Looking for a 2nd press...

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HexHead

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I have a Dillon 550B, and I'm thinking of getting a 2nd press, a single stage, to use with a universal decapper, collet bullet puller, load some smaller batches of .30-30, .303 Brit, .380. I don't want to get a conversion kit, tool head, powder die for the Dillon to make some .30-30s.

My bench is on the small side. I don't want a Rock Chucker, I've loaded on one enough to know I don't like the spent primer catcher. I was thinking a Lyman Crusher II, but now I'm leaning towards an RCBS Partner. Any reason the Partner won't do what I want?

Please, NO suggestions to get a Lee. That's not going to happen. I use some of their dies and that's about it.
 
Don't get an RCBS Partner. It's a cheap aluminum press with sloppy linkage that will barely do the job. Like getting an old Chevy Vega or Ford Pinto. You can drive them but not ideal. Don't know why you don't like a RockChucker but I'm just saying you won't be satisfied with a Partner. Bought one for a second press but got rid of it quickly.
Wish I had one of the new RCBS Summit presses but can't justify buying one at this time. The Redding Boss press is a quality press but it looks like it has the same primer catcher system as the RockChucker? It has a good price tag.
 
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Since you don't want a Lee I will have to suggest something else other than the Classic Cast Single Stage.

The Forster Co-Ax single stage press is a very good press. I have 3 presses and that's one of them. The primers drop through the ram into a collection jar or you can run the tub into a bucket on the floor.

If you're looking for something a little more economical the Redding Big Boss II also collects the spent primers through the ram but then again, if you wanted to go cheaper the one you don't want to buy is more economical.
 
I have a Partner press. I wouldn't call the linkage sloppy, mine is actually pretty tight. Its almost too tight for my liking. But the priming system I don't like the priming system and it spits primers out the side of the ram. Spent primers are supposed to end up in a cup that goes on the frame but it tends to fall off pretty easily. I keep a 5gal bucket on the floor to catch primers that don't make it into the cup.

Overall I wish I had spent a little more money and bought a Hornady LNLSS to go with my LNLAP. Once I have some money saved up I'll probably buy the Hornady and give the Partner press to my 12 year old nephew and start teaching him. But the Partner is adequate enough to load my .30-06 and 7.62x54.
 
I have a Hornady single stage for exactly the same reasons you want one. I'm quite happy with it. It's solid and catches primers in a square plastic cup. I have not had any problems with it.
 
I have a Redding Big Boss. Nice press but the primer catching system is not perfect. The Redding Big Boss II has a better primer catching system but it is a larger press.

If you are looking to do decapping duties on this press, look at the primer catching systems. You may find you will want one of the bigger presses just to get the more reliable primer catching system.

The top presses from any of the major manufacturers will serve you well.
 
I use a RC for lots of depriming and small lot processing. I assume your dislike of the depriming is that all the spent primers go shooting all over the room right? If so try using a *clean* Mickey D's straw cut short and stuck into the recess in the ram where the spent primers drop. The straw needs to be just long enough that it can be shoved up to the shell holder at the top, and cut off so it doesn't catch on the press on the way down. That arrangement will drop your primers into a very neat pile at the bottom of the ram and you won't step on any more of them with bare feet. ouch.
 
I have an older, as in mid 1980's RCBS RS-2 ( Reloader Special 2), which is an "O" frame cast aluminum press, and it gets the job done quite nicely. But you said you don't like the spent primer catcher on those type presses, so I guess that's out of the question. I load most of my bottle necks on the Rock Chucker, but the aluminum "O" frame design and the linkage on the RS2 is really very rigid. And I've also worked on the RCBS Pardner a number of times, and it doesn't feel as rigid as the RC or RS2 I have, but it by no means has sloppy linkage, in my opinion.

And since you said you have a limited amount of space on the bench, your kind of in a pickle. I don't care much for the primer catchers on my presses either, so I customized them. Using a little bit of ingenuity, I was able to easily make a baffle that ensures every primers makes it into the catcher, every primer.

GS
 
Let me elaborate a little. What I don't like about the RC is when I was using one to load about 1100 .45s, I found it was practically impossible to remove the spent primer catcher from the press with out spilling a bunch of them. The way it's wedged in against the back of the press made it difficult to remove. That was okay where I was then, but my reloading in now done in a room with pile carpeting.

I really like the looks of the Lyman Crusher II, but I haven't seen one set up with the primer catcher on it. Since this isn't going to be a heavily used press, other than depriming military brass, I like the price point of the Partner and RCBS customer service which I consider second only to Dillon.
 
I would go with the RC, or LNLSS. I am getting ready to buy a couple single stages as soon as my reloading shop is finished. I have 2 RL550b's now, and my 8ft bench is too small. As soon as it starts cooling down I am going to start on my 16x16 shop, and will set it up with a couple single stages for Decaping .556, and loading 22-250, 7mmRemMag, 300wm, 300RUM. I am leaning toward the LNL since they have the bushings.
 
I would go with the RC, or LNLSS. I am getting ready to buy a couple single stages as soon as my reloading shop is finished. I have 2 RL550b's now, and my 8ft bench is too small. As soon as it starts cooling down I am going to start on my 16x16 shop, and will set it up with a couple single stages for Decaping .556, and loading 22-250, 7mmRemMag, 300wm, 300RUM. I am leaning toward the LNL since they have the bushings.

Besides I think the spent primer system on the Dillon RL550b has a lot to be desired. I usually end up with 10-15 spent primers on my bench, or floor at the end of 1,000 rounds loaded.
 
I'm not going to recommend a Lee single stage press for the jobs you described.

A Lee Hand Press however, seems perfect. That is how I use a universal decapper for all my brass, can do it in bed, on the patio, heck, could use it in the restroom if I wanted to.

Primer catch? they all fall down the center of the press, and after about 30-40 primers, turn it upside down and they all fall out into whatever can/container you use.

I tested my Hornady collet-style bullet puller with it, no problems.

It's about $30, can load up to .308 without issue (so handgun and 30-30 is fine).

BEST OF ALL, it's portable and easily stored. Can take it to the range if you like while working up loads, and store it in a drawer or hang on pegs.
 
Ditto Xelera.

I'm using the Lee Breech Lock Hand Press in my RV. My entire bench (other than supplies) fits in a 19" x 7" x 7-1/2" metal toolbox.
 
Since you eliminate the excellant Lee Classic Cast, apperantly without knowing anything about it, it really won't make any difference what you get, the rest are all effectively identical to the RC. Except the Forster Coax, and it makes a lousy bullet puller press.
 
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There's a fix for the dropping primers too. I "borrowed" a 9 x 13 cake pan from Momma, and just hold it underneath the press when I remove the primer catcher, and let everything drop down into the pan. I rarely lose a single primer this way and they all get poured into the scrap bucket.
 
Forster CO-AX, period! Expensive, yes...well worth it though. The spent primer system is pretty much 100% reliable unless you forget to empty it. The press is smooth, precise and rock solid. I can sit here and tell you how good it is, but you almost have to use one to see what I mean.

As for the Partner, its a mighty fine compact press. It would serve you well for what you want to do. I have one I use to point long range bullets on and works great. Many short range benchrest shooters tote this press with them to matches to load precision ammo on.
 
ranger335v said:
Since you eliminate the excellant Lee Classic Cast, apperantly without knowing anything about it, it really won't make any difference what you get, the rest are all effectively identical to the RC. Except the Forster Coax, and it makes a lousy bullet puller press.
Click to expand...
EGGzactly!
 
I have a Lee Classic cast press and use it to deprime only on. The way the ram comes up to top dead center, it does not lock and has a mushy feel to it. I find it does not bump.consistently. Could be a problem with my press though. Not worried since I have too many presses, lol.
 
Lee classic cast

I know you said no Lee, but anyhow, look into the Lee Classic Cast press. You can get a refurbished one directly from Lee pretty cheap, and the spent primer recovery is AWESOME! They fall into a plastic tube underneath, and you NEVER have one on the floor. (You do have to have the primer seater in place when due capping, however)
 
I actually have a Lyman turret press for the functions you mention. That way you can keep the decapper, bullet puller, etc in the press and spin to win for the current need.
 
Too bad you won't look at Lee... the Classic Cast and the Classic Turret are two of the best presses out there, bar none.
 
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