First press for a begginer

[clunker]

I am starting to research options for my first press, and I would love some input from those who are more experienced. As a former contractor, I don't buy cheap tools. There is great value in equipment that maintains consistent results, and I expect to pay for it. That being said, I don't need or want a bunch of bells and whistles. I am currently a genetics technician, so I am no stranger to very precise measurements and keeping track of many samples at once. I am thinking of a very basic, but very high quality progressive press that can handle at least three calibers without major disassembly. I would love to hear your recommendations.

 

[jcm24m]

RCBS ROCKCHUCKER is what I have been using since 1971. It will handle all my cases with ease from 17 Ackley Bee to 30-06 and all in between. My only suggestion is to use a hand priming tool for better feel in seating the primer rather than the seater that comes with the press. GOOD LUCK

 

[rwj]

In the world of progressive presses, a Dillon 550 or a 650. Most don’t buy progressives unless their hand loading plans include high volume pistol and/or semi-auto rifle calibers.

 

[Falfan2017]

What are you going to do with it? High volume 223 or pistol? Match ammo? Hunting? For high volume the Dillon is hard to beat. Match and hunting the forster coax is top notch.

 

[clunker]

What are you going to do with it? High volume 223 or pistol? Match ammo? Hunting? For high volume the Dillon is hard to beat. Match and hunting the forster coax is top notch.

I don't plan to reload in high volumes. My calibers are .223 and 6.5CM, but I might help out some buddies in .270 and .308. My ONLY concern is consistency, and I don't care if it takes me an hour to load 20 rounds. I have the tools and skills to measure powder down to 0.01mg, and I have no problem spending the time to get it perfect. I just need equipment that can match my dysfunctional need for precision. I'll take a closer look at the coax. Thanks

 

[Falfan2017]

I don't plan to reload in high volumes. My calibers are .223 and 6.5CM, but I might help out some buddies in .270 and .308. My ONLY concern is consistency, and I don't care if it takes me an hour to load 20 rounds. I have the tools and skills to measure powder down to 0.01mg, and I have no problem spending the time to get it perfect. I just need equipment that can match my dysfunctional need for precision. I'll take a closer look at the coax. Thanks

In that case I would definitely look at the coax. It's great for caliber changes because you don't need a shell holder and you just slide the dies in and out. Both the shell jaws and die float so you get perfect self alignment.

The dillon is good for high volume but very expensive to change between calibers quickly or time consuming if you change between calibers the cheap way. If you were going to load 1000 rounds of 223 a month and never change your set up I'd go dillon 650 but if you're loading 20-100 at a time and changing calibers frequently I'd go coax.

 

[Peebles24]

I don't plan to reload in high volumes. My calibers are .223 and 6.5CM, but I might help out some buddies in .270 and .308. My ONLY concern is consistency, and I don't care if it takes me an hour to load 20 rounds. I have the tools and skills to measure powder down to 0.01mg, and I have no problem spending the time to get it perfect. I just need equipment that can match my dysfunctional need for precision. I'll take a closer look at the coax. Thanks

If you arent doing high quantities you dont want a progressive. Look at something like a rock chucker, hornady classic, coax, or any other quality brand single stage. A turret press such as a redding t7 may be a good option also for you. I have a hornady lock n load AP for 9mm and 223 and a hornady lock n load classic for everything else.

 

[PDS]

If you are just getting started in reloading the first thing you need to get is some knowledge on the subject. Most reloading manuals have a section explaining the process. Even better would be to visit an experienced re loader and look over his setup and have him show you how he does it.
Stay away from a progressive press as a starter. You said that you are more interested in precision than quantity.
You will also find that you will need a lot more than just a press. Midway USA has some good help guides on what you will need,and of course they will be happy to sell sell you everything.
The COAX press is nice, I've had one for over 30 years but it's not as comfortable as a standard press to use because of it's overhead lever and changing the shell holder plates for different case head sizes is more complicated than swapping out a shell holder.
You should probably hold off on reloading for your buddies until you really feel you are good at it. A lot of the guys on this site would say don't do it at all because of liability issues.

 

[dcali]

Any of the single stage o-frame presses by the major makers will do just fine. It’s really not a piece of equipment that matters much. RCBS, Redding, Lee, Lyman, Forster, Hornady... they all make a good press. They all float the case, so barring some extreme manufacturing defect, they all do the same thing.

 

[NorCalMikie]

For starting out, you can't beat a RCBS Rockchucker. Use that till you REALLY know what you're doing. For high volume like .223 or .308? I can crank out a couple hundred in nothing flat with no problems.
Everything from 20 VT,.221 Fireball all the way up to 30.06. Wore out a couple of Lee presses doing mil brass. Won't use that again. Go big and don't look back.
Most of the big name gear makers have a good warranty so you might consider used from Ebay? Lots of reloaders will have a couple of different presses mounted, one for sizing, one for priming and one for loading. Think about hand priming. Better feel and control that way.

 

[Roach]

Look for specials on the Rock Chucker supreme kit. That and a set of dies will get you going.

In addition to the kit I'd get:
A couple reloading trays and bins
Imperial sizing lube/wax
Hornady overall length gauge
Hornady comparator or RCBS precision mic (my preference)
A digital micrometer
Media tumbler (like Frankfort arsenal)

That's just off the top of my head.

 

[Rsadams]

RCBS ROCKCHUCKER is what I have been using since 1971. It will handle all my cases with ease from 17 Ackley Bee to 30-06 and all in between. My only suggestion is to use a hand priming tool for better feel in seating the primer rather than the seater that comes with the press. GOOD LUCK

+1 , Every year around Christmas Cabela's has a great deal on the rcbs reloading kit , something like $229... You will of course needs some other things as time goes by...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

find a lyman orange crush. Best mass produced single stage on the market imo.

 

[bsekf]

Most of the single stage presses work well, I would look for one that drops the spent primers into a holder of some sort. Co-Ax and new Reddings have that feature. I hear great thing about the cast iron Lee, don't know if it has the spent primer catcher.

Don't reload for your buddies, let them use your equipment while you supervise.

You are going to want several reloading manuals, most have a section on reloading equipment and procedure....... read em!

This forum is a source of great information.

Bill

 

[dcali]

I hear great thing about the cast iron Lee, don't know if it has the spent primer catcher.

The Classic Cast does not have anything to catch primers, but it does drop them straight through the ram and means to attach a pvc tube to send them straight into the trash, which is nice. it also has a nice design in that you can adjust the angle of the handle (and its length). It's a very good press, especially for the money. The paint is cheap, and the wooden handle is a bit rough, but overall I like mine. I wish Lee would make a higher end version of their product line that has a little better fit and finish.

 

[powderbrake]

I suggest the RCBS Rockchucker as a starter press. Once you get proficient, and want a progressive, the Dillon 550 is great.

You always want to have a single stage press available to size that one case, deprime that one case, pull that one bullet etc..

 

[topclass2017]

+1 on the Rockchucker. Best to learn on a single stage press - there is less going on, less to go wrong, easier to concentrate on one-step in the process. I also agree with hand priming as mentioned somewhere in this thread. I use my Rockchucker as a dedicated decapper and now use a RCBS Turret press and a digital (electronic) scale to throw powder charges. I like a turret as I set up a separate turret plate for each caliber I'm loading, set my dies once and don't have to change anything, other than turret plates to go from caliber to caliber. I've found this to produce very uniform ammunition. I used a Dillon 550 for awhile but felt there were too many things going on at once, too many opportunities for problems/errors. Worked ok for volume pistol shooting, but the accuracy of my loads wasn't there, mostrly from variation in powder charge.

 

[68injunhed]

Definitely single stage to start. You can’t go wrong with a Rockchucker or the Classic Cast Lee, both are pretty much indestructible.

The Lee does have the bushing system to allow you to swap dies in and out without resetting them. I have had very repeatable results with that system.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Rockchucher # 1
Redding Boss 2 # 2

My Rockchucher is 30 Plus years Young .
It is still the Best in the loading Room.
Years Back I shot Service Rifle that Press did 3000 Rounds a year .

 

[swd]

I'd guess more guys started off with a Rock Chucker than anything else and for good reason. My self included.