How many presses will I need

[Droc101]

Thank you all for the great advice. I'll go through it all in more detail later.

I have a source for supplies (powder, primers, and bullets) so I am not to worried about that. Brass, I get a plethora from my local range and I can reuse my own that passes inspection.

Also, I have access to a fair amount of lead and molds, so I can always go that route for my target loads.

[jwest]

Hello All,
Been a long time since I was a kid reloading in my Grandpas hobby room and I am getting my shopping list together in light of 63 passing.

I am only interested in single stage but I have no idea how many presses I should buy. The idea is that I want to have one press specialized for one job (set it and forget it). How many single stages will I need to make that happen?

Well, if you're like the rest of us - you will have one for each of your favorite calibers - so, plan for that maybe.

[Divernhunter]

If I did as you are saying I would have over 100 presses.
Once dies are set it takes me about 20 seconds to change the die and it is preset.
I do use a Rockchucker for sizing rifle brass and a old Jr(or other lighter duty) for seating bullets. I also size pistol brass on the Jr that I do not use my Dillon650 for or completely reload the pistol ammo when it is only a small amount such as for load testing.
I have a separate Hornady for my 50BMG since the RCBS one was more money and part of the cost was a trim die I would not use. I use a hand cranked one for trimming.

Looks to me like you need to get a reloading manual and read it. Then your questions would not be so out in left field.

[rg1]

I think 3 single stage presses work well together. I size pistol cases on one press and expand on the second press. I don't like seating and crimping bullets in one step so I seat on one press and crimp on the other. With rifle I seat on one press and crimp if I do crimp certain bullets on the other. I also have a 3rd press that usually have primer pocket crimp swager dies in it. Two presses are great and the 3rd is also sometimes handy but you can easily accomplish your goals with 2 presses. I have a Forster Co-AX, a great press, a RCBS Big Max, and an RCBS RockChucker and believe it's the perfect setup for my reloading. I also have the RCBS Automatic Bench Mounted priming tool. I don't like seating primers on a press. I won't go progressive because I want to be in charge of each step and I really don't care for turrets but they are handy for what you said about keeping dies set and ready. If you get employee discounts definitely buy the RCBS Automatic priming tool. Best money I've spent on reloading tools.

[stilly]

For basic reloading, get the Lee Classic Turret. Next to it you should setup an RCBS Rock Chucker, OR Lee Classic Cast, OR Redding BIG BOSS, OR Hornady Lock & Load Classic. - OR SOME single stage press for doing more intensive type things like pulling or case forming or primer pocket swaging, or any precision type rounds you want to load up.

Then save a spot a little further down for a progressive press if you ever feel the need to get one. Once you have learned a bit and have your things setup and you have your data cards and know what you want, THEN you can go for the gold and get a progressive should you feel the need. I only bust out the progressive when someone yells "Predator!" and I gotta bust out the Dillon Aero and flush 'em out of the trees in the back yard...

[alexisjohnson]

With that attitude...you're best off not getting into reloading. You're only going to hurt yourself and others.

[Whiterabbit]

My opinion, have two. One beefy press that can swage simple stuff, like soft lead and thin jackets. Rock chucker would work nice. Larger ok too. The other, something that has a feature you want, like abidextrous (centered) handle, indexable handle, takes die inserts, primer control, can mount upside down, is small, is large, has a turret, can take BMG dies, whatever.

You'll only use the first press most of the time, but nice to have the other every now and again.

Both fit together in one deep drawer of a toolbox for convenient storage.

[LynnJr]

One press with a universal decapping die.
One press with your sizing die.
One press with your seating die.
Set it and forget it presses are cheap.
If you where to walk into Bob Cauterucio's garage he makes GTB bullets he has about 25 presses set up.
There are no worries setting up presses with this method only space issues.

[Top Cat]

Here's how I do it and I've been reloading since I was 11 years old...that was a few years ago...

I've been using RCBS equipment most of that time (50 years) so thumbs up...^

I have one single stage press on a separate bench in the garage just for decapping once fired brass from the range. After that the brass goes into a tumbler and comes out clean.

All the toxic debris from the spent primers is left right there, and then it's clean enough to come indoors to my actual reloading bench which is kept very, very clean as a result of taking this extra step. That press is a Lyman Orange Crusher but could be anything.

The Lyman doubles as my mobile range press, so I have thought of replacing it with a Lee Challenger.

On my bench I have a RockChucker which has been my main press since the mid-60s, a Forster Co-Ax, several progressives set up for different pistol calibers and a RCBS Bench Mounted Priming Tool that does most of the priming. There are also 2 manual scales, on the bench (I wouldn't own an electronic scale for loading), and a half dozen rotary powder measures.

All rifle rounds are assembled on the RockChucker or the Co-Ax, all match grade ammo.

Small lots of pistol rounds, say up to a few hundred or so, or load development test rounds are loaded on the RC.

Most of my ammo...99% is Match Grade ammo and any of my presses are capable of that if set up properly.

So I'd recommend you start out with 2 Rockchuckers, (or a RockChucker and a cheap Lee dedicated to de-capping), a turret press and a couple of progressive presses and a RCBS Bench Mounted Priming Tool and you'll be all set.