My Next Press Should Be?

[mallc]

I'm looking for a top of the line single stage O-frame press. Strength, accuracy, and precision, are the criteria. Right now I'm considering a RCBS Rock Crusher Supreme or a Redding Big Boss II. I don't know much about other brands. What are your recommendations please?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Chief-7700]

Dillon XL-650 w/ casefeeder.
Chief-7700

 

[JG2000]

This one seems to fit your specs and Lee has always been good quality for the price. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=317831&t=11082005
If the link doesn't work its the Lee Classic Cast on Midway for $66.99 on sale

 

[burrhead]

Top of the line presses are going to have Forster, Redding or Harrell somewhere in their name. Especially Harrell.

 

[Hunter0924]

Is the Dillon a single stage?
The Hornady single stage O frame is worth a look. I have been loading on 1 for almost 10 years and my father a little better than twice that long.
Both still work as they did new and have a lifetime warranty.

 

[fmnnc]

Give the Lee Classic a hard look. All the strength, accuracy, and precision you will ever need is there. Your grand-kids will be using it as it is made to last. Don't confuse "top of the line" with "top end price". This is a great value for your dollar.

 

[fmnnc]

Check out the reviews at this link. This should give you some further insight as well as support my previous statement.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=317831&t=11082005

Here is a sample:

Loaded 3000 rounds. Very strong. Designed correctly. Simply put, you can't buy a better press. You are wasting your money if you purchase any of the others thinking that you will gain some advantage for lots of extra dollars you will spend. If I had it to do all over again I would buy this press. I think it will last a life time with basic care.

 

[taliv]

what is it you need strength for? and what level of accuracy/precision are you looking for, and why do you need an o-frame?

for strength, i'd go with the rock chucker (it's what i load 50bmg on and it's got the strength for swaging bullets (thus the name) but is that really why you want it?)

for accuracy/precision, I'd go with the forster co-ax, or the little sinclair press, but neither are o-frames

 

[ranger335v]

For the criteria you mention there are two, the Lee Classic Cast and the Forster Coax.

All the others offer nothing better than the Lee, no matter the price, and most have less until you reach the Coax. Actually, the Coax is only a little better in a few respects than the Lee but you said "top of the line" and that's absolutely it.

I do own other presses, including the Rock Chucker, so save the outrage!

 

[taliv]

what the coax has over the lee:

better built
more mechanical advantage
more ergonomic
much better primer seater
>that you can use any time w/o unscrewing dies and inserting adapters like the rock chucker
>that operates at the point of least mechanical leverage so you can feel the seating and avoid crushing primers

superior case holder
>that self-centers making more concentric ammo
>that you don't have to buy different shell holders for each caliber

better spent primer disposal

 

[Hawk]

I got the Redding Big Boss and have been quite happy with it. I like the offset of the press frame. The Redding Ultra-Mag has an even more open "front porch" if such is a consideration for you.

I was going to get the Forster but had read there were issues with using a bullet puller - turns out this is not the case. Someone actually posted pics of adapting an RCBS cam type puller on one.

I was wanting to experiment with the Hornady LnL bushings and nearly all the upper tier single stages will accomodate it. The new Lyman I believe doesn't, the Lee Classic Cast does. If you're thinking of test driving the LnL bushings just don't buy into a "starter" press and check that whatever you're considering accepts 1 1/4 -12 dies - the selection is far wider than one would infer from reading Hornady's literature.

The Co-ax and Ultra-mag appear to have the upper end of the single stage landscape pretty well covered but many others will provide good service. The Co-ax and Ultra-mag are easy to find heavily discounted. I don't know anything about the Harrell.

 

[Gustav]

Look into the Forster Co-Ax press its a Cadillac.

 

[Chief-7700]

The Dillon is not a single stage, however it will reload anything at you want to feed it. Expensive yes, life time warrenty and great tech suppot. www.bluepress.com
Chief-7700

 

[taliv]

oh, i forgot one of the most important advantages...
you can switch dies out in half a second. go from decap to sizer to seat your primer to bullet seater to crimp die in as long as it took to write this sentence.


edit: i didn't know harrell made a press. i use their powder measure, but can someone give me a link to their press?

 

[stubbicatt]

I must have gotten a roach or something, but the Co-ax was a horrible press. It had nice features like the spent primer catcher and the priming station was pretty cool, but slow going one at a time and I used a handheld priming tool in those days anyways. You HAVE to use the lock rings manufactured by the same company or your dies won't work in that press. It loaded consistently out of round cartridges for me. My good old RCBS Rockchucker was a better press, in my opinion.

If I were to get one today it would be the Lee Classic Cast.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

RCBS Turret press, you can reload single stage or semi-progressive (whatever you want to call it)

 

[USSR]

for accuracy/precision, I'd go with the forster co-ax...

+1.

Don

 

[rborensr]

I have a lee classic press and have loaded 50 BMG with it. It doesn't get any stronger than that. Very tight and precise.

 

[Walkalong]

Look into the Forster Co-Ax press its a Cadillac.

Yep, although others do a fine job as well, the Coax is the best.

 

[Linear Thinker]

The original question was regarding O-presses, so I will stick to those.

The new Lee Classic is hard to beat, it's very well made and sturdy, unlike all the other Lee presses. I prefer it over RCBS/Hornady 50BMG presses, which are made by the same contractor.
LT

 

[JoeHatley]

I'm looking for a top of the line single stage O-frame press.

I replaced my almost 30 year old RCBS with a Lee Classic. The Lee is a winner, even not considering it's low price.

Joe

 

[Joemyxplyx]

+1 for Lee Classic Cast

One item no one has mentioned is the Lee has a removable die bushing to allow for the bigger 50 Cal BMG dies. I removed the bushing from mine and put in a Hornady L-n-L adapter so I can swap the Universal decapper, primer pocket swager and resizing die without fussing with screwing the dies in and out.

I use the Lee for the initial rifle (308 & 30-06) cartridge processing. Then I can continue loading with the O press or use my Lee Classic turret if I want to make a bunch of cartridges at one time.

I think the Classic Cast has more power for resizing than the Turret has.

 

[Ken 45LC]

I would agree the Lee classic is a winner. I reload pistol on a Dillon 550B, but all my rifle is done on the Lee. Add the LNL collars and changing dies is a snap. I use a hand primer for all rifle priming, so i can't comment on the primer seater. I prefer to spend the extra money on the dies, I use the Redding micrometer dies just because they've always seemed to hold better tolerances in my limited experience with rifle dies. You won't find a press that is any stronger, no matter what color.

 

[ojibweindian]

I've a Lee Classic Cast and am very happy with it.

 

[akaduck]

I've got a Lee Anniversary kit and the press that came with it. I've been very happy with the Lee stuff. Besides, for a poor student, the price can't be beat!