Question on redding presses?

[Wink]

Im getting into reloading, and I am going to start off with a single stage press. I will definatly get a dillon down the road, but from what I have been reading. I will want to load my hunting and precision ammo on a single stage press.

With that said, I have a few questions. I have been reading alot from this sight and others. I see allot of people talking about the rockchucker, which appears to be very nice. Some like thier lee, but many seem to have bad oppinions of it. Not many talk about the redding presses. Those that do say they are the best.

I was pretty much set on the rockchucker, but was in a reloading store the other day and saw the redding presses. They appeared to be better than all the rest. ( rockchucker etc. )

I would appreciate some help if you would please. Like I said I am new to reloading, and do not know. The one thing I would ask, is to not let cost influence your opinion on what is the best. The other thing would be to please state why you think what you think. The reason for that is because I can see the cost differences. I would rather wait to get something better than just buy something because I want it now.

Anyway,if you can please help me out I would greatly appreciate it. I hope I am not asking to much.

mark

[ocabj]

The Redding presses are just as good as the RCBS presses. I have a Redding T-7 turret press that's on my other bench and is setup for .45ACP and 9mm. I keep the .45 and 9mm dies on that while all my other reloading is done on the Rockchucker with the Hornady Lock-n-Load conversion kit.

[Wink]

ocabj
Im glad you brought up the t-7. does the t-7 load precision as well as the other single stage models. Ive seen some people say the new design(t-7) is awesome. Or would I want maybe a t-7 for hunting, and another single for precision

[50ae]

If you want to learn on a single stage but want some extra benifits then you really can't go wrong with the turret the poster above has. That is what I will eventually buy to complement my Dillon 650.

The Redding will more than suit you quality wise. You won't need a secondary press.

[jdberger]

I'm not quite sure why you don't think you can precision load on a progressive press. If you're worried about the powder throws, throw your own by hand. It's nothing to remove the case from the shellplate and add your powder. You can even hand prime if you want. Just skip Dillon's priming 'push'.

Plus, you have the benefit of being able to quickly load handgun or rifle blastin' ammo.

[ocabj]

ocabj
Im glad you brought up the t-7. does the t-7 load precision as well as the other single stage models. Ive seen some people say the new design(t-7) is awesome. Or would I want maybe a t-7 for hunting, and another single for precision

The only reason I bought the T-7 is so I could have the pistol dies ready to go for loading while my other pess handles everything else. At the time I bought the T-7, I only loaded pistol in 45 and 9mm (now I have 40).

You can load 'precision' on a T-7. A turret press is basically a single stage with a rotating turret for the other dies for convenience. The design is solid.

If buying just one press, I still prefer a Rockchucker with a Hornady Lock-n-Load conversion kit. I'd rather not have to spend for more turret plates. I load for about a dozen different cartridges. It's simpler for me to just use the Hornady lock-n-load bushings to switch dies.

[-hanko]

If you're working through a matrix of different bullets & various powder types & charges to see what works best in YOUR rifle, a single stage press is the way to go...you're spending more time setting up than loading.

That's a helluva a lot different than loading a bazillion rounds with the same bullet, primer, & powder charge. This is where a progressive excels.

Always interesting & expected to get the obligatory Dillon plug in a post like this

You're perceptive in noticing the precision with which Redding assembles their presses. I'd rate manufacturers in order as Redding & Bonanza, RCBS and Hornady, Lyman, Lee's cast iron press/Midway (Frankford Arsenal/Chinese) & Lee as a very distant fifth (though they will work if you're on a budget).

Product support via RCBS, Redding, Bonanza & Hornady is as good as or better than Dillon. Can't comment on Lyman or Midway. Lee bites the big one on after sale service, imo

Getting a turret allows you to set up dies for two calibers, if that's handy for you, grab one. Nobody makes a nicer turret than Redding. If you tend to work on load development one caliber at a time, a non-turret is fine...mine is a RockChucker that was $50 at a pawn shop 20 years ago & still makes very uniform finished cartridges.

My opinion and worth just about 2 centavos.

Have fun with whatever you get...I'd take a T-7 in a microsecond.

-hanko

[proraptor]

I just ordered the Lee classic cast "O" press cause everywhere I read about it everyone was giving very positive reviews about it. There were many comments from people that use RCBS, redding, etc etc and didnt find the need to spend anymore money because the classic cast press was better....

[jdberger]

Always interesting & expected to get the obligatory Dillon plug in a post like this


-hanko

Blue Kool-Ade, Baby!

Honestly, I've only seen two reasons to abandon my Dillon. The powder measure is 19th Century and Mike Dillon has enough machineguns.

[Wink]

Thank you guys so much for your thoughts. I will also be reloading 10 to 12 maybe more different calibers. So I will get a progressive for the majority of my reloading. Ive just read to much about a good single being better for working on loads for a specific rifles performance. I dont know if I am just wierd, but I want to know if the rifle and ammo are right on. Then if there is a problem I know its my shooting.

well I really did like the redding turret, so I think thats what i will get to start. Like i said I am new to this so I might miss use a term. The reason I said the redding appeared to be better was there was no noticeable play in the ram, and very little in linkage. The rcbs had very little play in the ram, as well as in the linkage. Most of the others had much more play in the ram. Let me know if your oppinion differs.

The only thing I was worried about was the turret, and everybody seems to think it will be great.

Anyway its a start, and I cant wait to get loading my own ammo. Ive been shooting and hunting all my life, and I have allways wanted to reload. The problem was i didnt know anybody who reloads, but its time to learn. The cool thing is that I can pass it down to my sons, and they wont have the problem I had.

Any more advice would be much appreciated.

Mark