBS Rock-Chucker since 1970.

I have no doubt it will outlast me, and both my sons.

It does lots of stuff you simply can't do on a Dillon 550 or other automated progressive.

rc
 
Then you get to spend more then the bullets are worth buying LnL die bushings for every set of dies you own.

Or spend more time screwing them in & out of the set you got with the press.

rc
 
I have a handful of presses but the only 2 I have mounted on the bench are the Lee CLASSIC 4 Hole Turret Press and an RCBS Rockchucker. (I had the Rockchucker first)

If you like Lee products I see no reason not to buy the Classic turret. Do not buy the Deluxe turret press, it's an inferior produce to the Classic turret press. Add a Lee Pro Auto-Disk and you are set. (again, I said the "PRO" Auto-Disk) Don't forget the riser so you can clear the powder measure when the turret press auto indexes.

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-90064.html $88.99
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-pro-auto-disk-90429.html $41.60
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-safety-primer-feed-lgsm-90997.html $24.00
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-auto-disk-riser-90041.html $7.98
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-4-die-set-.38-special-carbide-90964.html $39.99

Scales
https://fsreloading.com/frankford-arsenal-ds-750-digital-scale-fr-205205.html $29.98
OR
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/75...scale-511-grain-capacity?cm_vc=ProductFinding $92.99

Load Manuals
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...edition-reloading-manual?cm_vc=ProductFinding $23.99
OR
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/537267/speer-reloading-manual-14?cm_vc=ProductFinding $29.99
OR
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/57...edition-reloading-manual?cm_vc=ProductFinding $29.99

OR All three lol
 
RC,

Why no love for Hornady?

I was trying to find honest drawbacks to each press (Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Redding, Dillon, etc) but couldn't get any clear answers. Can you tell me the drawbacks to each?
 
Hornady Classic Cast kit.

Best value for money on the market, best features on a single-stage press, one of the best if not the best quality, excellent customer service, and the set is complete, you only need to add a die set.
 
Field Tester said:
RC,

Why no love for Hornady?

I was trying to find honest drawbacks to each press (Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Redding, Dillon, etc) but couldn't get any clear answers. Can you tell me the drawbacks to each?
Click to expand...
Hornady - no drawbacks, has features that more expensive presses lack
Dillon - drawbacks decrease as models become more expensive, XL650 same price as LnL AP
but LnL AP is better
Lee - cheaper, lower end models work much better than the high end models, number of
quirks increase with model price
RCBS - single stage presses same quality as Hornady, less features than Hornady
progressive RCBS features not as good as Hornady LnL
Redding - single stage presses equal to Hornady and RCBS
 
Great replies guys. I appreciate it.

Looks like I may end up with another Lee 4-hole turret and a bunch of other Lee stuff too.

Not looking for speed but not really looking to spend all my time fiddling with equipment either, I'd rather use that energy on making safe, uniform, reliable cartridges. Is there a standard, go-to powder thrower that fits on the Lee turret? I used to use the perfect powder thrower and I would spend more time worrying about that than anything else. It was very reliable except when it wasn't.
 
fiftybmg
XL650 same price as LnL AP
but LnL AP is better
Click to expand...

How do you figure that? and to say that hornaday has less features than rcbs SS presses?
What are you drinking? Red koolaid :p
 
Get one each of the Lee Classic Cast Single Stage and the Class Turret. You will find uses for both. They are great value.
 
Not less, more.

The Hornady Classic has the powder die bushings, and a good primer feed system, which costs extra on the RCBS single stage.

The Hornady LnL has a more reliable priming system than the XL650, it has a much better powder drop system with the powder measure inserts, and it has the quick-change die bushings.

With Hornady equipment, the cost of multiple caliber reloading is a fraction of the Dillon XL650. It doesn't need a new toolhead with powder measure for every caliber, you just change dies, shellplate and replace the powder measure insert.
 
I'd do a little searching in this forum and read the recent threads on presses, including those purchased and how the buyers are feeling about their purchase. We all have our preferences, and all the presses have their own set of quirks. What one guy thinks is a better feature may not matter to another guy one bit. From what I've seen and experienced, a good match makes for a happy customer. A poor match can happen with any brand and every type of machine.

Some people can break anything short of a tank, which rules out half the presses on the market for them. Others can make a Swiss watch sing, and hate tanks.

Not that there's anything wrong with a press built like a tank.....
 
If you want a great single stage press look for an old lyman spartan. I run two and its all I need for most anything.
 
I've been using the same Lyman turret press for over 40 years. If you're just starting out you don't need the complexity of a progressive. Progressive presses offer only ONE thing the other don't. speed! ALL of the single stage and turret presses mentioned are excellent. Hard to go wrong with Lee, RCBS, Hornady, or Lyman.
 
I just got back into reloading after a several year layoff and I used to have the LnL AP Press. I did not have the funds to get one when I got back into reloading so because of funds I opted for the Lee Classic Turret Press. For the money this thing can't be beat. I love mine! I did like the LnL Ap Press as well.
 
Is the LNL significantly better? Mostly interested in a reliable powder throw.
 
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