Single Stage Press question

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viking499

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Since I am looking for a another press, my brother in law is interested in getting his first press. He wants a single stage since he will only be reloading for a few rifles that he currently has.

He likes my Rockchucker, but also saw a Hornady LNL press he liked. I told him that both those presses comes in "starter kits". Does one press serve better than the other?

Before anyone says it, he looked at the Lee presses and said "Nope, not these".

I only have experience with the RCBS, non with the Hornady press (although I use the LNL bushings in mine) or other presses.

What is your advice for his press choices...........
 
The Lee Classic Cast Iron press has a loyal following, and a lot of good features.

I have the same RCBS Rock-ChuckerI bought in 1970 and it's doing just fine. I won't live long enough to wear it out so won't be shopping for a new one I guess.

I have no experience with the Hornady L&L, but I consider the L&L inserts an ingenious solution to a non-existent problem.
Once the dies are adjsuted the first time and the lock rings are set, it only takes me 15-20 seconds or so to screw one die out and another one in.

rc
 
the forester co-ax is by far the best single stage press for features and quality.
 
The Forester is a beefier machine than a Lee. But why pay the bucks. I use a Dillon progressive now but I still use my Lee single stage. No doubt in my feeble mind that it's as good as any.
 
I have had excellent results with my RCBS.

He wants to explore all the options before dropping the cash.

Don't think I have ever seen a Co-Ax press. Sounds like they are GOOOOOD.
 
In my limited experience, the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme has the same large opening for access to the ram as the Lee Classic Cast but the RCBS has a rotten primer collection system. Expect a large number of spent primers to end up on the floor. This can be a problem if you have rug-rats or dogs since the primers are somewhat toxic.

The Redding Big Boss has a lousy primer collection system and cramped access to the ram. The Big Boss II fixes this with a primer collection through the ram just like the Lee Classic Cast albeit at twice the price. The Big Boss II also has a large opening around the ram like the Lee CC, a bigger opening than the Big Boss.

The Forester Co-Ax has the most leverage of any bench mount press I know of. Handy if you're resizing a lot of REALLY BIG cases. The disadvantage of the Forester is that it is also the most expensive single stage press by far, so you really have to have the need to justify buying it.
 
"I only have experience with the RCBS, ..."

May I assume you haven't had any experience with the Lee Classic Cast press series? I mean, if you had, your opinions would likely be much different. My friend's CC is a much better press over-all than my Rock Chucker and was FAR less costly!
 
If he decides what brand he likes best, and he isn't looking for a kit, you might something nice on the used market. There's some really good presses out there and he'll save a good chunk of change.
 
If you are interested in more detail ...

The Forster Co-Ax press is a very high-quality press that offers a number of advantages over other presses. It's not for everyone, in view of the price premium.

It's a great press for a beginner because of the die-mounting feature. Different from other presses, the dies are mounted by inserting the die (with the die ring already attached) into a machined slot. You can inert and remove dies instantly with no change in adjustment. When you are first learning to reload, or when an experienced reloader is starting with a new caliber, this quick-change die feature is invaluable.

The universal caseholder works well. This, along with the ability of the die to "float" slightly in the horizontal plane, results in bullets seated accurately with little runout.

Decapped primers drop into a closed tube and cup so that spent primer residue does not collect in or on the press.

The Forster Co-Ax is a well-designed, accurate tool that will last a lifetime. This was my first press, and I am glad that I spent the extra dollars for it. If you anticipate that you will reload for a long time, go ahead and consider the Forster press.

There are a couple of quibbles. Follow the setup instructions precisely. There are not many things to do, but they are important. My press came with the universal shellholder bathed in a heavy grease. This slightly hindered the movement of the shellholder jaws, but a quick cleaning and application of a light coat of oil solved the issue. It was OK to ship the shellholder assembly protected with the grease, but the instructions should have recommended a quick cleaning (a 2-minute job).
 
As a long time (30 year) RCBS user and fairly recent Hornady progressive user if I were to buy a single stage press today it would be the Lee Classic Cast, without question. A helluva a press regardless of price.
Click to expand...

Ditto on that, recently bought a LCC from Midway for less than 80 bucks. Could not believe the quality for that price. Found it it to be much better than higher priced ones.
 
Add to infranty's post...

Don't over tigthen the shell holder's two allen screw as it cause way too much drag and wear the shellholder openning bolt, just snug is all that is needed.

Jimmy K

I see this turning into a "The "rest" verses Lee" ... even though the OP said he didn't want a Lee!
 
Jimmy K said
I see this turning into a "The "rest" verses Lee" ... even though the OP said he didn't want a Lee!
Click to expand...

Maybe the OP was wrong and didn't know any better.:):)

Oops, Admin please remove this reply as excessively smart assed and unthinking. I need a nap.
 
Maybe he and I looked at the wrong Lee presses. The ones we saw looked like aluminum and cheap metal. Are there better Lees out there?
 
Viking499 said
Maybe he and I looked at the wrong Lee presses. The ones we saw looked like aluminum and cheap metal. Are there better Lees out there?
Click to expand...
right after my smart assed reply.

As an amend here's some information. The cheap, feeble, but very handy aluminum C press looks like this. It's not meant for much use. I take mine to the range to seat bullets in rifle cases that are already resized, trimmed and primed when I am working up loads. This is much better than driving 45 miles back home to load up another batch to narrow down the powder loading.

The medium sized lee press looks like this. It's big enough for 30-06 and such. A nice press.

This is the one we've all been talking about. It's seriously strong with enough leverage to resize .50 BMG cases. Slightly bigger than the RCBS RC Supreme and the Redding Big Boss II with a through the ram primer catcher for neatness. A bit better than the Redding at half the cost and much better than the RCBS RC Supreme at about 3/5th the cost.

There's an insert where the dies go so .50 BMG dies can be used. I've got no interest in .50 BMG. I think it costs about $300 or so just to fill up the .50BMG powder measure; the tube must be 6 feet high. But the hole is just right for for a Hornady LnL insert so I can switch dies from the Lee to my LnL AP. There needs to be a bit of adjustment involving fender washers until the dies interchange correctly. But then it's all good.

The others are high on the Lee Classic Cast single stage because it's bigger, better and costs less. Since I got a deal on mine for about $35, I really like it. Take the money you save and buy bullets, powder and primers. You can never have enough.
 
"I have the same RCBS Rock-Chucker I bought in 1970"

Me too. And I still use the Lyman I bought in '65. Only proving that any press will last a very long time because neither of them are exceptional. I also have friends using other brands from the same period. Keep 'em clean and oiled they all last forever, neglict or abuse them and nothing will last long.


"The ones we saw looked like aluminum and cheap metal. Are there better Lees out there?"

Well, if you mean do they use cast iron, yes. The Classic Cast single stage and the Classic Turret are fully iron bodied. And the handles are uniquely adjustable for any position the user may wish. And they capture spent primers the same excellant way as the MUCH more costly Coax press does, MUCH better than my RC.

But even Lee's "cheap alum" presses are much better and more durable than you might think. I once checked the die deflection of my Rock Chucker and two of the smallest Lee alum "C" presses (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=807734) under the peak stress of FL sizing .30-06. The RC lifted .003" but neither of the Reloaders moved my precision .001" reading dial indicator enough to take a reading! The little presses are certainly not as massively strong as any cast iron press but they are quite strong and much more rigid than is commonly thought. And Lee's larger alum alloy presses would be much stronger than the little Reloaders, as well as just as rigid. Rigid is good when making precision ammo.

Any press made is stronger than it need be for common reloading but I've seen web photos of RCs with broken top bars. That seems more a comment on the user than the tool, nothing is truly foolproof for a sufficently capabile fool.
 
I have a rock chucker suprime. I like it it works well
the rockchucker suprime is a nice press but the primer catching system is not the greatest. oh well just sweep them up i guess

if i were to do it over i'd get a lee classic cast or a lee classic turret.
 
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