First press for new reloader

[hambam105]

For the beginners, the quickest way to discourage them is to suggest using sub-standard material to work with.

[Discogodfather]

That powder measure is a pos and so is the press.

No it's not, that's a solid RCBS kit. You're telling me a rock chucker supreme is a POS? Lol.

OP buy that kit you posted from amazon, it's a excellent place to start. The pirce of all those components together is well beyond $500. Sure there are better individual units, but those will become more defined when you actuall get to the level to grow out of them.

[J-cat]

It is a pos. A Redding Big Boss II is a better press and so is any Redding powder measure. RCBS is a sloppy crap made in China.

[J-cat]

For the beginners, the quickest way to discourage them is to suggest using sub-standard material to work with.

Exactly

[at_liberty]

I would like to stay around 500 bucks but am able to spend more but i dont want to drop 1k for my first set up honestly..I know I will enjoy doing it because I like to do things with my hands / build things if you get what I mean. But 1k is alotto invest in something i have never done. I plan at the moment to do 1200-2000 a month of 223

I use mine for 38 Special, but the new Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro offers a shell plate for 223. I added an Inline Fabrications Junior Ultramount, a quick change plate and a bin hanger plate. The Lee priming accessories, powder measure, and case feeder are sold separately, and I recommend them for a good setup, all well within your $500 budget. I have to say though that I have not used the press for .223, but it is designed to accommodate that cartridge, given the few shell plates available.

[Rockzilla]

It is a pos. A Redding Big Boss II is a better press and so is any Redding powder measure. RCBS is a sloppy crap made in China.

"some" of the new RCBS stuff "maybe" and I say maybe...(no problems so far) but the OP is on a budget and the kit will suit him fine to start with, some people don't have "deep pockets" like others, and you can always expand on it and it may not be their thing they want to do, not here to get into debates. Everyone has their preferences and what works for them..Have old Rock Chuckers from the 70's, early 80's, Duo-measure (had to replace the hopper) Uniflows all work great, if taken care of, even used the RC to swage bullets.
Currently check Fleabay (Ebay) from time to time for old equipment. RCBS, Ohaus, Lyman.. P&W... or FB (which I despise) some of the reloading groups have some good finds.

Redding make some decent stuff got the same thing you talk about except use the BBII for 338LM, match stuff. as far as measures Harrells comes to mind, Arbor presses.

We acquire things over time I know I have as we expand our reloading, whether it be manuals, dies, specialty dies, trimmers, gauges, powder measures, scales, presses etc. Also some of the older equipment is still going strong, got my name on a CH444 in 45ACP whenever the guy finally lets me have it. CH tool and die.
Buy something you can expand on, once again find someone who has different setups so you can "try before you buy"


-Rock

[Discogodfather]

It is a pos. A Redding Big Boss II is a better press and so is any Redding powder measure. RCBS is a sloppy crap made in China.

Redding is excellent and so is RCBS. I just bought this Rock Chucker a few weeks ago new for $140 and it's made in the USA.

[J-cat]

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/the-best-single-stage.1692646/page-3

[Discogodfather]

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/th...1692646/page-3

So? What's the point. That thread is about this same issue here, someone making a wild claim that current rock chuckers are made of aluminum in China and then someone comes in and sets the record straight, it's not aluminum and it's not made in China. Some products are made in China and some aren't, obviously the press isn't.

Things can be made in China and also be of quality, it depends. You made the claim it was made in China and therefore was a POS, which is in and of itself a bad argument which is untrue on both levels. How is a RCBS press a POS? It's damn solid and I can't see any design flaws or quality control issues. Not one, other than the fact that you don't want to decap with it. But that is true of almost all presses.

The Redding is awesome, no argument there. It also has a smaller stroke of 3.8" opposed to 4" for the Chucker which allows you to load 338lm comfortably as opposed to crammed. It's also more difficult to do .375 on the Redding.

The presses are virtually identical in terms of design.

[LynnJr]

OP
I will stay out of the debating as well.

A single stage press does one thing. It moves the shellholder up and down while at the same time holding a die. That's its purpose.
I load some of the most accurate ammo on the planet and I use a 60+ year old Pacific single stage press for most of it. It has a $25 value if you go to buy it today.
I also have a single stage Corbin press than begins past $1000 Arbor presses and just about everything else made.

What you get for all the extra money is better quality machining and better steel plus a huge variance in the available leverage.

Small brass cases like the 223 have very little surface area so most presses make quick work of sizing brass of that size.

When you get into the larger cases like the 50BMG the Corbin Mega-Mite does the exact same thing as a $20 press but instead of have 20,000 pounds of leverage on a simple non bushed pin it has 180,000 pounds of leverage on roller bearings with a handle 4 times the cost of most presses and it has a long stroke cycle and a short stroke cycle which takes advantage of all that leverage.

All the single stage presses wether they are $20 or $1000+ are able to make extremely accurate 223 ammo. The press itself won't be the limiting part of the equation as its role is very minor.

If you can attend one of the reloading courses in your area that would help you to decide what YOU need.

[hambam105]

LynnJr.
The press itself won't be the limiting part of the equation as its role is very minor.

There is just no getting around the fact that without your Press, Scale and Powder Thrower you're in the Stone-Age of reloading practices.

[Discogodfather]

LynnJr.
The press itself won't be the limiting part of the equation as its role is very minor.

Minor alright, minor until it breaks down. Or minor as in your heart being a minor organ.

If the OP is to have only one Reloading Press then you better make it a reliable one.

Show me the man who didn't have to dig deep in his pocket to afford a decent reloading Press. Redding's BB2 is a hundred innovative miles ahead of the RockChucker. In 1978 the RC was ahead of Redding, but RCBS has been resting on it's goodwill for too long.

There is just no getting around the fact that without your Press, Scale and Powder Thrower you're in the Stone-Age of reloading practices.

He had to dig about $1500 deep in his pocket to buy the Corbin (I don't think there is a more expensive press on earth) and he can hit targets miles away so maybe we should listen to what he has to say?

I learned something about the Pacific press, never heard of it before. It looks pretty damn great and there are a few on ebay for real cheap.

[Animal.]

OP

If you can attend one of the reloading courses in your area that would help you to decide what YOU need.

Yea I havent seen any reloading courses in the LA county area yet..but I would definately like too. Then again I havent been looking to hard to be honest.. mostly on this forum.

[rumplestilskinfish]

I looked at allot of comments, and "reasons". i started single stage loaded 1k bullets.i felt i wasted so much of my time and my families time so than i got a progressive and i really learned how to mess stuff quick. than i got a turret. so now making all my mistakes its easy to recommend a lee turret press. it can be used single stage until you can wrap your head around all this reloading stuff. than switched up to turret by re installing the rod. than if you cant keep productive enough to meet your needs switch up to progressive. and btw the lee book is best for beginners.

[Animal.]

So... reading my Lymans manual.. end of next week...
Dillion 550 and bite the "bullet" on cost or get the rock chucker?