Press for loading rifle

[chief99]

Going to start loading for my 30.06 . Right now my bench is set up soley for handgun loading . Thinking of setting up another bench dedicated to only rifle. I will be loading mainly for hunting . Would a single stage press be sufficient .Now using a 4 hole turret press for pistol . I know I can use this press for loading rifle but would rather keep them separately .

 

[cfullgraf]

A single stage will serve you well. In fact, besides regular loading duties, there are some special tasks beyond just regular loading that work best on a single stage press. With a single stage press on hand, you might consider branching out.

Get a good one such as the RCBS Rock Chucker, Redding Big Boss II, Forster Co-Ax or similar. 30-06 can be difficult to size on some of the smaller, economical single stage presses.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

What's wrong with loading rifle and pistol on the same press? Just get a different turret plate and swap them out. I do all my precision rifle loading on a turret and really like being able to have multiple calibers/dies all set up and ready to go.

 

[JO JO]

I have a Redding single stage I use for rifle and some handgun stuff and a lee
turret for my bulk handgun range stuff , the single stage is useful and handy

 

[Ironicaintit]

What caliper RWVA said.
I use an old lyman s-t turret for all my loading needs, pistol and rifle.

 

[GarySTL]

A single stage press is always a good investment. Easy to use for pulling bullets or making up test rounds. But you have a turret, and that's even better as it can do everything a single stage can do.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I have a Dillon 550b for pistol on the pistol bench. Due to space constraints, I have a Rock Chucker SS for my rifle hunting loading on a separate bench. I load .30-06 and .30-30 and use the Hornady bushings to pop the dies in and out. I am planning on getting a Lee Classic turret to add to the rifle bench so I can have each caliber on it's own tool head. Priced at $110, it is cheaper than my single stage.

It is always good to have a single stage around. A lot of this is personal preference. I could even load rifle on the Dillon, but I like the slower pace on the single stage and weigh every charge for hunting rounds. I usually make up batches of about 50 rounds.

 

[ku4hx]

I've been using my 1970 model RCBS Jr for 30-06 since well, 1970. Cast iron, rock solid and steady and although scarred and discolored it still makes superior performing ammunition. As long as I do my part with quality components and proper load development that is.

For pistol, and some high volume rifle (.223 Remington, 5.56x45 and 7.62x39) I've use a progressive loader since the mid '90s.

For 30-06 hunting ammunition I'd think a good, heavy solid single stage press will do everything you want. When it comes to taking that one shot that just might define my hunting season, I want to know I took my time and built the very best ammunition I could have.

 

[gojones]

Press for 30-06

Ive been reloading 30-06 off and on for over 40 years. I would look at any O frame cast iron single stage press. I have a two rockchuckers,(1970 model and the IV Supreme) and a Forster Co-Ax. I use the progressive for pistol-revolver.

 

[joem1945]

Look at auction sites for a loading press. The older RCBS presses I bought are great.

 

[gamestalker]

Find an old cast iron "O" frame RCBS, those will handle anything you can throw at them. I found one about 12 or so years ago at a yard sale for $25 bucks, an old RCBS RS press, that thing is every bit as sturdy as my Rock Chucker.

What I would recommend not using, is any of the cast aluminum presses. I wore one out fairly quickly doing bottle neck brass. And even though it had been discontinued, RCBS replaced it free of charge. It just didn't have enough back bone to handle bottle neck, so I was constantly dealing with inconsistent resizing issues do to excessive press flex.

GS

 

[Morrey]

I was reading this thread and am interested in exactly what single stage loading press I have. It is RCBS, but it has embossed in the main arm "RS3". I am assuming this press is older since I have been using it back from the late80's or early 90's. Whatever model it is, the old press has served me flawlessly and continues to turn out some mighty accurate hand loads for my .30-06 and 7mag.

I want quality, accurate rounds on the bench for paper punching, as well as top quality rounds for hunting. I also have a Dillon 550 progressive for volume production handgun loads. But for a monster buck of a lifetime, I want my powder metered and weighed for each round as well as seating each bullet one at a time. Imagine if my powder didn't charge correctly in the progressive and the round had a problem as we know a progressive can create if not extremely careful.

I think my secondary reason for hand loading is the sheer enjoyment of making precise rounds. I make an evening of it and enjoy the entire experience as not to rush anything.

If anyone can tell me a bit more about my RCBS RS-3 press, I'd appreciate the feedback.

 

[clearcut]

Chief99 I think you just want to have another press. I love my old RCBS rock chucker so much that the blue one is packed away in the shed.... mostly I don't have the time to shoot like I used to.
CC

 

[Busta Prima]

I have the Forster Co-Ax and really like it. I'm in the same boat coming from many years of loading pistol rounds with a Dillon 550 and the Forster is my first single stage.

I bought it for 308 and 5.56 but I like it enough that when I decided to get into a new pistol caliber (10mm) I just bought the necessary dies and use the Forster Co-Ax instead of buying a whole Dillon setup or having to readjust my perfectly adjusted 40 cal setup.

 

[25-5]

The idea of a single stage press is a good one.
FWIW, I load .30-06, .308, and others on my Dillon 450. I prime and powder separately using a digital scale. The Dillon is well built and de-primes and seats just fine. I use Hornady One Shot for lube.

 

[david bachelder]

I have two presses. A Hornady LNL and a RCBS RockChucker. I load 223 and 300 Blackout on the LNL. I use the RockChucker for my 30-06 and 243 rifle shells. I suppose I could use the LNL but to be honest I don't load many of them. I use the 243 and the 30-06 for hunting, I like the 300 Blackout and the 223 for target shooting.

If you were to purchase a single stage press I'm sure you'd find many jobs for it. I've had mine for a long time and use it regularly. I like the RockChucker a lot but honestly it's the only single stage I've ever used. I'd guess most of them are about the same. I'd suggest the O frame design, I don't know if there is a big difference between the cast iron and the alloy frames. I think I'd personally prefer the cast iron. That's just me.

 

[snuffy]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press



I didn't see the new classic cast lee press mentioned. It has several features the others don't have, one is the ability to auto feed primers via the lee safety prime. The other is how the spent primers are whisked away out of sight down the middle of the hollow ram into a plastic tube to be disposed of at your leisure. It's as robust as any of the RCBS models at less cost.

 

[Clark]

I have two co-ax presses side by side in the reloading room.
I have two RCBS Partner presses side by side in the vehicle or next to this desk.

All my other presses are gathering dust.

 

[hdwhit]

Single Stage Press

In 1978, I bought a single-stage RCBS cast-iron non-compound leverage Reloader Special press. (I had to wait because the gun store owner in the small town where we lived at the time wouldn't sell it to me until I turned 18) Since then, every one of the more than five thousand rounds I have loaded have gone through that press. I've never found anything I wanted to shoot that I couldn't load with it. I'm sure the newer ones with compound leverage will be even easier to use and more capable.

 

[oldreloader]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press



I didn't see the new classic cast lee press mentioned. It has several features the others don't have, one is the ability to auto feed primers via the lee safety prime. The other is how the spent primers are whisked away out of sight down the middle of the hollow ram into a plastic tube to be disposed of at your leisure. It's as robust as any of the RCBS models at less cost.

+1. Either the Classic Cast or Classic Turret. I have both. I prefer them to the Rockchucker I HAD. More user friendly to me. Love the spent primer system and the Safety Prime.

 

[Archie]

Chief, all of the presses mentioned will do what you ask. Probably the Lee 'C' press will handle what you want.

My plan would be to find the same manufacturer as the equipment I have now, just to keep life simple. Nor can I find fault with finding a used press in the classifieds or whatever. It is really an effort to wear out a loading press. Frankly, if one is worn out, everything will be loose, including the main ram.

 

[gamestalker]

Actually Archie, when I bought the RCBS RS2, it didn't take all that much bottle neck resizing before I could clearly see it was rapidly going down hill.

However, my first cast iron one, an RCBS RS that's probably close to 40 years old, now that press is bullet proof. I don't think one of those could be worn out in one or even two life times of bottle neck loading.

GS

 

[zb338]

If you can afford it get a Redding turret press. Really a sweet
machine. If you can't, get the Lyman press because it has a
large opening. The RCBS has a small opening and you have
to tilt long cartridges to get them into the shell holder.

Zeke

 

[Hondo 60]

chief99, you're the only one who can say what's best for YOU.

My experience? I reload 223 on my progressive press.
I also reload 7.62x54R - on a single stage.

The 223 shoots 100 or more rounds each time it's out.
So I like LOTSA ammo.

The Mosin gets shot maybe 20.
So it's easy to get it done on a single stage.

Both work perfectly for me.

 

[RPegram]

I use both, a Lee single stage and Dillon RL550B, for reloading for 223. I full length resize, deprime and pocket swager on single stage and drop powder, seat bullet and crimp on the progressive. I trim brass after resizing, so to me it is easier to do this step on a single stage.