Help choose my next press.

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D.B. Cooper

D.B. Cooper

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I'm finally going to get back into reloading after a 20 year hiatus! I've cleared a spot in the garage (no easy task if you saw my garage), and I have the materials for building the bench in the garage. (Tomorrow's project-I'll be running a circular saw while my neighbors are sleeping off a hangover. LOL)

I reloaded for a couple years in the late 90s using a Lee single stage press and kit. I was loading for NRA high power, so the single stage press wasn't bad. The rest of the Lee equipment (powder measure, scale, etc.) sucked.

I'm currently shooting about 150 rounds of 44 special a week, so it's time to buy a press again. At some point, I will want to reload hunting ammo for 243 Win and 30-06 (and possibly M2 Ball equivalent 30-06) as well as other standard calibers in comparatively small quantities (32-20, 30-30) as well as 38/357 in higher quantities. (Possibly 9mm or 45 in the distant future.)

My only requirements are: must fit on a bench that is 14" deep. Must not overhang the front edge of the bench by more than an inch or so, although, I could simply remove the arm and linkages when not in use. Budget is around $400 for enough stuff to get me up and running. (I still have a brass tumbler, calipers, dies for 243.)

My thoughts are turning towards a turret type press. I used one at a friends house and it seemed less complicated than his Dillon progressive. However, nothing is off the table.

Thanks for your input.
 
For the money the Lee Classic Turret (LCT) is a great value. I doubt it or any other press will only overhang an inch or so. So you’ll need some means of fastening and removing the press.

I just moved recently and am planning my bench. I use a LCT and previously clamped it to the bench when I reload and removed it when done. The press is bolted to a 2x8.

I’m not sure what other presses are a good deal, but the volume you’re saying you’ll be doing seems like it’s perfect for the LCT.

As for Lee quality, some of their stuff like the LCT is good other is cheap. So you could do like I do and mix and match your other gear.
 
It sounds like you've already seen enough to make this decision. It's easy to crank out 150 rounds on a Lee ClassicTurret (LCT), and its ability to accommodate multiple calibers is very good. And it is less complicated, once you understand the primer feeder is some kind of sick joke you don't really need anyway (just stick the primer in the cup with your fingers). And it fits well within your budget.

Another nice thing about an LCT is it's always going to be useful. Even if you buy a Dillon in the future the LCT will always be great for decapping and bullet pulling, load development, and production runs of calibers where 200 rounds is a lot.

I load and shoot hundreds of rounds per week of 9mm, 38 special and 357 mag using my LCT. If I had to make thousands per week of a single load and didn't mind the hulking machine, I'd have a Dillon 650 - but spend more than 400 bucks on it before done. A lot more. Hopefully others can fill in the picture regarding cheaper-than-dillon progressives like the Lee LoadMaster or Hornady LnL, but I'm thinking by the time you buy dies and accessories they will challenge your budget and your described usage and priorities fit the LCT a lot better, anyway.
 
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For the your budget and purposes I'd recommend a Lee turret press. I use one for several handgun rounds and 45-70 that I load in lower quantities.
The turrets make changing cartridges quick and easy. I bought mine on Ebay. I think they are about $125 new.
I have bought several powder measures on ebay as well.
 
I have a Lee Classic Turret Press and a Lee Classic single stage. Both are great presses and are meeting every need I have and, more importantly, are capable of loading good, accurate ammo. The turret press replaced a Rock Chucker, but I missed having a single stage on the bench and got the classic single stage press. I reload for 10 different calibers (all rifles) and I mostly use the single stage for working up loads and the turret press when all the details have been worked out. I enjoy reloading and trying new bullets and powders . I just don't load enough to justify the need for a progressive press.
 
I'm really surprised I got responses to this on New Year's Eve, awesome.

So, looking at some websites, there is a Lee Classic Turret and a Lee 4-hole turret. Other than the one less position on the turret, are there any differences? It seems like the 4 hole is designed to do a factory crimp in the 4th position. Seems like that would be a benefit loading heavy, full power 44 magnums. And cartridges for use in lever actions (of which, I have three -357, 44, and 30-30)
 
The Lee Classic Turret is a much better made press. The other is lighter and cheaper made. The little bit of added cost is really worth it with the LCT.
 
Well I would stretch yourself and get a Dillon 550 or a hornady progressive.... they both come with a powder dispenser. You will grow into them and just because they are "progressive" does not mean you have to crank out rounds madly... reloading is funny in that if it is easy to load you will and you will likely shoot more often. A Dillon 550 will last you until you die.... mount it on a "strong mount" and it wont overhang much if at all...

I would save just a tad longer - especially since you have a bud familiar with the Dillon,,, and reloading in general.I am not saying lee stuff is bad- I have 4 or 5 of their presses that I started with and even though I run 5 Dillons I keep the lil lees set up for quick short runs :) I have a lil more room and no wife to complain :)
 
D.B. Cooper said:
.)My thoughts are turning towards a turret type press. I used one at a friends house and it seemed less complicated than his Dillon progressive. However, nothing is off the table.
Click to expand...

I own single, turret, and progressive presses, and I still (after 10 years) don't see what a turret gets you over a single stage. The small reduction in handling time is overwhelmed by the lousy ergonomics and leverage compared to a good single stage in my opinion.

I recommend an RCBS Rock Chucker, or any cast iron or cast aluminum press as a close second. The only one to really avoid is Lee's light-framed injection molded aluminum press.

With patience, you can have a Rock Chucker with RCBS's world-class CS for about $90 used. If the 1" edge projection is a hard limit, set it back into a cutout in the bench.
 
tallpaul said:
Well I would stretch yourself and get a Dillon 550 or a hornady progressive.... they both come with a powder dispenser. You will grow into them and just because they are "progressive" does not mean you have to crank out rounds madly... reloading is funny in that if it is easy to load you will and you will likely shoot more often. A Dillon 550 will last you until you die.... mount it on a "strong mount" and it wont overhang much if at all...

I would save just a tad longer - especially since you have a bud familiar with the Dillon,,, and reloading in general.I am not saying lee stuff is bad- I have 4 or 5 of their presses that I started with and even though I run 5 Dillons I keep the lil lees set up for quick short runs :) I have a lil more room and no wife to complain :)
Click to expand...

Really?

OP posted very specific requirements. In those requirements he has nothing that would indicate the need for the cost, expense and complexity of a progressive press. In fact, I almost recommended a single stage press and doing batch loading but the LCT isn’t much more than a single stage. Plus the LCT setup in auto index is semi progressive in the words of some.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t buy for brand but rather for value and have gear by many companies. Personally, I’d love to have a Dillion progressive press but I’m not at the point of needing the capability. And I’m nowhere in a position to afford one. Plus I like the simplicity of the LCT. If OP is in a similar place, why should he wait and save for a Dillion when a good and possibly better option exists and is much cheaper for his current and foreseeable needs?
 
Hokie_PhD said:
Really?

OP posted very specific requirements. In those requirements he has nothing that would indicate the need for the cost, expense and complexity of a progressive press. In fact, I almost recommended a single stage press and doing batch loading but the LCT isn’t much more than a single stage. Plus the LCT setup in auto index is semi progressive in the words of some.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t buy for brand but rather for value and have gear by many companies. Personally, I’d love to have a Dillion progressive press but I’m not at the point of needing the capability. And I’m nowhere in a position to afford one. Plus I like the simplicity of the LCT. If OP is in a similar place, why should he wait and save for a Dillion when a good and possibly better option exists and is much cheaper for his current and foreseeable needs?
Click to expand...


D.B. Cooper said:
My thoughts are turning towards a turret type press. I used one at a friends house and it seemed less complicated than his Dillon progressive. However, nothing is off the table.

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
​



You don't like my answer but if you read what the OP said.... my comment is no where near unreasonable... If one likes to shoot- even a Dillon 550 in basic form does not cost much more than the next quality pistol or rifle purchase- buy it early and you can enjoy it for a long time and help feed these hungry beasts :p heck Dillon even has a really basic form of a 550 you can upgrade as ya go... although I thought he still had a single stage- I don't tend to sell useful tools so if he does not have the single stage anymore I would likely add one of them sometime too again :) I have three rockchuckers n an old pacific :) just in case or for small runs :p
 
Buy once cry once You said that you have a Budget around $400 for enough stuff to get me up and running.
so why are you looking at LEE yes Lee makes stuff that works but so does harbor freight now I'm not bashing lee
but if i had $400. to spend on Reloading equipment I would be looking for better quality even if you buy used
 
I have single stage presses, a progressive and a Lee turret. I use the progressive press for high volume handgun rounds and .223. I typically use it for batches of at least 500 and most often over 1000 rounds. My single stage presses load rifle rounds in batches of 20 to 50.
For strait wall rounds in batches of 20 to 100 the Lee turret is perfect. Extra turrets cost $11 and I have one for each set of dies. I mounted a powder measure on a stand next to the press so it can be swung out of the way when I want to weigh each charge.
 
Glad someone mentioned Titan, they are local for me and have always served me very well. A friend was looking into a LCT and his wife shopped around for a couple days trying to find a better deal, they ended up ordering from Titan ;).
Personally I'd get the turret press and start loading your handgun rounds on that. At a later date I'd pick up a single-stage for the rifle rounds. As much as I like the lil LEE turret I'm not sure I'd punish it with bottleneck brass (not even 223).
 
I find the press red vs blue debates to be pointless arguments. If you are doing the preparation correctly, you will spend far more time prepping brass than running a press.......

That being said, I can appreciate well made tools, however a progressive will simply amplify any mistakes you make. Isn't the whole point of handloading to make the best possible, and safest ammunition you can, in pursuit of accuracy?

I also question the need to blow through many hundreds of rounds of ammo per week, if you are doing that it's probably cheaper to buy surplus ammo in bulk, and save a lot of time in the process.
 
ar-newbie said:
I also question the need to blow through many hundreds of rounds of ammo per week, if you are doing that it's probably cheaper to buy surplus ammo in bulk, and save a lot of time in the process.
Click to expand...

It does not take long to go through a couple hundred rounds in a practice session when training or shooting formal shooting sports... also I would rather not spend three hours loading for 1 hour shooting :) Time is money and money is time... Loading several hundred or several thousands rounds does not mean you have to shoot it all in a short period of time- Saving some for a rainy day or for when you can go shooting is never a bad idea :)
 
ar-newbie said:
I find the press red vs blue debates to be pointless arguments. If you are doing the preparation correctly, you will spend far more time prepping brass than running a press.......
Click to expand...

A lot of different brass does not take the work the rounds for an AR do... in my pistol usually I toss into a tumbler and remove the media is all that needs done... not a lot of prep time at all...
 
D.B. Cooper said:
I'm finally going to get back into reloading after a 20 year hiatus! I've cleared a spot in the garage (no easy task if you saw my garage), and I have the materials for building the bench in the garage. (Tomorrow's project-I'll be running a circular saw while my neighbors are sleeping off a hangover. LOL)

I reloaded for a couple years in the late 90s using a Lee single stage press and kit. I was loading for NRA high power, so the single stage press wasn't bad. The rest of the Lee equipment (powder measure, scale, etc.) sucked.

I'm currently shooting about 150 rounds of 44 special a week, so it's time to buy a press again. At some point, I will want to reload hunting ammo for 243 Win and 30-06 (and possibly M2 Ball equivalent 30-06) as well as other standard calibers in comparatively small quantities (32-20, 30-30) as well as 38/357 in higher quantities. (Possibly 9mm or 45 in the distant future.)

My only requirements are: must fit on a bench that is 14" deep. Must not overhang the front edge of the bench by more than an inch or so, although, I could simply remove the arm and linkages when not in use. Budget is around $400 for enough stuff to get me up and running. (I still have a brass tumbler, calipers, dies for 243.)

My thoughts are turning towards a turret type press. I used one at a friends house and it seemed less complicated than his Dillon progressive. However, nothing is off the table.

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
I have a lyman turret press that I work up my accuracy loads with and hornday lnl ap that I use for 223 and pistol rounds. I LOVE the quick change bushings that hornady makes and am thinking of getting a hornady classic single stage press. Changing the dies takes seconds the bushings and would replace the turett press.
 
tallpaul said:
It does not take long to go through a couple hundred rounds in a practice session when training or shooting formal shooting sports... also I would rather not spend three hours loading for 1 hour shooting :) Time is money and money is time... Loading several hundred or several thousands rounds does not mean you have to shoot it all in a short period of time- Saving some for a rainy day or for when you can go shooting is never a bad idea :)
Click to expand...

See, this sums up perfectly the illogical arguments. For some, yes progressive makes sense. But there are all different kinds of shooters, and reloaders. Dillon progressives may be appropriate tools for some, but it's definitely not a perfect press for everyone. Yet everytime anyone discusses single stage or turrets, inevitably someone comes along preaching the gospel of Dillon ,and frankly it gets old. You don't see people going into Dillon threads and espousing that a turret is better do you?
 
ar-newbie said:
See, this sums up perfectly the illogical arguments. For some, yes progressive makes sense. But there are all different kinds of shooters, and reloaders. Dillon progressives may be appropriate tools for some, but it's definitely not a perfect press for everyone. Yet everytime anyone discusses single stage or turrets, inevitably someone comes along preaching the gospel of Dillon ,and frankly it gets old. You don't see people going into Dillon threads and espousing that a turret is better do you?
Click to expand...

Calm down jerry... I also said in my first response hornady LNL I don't care what color ya choose... the comments I have made are not illogical at all... everyone needs to asses their own needs but don't sell yourself short. And I never said Dillon was perfect for everyone at all- quit reading crap into what I or someone says. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything buckwheat As far as it getting old- too frippin bd- feel free to skip over anything ya want to- we are free to comment whether YOU like it or not :p
 
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