Choosing reloading press...

[JMP]

I've gone through hundreds of google posts on presses. Since I'm just a casual shooter, I'm going single stage to load 357, 40SW, 45 ACP. looking at Hornady Classic, Forster, but I hear great things about Redding but not many seem to own one. Why? Any other suggestions?

Redding makes very good reloading equipment. I have one Redding press, the Big Boss II, which I use for large rifle. cartridges It's solid and strong. I'd say that of the big name brands, Redding makes a press of better quality that others out there such as Hornady or RCBS in terms of the material used.

Where Redding really has a leg up on the other makers is in their dies. The Redding Competition dies are exceptional. I use the Redding Competition dies in every cartridge I have where they make a die set for it. Granted, they aren't cheap, it'll probably run about $400 for a die set with the bushings. There is an astronomical difference in the quality of rifle ammo you can put out between a Redding Comp set and the cheap $30 Hornady sets, which I have found to do nothing but break.

Therefore, it all depends on what your needs are. I think that Redding is most commonly used (especially the dies) among folks that want to make very accurate rifle loads. Pretty much the only way you'll get dies better than Redding Competition is if you go to custom dies.

OP, since it sounds like you are loading almost exclusively handgun cartridges, it probably wouldn't be worth it for you to get the good Redding gear. Pistols are inherently less accurate than files. Most of the folks that are heavily invested in Redding products are most likely bolt action rifle shooters that are striving for a high level of accuracy and precision.

[M1NM]

This is a Ford or Chevy question. I drive Fords and only use RCBS loading stuff. You can start out with a Lee but eventually you'll want to step up from that KIA.

[Lead Waster]

Lol, oops zombie thread!

[Lead Waster]

the Lee Classic Turret is pretty hard to beat for the casual shooter.

I second this. I have an RCBS single and two 550bs, but I can say that the Lee Classic Turret will do you well for a long time, especially the casual shooter. way way less tedious than the single stage, and way less expensive than a progressive.

Perfect for a casual shooter!

But any strong single stage press by any company is good.

[cerisecons]

Oops SHTF, typo, does it make sense now.

[stilly]

? Just because a thread goes dormant doesn't mean it's not a valid post, why the anger, mock of stupidity for yourself?
I actually intended to finish my post but had something important come up...
I now have 4, 2 Dillon 550Bs, that are awesome, and 2 single stage, RCBS RockChucker for my specialty rifle and pistol, and a Lee Classic for my STHF locker.

no man. Its all good. It is just that it went dead because it was already taken care of. but now the people that are not post aware are gonna pop up and start answering again. Kinda like that time I posted a pic of some chick's boobs/cleavage resting on the table behind the red tray of an in n out meal and I asked what your favorite in n out item was. Most of the people got the joke, but some folks only read the title and they posted all serious answers and all and totally ignored the chick with her boobs hanging out...
Oh good times...

BTW, that was not a stupid question. There are no stupid questions unless you intentionally tried to troll someone. But then it aint a stupid question, but a troll thread.

Okay, so now I have a question. What does STHF mean? Is this a tar hanges thing?



Hodor...








<== so you know I am not in a serious mood. (okay I am going to Lowes for vermiculite now...)

[cerisecons]

You resurrected a thread from two years ago to say that?



man... here we go again.

And I replied so that makes me just as bad...

? Just because a thread goes dormant doesn't mean it's not a valid post, why the anger, mock of stupidity for yourself?
I actually intended to finish my post but had something important come up...
I now have 4, 2 Dillon 550Bs, that are awesome, and 2 single stage, RCBS RockChucker for my specialty rifle and pistol, and a Lee Classic for my SHTF locker.

[stilly]

Wow it's just been a few years, done so much since then, and yes it was a stupid question, but I did learn.

You resurrected a thread from two years ago to say that?



man... here we go again.

And I replied so that makes me just as bad...

[Stkx66]

I have a Dillon 550b and I'm considering a Redding Big boss for a single stage.

I started with a Dillon 550B and am really happy with it. Then I bought a Redding Big Boss single stage to resize 10mm before reloading with the 550B. I do not reload rifle rounds yet.

[PatC415]

the Lee Classic Turret is pretty hard to beat for the casual shooter.

+1 for the Classic Turret.

[cerisecons]

I appologize if this is a stupid question, as I am a total noob as far as reloading is involved but looking at getting involved as I have some of my friends "Lee" Dies. Question is, will Lee dies work on a RCBS press?

Wow it's just been a few years, done so much since then, and yes it was a stupid question, but I did learn.

[CGT80]

Personally I would just do batch processing, 50 rounds at a time per press function. (or how many ever you can put on a loading block).

I did the same when SS loading. The turret idea seems like a lot of spinning a head around for each case. I used to prep brass by the big coffee can full and then just load powder and bullets in blocks of 50 rounds. You can get on a roll when just doing a single stage repetitively. Just make sure your dies are set right before you run a few hundred cases through a single stage. It sucks to have to redo a step with a coffee can full of single stage processed brass.

[Justintoxicated]

Hornady LnL Press for pistol. heck, I load my rifle rounds on it too even 30-06. 550 is nice, but why would you want to manually index for more money? Also gives you options for auto case and bullet feeders later, and caliber changes take only seconds to minutes. (Other than having to configure the powder dropper).

I have a single stage but just do my precision rifle loading on the progressive for now, I doubt there would be any real difference since I usually just full length size so I don't need any special shell holders etc. The single stage might produce ever so slightly better results with bullet runnout but I haven't had any problems with the progressive using Redding and Hornady bullet seating dies.

The dillon isn't bad but the caliber change kits add up really fast. For Hornady you just buy a different shellplate.

[ExtremeX]

will Lee dies work on a RCBS press?

yes

[cerisecons]

I appologize if this is a stupid question, as I am a total noob as far as reloading is involved but looking at getting involved as I have some of my friends "Lee" Dies. Question is, will Lee dies work on a RCBS press?