Which Press?

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viking499

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How many times have we seen that question here??:what:

Now to the actual question.......

I have a RCBS Rockchucker that I have used lightly for the past 20 years. I am interested in adding another press. I don't do a lot of shooting, so right now I am not looking at a progressive setup. Been thinking about another Rockchucker or a Redding T-7.

Is there any advantage to the Redding other than set it up and forget it?

How many of you run multiple single stage presses and that's all?

I mainly only load 9mm and 45 in quantity and do that by each step.
 
I have a Rock Chucker, 2 Lee Pro 1000's and a LNL AP. I find myself using the Rock Chucker more than any other press. So I can understand the desire to get a second Rock Chucker.
 
I've used a Rock Chucker a handful of times when reloading at a friend's and had no complaints. However, when it came time to purchase my own setup, I went with the Redding T-7 and have had zero regrets.

I love the set it and forget it feature, as close to a progressive as you can get in that respect. Gives you the option of loading like a progressive to if you like but I still do one step at a time. The press and dies are rock solid and built like a tank, along with any other product I've purchased of theirs.

Just my .02

-Robb
 
I have 3 single stage presses and 2 Lee Classic Turrets. The Classic Turret is a great complement to the single stage's capability.
 
I would say redding big Boss 2 if you're mainly doing pistol. If you were doing more rifle or precision rifle, I would say go with the turret.

I have the big Boss 2 along with the rc supreme. The big Boss is mounted to the bench, the rc is in storage.
 
The advantage the Redding (either BB II or T-7) is going to give you is cleanliness. The bigger Reddings use a hollow ram design that routes the spent primer and the smut to a waiting jug. You won't ever need to chase a spent primer again. And the oil on your ram won't be collecting smut.
 
Another vote for the Redding T7.

I use it for all sorts of calibers.
I find that I really like making a complete round with a few stroked of the handle vs batch loading which I have done too for years..!!

It shines to me when I want to make a few test loads, I can just make them up in a few minutes and go out back and try them out.
You also can buy extra turrets and have die sets set up and ready to use. Kind of like a Dillon change out.

It does cost more, but it's not cheaply made..!!!!
And you have Redding backing you.

You can go on YouTube and look at them in action.
TxD
 
Is the Redding worth the extra $100 plus over the price of the RCBS?
Click to expand...

Well, the new RCBS presses are aluminum, and made in the Orient.

The Redding is all steel and iron, and made in the USA.

If you've owned your press for 20 years, then it's probably a US-made iron version with the crinkle green paint job. The newer aluminum ones have the darker 'hammer tone' green finish that's more glossy. You really will not like the new RCBS after owning the older version.

OR

If you only run 9 and 45, and no rifle, then consider a Dillon Square Deal at $379.
 
Redding Big Boss II would be my first choice. Rockchucker next.

Frankly, I see no advantage to a turret over a single stage and it cost more.
 
I have a Rockchucker, a Forster Co-Ax and a Lee Classic Turret Press and I use them all.

If you're looking to add a press take a good look at the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press which has an auto-index feature. It makes handgun loading easy. I can safely produce 180 to 200 handgun rounds an hour, sometimes more if I'm on a roll.
 
If you want to get out of first gear the T-7 is an excellent choice. It's also a beefy SOB.

If you're happy with status quo, get another single stage.
 
I had a RockChucker and bought a Lee Classic Turret to load pistol with. (flashhole helped me talk me into it) I liked the priming system so well I sold the Chucker and bought a Lee Classic Cast single stage to go with the LCT, Not to bash RCBS cause they do make great stuff, but the Lee Classis just suit me better. I still do have some other RCBS tools.
 
I bought a T7 last year. When I was shopping for it Midsouth Shooters Supply had the best price of those I looked at.
 
I've been asked this questions many times and my answer has always been Dillon. An extremely well built press. They have a no BS repair and parts policy. No questions just order what you need and they send it. A bit pricy for some but you get what you pay for. Do you want a Hyundai or a Mercedes? Resale is always a premium. They do have proprietary conversion kits for each caliber but these also bring a premium if you have to resell.
 
VaGunNut said:
viking499 said:
I am not looking at a progressive setup.
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I've been asked this questions many times and my answer has always been Dillon.
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Really? I wasn't aware Dillon made single stage or turret presses. :rolleyes:
... Been thinking about another Rockchucker or a Redding T-7
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When THR members ask us specific questions regarding their press needs and desires, "Get a Dillon/Cry once and you'll thank me later" may not always be the appropriate response, especially for the OP who specifically asked about single stage/turret press. ;)

Dillon ... extremely well built press.
Click to expand...
I agree. :D
 
I highly recommend the Forster Co-Ax press as a companion to the RockChucker. You'll use it as your main press and the RockChucker for single operations such as crimping, bullet pulling, primer pocket swaging, and for pistols I size in the Co-Ax and expand in the RCBS. The Co-Ax is very handy.
 
If I wasn't going progressive - I'd get a turret press in a heartbeat. As for which one - the one with the best materials would be my choice.
 
For rifles, I use only single stage presses, for pistol, I use a Dillon SDB. I have 2 single stage presses. One small one (a 1969 RCBS "Jr.") that I use only for seating operations. I have one humongous one (a Redding UltraMag) that I use for sizing. It has awesome leverage and is very, very smooth.

If I were to add another press to these two, I would add a turret press I think. It seems like it would be sort of the best of both worlds. I'd keep my most-used sizing dies on it, and still do my seating on the smaller press.

You already have a heavy press... if I were you, I'd get a lighter one with a smaller/shorter handle arc. Something easier to use.
 
You already have a heavy press... if I were you, I'd get a lighter one with a smaller/shorter handle arc. Something easier to use.
Click to expand...

Which presses are "lighter"?
 
viking499 said:
Which presses are "lighter"?
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The Forster Co-Ax looks and feels lighter but in reality it delivers a lot of leverage because of the way it is designed. It's an outstanding single stage press to go along with that Rockchucker you already own. (but I'm prejudice since I own both like I said above)
 
rfwobbly said:
Well, the new RCBS presses are aluminum, and made in the Orient.

The Redding is all steel and iron, and made in the USA.

If you've owned your press for 20 years, then it's probably a US-made iron version with the crinkle green paint job. The newer aluminum ones have the darker 'hammer tone' green finish that's more glossy. You really will not like the new RCBS after owning the older version.

OR

If you only run 9 and 45, and no rifle, then consider a Dillon Square Deal at $379.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's true. Any RCs I've been able to locate online are all cast iron, as usual. As for the "orient" reference: When I was in the market for my first press, there was a rumor that the castings were done in China. I haven't seen anything substantive to back that up, and I've come to believe that this is misinformation put out to dampen opinions of RCBS.
 
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