Single stage presses?

[Recon-01]

So I'm getting into reloading. Bought the books and doing the reading. Now I'm buying the equipment. I like picked up a Dillon 550b for my pistol rounds. I'm looking for a single stage press to do my 223 and 308 match rounds on. I think I've narrowed it down to the Lee classic cast and RCBS Rock Chucker supreme. Any thoughts?

[knucklehead0202]

Classic cast is a great press and a great value. The Rock Chucker is also legendary. Everyone has a different opinion but for my money, I like the LEE better. Not only is the price more reasonable, but I've never seen an RCBS press with a decent spent primer catcher. Drives me crazy.

Hard to test-drive these things I know so i'd say follow your instincts on what looks right to you. Otherwise, they are both quality presses. Not sure i'd start on a Dillon either but as long as you understand what you're doing and pay very close attention you should be fine. I've reloaded for years and still don't trust progressives. Also don't shoot real high-volume so it's not an issue.

Good luck and let us know what you pick out.

[sghart]

Both good. I used to own an RCBS. Now I do all of my single stage work on a Lee Classic Cast. It is better than the RCBS in my opinion.

Let the Lee bashing begin!

Release the hounds!

[Milsurp Collector]

Consider also the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic loader http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-...lassic-Loader/

Until I recently got a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive my only press since the 1980s was my Lee Turret Press. I really like the Lee turret system that keeps the dies in a removable turret. Once you set the dies up they stay set in the turret. It is easy to change to a different cartridge by swapping the whole turret with another turret with the necessary dies. The settings for the dies stay the same because they aren't removed from the turret, so you are ready to go as soon as you install the new turret and dies. The turrets snap in in seconds.

This picture is 8 years old, I have several more turrets loaded with dies now. My Lee press is the old design with 3-hole turrets, but it's still going strong:



It also makes it easier to quickly change from one function to another within the same cartridge. With a traditional press like the Rock Crusher first you have to screw in the sizing die to deprime and resize the brass. Then you have to unscrew the sizing die and screw in the expander die (for handguns) and expand the case mouths. Then you have to unscrew the exapnder die and screw in the seater die to seat the bullets. Then you have to unscrew the seater die and screw in the crimp die (if used) to crimp.

With the Lee turret system you just rotate the turret to go from one die to the next. Much quicker.

A compromise between the Rock Crusher and Lee turret is the Hornady Lock-N-Load system. The dies are installed in bushings that allow the dies to be installed and removed with a quarter turn.



If you had gone with Hornady instead of Dillon for your progressive then it really would have made sense to get the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic because they use the same Lock-N-Load bushing system.

[damndave]

So I'm getting into reloading. Bought the books and doing the reading. Now I'm buying the equipment. I like picked up a Dillon 550b for my pistol rounds. I'm looking for a single stage press to do my 223 and 308 match rounds on. I think I've narrowed it down to the Lee classic cast and RCBS Rock Chucker supreme. Any thoughts?

I used to run a RCBS Rock Chucker and liked it a lot EXCEPT the dead primer catch sucks. They always end up on the floor.

I now run a Hornady Classic. The bushing system is very nice when changing dies.

If I were to buy a single stage press right now, it would be a Redding T7 Turret. I know it's not a single stage, but being able to leave multiple dies setup on a single turret would be soooo helpful.

[jmitchell]

So I'm getting into reloading. Bought the books and doing the reading. Now I'm buying the equipment. I like picked up a Dillon 550b for my pistol rounds. I'm looking for a single stage press to do my 223 and 308 match rounds on. I think I've narrowed it down to the Lee classic cast and RCBS Rock Chucker supreme. Any thoughts?

Forster Co-Ax or tool up your 550 to make those match rounds.

[kcstott]

Forster Co-Ax or tool up your 550 to make those match rounds.

No way i'd ever load match rounds on a progressive press. I like a bit more control then that

[the86d]

I think my next purchase will be a turret, even though I have a Dillon XL 650, and an RCBS partner.

I am looking at the RCBS Turret. This would allow me to do .38 and .357 on the same turret head, and buy one more turret head for the lady's .25 ACP reloading. Once set, like the XL 650, there will be no more screwing dies in and out and readjusting every stage...

The lady has really been enjoying herself pressing out .25 ACP for her Sat.Night Special, and that means I do not need to reload for her in this caliber, OR buying her ammo in this caliber.

I have really enjoyed reloading .38 Special and .357 Mag. Single-stage so far, but these bunny-farts need to step up to the plate.... started WAY low.

[BB-Stacker]

I highly recommend the Redding T-7. You can set up multi-caliber heads, it's a solid built unit and it's a great investment. You tube it and see how well it works.

[Air]

Another Turret Option is the Harrell's Precision. Not cheap, but you are supporting a small American company that makes a good product. I have one, a little small for rifle cartridges, but it's fine for 223, which is what I use it for.

My single stage is actually a Lee Anniversary, and it has served me well for many years. I also own and LOVE the Lee Classic Cast Turret. Wonderful press that can be used as a Single Stage if you remove the indexing rod.

[Wrangler John]

I second, or third, the Redding T-7 press. I even set up my RCBS Competition powder measure with the case activated linkage from my Pro 2000 Progressive press on the T-7 and charge right on the press. Works like a charm, especially with spherical or fine grained powders.

[jmitchell]

No way i'd ever load match rounds on a progressive press. I like a bit more control then that

You might want to check out people like the AMU and Whidden who've done pretty well loading on progressives. :-) It's certainly doable.

But for sure it's easier to create small amounts of high quality loads on a single stage.

[pennstater]

Classic cast is a great press and a great value. The Rock Chucker is also legendary. Everyone has a different opinion but for my money, I like the LEE better. Not only is the price more reasonable, but I've never seen an RCBS press with a decent spent primer catcher. Drives me crazy.

Hard to test-drive these things I know so i'd say follow your instincts on what looks right to you. Otherwise, they are both quality presses. Not sure i'd start on a Dillon either but as long as you understand what you're doing and pay very close attention you should be fine. I've reloaded for years and still don't trust progressives. Also don't shoot real high-volume so it's not an issue.

Good luck and let us know what you pick out.

^^^This is spot on.^^^ I use an RCBS Rockchukar I bought in 1978 and still going strong for my needs. I like RCBS stuff, but, have never heard anything bad regarding Lee presses. Like others have said, the spent primer tray on the RCBS leaves something to be desired.

[jmitchell]

I've never figured out why people are enamored with turret presses.

If one needs volume... Creating high end ammo has been proven doable on progressives, it's money vs time. Not the wives tales that it's not possible.

If one doesn't need the volume... it seems like the vast majority of people promoting turrets have never used a Forster Co-Ax. There's plenty of discussion about why that's easy to find including self-centering alignment (excellent concentricity), adaptive jaws (aka no buying shell holders ever), trivial/instant and consistent die changing (no need for multiple turret heads no matter how many calibers you load for), clean spent primer handling, excellent leverage (center pull), etc. All adds up to a well deserved reputation.


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[nedro]

There is a reason that you use a single stage. And that is precision.
So, the lock n load and ANY turret is out. Wouldn't even consider them.
There is slop in every turret and bushing set-up. You just can't avoid it.