Press Suggestions

[Rset]

I am looking to buy a new press and have had several ideas over the last few weeks while looking.
I have a few options in mind but can't make up my mind. Your experiences are appreciated.
I will be primarily loading .223 for F-TR at 3,5, and 6. Additional calibers to follow
Loading will be done from my house, but I have no real loading area. Will need to work from a portable bench and or from the heavy dining table.

So, what are your thoughts?

Option 1: Buy a Co-Ax press (never mind. seem to be back-ordered everywhere)

Option 2: Buy the Frankford Arsenal Look Alike that would appear to be available near the end on the month from Midway. (Seems a lot like a Co-Ax and a little less expensive)

Option 3: Get a Harrels Combo Press. Use a good quality threaded sizing die and a Wilson seating die.

Option 4: Buy a cheap Lee Classic Cast Iron Single Stage Press.
a. Use it for sizing only and get an arbor press for seating?
b. Use it for both sizing and seating with some good quality dies?

Next: Your preference for good quality dies? Forster, Redding, Whidden, etc.

 

[Mark M.]

Redding T7

 

[dcali]

I’d start with an RCBS partner. They’re small and good. I used one when I lived in an apartment and had no space. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s not heavy, popular, or expensive. It’s every bit as capable.

 

[Trophied]

Remember, just one powder, one primer, one bullet wherever you're loading, and NO MORE. Presses will serve you well if they are reputable brands. Benchresters will differ in their opinions. That's OK. Absorb all the information and make your own decision. Go see/touch/feel some different ones if you can.

 

[Cory porter]

Look into the RCBS summit, that and maybe an arbor press. Maybe FL size on a partner press or even shoulder bump. Neck size and a seat on an arbor?

 

[Downhill]

Been using the same Rockchucker since 1991. No issues.

 

[Murray Brook]

Been using a Lee classic cast for years. Great press , as good as any other single stage except maybe the co-ax. Good price also. Loads concentric ammo and sizes the biggest cases with ease. As far as dies go Forster makes good dies as well as Redding. You can also make good ammo with the less expensive ones like RCBS, Lee, Hornady,Lyman etc. I can't comment on the custom dies as I don't own any.

 

[Dos XX]

I recommend buying a Redding Boss or Big Boss II. The reason is it is all the press you will ever need. It is the first press I bought and I still use it. I actually have 2 of them. They go in sale regularly. I got my second one from either Sinclair or Brownells on sale with a coupon.

For space saving / portability purposes, I bought the Harbor Freight bench grinder stand below. Got some of the t nuts like in the second link. You can get them at Home Depot or any hardware store. Put the t nuts in a piece of wood and bolted the press to it then c clamped it to the top of the bench.

I used it for years like this. I will size .308 brass no problem. I have never used if for anything larger, but I am pretty sure it would handle .284 or 30-06 as well. You can pick the whole thing up and move it or you can unclamp the vise and move the press and stand separately.

https://www.harborfreight.com/universal-bench-grinder-stand-3184.html

https://www.rockler.com/tee-nuts-select-size?sid=V9146?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content={adtype}&utm_campaign=PL&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(ROI) Shopping - Hardware&msclkid=36f7cd26463b1431b87b913cb0574a07

 

[Kyle Schultz]

I like Redding presses. Just bought this one to dedicate to resizing my 6BRA cases.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/15001

At $130, I think it was a great deal.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

The good thing about presses is that while they all have various different features/benefits, as long as you buy one that's fairly solid, they'll mostly all get the job done to an acceptable standard.


For single stage, I'm partial to RCBS Rockchuckers (the RC Supreme) or Redding presses. The new MEC one looks interesting if you want to stand, as does the new Frankford Arsenal one you mentioned; the only downside is there are no reviews on it, and in general FA gear sometimes isn't up to the same standards as others (that seems to be changing as of late though).


That said, what press you choose likely won't change your score in a match; I know a sponsored shooter who reloads everything on an older RCBS rockchucker with a Chargemaster 1500.


Grab one that looks sturdy and has good reviews, and it'll probably last you a lifetime.


As far as dies, every maker you mentioned is good; you literally can't make a bad decision with Forster, Redding, and Whidden. Me personally, I like Redding FL bushing sizers and Forster comp seaters


Edit: You will want this thing mounted to something sturdy. You can look at the quick change plates from Inline Fabrication; they allow you to attach to a flush or raised mount, and swap out literally any accessory on your bench. C-Clamps can also work too.

 

[Richard Coody]

i really like my harrels combo. keep it in my portable reloading kit. it covers the bases for me. i like full length sizing dies like the harrels and i seat with wilson seaters. no negatives for me.

that said at home i have a co-ax and a 21st century hydro press.

 

[JimSC]

I currently use a Rockchucker but I am partial to Lees, I have had three and still have a Lee O style set up as range press and a Lee hand press also for the range. If I had to choose between an expensive press and inexpensive dies or inexpensive press and expensive dies I would go with the dies. That's what provides the precision, the press just supplies the muscle to get the case to the die.

I like Redding S bushing FL sizing dies, or Redding body die with a Lee collet necksize die to size. For conventional press seating I am partial to RCBS micrometer seating dies,

 

[Uncle Ed]

Do you like reloading and body building.

If you size machine gun fired Lake City 7.62 brass using the Lee hand press you will look like below or else die of a heart attack.

You have be given many serious ideas in this posting, but if you want to go from a A cup to a D cup try the Lee hand press.

 

[JFrank]

I am looking to buy a new press and have had several ideas over the last few weeks while looking.
I have a few options in mind but can't make up my mind. Your experiences are appreciated.
I will be primarily loading .223 for F-TR at 3,5, and 6. Additional calibers to follow
Loading will be done from my house, but I have no real loading area. Will need to work from a portable bench and or from the heavy dining table.

So, what are your thoughts?

Option 1: Buy a Co-Ax press (never mind. seem to be back-ordered everywhere)

Option 2: Buy the Frankford Arsenal Look Alike that would appear to be available near the end on the month from Midway. (Seems a lot like a Co-Ax and a little less expensive)

Option 3: Get a Harrels Combo Press. Use a good quality threaded sizing die and a Wilson seating die.

Option 4: Buy a cheap Lee Classic Cast Iron Single Stage Press.
a. Use it for sizing only and get an arbor press for seating?
b. Use it for both sizing and seating with some good quality dies?

Next: Your preference for good quality dies? Forster, Redding, Whidden, etc.

I seen metal reloading benchs at Sportsman Wharehouse with wood tops and drawers, they appear adequate. Perhaps someone has tried one that will chime in.

 

[swd]

Redding T7

I’ve had 2 Rockchuckers for many years. I went to a Redding T7 about a year and a half ago and never looked back. Much more convenient. Except that my dad gave me one of the Rockchuckers almost 40 years ago I don’t know why I even keep them.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

They have very sturdy wood butcher block work stations on sale at harbor freight for $99 most times. Bolt a partner press on it and do anything youll ever need to do

 

[!Peter!]

When I was looking at presses the main difference I saw was in how they handled the spent primers. The best approach I saw was to send the spent primer out through the hollow ram. This keeps primer residue contained. The lee classic cast press and the forster co-ax both do that. I think there are a few others that do as well but can't remember offhand.

Given the lee was much cheaper than the co-ax, I went the lee and spent the saved money elsewhere.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Lee Classic Cast Press.

 

[Rset]

Thanks folks.
From reading through the comments, you have pretty much confirmed that the press really doesn't matter. Everyone seems to have their preference and nobody can agree. Everyone seems to like what they are using. What you know is always better than what you don't.
Since it looks like any of the name brand presses will all make good ammunition, I will take a look at the budget and likely keep the press cost to a minimum and put the extra dollars into some good dies and other stuff.
While I would appreciate the extra bulk, I think I will shelf the hand press option, but appreciated the comment.
Back to researching loading techniques to see how I am going to proceed with the rest of the stuff I need.
Thanks Again for your input.

 

[M-61]

Look into the RCBS summit, that and maybe an arbor press. Maybe FL size on a partner press or even shoulder bump. Neck size and a seat on an arbor?

The Summit can be used as an arbor press with RCBS kit or it is easy to make your own to use it as an arbor press.