Single Stage Press Suggestions

[oldiron1]

Hi Guys,

I'm pretty new to reloading and looking to purchase my first Single-Stage Press, mainly for reloading 44 Mag and 45LC now.

I live right down the road from LEE manufacturing company, but am wondering which single stage press I should be looking at....best press for the money?

Thanks in advance for the education!

 

[pps]

Get the cheapest one. It comes with "Lee Modern Reloading" The book alone, is worth the purchase price.

 

[Snake45]

For simple, basic use such as you have in mind, the simple Lee press will work as well as anything.

Another idea is to look at a gunshow for a used single-stage press. They often go cheap as people move up to turrets and progressives. As long as a press takes standard 7/8-14 dies (and there are only a few that don't), it'll work just fine.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Yep, pretty much any single stage press will do fine to get your feet wet. Heck, I'm still using my dad's old Pacific Jr from the 50's, and I doubt that the Forster CoAx I'd like to replace it with is gonna make my ammo any "better"...

Attention to detail makes good ammo...:wink:

 

[mikld]

If I were to get another single stage press, it would be the Lee Classic Cast. It's strong and will prolly last for years...

 

[tomisu]

When I got started, I found a used kit and it included 10 die sets, bullets, powder and several hundred cases for less than the cost of a new kit! Mine happened to be an RCBS. Any of the cast "O" presses are good.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I have a handful of presses of various ages and "qualities" ranging from a little Lee Reloader (their cheapest one) up thru one of the last of the fully US made RCBS Rockchuckers (RCII.)

All of 'em WILL load anything I load, each has its good and bad points...

Best "bang for the buck" in my book if I just had to have another press would be either the Lee Challenger (alloy, well made but probably shorter lived than the iron models) or the Lee Classic Cast. The latter is probably as good as anybody's iron press today. AND, Lee's figured out how to keep production in the US, while STILL undercutting the "big guys" on price. That's just icing on the cake.

Rick C

 

[Snake45]

No matter whose press you buy, when it comes time to buy your dies, spend the extra money and get the carbides. They'll save you hours of time and untold hassles.

Last time I bought dies, Lee's carbides were priced about the same as everyone else's non-carbides, and they work as well as anyone's. I've loaded tens of thousands of hassle-free rounds with Lee carbides.

 

[VA Shooter]

I have the Lee Classic and love it ( but this is the only press I have used)

 

[WESHOOT2]

I recommend an inexpensive RCBS press; I've broken both my LEEs....

 

[J Miller]

Buy the best you can afford.
Avoid aluminum frame presses or those that bolt together. Way to much room for stretching or flexing.
Good old fashioned cast iron and lots of it is the way to go.

I started out with an RCBS JR press and sprung it. Just asked it to do more than it was capable of.
Upgraded to a Rock Chucker II, still have that one.
RCBS replaced the JR with a new Partner press, it's aluminum and still in it's box. I'll probably never use it.
Upgraded again to a Bonanza Co-Ax press (forerunner to the Forster Co-Ax) and have never looked back. Best single stage press I've ever used.

Buy more press than you'll need that way you won't over tax it.

Joe

 

[contender]

If you are the kind of person who wants to buy quality once, then look for a good RCBS Rockchucker. You will only buy it once.
If you are not sure about getting into reloading, and want to experiment a little & are willing to upgrade later on, then buy cheaper anything.
Personally, I have 3 older Rockchuckers, a Lyman turret, and 3 Dillons. I've been loading about 35 years or so,, with no regrets about those presses. My first one was a Lyman SPartan, and only sold it because I got my first Rockchucker a few years after I got into reloading. Still have it.

 

[pps]

I know I'm going against the grain here, BUT...the cheap lee press has a fantastic reloading book that is very educational for the first time hand-loader. Think of it as buying the manual and getting the press for free. I have 2 cheap lees...one was given to me by a patient as a gift.

Though I have a Hornady l&l AP progressive, I have the other two set up with the push through sizers to seat gas checks and size tumble lube bullets. At times I have used them to work up experimental loadings.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I started out with an RCBS JR press and sprung it. Just asked it to do more than it was capable of.

Joe

Dang that's a pretty good C-press, how did you manage to spring one? Just curious...

 

[oldiron1]

Thanks guys, for all of your input!!

I've been reading about LEE recently, and see they have a Turret press for not much more than their single stage presses. The Turret seems to be a much more efficiant means of reloading for the money, however I'm not familiar with a Turret press at all.

Would a Turret press be the way to go starting out?

Thanks again!!

 

[john guedry]

I started with a turret (NOT a Lee) and had no problems. At this point everyone says they then bought a progressive. I didn,t got a single stage instead. Still have both they both work well for me.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Would a Turret press be the way to go starting out?

Hi,

It's certainly A way of starting out, as it CAN be used single stage fashion until you know exactly what you are doing and are ready to speed things up a bit.

Some people use various progressives in single stage mode, but that's a situation where you really have to assess projected needs a ways to determine if it's cost effective for you.

Back to Lee's turret: there's the standard model that's been around for years, made of alloy, in three and four hole variants, and the newer Classic Cast model, iron, 4 holes, and really a lot more machine for not that many extra dollars. It's a good choice if you want a little more than a pure single stage.

Rick C

 

[dougader]

I know guys who are die-hard Lee fans and to a one they all say the Lee Classic turret is the way to go. They are quick to admit that Lee progessives... well, you get what you pay for.

My brother-in-law and I started with 9mm on his Dillon Square Deal B. Never a problem.

When I had some cash, I got my own single stage press that was on closeout at a local gun shop. Maybe $35 or so for a Hornady single stage and I still have it. In fact, if I'm going to load less than 200 rounds I still use the single stage press over my Dillon 550B.

I think you'd do fine with a good single stage or the Lee Classic Turret press.

Just remember what was said above: attention to detail makes good ammo, not an expensive (or fancy) press. Don't be in a hurry, read about all the steps in the process and follow the intructions and loading data closely and you'll be making your own high quality ammo in no time.

 

[volshooter]

RCBS press and Lee dies......#1

 

[J Miller]

I started out with an RCBS JR press and sprung it. Just asked it to do more than it was capable of.

Joe

Dang that's a pretty good C-press, how did you manage to spring one? Just curious...

Oh boy that was a long time ago. I remember I was doing 30-06 ammo and suddenly the ram didn't line up with the dies and cases started hitting the edges of dies. I "think" I slipped up and didn't lube one of the cases then just leaned on the press to finish sizing it. But I'm not positive.

......................................

One other thing for new users of most RCBS presses. When you decap the cases the crud accumulates around the base of the ram. Clean it off asap. Do not oil the press with the crud there. I will create the most abrasive compound you'll ever see and increase the wear on the ram dramatically.
Keep 'em clean there.
If nothing else buy a cheep press and use it as a dedicated decapping press. This is one of the reasons I rate the Co-Ax so high. It has a primer disposal tube the keeps the press free of fired primers and their crud.

Joe

 

[Bucks Owin]

This is one of the reasons I rate the Co-Ax so high. It has a primer disposal tube the keeps the press free of fired primers and their crud.

Joe

Another CoAx fan huh?...:wink:

Besides the neat primer disposal and Forster quality, I suspect the shell (and die) holding system promotes square alignment of case into die...
(Just a notion of mine maybe... :? )

 

[J Miller]

This is one of the reasons I rate the Co-Ax so high. It has a primer disposal tube the keeps the press free of fired primers and their crud.

Joe

Another CoAx fan huh?...:wink:

Besides the neat primer disposal and Forster quality, I suspect the shell (and die) holding system promotes square alignment of case into die...
(Just a notion of mine maybe... :? )

One we both agree with.

Also the slide in - slide out die change feature is wonderful.
It's a true set it and forget it system.

Joe

 

[Rick Courtright]

Also the slide in - slide out die change feature is wonderful.
It's a true set it and forget it system.

Hi,

In the "love 'em-hate 'em" world of lock rings, I like the Lees w/ the O-rings. But if you like "lock 'em and leave 'em" rings, it's pretty hard to argue there are any better than Forster's!

Now if I could just find a Co-Ax like a buddy picked up: his was either $15 or $25 at a second hand shop when he was in college back in the mid-'70s! (I forget who got the better deal on theirs, him or Weshoot2.) Best money he ever spent on reloading equipment!

Rick C

 

[Nowata]

i'm one of those guys that went step 1, step 2.....first handloaded with Lee Loaders, then picked up a Classic Cast, and then finally a Lee Turret Press. I handload revolver rounds(357 and 44) with the Turret(50-200 a week), and reserve the Classic Cast for rifle(223 and 308) rounds.
If I had it to do again??? I would progress the same way...lessons I learned with the LL, I used with the CC, and lessons with that one I use on the Turret.
I guess if I shot competition, and needed 200, 300, 500, 1000rds. a week I would get a progressive. Frankly, the handloading procedure is just as enjoyable as trigger-time. Have fun, be safe, and good luck!

 

[Boxhead]

I just replaced my 35 year old RCBS Reloader Special only becaue its throw was too short for a Lee Classic Cast and could not be more pleaed. My first Lee product and chosen over the Rock-Chucker.

 

[Bob R]

I started with an RCBS JR or Reloader Special 40 years ago, and sold it to a friend who is still using it. I replaced it with a Rock Chucker. The RCBS presses are good.

With that said, my brother picked up a Lee Classic Cast press. He was planning on mounting his Dillon Case Trimmer on it. Well we ended up mounting it on my bench and using it as a reloading press. I like it just fine. The spent primer tube drops the primers in a 5 gallon bucket under the bench. The primers go down through the ram, and do not make the mess they do using the RCBS.
I have never messed with priming on the Classic Cast as we have both an RCBS Hand Held, as well as an RCBS Bench Mounted priming tool, so no report on that.

Bob

 

[WESHOOT2]

I did; friend was using \one of his Co-Ax's as a door stop for his door in his garage.
It was old and rusty and laying on the floor, and he told me I could have it.
I gave him $10 to assuage any guilt I might feel.
$10.

I've been using THAT press since 1993. I didn't get the primer-drop stuff, so I 'attach' a small cardboard box under it to catch most of the spent primers; NO bare-footin' allowed in my shop....

 

[Bucks Owin]

I did; friend was using \one of his Co-Ax's as a door stop for his door in his garage.
It was old and rusty and laying on the floor, and he told me I could have it.
I gave him $10 to assuage any guilt I might feel.
$10.

I've been using THAT press since 1993. I didn't get the primer-drop stuff, so I 'attach' a small cardboard box under it to catch most of the spent primers; NO bare-footin' allowed in my shop....

Gee, give ya $20 for it to assuage MY guilt! :lol:

 

[Rick Courtright]

Gee, give ya $20 for it to assuage MY guilt! :lol:

Hi,

Hey, Bucks, have you looked at the price of a Co-Ax these days? You should at least offer him $25 so he doesn't think you're trying to take undue advantage in this deal!

Rick C

 

[unknwn]

Buy the slighly more expensive Lee Classic Cast Turret press, It is very simple to disable the auto indexing & operate as a single stage manual index if you prefer.
You will not regret the choice.