Looking for a New Press

[Bully]

I'm looking for a new press.

My choices are:

RCBS Summit
RCBS Rock Chucker
Hornady Iron
???Another conventional press???

Does anyone have any thoughts on these choices?
The largest caliber I load at this time is 308Win. I do that, 223 and 6.5x47.
I'm not going to go the arbor press route.
I **MIGHT** consider a Forster if I can find one.

Thanks in advance.

 

[M-61]

I am partial to the RCBS Summit. With the short (optional) handle it has superb 'feel' for bullet seating. It surely is robust. It does not have the mechanical advantage of others you mentioned but then I don't need it as I load nothing larger than the 308 you mentioned. Adjustments are easy and sure. (And it is a throwback to a Hollywood Senior....from the Hollywood Gunshop... not the later version). In fact I have two of these as I had to buy the Patriotic version in red white and blue. Bottom line....for me it is very good press and produces ammo that meets my needs. And of course the RCBS customer service (did not need it for this) is probably as good as it gets. Been that way since my first RCBS purchase in the early 60's.
All of the above is MY personal opinion.

 

[DBLNUT]

I'm looking for a new press.

My choices are:

RCBS Summit
RCBS Rock Chucker
Hornady Iron
???Another conventional press???

Does anyone have any thoughts on these choices?
The largest caliber I load at this time is 308Win. I do that, 223 and 6.5x47.
I'm not going to go the arbor press route.
I **MIGHT** consider a Forster if I can find one.

Thanks in advance.

Forster Coax would be my choice.

 

[3dogs]

plus 1 on the CoAx
Jim

 

[Comrade Terry]

plus 1 on the CoAx

+2

 

[Fotheringill]

Rock Chucker Supreme is a fine press with a horrid plastic holder for spent primers. You will be sweeping up after each decapping session.

 

[FryeGuy]

redding boss 2. I upgraded to the rcbs chucker supreme from an old rock chucker, and cursed it from the first time I used it till the last. upgraded to the redding I picked up used here in classifieds and love it! best press I have ever had. spent primer collection in tube that can me emptied or go straight to trash can.

 

[JimPag]

Redding Ultra Mag., IMO the finest single stage American press there is. Blows any Rockchucker out of the water with their superior linkage. I've owned a Forster Co Ax, and they are not bad, but the Ultra Mag has better leverage system. I've seen an Italian single stage that Jeff Peinhardt sells with his bullet dies and that thing was a work of art and for $1250.00 it ought to be. There are some German made ones that are also a work of art also.

 

[Phil]

I have a rock chucker for the heavy work, and a 21st. Century hydraulic bullet seater for the light work....

I have heard a lot of good things about the co-ax, but have never put hands on one so I can`t comment either way on it......

Phil.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Forster Coax would be my choice.

Have used Lee, RCBS and a couple Reddings in the past but always wanted a Forster. Bit the "bullet" 2 weeks ago and bought the last Forster Co-Ax in stock here and I cant be happier. I really didn't expect the Forster to be this consistent in everything it does. Just the lack off effort and time it takes to get the FL dies setup every time to just bump the shoulder back (and it bumps them back exactly the same every time) makes it worth spending the extra money.

Its a fantastic press!

 

[Bully]

I just posted my Lyman T-Mag for sale in the classifieds. When it sells, i'll be purchasing something. We'll see which one however the CoAx is definitely the frontrunner at this time.

 

[ireload2]

For the price of some of the new presses you mentioned you can find a good used RCBS A2 or Big Max and own a legend.

 

[dkhunt14]

The A4 or Big Max was definitely RCBS's top of the line. The price of them now has gone way up. I have seen them go for $500.00 now. Matt

 

[JRS]

Lee Classic Cast, and use the savings for well made dies.

 

[Shynloco]

redding boss 2. I upgraded to the rcbs chucker supreme from an old rock chucker, and cursed it from the first time I used it till the last. upgraded to the redding I picked up used here in classifieds and love it! best press I have ever had. spent primer collection in tube that can me emptied or go straight to trash can.

+1. I use a Redding Big Boss that I have mounted next to the good 'ole reliable RCBS Rocker that has served me for years. These two solve any issues and allows for flexibility in the reloading process.

Alex

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Redding turret
Im just the opposite of m-61- i think the summit is the worst press ever made. It has a 4' handle on it for a reason. No mechanical advantage at all. It is nice for seating bullets. I have about every press made and use a lyman orange crush, rcbs partner, or redding turret for most my hunting gun rounds. I use custom presses for my br rounds

 

[normmatzen]

What GSXR said!

Buy a classic cast breechlock press and never look back. It can easily be modified for cam-over if you like and with the money you saved you can buy a LEE collet die for each of your calibers!

 

['Freak]

De-cap only dies reside on a bitty little Lee, full length size and sometimes neck only on a Redding Big Boss, expanding over mandrels and bullet seating happens on two different RCBS Partner presses.

 

[danny]

I have a Lee Classic Cast and Forster Co-Ax, as well as some other presses that I do not use much. These are my main presses. The Lee is nice. I think that the Co-Ax loads straighter ammunition, but I have not had the Co-Ax very long and have not gotten to do a lot of testing. While the Lee is nice, once in a gunstore, I picked up an old and well used RCBS Rockchucker. I tried to find side to side play in the ram, but, to my surprise, there was no measureable amount. My Lee Classic Cast, which is nearly new, has some. The Classic Cast is certainly a more massive press, though. It is a beast. I love the Forster Co-Ax, but would not recommend it to everyone. It is more of a "specialist's press". You almost have to have a second O or C frame press if you have a Forster Co-Ax. You are pretty much going to need the second press if you want to pull bullets on a press. This may also be the same for some other press mounted operations. Realistically, the reloading world is geared towards tools that work with more standard O or C frame presses. They may or may not all work on a Forster Co-Ax. That is something I found out right away when I got the Co-Ax and is something to think about before you buy a Co-Ax.

Danny

 

[Bully]

I have a Lee Classic Cast and Forster Co-Ax, as well as some other presses that I do not use much. These are my main presses. The Lee is nice. I think that the Co-Ax loads straighter ammunition, but I have not had the Co-Ax very long and have not gotten to do a lot of testing. While the Lee is nice, once in a gunstore, I picked up an old and well used RCBS Rockchucker. I tried to find side to side play in the ram, but, to my surprise, there was no measureable amount. My Lee Classic Cast, which is nearly new, has some. The Classic Cast is certainly a more massive press, though. It is a beast. I love the Forster Co-Ax, but would not recommend it to everyone. It is more of a "specialist's press". You almost have to have a second O or C frame press if you have a Forster Co-Ax. You are pretty much going to need the second press if you want to pull bullets on a press. This may also be the same for some other press mounted operations. Realistically, the reloading world is geared towards tools that work with more standard O or C frame presses. They may or may not all work on a Forster Co-Ax. That is something I found out right away when I got the Co-Ax and is something to think about before you buy a Co-Ax.

Danny

Thanks Danny.

What other operations would I not be able to do on a CoAx? I only ask as I just simply make ammo for me. I don't find myself having to pull bullets often, thankfully. When I do have to pull, I just use my inertia puller.