Looking to buy a loader

[IKAHUI]

What is the best loader to buy for a .223, and not the most expensive but the best quality to buy

[IKAHUI]

ttt

ttt

[DrunkSkunk]

oooh ammo reloading

[PatriotnMore]

What is the best loader to buy for a .223, and not the most expensive but the best quality to buy

The highest price usually follows the best quality, you get what you pay for and all.
The highest quality loader is the RCBS line. If price is a consideration, Lee makes an affordale line.

[Two Shots]

Check http://www.midwayusa.com/
Look localy once you decide on the brand it may be about the same once you add in the shipping. I use a old RCBS Rock Chucker Single Stage Press for rifle and pistol, Slower process when compared to a progressive. If you plan on loading alot then look at a progressive press. I've only used RCBS and a Lyman press, I'm not sure how the LEE loaders hold up.
Good luck on your choice.

[Ugly Dwarf]

You may want to search through this section of the forum for things like "Progressive Press", "Single Stage", "Dillon", "RCBS", "LEE", etc... Lot's of great reviews and information on this subject is free for the reading.

Without more information on what you want to do, it will be tough for anyone to answer your question.

In very simple terms:

A single stage press will be the least expensive and easiest to set up. It will give you a good understanding of each stage in the process and many people think it is the best place for a new reloader to start.

The downside is that it is slow. Once you understand the process and become proficient at setting things up, expect to reload no more than 50 rounds per hour (some people may be able to do 100/hour, but I know I can't).

RCBS, Hornady and Lee are common brands that make single stage presses.

A progressive press is more expensive (~ $300 or more than a comparable quality single stage). It is more difficult to set up (especially when you're just learning). It is tougher to pay attention to each stage of the reloading process (which is less than ideal for a new loader).

The upside is that it can load a lot of ammunition in a hurry once it's set up. I know I can load 400+ rounds of pistol ammo on a Dillon 550B in an hour (some people will be able to load more - if you get a Dillon 650 with all the bells and whistles, you should be able to beat that easily). I can also switch out between calibers in 5-15 minutes, depending on what calibers I'm changing from / to and if I have to switch out powder bar and primer tube.

I am a fan of Dillon progressive presses. From what I've read on this forum, it seems to be the brand of choice. RCBS, Hornady and Lee also offer progressive presses.

Before you start loading, buy a reloading book (or two). When you start, start slow and be cautious. Remember, you're planing to assemble small explosives you will be setting off next to your head.

[mrkubota]

The Lee 'Classic Cast' press is an excellent value, similar to the RCBS RockChucker, but taller.
Unlike their smaller aluminum presses, the Classic Cast is cast iron "O" style press with a 1.25" dia bore suitable for loading anything up to .50BMG.
A nice feature is the way expended primers are ejected through the ram with an attached tube directly into the trash.

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LEE90998

[What Just Happened?]

Ugly Dwarf has a good writeup, but forgets the turret press. It's between the single-stage and the progressive.

The Single-Stage only holds one die (typically two or three are needed to complete a rifle round) and holds one shell. So what you do is put on the first die and then run however many shell you want through it. I typically do a couple hundred. Then you take the next die and run those shells through that. Rinse and repeat until you have ran the shell through all the dies needed.

A progressive holds all of the dies needed (it usually has room for four or five dies) and can hold one shell under each die. This way, you don't have to swap out dies and each pull of the lever will perform the first stage on one shell, the second stage on the shell under it, and the third stage on the shell under it. So you are basically doing all of the operations needed in one step, just on different shells.

The turret press is inbetween. It holds all of the dies, but only one shell. So you pull the lever once and it does the first step. You pull it again, then it does the second step, rinse and repeat under done. It's advantage over the single stage is that you don't have to swap dies. This also leads to more consistent ammo over the single-stage as there won't be small variations in how far down you screw in the dies.

Honestly, I'd start out with a Lee turret. You can get one for under $100. Only thing about them is that the scale is very finicky. I couldn't get mine to work, so I just went out and bought an electronic scale.

[thmpr]

Progressive would be best for the 223 if you plan to use high counts of 223 ammo. But if not, single stage would be fine. Lee's, Hornady's and etc all make a decent setup.

[Crazyhorse]

If it was me I would go with a single stage to start, you can get the low end ones cheap and they work fine, just slower. This way you can learn the basics of reloading without worrying about 1000 bells and whistles. Lee has a few you can get in the $30-40 range and if you hate reloading you aren't out as much, if you like it you can move up to something else.

[dreyna14]

Forget single-stage and progressive. A turret is the best compromise. Does one shell at a time like a single-stage but holds all the dies like a progressive. I haven't done any rifle loading on my Lee turet yet (still waiting for the dies) but doing pistol stuff is easy as s**t and 200 an hour isn't a problem.

[ar15barrels]

A turret is the best compromise.
Does one shell at a time like a single-stage but holds all the dies like a progressive.

A Dillon 550 can also be used as a turret press.
Only put one cartridge case in the shellplate and work it through each station.
This is how I recommend learning on a progressive.
After a few hundred/thousand rounds (depending on confidence level), you can start running progressive without having to buy another press or change your setup.

[PatriotnMore]

The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP at Natches is going for only $337.[b]

If only is GTG, buy the best!

[ar15barrels]

If only is GTG, buy the best!

If you wanted the best, it's blue.
There's a reason 19 out of 20 (per the article above) people loading on progressive presses use a Dillon.

[PatriotnMore]

If you wanted the best, it's blue.
There's a reason 19 out of 20 (per the article above) people loading on progressive presses use a Dillon.

I agree, my point was the "Only" part. Although, I think RCBS would qualify.