Best all around Single Stage press?

[Ledd Slinger]

I think it’s funny when people talk about “slop” in a press. Some slop is actually a good thing to achieve perfect alignment between the Ram and shell holder with the dies. I guarantee the cases I size on my old RCBS RockChucker are as straight or straighter and more consistent than anything sized on any other press out there at any price point. When the absolute worst case neck and bullet bearing surface runout I get is only 3/4 of one thousandth (.00075”), I just shake my head when I hear about people spending all that money on the high end custom built presses. Most of my cases have only a quarter to half thousandth runout. Shoulder headspace variance is just as consistent when using top quality brass from Lapua or ADG. I measure case and bullet runout on new barrels or when I get new dies for a rifle then I never measure again because I know the old RC is gonna make them so straight it’s not even worth wasting my time measuring.

I have the RC, Coax, T7, Lee turret, and arbor presses. All have their purpose and do their jobs well. But if I was forced to have only one press and I needed to have it last for decades to come with no issues and make great consistent ammo, I would have to go with the tried and true RockChucker

 

[JimSC]

I have three and each has its own purpose. My every day press is a Lee Classic turret, With $15 turrets it is easy to set up a turret for every cartridge. I have a Rock Chucker under the bench which I will pull out for heavier case forming such as necking up or down or turning Grendel brass into 6 ARC. I also have a Lee single stage set up as a portable press for doing seating depth tests at the range

Each serves it's purpose. I suppose I could replace the turret and RC with a more robust turret like a Lyman or Redding that could double as a case forming press but why bother

 

[R.Morehouse]

Best??......Who Knows. I think you should start the process with custom dies ( I am talking Bench Rest ), from there you can pretty much choose your poison......I like the older stuff and use a pair of Hollywood Seniors and a pair of the little blue RFD's and a Hart arbor press. My ammo is as good as any........The dies are the key........

Regards
Rick

 

[Shooter13]

Haven't had any problems

I knew the rockchuckers were a favorite in the community but after watching the 14 press shootout several times over and reviewing his data. I decided I liked the Big Boss II best, mainly for its simplicity and priming/depriming systems. I was pretty much sold until I read this article. Can you BBII owners weigh in and tell me if you all have experienced any of these issues?

https://steemit.com/rollyourownammo/@arrowj/too-much-hype-redding-big-boss-ii-reloading-press

Did anyone catch this in his review?
I noticed the stem of my Lee push through sizer die was rubbing the die when I lowered the handle to size a bullet.

I've never "sized" a bullet, a case maybe but not a bullet. Am I missing something?

 

[joshb]

I knew the rockchuckers were a favorite in the community but after watching the 14 press shootout several times over and reviewing his data. I decided I liked the Big Boss II best, mainly for its simplicity and priming/depriming systems. I was pretty much sold until I read this article. Can you BBII owners weigh in and tell me if you all have experienced any of these issues?

https://steemit.com/rollyourownammo/@arrowj/too-much-hype-redding-big-boss-ii-reloading-press

Did anyone catch this in his review?
I noticed the stem of my Lee push through sizer die was rubbing the die when I lowered the handle to size a bullet.

I've never "sized" a bullet, a case maybe but not a bullet. Am I missing something?

Some guys “swage” their cast bullets to size. Just terminology.

 

[BoydAllen]

I knew the rockchuckers were a favorite in the community but after watching the 14 press shootout several times over and reviewing his data. I decided I liked the Big Boss II best, mainly for its simplicity and priming/depriming systems. I was pretty much sold until I read this article. Can you BBII owners weigh in and tell me if you all have experienced any of these issues?

https://steemit.com/rollyourownammo/@arrowj/too-much-hype-redding-big-boss-ii-reloading-press

Did anyone catch this in his review?
I noticed the stem of my Lee push through sizer die was rubbing the die when I lowered the handle to size a bullet.

I've never "sized" a bullet, a case maybe but not a bullet. Am I missing something?

Lee makes push through dies for sizing cast bullets. They are designed to be used in conjunction with their dip type bullet lube. https://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/bullet-sizing-kit/

 

[M-61]

If one doesn't own a certain press, how does one know I doesn't have any deflection?

Yes.
I've only owned and still have an RCBS A-4, a Hood, two RCBS Summits. For me they are terrific. I have no idea if they're the best or the worst of all single stage presses not having any others than these. No reason to think my groups would get smaller with something else. They work for me. For others I have no clue. Got lots of comments on the Summit years ago. 99% of the people commenting did not own one.

 

[PopCharlie]

I use a Dillon Square Deal B for pistols. I use a Forster COAX for rifles. I have used other single stage presses, Redding Boss and Lee. I love the coax because it is so easy. Once the die is adjusted, lock ring snugged, it just slides it to place. The primer catcher is great too.

PopCharlie

 

[Shooter13]

Some guys “swage” their cast bullets to size. Just terminology.

Thank you for that, I'm not a "cast" guy Oh, if I'm doing 7K 9mm I'm sure as heck not doing it on ANY single stage press!!!

 

[Joe Salt]

And no one even mentioned RCBS A-4 Big Mack I'm Disappointed

Joe Salt!

 

[Tokay444]

If one doesn't own a certain press, how does one know I doesn't have any deflection?

That was going to be my question. I also would love to know how deflection was measured on the presses that are owned.

 

[M-61]

Some slop is actually a good thing to achieve perfect alignment between the Ram and shell holder with the dies.

Yes.
Isn't this the purpose one may desire to use "O" ring under the die?

 

[Shooter13]

I think it’s funny when people talk about “slop” in a press. Some slop is actually a good thing to achieve perfect alignment between the Ram and shell holder with the dies. I guarantee the cases I size on my old RCBS RockChucker are as straight or straighter and more consistent than anything sized on any other press out there at any price point. When the absolute worst case neck and bullet bearing surface runout I get is only 3/4 of one thousandth (.00075”), I just shake my head when I hear about people spending all that money on the high end custom built presses. Most of my cases have only a quarter to half thousandth runout. Shoulder headspace variance is just as consistent when using top quality brass from Lapua or ADG. I measure case and bullet runout on new barrels or when I get new dies for a rifle then I never measure again because I know the old RC is gonna make them so straight it’s not even worth wasting my time measuring.

I have the RC, Coax, T7, Lee turret, and arbor presses. All have their purpose and do their jobs well. But if I was forced to have only one press and I needed to have it last for decades to come with no issues and make great consistent ammo, I would have to go with the tried and true RockChucker

And a lot don't seem to realize that the "slop" comes from the dies and not the press most of the time.

 

[M-61]

And no one even mentioned RCBS A-4 Big Mack I'm Disappointed

Post # 47

 

[Hohn]

I absolutely love my MEC. USA made, ductile iron (NOT regular gray iron, but a superior grade). Open front design, super smooth operation. No loosening after about 5k strokes since I bought it in 2018.
The balance in the hand is notable. The handle feels almost weightless in hand, giving superior feel in sizing and seating. The cast in tray at the top is handy, as are many little accessories. Best of all, this superior press was only $220 with stand.

The one weakness of the MEC is primer handling. It will leave a mess of priming residue under it after a lot of decapping and more primers than should will bounce out of the tray or not fall through the ram.


I recently bought an RCBS summit and I like it a lot. It’s really heavy in hand though because you have to lift that cast crosshead every cycle. Balance is awful. I use it primarily for decapping where the weight can help. It did very well in Gavin’s press shootout. It’s not as smooth as the MEC.

I also intend to use it as an arbor press if I ever get to messing with hand dies.
Another huge plus of the Summit is the tiny footprint on your bench. You can either do the press-in-a-bucket thing for portability or you could mount a couple of them on a rotational platform and have a turret press on steroids.

 

[Hohn]

I am amazed no one has mentioned the Forster COAX. About 45 years ago I started loading 44 mag on a Lee "Auto-Indexing" progressive, then moved to a Lee single stage for rifle cartridges. I've had 3-4 different Lee models, then bought a used Rockchucker which used exclusively for probably 15 years, until I bought a Forster COAX about 25 years ago. I know people have varying views about the COAX, but I think most of the people who view them negatively have never actually owned and used one. The convenience of simply slipping one die out and another one in, without any adjustment, is by itself a huge plus!

The CoAx is excellent if:
— you can actually find one
— you don’t mind paying $350 or more for a SS press
— your dies will clear the handle.

I couldn’t see paying over $100 more for a single stage press when the MEC works so well.

 

[bcott]

I started with a CH(Charles Hecht) C press in the early sixties. I then (over a six year period) replaced that with a Hollywood Senior and a Hollywood Universal 12 station turret press. The next change came when I purchased a Bonanza Coax. I later added a Forster Coax and have not changed since then. The only thing the Hollywood Universal is now used for is pulling bullets, with a collet puller. I have the two Coax presses set up for 223 case head size and 308 case head size. These are mounted side by side on my loading bench. Handle clearance has not been a problem. My longest loading die is a Redding Precision for the 6.5x55SK. 5.850" OAL Redding Precision Seating Die. Just loaded up some Lapua 155 Mega for the 6.5x55. That shell is 3.230" COAL Looooonnnngggg. That OAL die length clears the handle but not by much. To me the genius of the Bonanza design is the machined die holder slot. It allows quick change of dies and allows the shell holder and die to achieve perfect alignment. Another great feature of the COAX is the operating handle is pulled down. I much prefer that over having to raise the handle as on most other presses.
Anyway, Bonanza/Forster presses are my choice for me.
Carl L.

 

[thestoicmarcusaurelius]

Forster Co-Ax

 

[M-61]

Without question, the best single stage press is the Prazipress.

Well, you may have experience with every single stage press in order to say "Without question,.."
I certainly don't own one but they sure are pretty.

 

[INTJ]

Well, you may have experience with every single stage press in order to say "Without question.
I certainly don't own one but they sure are pretty.

Yes I am assuming my experience the Co-Ax, the Rock Chucker Supreme, the Ammo Master, the Harrells Magnum, the Lee Classic, and the Redding T-7 is representative of the typical reloading presses. My bad........