single stage press

[lordgroom]

Looking for recommendations for a single stage press. I have a RCBS Pro 2000 and I would like a single stage to decap, pull errors, and FL Resize the rifle rounds which need FL. Any recommendations? I was looking at Lee due to the affordability. It seems many like the Rock Chuckler. Opinions please.

 

[taliv]

forrster/bonanza co-ax, hands down. search the archives though as this has been asked many, many times and since there really haven't been many new presses come out in the past 60 years (slight exaggeration) old info is mostly still current

 

[Luke G]

Im currently using a Lee breach lock challenger press and it has served me very well. I have also heard very good things about the Lee classic cast, but it is a little spendy for a single stage. I picked up my challenger at Bass Pro for under 50 bucks.

 

[lgbloader]

Let set this straight from the beginning, I like alot of presses and this is only my preference. I bought the Lee Classic Cast single stage as a replacement for the Rock chucker (now retired and not for sale, ever). I think at $70.00 bucks, it's a great deal. I also like the Redding Big Boss II or Ultra but those are pricey as well as the RCBS RC2 and Hornady and Forster CoAX or Lymann. Truth be told, you could propably get by with a Lee C type ($24) or RCBS partner ($50) for the jobs you just mentioned. But the best deal in town is definately the Lee Classic Cast Single stage. This thing is burly!!!

Cheers...

 

[Ifishsum]

Another vote for the Lee Classic Cast! This press is beefy and I really like the spent primer collection system - they go right down the center of the ram into a tube at the bottom, you never even have to touch them. It's a great press and I think I paid $65 or so for it last year.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The Lee "C" press is O K for resizing/decapping pistol and revolver cases, but a bit weak for doing rifle cases. Go with any of the "O" single stage presses out there...

 

[Matt Dillon]

+1 on the Lee Classic Cast press. After having used several different presses, I'm sure this is the last one I'll ever buy.

 

[cpttango30]

Right now if I were to replace my single stage press it would be with

1. RCBS Rock Chucker
2. Forester Co-Ax
3. Redding ULTRAMAG.

I would never disgrace my loading bench with a lee press. After seeing one snap in half while resizing 222 rem cases I lost all respect. Then they would not replace it on top of that when you could clearly see it was a defect in the casting. This was my brothers press.

 

[Seafarer12]

I have a Rock Chuker and a partner press. I bought the RC new and bought the partner used for 30. Both are good presses and will do anything you ask of them. Shop around for used presses. You find them pretty reasonable with the whole progressive craze.

 

[scrat]

+1 on lee. the classic cast is a great press at an affordable price the C press i awesome for just about everything. I have even done some full size rifle brass but prefer the O type. Budget wise Lee makes the best.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I love my Co-Ax and would rate it over the RCBS RockChucker I had and the Lyman Orange Crusher, and RCBS jr I still do have. Except, you said you wanted to pull bullets with it also. The Co-Ax doesn`t do well with this and you`re better off wth a RCBS, Lyman or other single stage if you plan on it. The Co-Ax releases the case as you lower the ram and it can let go of the case before the bullet is fully pulled.
If you want a simple, low priced press that will do for all of the jobs you listed I`d take a good look at the Lee Classic. I`ve a poor opinion of a lot of Lees tools but, this is a good one. It is stout as you`ll find, and very reasonable in $$. I`m not saying it is better then a Rockchucker or other big brand but so close it is moot.

 

[lgbloader]

cpttango,

What model Lee snapped?? Just curious. I have heard of the aluminum challenger getting tweaked but not the Lee Classic Cast.

 

[SEMNshooter]

I would agree with the above post that just about any 0 ring press would work for the jobs you listed. I have had Lee challenger presses come apart on me, the linkage, and have swithed to a classic cast that I picked up in the Cabellas bargain cave for 44.99. It was a complete press, just opened. I would have no problem recommending Lee products to any of my friends or family, so I have no problem doing it on the internet.

Both Lee challenger presses had many, many rounds on them, and I suspect the classic cast will outlast me.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

If a Hornady cam-lock bullet puller is properly adjusted in the press, the co-ax will not release the cartridge before the bullet is pulled. The shell holder release is in the bottom 1/4" of travel, long after the bullet is out of the neck.

In order of preference (best first)

Forster Co-Ax
Redding UltraMag
Redding Big Boss II
Lee Classic Cast
any other cast iron press
all the rest

Andy

 

[GearHead_1]

Yet another Lee Classic Cast press recommendation. I'm a little different than one of the above posters, I've disgraced my bench with presses from literally every major manufacturer and have yet to have a serious complaint with any of them. I have 11 different presses at last count and duplicates of a couple of them. My RockChucker is similar to the Lee in many respects and hasn't been used much since I purchased the Lee. Actually that's not true I put my multi-stage set up back on top of it.

 

[lgbloader]

I don't think I have ever seen a press that I wouldn't want to have. I love tools. The only reason I don't have more tools is because I want more guns and rifles!!! And componants to shoot them. LOL

 

[dirtman]

close to 30 years.... and still can't wear out my RCBS Rock Chucker its gonna wear me out first....... ahhh but now the son has started to take an interest. maybe he will wear it out.. but i doubt it.....

 

[Griz44]

I would never disgrace my loading bench with a lee press

I just love a brand snob don't you? They are a constant source of cheap entertainment. "My Daddy can beat up your Daddy, You're MAMA is so fat......"
If you are able to look through a keyhole with both eyes at the same time, you just might be narrow minded. OK, so maybe I stole that one from Jeff Foxworthy... Thank you so much for tonight's entertainment! Just when things were getting a little boring! Yes, save some money and buy supplies with it for re-loading. If money is not an object, get a green or a blue thing for your bench. It's all good if you use it for what it was designed to be used for.

Damn, I should have taken off my shoes first, makes it easier to get my foot out of my mouth....

 

[lgbloader]

Griz,
We're with you, Mate. I felt the same way but don't let it get to you. You make a fine bullet and a fine finished round. You're the real deal. Keep your finger snapping and your toes tapping, Mate.

Cheers Buddy...

Tony

 

[taliv]

If a Hornady cam-lock bullet puller is properly adjusted in the press, the co-ax will not release the cartridge before the bullet is pulled. The shell holder release is in the bottom 1/4" of travel, long after the bullet is out of the neck.

i'll grant that even though this is true, the co-ax isn't the idea press for pulling bullets, because of the way the jaws work. i mean, it'll never be as strong as the shellholder for an RCBS, for example, even though it's a better shellholder than the others for the purpose of sizing and seating.

even so, why would you want to pull bullets in any press?

edit: i'm serious, as i've never actually ever pulled a single bullet. and if i wanted to (for whatever mysterious reason) i would use one of the inertial things

 

[.38 Special]

I dislike Lee on general principle, but of the neat thing about single stage presses is that they're dirt simple and extremely reliable. And while a beefy press is nice for full length resizing, I've FL sized literally hundreds of .416 Rigby cases on an RCBS partner press!

So I'd buy whatever floats your boat and/or is on sale. The only caveat is that O presses are probably longer-lived than C presses, but even that's not for-sure.

 

[Otto]

Midsouth Shooting re-brands the Classic Cast and sells it under the name of Smart Reloader. List price is $49.95
That way you don't disgrace your bench and you save money to boot.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

I'm still trying to figure out how some folks can tear up a single-stage reloading press (or even a progressive) to the extent they claim--when I've got over a hundred thousand rounds manufactured through one of those disgraceful brands with hardly a hiccup.

For damn sure less headaches than I've had with my soon-to-be-gone 550B.

Over 5,000 rounds of 30-06, .308, .223, .303, and 30-30 through my disgraced bench's Lee Challenger with zero problems.

In fact, I'm thinking of adding a Lee Classic Turret to my bench provided it won't file for a divorce and then run off to find a brand snob to shack up with.

Back in my law enforcement/competition days, I used to really enjoy seeing the brand snobs come to compete and hearing them bash the Lee and Hornady and Lyman crowd.

Even more, I used to enjoy telling them at the end of the day, "You got the Dillon all right, but I got the trophy. You shoulda told those targets and steel poppers that you loaded on a Dillon--maybe they woulda just fell down outa pure respect!"

(And I had just bought a Dillon at the time, and still had my Rockchucker)

I've made--and kept--my money by looking for the most value for the least amount of dollar. It's simple equation that I apply to everything my wife and I purchase from cars to airplanes to boats to real estate to guitars to guns and to reloading equipment.

Because at the end of the day, I don't really care about keeping up with the Jones or impressing the Smiths. I just care about the end result--and with my shooting, Lee and Hornady have never let me down, always done me right, and for a helluva lot less than some other brands whose followers are always boasting about "how fantastic their customer service is!"

Funny thing is, though, I've never really needed Hornady or Lee's customer service--not like I have some other brands'. . .

Maybe that's why I stick with them.

Jeff

 

[Ol` Joe]

i'll grant that even though this is true, the co-ax isn't the idea press for pulling bullets, because of the way the jaws work. i mean, it'll never be as strong as the shellholder for an RCBS, for example, even though it's a better shellholder than the others for the purpose of sizing and seating.

even so, why would you want to pull bullets in any press?

edit: i'm serious, as i've never actually ever pulled a single bullet. and if i wanted to (for whatever mysterious reason) i would use one of the inertial things

From the Co-Ax manual http://www.forsterproducts.com/Media/forster-manual-2007.pdf

Self-acting shell holder is positive in action. We have extracted 200 consecutive 300 H&H Magnum cases--once fired, dry and unlubricated--from a full lenght sizeing die without pulling the head from a single case.

There is nothing wrong with the strenght of the Co-Ax shell holder except it`s possibly releasing too early in its travel when pulling bullets. Others claim that is a none issue, I don`t know. I still use my Lyman with excellent results for this. There is also the issue of the handle possibly in the way of the collets locking lever or rod. These are just my thoughts as to why I don`t try it and stay with the O-Frames to knock down ammo if I have to.

As for inertia pullers, The 1st time you need/want to pull a few bullets you`ll understand the desire for a collet type puller that uses the press leverage. They will work you to death. It`s like useing a "ball peen" hammer in place of a "jackhammer" to break up concrete. You can do it but, why?

 

[Falcore]

I have a Lee Classic Press that will do anything I ask--and it is a LNL unit.
You can remove the large die insert and put the Hornady LNL Adaptor kit in its place for under $20.00! Now I change dies and NEVER have to reset unless I want too.