Single Stage Press Suggestions

[FROGO207]

I am actually proud to say that of the ten presses I have owned over the years NONE have been new. All yard sale/estate/auction purchases. All worked as designed and all of them will be working long after I am but a fading memory.

 

[Blue68f100]

Had the RCBS Jr when I started 4+ decades ago. Gave it to my neighbor to get him started on hand loading. Replaced it with the Redding Boss II. Like the way it handles the spent primers and the priming system with the upgraded feed. I press primer 99.9% of the time, so having a press the can prime consistently is very good. For bulk (High Volume) ammo I use my LNL-AP. The Redding gets all the high accuracy work.

 

[GW Staar]

I have a few presses....green.....two progressives and two singles, and who knows maybe a contrasting Orange 8 station, turret is in my future.

The closest press I have to a Forster is the RCBS Summit....and yet I only use that with the optional short 12" handle. I never even considered the Forster.....not because it won't load really well, it will, but because it works me too hard to get it done. For one thing, I'm not a tall reloader. I'm over 60 with worn-out shoulders from manual labor all my life. The thought of having to grasp a handle high over head, and stroke it down in a huge arc.....for 4 or 5 strokes for each and every case is well.....not inviting, not even tempting! (to me at least). The Summit has the same stroke idea and open faced body, but on a smaller scale. I use it for depriming and seating/crimping when I use it at all, and it's most comfortable with the short handle.

My other single station press is an old Rock Chucker II. No complaints except for the spent primer supply that used to drop primers on my floor.....but that was an easy fix.

If I were buying a single today, it would be a cast iron bodied press with a handle that starts below the shoulder level and ends at the waist.....and if bearing down is necessary, I want that to start below elbow height.....where it's easy to use my weight without straining my shoulder. The color wouldn't matter.....RCBS, Lee, Hornady, Redding, whatever. For my frame, the last thing I want is a stand to raise it up higher.

Turrets? I'd like to try one, but for it to be interesting to this loader, it needs beef......a lot of stations.....and zero deflection.... Redding has always been a pricey brand....the new Lyman 8 station Turret looks like a winner. Merry Christmas to me! Green and Orange? ......looks good to me.....

BTW, to me an 8 station turret is a single station press, with with at least two sets of dies set up and ready to dance. Not interested in a 4 station turret even if it does auto advance. If I want auto advance.... IMO, a progressive is the only, easy on the body, fast ticket.

 

[jmorris]

I never even considered the Forster.....not because it won't load really well, it will, but because it works me too hard to get it done. For one thing, I'm not a tall reloader. I'm over 60 with worn-out shoulders from manual labor all my life. The thought of having to grasp a handle high over head, and stroke it down in a huge arc.....

I’ll be honest and say I haven’t been a diehard Forster user for life and instead bought one to see what all the hubbub was about.

I found some things I like about it, like pretty much every press I have had, it’s not like driving a Harley with ape hangers. Very little effort makes the longer movement tolerable.



I guess I never had a need but as they say, don’t knock it till you try it, because you just might like it.

 

[sequins]

I believe the Forster Co-Ax is definitely the best single stage press money can buy. I couldn't be happier with mine.

 

[exbrit49]

RockChucker! Its versatile and can handle virtually any cartridge. I load 10 different calibers ranging from.380 to 30.06.Had it over 30 years and never had a problem.
I shoot target and general sports as well as hunt.So accuracy and uniformity counts. I love the feel of the Rockchucker and can feel even very slight differences in the press. Have even felt some cases with slight cracks.
I usually load up to 500 rounds at a session,yes it would much faster on a coaxial press but I don't think the uniformity would come any where close.
My targets reflect the uniformity achievable on a Rockchucker.
Have a great day all.

 

[G11354]

Appreciate all of the feedback everyone. I settled on the Redding Big Boss II. Co-Ax is beyond my budget at the moment.

 

[mrayw]

As 'upgrade' is subjective, that leaves us with 'overbuilt' as the only qualifier.

"Beefy" single stages have their place, but you will soon get tired of swinging a sledge if a tack hammer is really all you need.

So,,,, What will you be using it for?
What features do you want that your current press does not have?
Do you have any other presses? If so, which ones?

Gonna go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on a limb here, make a ton of assumptions,,,,,,,,,, and suggest a Lee Classic Turret

Great advice!