Press recommdations

[greyspider56]

I just started reloading. I'm looking for a new press and am caught between progressive and single stage. Right now I have a basic lee press. There's so much info out there and it can get so confusing. What do you think about the Hornady lock and load? For single stage I'm looking at the Forster co ax. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

 

[std7mag]

Chevy?
Ford?
Chrysler?
It all is personal preference.
Get what you like, and feel comfortable paying for.

 

[bsekf]

Wish I had gone with a Co-Ax 50 years ago!

 

[Papa Charlie]

While not definitive, Ultimate Reloader tested 14 different presses in a comparison. I found it interesting. If you do a search for "Ultimate Reloader 14 Press Shootout" you can find his YouTube.

A lot has to do with what you intend to use the press to reload for.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have used many different presses over the years, including the Co-Ax. I do not think that you will do better than an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, possibly with the addition of a Lock n Load conversion. I currently have several presses, including a Partner, Harrell turret, Harrell combo, and an old Rock Chucker with the conversion that I mentioned. I make this recommendation based on the assumption that you plan on using the press at home.

 

[Twicepop]

I'd recommend a Redding Big Boss, or a Redding T-7. Both of these have a large diameter hollow ram that dispenses with the spent primers through the ram and out the bottom. The RCBS Rock Chucker has a really lousy spent primer system anymore. I don't know much about the Lyman presses and wouldn't recommend much of anything made by LEE.
The Redding T-7 turret press has stations for 7 different dies at one time, and has interchangeable turret heads. Years back and maybe still, the good folks at Sinclair International said the Redding T-7 was the only turret press capable of producing bench rest quality ammunition. Hornady presses with the Lock and Load system have been reported to have problem with the bushings used in the L&L system lately. Bushing are reported to be wearing out after being in use for a short time, also several reports of them breaking as well. But this like everything else, get the best you can afford.

 

[DirtySteve]

Dillon 550 if you want a progressive. No BS lifetime warranty..I have had on since 1987.... Now I have two and a Lyman Orange Crusher.. But I got the Lyman for free..

 

[wkdickinson]

Like you I started out with a Lee (turret) press, then over the next 15 years, went to a Lee single-stage, then a RCBS Rock Chucker. About 25 years ago, when I was shooting a lot of High-Power I bought a Forster COAX and have never looked back. I like many COAX owners believe that most who find fault with the COAX, have likely never owned one. I did purchase a used Lyman Turret press a few years ago, as a utility press. There are somethings that the COAX won't work for, like pulling pullets with a "collet-style" bullet puller and I leave my Lee Decapping and Brownells Mandrell dies mounted in it permanently.

 

[Osiek]

I have many; think women shoes; the best of both Worlds is a Dillon 550 it can be used as a single or progressive. My experience and opinion only

 

[Papa Charlie]

I have many; think women shoes; the best of both Worlds is a Dillon 550 it can be used as a single or progressive. My experience and opinion only

I think there are other progressives that can be used as single stage. I have the Hornady LNL Pregressive and use it as a single stage. Sometimes I will use it in combinations. For example I use my FL die, Neck Die and Pin Gauge die at the same time for sizing. I ensure that the two dies that are creating the most force are opposite of each other and as close as possible to the posts to limit any flex.This is also beneficial as I also use a delay process where I allow at least a 10 second delay before retracting the case from the die.

When it comes to seating, I only use one die and it is positioned right next to the post.

For less critical rounds, like my 45ACP which is my non competitive, play gun, I like the progressive action. I tumble my rounds, then all in one, decap, prime size, powder drop, drop bullet, seat bullet and done. Makes reloading a lot of ammo very easy and quick.

All this being said, I have contemplated purchasing a single stage to see if it would be any more precise than my progressive. I get less than 0.001" runout on concentricity, the seating depth, provided I separate my Bergers first is <0.001". I don't know if I would be able to improve much on this. But I can see the advantage of a single for some operations.

Bottom line, I am glad that I purchased the progressive first. I have learned to use it to do much more and not sacrifice convenience. But now I can look at other options to add to it when time, space and money allow.

 

[Ron Blain]

I don't know, after over 40 years and a collection of presses when I want to load match ammunition I seem to gravitate to my old RCBS Rock Chucker but if I had a Coax it would likely be my choice. Loading cartridges like .45 ACP for the range I often use an old progressive I have. I am not in any rush to get things loaded, old retired people have a surplus of time. Try and find what works best for you and you want sturdy and well made. You also want it planted on a sturdy bench.

Ron

 

[338 dude]

I use the Redding ultra mag I load a 338 Lapua it is capable of much more and can actually load up to a 50 BMG so it is tough I don’t think I’ll ever wear it out in my lifetime

 

[lotech]

Many who buy progressives want a progressive but they don't really load enough ammo to "need" one, but that's their business. Just realize a progressive is not as versatile as a single stage or turret press if you're at all experimentally inclined and want to make up small samples of different loads for accuracy evaluation, etc. I've had four progressives over many years, but never really needed one. A '60s Texan turret is more than adequate for the few thousand handgun rounds I load annually.

I've used a Co-Ax for loading rifle ammo for at least thirty-five years. A Co-Ax will work for just about any handloading chore, but there are a few things that a good heavy, single-stage press will do better or easier, like bullet pulling, heavy-duty case forming, some full-length sizing operations, primer pocket swaging, etc. The priming setup works very well on most cases, but I doubt many of today's impatient YouTube-educated handloaders will want to deal with such a system.

 

[B23]

Progressives have their place, I have a Dillon 550, but I only use it for pistol and AR loading because you can knockout a few hundred rounds fairly quickly, but I'd never use it for any of my bolt guns. I have two Redding single stage presses, Big Boss and Ultra Mag, for my bolt guns. My dad has a Forster Co-Ax and a older Texan turret press that is similar-ish to the Redding T7, both are very good.

IMO the Redding T7 kind of, somewhat, splits the difference between a true progressive and single stage. A turret press, like the T7, offers a lot of convenience to help speed things up, but doesn't sacrifice precision in the process. As was mentioned by a couple others, I'd recommend getting a Redding T7.

 

[F Class John]

FWIW you can get center hole only single stage tool head for the 550 that in essence convert it to single stage. Just another option.

 

[D-4297]

As several have said . Which shooting discipline you will most be using your press for does make a bit of a difference , but only slightly . When I first started in F class , the general advice to a new shooter was to go with a quality single stage press , learn the many nuances of loading precision ammo first . Then ; if so inclined , move on to a progressive . Looking back , I find this was good advice . And I'm still loading on single stage presses , and still learning how to improve my rounds every time I load . I did load thousands of handgun loads for my Dad back in the early 60's on a smaller Hornady progressive , but didn't really know that much about presses then , to have a educated opinion . Regardless what you decide , buy quality . So you only have to buy once .

 

[INTJ]

While not definitive, Ultimate Reloader tested 14 different presses in a comparison. I found it interesting. If you do a search for "Ultimate Reloader 14 Press Shootout" you can find his YouTube.

A lot has to do with what you intend to use the press to reload for.

WARNING!!!! Do NOT do that search. If you do you may wind up ordering a Prazipress like I did. I can't wait for it to get here.

Right now I have a Co-Ax, a Harrells, and a Rockchucker supreme on my bench. I use all of them and they all work well. When the Prazipress comes I will try to get all four mounted, but if I have to drop one it would be the Harrells.

 

[Shooter13]

I have used many different presses over the years, including the Co-Ax. I do not think that you will do better than an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, possibly with the addition of a Lock n Load conversion. I currently have several presses, including a Partner, Harrell turret, Harrell combo, and an old Rock Chucker with the conversion that I mentioned. I make this recommendation based on the assumption that you plan on using the press at home.

@BoydAllen I love the Rock Chucker Supreme and have 2 of them, in the 14 press shootout that was talked about previously it did outstanding. I do disagree a little on the LNL conversion kit as I did that and you can actually see the bushing move upward when sizing the brass and for that reason I uninstalled it, I did like the idea of being able to have my dies set up and just change them out but alas I just purchased a 2nd RC. Thanks for all you add to this site sir!

 

[59FLH]

What do you think about the Hornady lock and load?

It's an excellent press, dollar for dollar, best value out there.

 

[Rset]

I just started reloading. I'm looking for a new press and am caught between progressive and single stage. Right now I have a basic lee press. There's so much info out there and it can get so confusing. What do you think about the Hornady lock and load? For single stage I'm looking at the Forster co ax. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

The answer to your question is going to depend on what you are loading for and your personal preference. There are a lot of great presses out there. I load on a Lee Classic Cast and have made some high quality ammo with it. Anyone who says they can't, has probably never used one and just thinks because they are inexpensive, they must not be any good. Loaded on a RCBS Rock Chucker for years in a past life. It also will produce some quality ammo.
I just ordered a CO-Ax after weighing the options for my next press. T-7 and 550C were also high on the list, but after careful thought, the quick change dies as well as the great reputation of this press made me pull the trigger.
I learned on a single stage and am used to doing one process at a time so a single stage works for me.
The T-7 was a solid choice, but I didn't find it of greater value in my application.
The 550C had some advantages for speed, but I didn't think it could meet all my needs for precision loading.
The way I figure, the CO-AX will do everything I need except to pull bullets which I will do on my Lee.
Good Luck. The answer is only yours. Everyone has an opinion.