opnions for a new single stage press?

[popper]

My RCBS Pardner press is getting worn. What is a good moderate priced replacement, that handles depriming and sizing rifle cases. The pardner isn't very good with spent primers and isn't strong enough to neck size with Lee die. Specifically asking for positive or negative comments from press users. Thanks

 

[ROCKFISH]

I'm very happy with my Lee Breech Lock Press.

 

[RandyP]

+1 on the Lee - super affordable and like most all single stage "O" presses out here made far stronger than it needs to be.

 

[MtnCreek]

RCBS Rock Chusker is very strong and provides enough leverage to make full sizing of mag brass easy. The only negative is spent primers.

 

[oneounceload]

I use my Pardner, and have for 35 years, to neck size with RCBS, Forster, Lee, and Hornady dies. What trouble are you having?

 

[James2]

Question on the Lee Breech Lock Challenger press, does anyone know what material the frame is made of? I looked on Lee's site and they don't specify. I wonder if it is an aluminum frame?

On the more expensive presses, they specify cast iron.

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[cfullgraf]

Redding O-Frame presses are good as well.

 

[Striker Fired]

I know where there is a good used RCBS RC5(I think that is the name) press,It is mostly a Rock Chucker.

 

[Uniquedot]

Best deal out there is the lee classic cast. It has a heavy cast iron frame with massive steel linkage and catches every primer. This is the press that rcbs designed the supreme to compete with. The Lee is made in Wisconsin and the rcbs was cast in China and assembled in the U.S.A., but they are telling folks that they are now cast in the States. The rcbs will scatter primers and although the Redding big boss II will catch the primers it has rather wimpy linkage when compared to the Lee.

 

[Uniquedot]

Question on the Lee Breech Lock Challenger press, does anyone know what material the frame is made of?

The challenger is aluminum, but they have a classic cast version of the breech lock press as well. It is considerably larger than the challenger though.

 

[ranger335v]

"Question on the Lee Breech Lock Challenger press, does anyone know what material the frame is made of? I looked on Lee's site and they don't specify. I wonder if it is an aluminum frame?"

All of Lee's presses EXCEPT their iron and steel Classic Cast and Classic Turret are a very strong alum alloy. So are the Hornady presses. And the RCBS Partner and some of their RS (Reloader Special) series, including the excellant RS-5 I believe. Ditto rifle scope tubes, a lot of gun frames including the AR rifle series and some very fine handguns, outboard boat motors and some excellant auto motors, airplanes and missles, etc. Only meaning alum alloys are not automatically inferiour or 'cheap pot metal' at all.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Any 'O' frame press will be fine.

 

[James2]

Thanks for the info on the material of the Challenger.

I found a nice RCBS Jr 2 press on eBay. Good buy and it is in excellent shape. I really like this press, the handle is centered and it is an O frame.

 

[littleguns223]

The lee classic cast is hard to beat for a single stage press

 

[highlander 5]

Why not send your press back to RCBS ? they have a lifetime warranty and they may rebuild it or if your lucky replace it.

 

[1in9twist]

He has a point.

 

[gamestalker]

I bought a RCBS single stage full O frame press back around 1983 or 1984 that is made of aluminum, and have yet to wear it out. At one point I thought it had worn out, but after completely taking it apart I discovered a piece of debrie had wedged between the ram and the frame, probably from a spent primer. It was causing the ram to drag and and hang up and had been going on for some time, so I thought the press had worn out. Despite taking the press apart more than once and cleaning it, I didn't see the problem. I'm fairly certain that wouldn't have happened with a steel frame, but that has been the only problem after 25 or so years. My steel O frame RCBS press is no more rigid than the smaller lighter aluminum one. In fact, neither press has performed undesireably other than the one mis-hap. My brother in law bought a Lee 25 + years ago that has a connecting link, rather than the full O frame design, and it isn't as rigid as a O frame type, I don't personally care for it. I can actually see it flex when sizing bottle neck cartridges.

I use both presses just because of the convienence of setting one up for resizing with the other for seating when I'm loading bottle neck brass. The steel press has the priming arm, but I've never used that feature as Iuse a priming die.

If you plan on reloading a good deal, it would be my opinion to buy a good O frame press, and RCBS makes a high quality press that will likely last a life time. I can't advise you of what they cost these days, but I'm sure it is worth it to get a good solid O design, rather than a less expensive non O design. Other than the frame on the aluminum RS-2 press, all of the other components are made of solid steel.

 

[Revolver218]

I have a Hornady Classic Single Stage and like it very much. It's a rugged press with lock and load (bushings) that make changing dies a snap. It's also made in the USA.

 

[ojibweindian]

I have, and really like, a Lee Classic Cast single stage. Built as solid as a brick <blank> house.

 

[snuffy]

Without a doubt, the lee classic cast is the BEST value, as well as the best press. It's made out of recycled rail road rails. They add some carbon, while casting, so it's called cast iron, but is stronger and machines cleaner.

Spent primers go straight down the middle of the hollow ram to be collected in a plastic tube, or it can be stuck in a waste basket. Priming can be done automatically by use of the lee safety prime.

One point; don't get the breech-lock model. If you'd ever think of using the 12 gauge cowboy dies, you'll need to remove the big 7/8 X 14 bushing to expose the 1-¼ X 12. threads. If you got the breech-lock, it will ONLY take the breech-lock bushing.

 

[popper]

oneounceload - After >6K loads, linkage is getting sloppy due to worn pins. Still works fine for normal FL sizing. Trying to NS 30-30 but can't get enough pressure on the handle. If I push harder, I will break the press or my bench, a solid core door or bend the handle. Don't feel RCBS should cover my abuse. Polished the heck out of the die, used new brass, etc. The spindle is .305 but brass will only go to .312 Fired brass from a 336 is .320 something. 243 die works fine after I polished it, 243 has a much smaller neck but thicker brass. I did the straw in the primer hole, which helps some. My dog wants to try everything on the garage floor so I don't like picking all the loose primers up. If I change, it sounds like the Lee cast would be the best solution. Thanks.

James2 - I think that's the same one I have, they put several names on it. Served well until now, son-in-law got it for me for Christmas 2 yrs ago. price was right.

 

[tpelle]

Love my Rock Chucker.

Hate the locking rings on RCBS dies.

Love the locking rings on Hornady dies.

So whenever I buy ANYBODYS dies for my Rock Chucker, I just buy some Hornady locking rings and replace 'em.

I have no problems with spent primers on my Rock Chucker. Once in a while It'll spit one out on the floor, but I always find it right away when I walk through the loading room in my stocking feet.

 

[dagger dog]

popper,
Make sure to check out the Lee products from the factorysales.com web site, best pricing I have found on Lee products.

The Challenger is a little light, I can see the handle flex when I try to use Lee's nose first cast bullet sizing die in 0.452"and their liquid alox lube , my RockChucker doesn't flinch.

I have loaded 45 Colt, 308 Winchester, 223 Remington with the Challenger, no problems other than the spent primer catch system doesn't catch but about 10% of the primers the rest go bouncing off the bench to be swept up later.

 

[JohnM]

Pretty hard to beat the old RCBS Rockchucker.
I imagine the Lee single stage made of cast iron is probably a good press too.