reloading starter kit

[popeye4]

Depends on what you want to get out of it. The less precise presses have slightly more "slop" than the high end presses, but unless you are loading for a precision rifle, you probably won't notice any difference. RCBS and Hornady make solid presses, I haven't had any experience with Lee. Forster makes an interesting press, which is highly regarded, and Redding also seems to be a cut above average. But I want one of these: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?cr...on=show_detail It is a highly precise turret press; with the four holer, you can have two die sets set up (so you can do two different calibers without changing out the dies). I believe Harrell's also sells additional turrets, so you can have as many sets as you want! Not sure if it is big enough for magnums......

[Bill Steele]

Pretty hard to go wrong with any name brand SS.

single stage it is but what brand to use? I've been hearing that rcbs and hornady are really good companies while lee is questionable

Hornaday and RCBS both make superb presses and have the same no questions asked product support policies. They also cost more than Lee.

Lee single stage presses work fine. I think Lee's product support is maybe a tad more spotty than the above but if you are talking a single stage press, you are not going to have any problems anyway, pretty simple stuff.

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker I got back in 1968, it still works like new.

[damndave]

The only single stage presses I have used are the RCBS Rockchucker and Forster Co-Ax. Both are great presses. Price point, I went with the RCBS.

[1969glasspar]

RCBS partner press is junk IMO, but my dad has a Rockchucker and it is a very solid press. The little partner press has a ton of slop. My buddy has one of the larger Lee single stage presses and it seems just fine. But I don't see any advantage a single stage has over a turret press. If I had to start all over again I would have started with a turret for sure. Bill

[rumblebee]

[Wrangler John]

Starter Kit

I do not recommend starting off with a progressive press. They require a good bit of procedural discipline to master. Make one mistake and you can wind up with loaded cases without a primer, cases with a primer only and no powder, cases that are double charged spilling powder all over everything, etc. My favorite is the occasional upside-down primer that sneaks by. The primer feeding system is the weak link in most progressives. This is such a problem that I hand prime varmint loads (consistent primer seating depth is crucial to sub-MOA accuracy). If you clean primer pockets before priming, or tumble clean cases after sizing, this also defeats the purpose of a progressive. Case lube still has to be wiped off cases by hand. Progressives are also prone to malfunctions and design peculiarities that need trouble shooting. You will need a bullet puller if this is your choice.

I used a Hornady L-N'-L Progressive that broke consistently and was in constant need of adjustment, it now sits on a shelf. The RCBS 2000 Pro Progressive works, but had problems with case advancement that shook powder out of the cases. That required a redesign of the detent ball spring and some case retention modifications. Same with the Dillon.

I recommend purchase of any manufacturer's single stage starter kit and several manuals. That way you build skill and experience with each stage and produce good ammo right out of the box. Also avoid electronic scales and powder dispensers, use a good precision measure and a balance beam scale. I use a Redding T-7 turret press now so I don't have to R&R dies for each caliber change, and the Progressive for quick charging and bullet seating after the cases are prepared. Load development and case forming is still done on an old RCBS Rockchucker. Good luck and happy loading

[popeye4]

RCBS partner press is junk IMO, but my dad has a Rockchucker and it is a very solid press. The little partner press has a ton of slop. My buddy has one of the larger Lee single stage presses and it seems just fine. But I don't see any advantage a single stage has over a turret press. If I had to start all over again I would have started with a turret for sure. Bill

Yup, turret is basically a multi-die single stage, saves time changing dies. But they cost more for the convenience of not changing dies and when starting out, that extra money might be better spent on other startup gear.

I'm still using the Rock Chucker I got in 1978, it is a solid piece of equipment. I've heard that they are now made in China (but I haven't confirmed that), so I don't know if their quality is the same now as it was then.