Beginner Advice? Choosing between 2 presses

mister308

mister308

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I've been weighing my options between a couple of presses made by RCBS. As a precursor, I don't get to shoot all that much but I am looking for a way of cutting my costs down in the long run and picking up a new hobby. Initially I will be reloading .308 and maybe some 9mm since i have tonnes of brass. Any advice on what you think would be better the avenue?

The supreme select reloading kit looks good as it comes with the case prep station, hand primer, digital scale and all that jazz.
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But i am intrigued by their turret press. I really like the idea of not having to switch my dies so often but still allow me to have the sense of control that i wouldn't have if i were to use an auto-indexing turret. Kinda seems like the best of both worlds. I guess the difference in price I could buy a scale and powder dispenser?

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I advise you not to go with a single stage press if you are going to reload handgun ammo. It's way to slow & will make you nuts after 15 minutes.
Go with a turret press.
I stock Lee Cast Iron Turret press kits that are great value for your money.

Regards, Henry
 
x2 Lee Classic turret... If u are stuck on those two tho, I would probably go with the single stage kit for starters. Then you would have all the gear to get started.

edit... the Lee Classic turret can be run without the auto index rod in as well...
 
I'd go with that rcbs turret. It'll still have use if/when you buy other presses (single stage and or progressive). It'll compliment your setup.

If your turret, you can always keep a universal decapper, your favourite rifle FL die and seater die, then whatever's left can be your stations for whatever you're reloading at the moment.
 
hexbasher said:
I'd go with that rcbs turret. It'll still have use if/when you buy other presses (single stage and or progressive). It'll compliment your setup.

If your turret, you can always keep a universal decapper, your favourite rifle FL die and seater die, then whatever's left can be your stations for whatever you're reloading at the moment.
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thats what i was thinking--being a complement later on. I'm not particularly concerned with pumping out volume as I only shoot once every 2-3 weeks. This is entirely new for me so I wanna take it one step at a time
 
leverboy said:
x2 Lee Classic turret... If u are stuck on those two tho, I would probably go with the single stage kit for starters. Then you would have all the gear to get started.

edit... the Lee Classic turret can be run without the auto index rod in as well...
Click to expand...

I haven't heard many great things about Lee. My dad has a Lee loadmaster and has had nothing but problems with it. I mean, if people here swear by it I might consider it a little more. Pistol reloading won't be my focus, moreso .308
 
I have lee , lyman and honandy ap press and the others are a turret press have no isues with any of them ive been reloading for 2 years with them .. the hardest thing I found was to set them up properly once the was done the problems went away . I read a lot of post where guys don't like lee and call it junk , well I don't think so, very good for the price you pay but this is my opion on this . I would buy another one in a heart beat that's how satisfied im with them .... hound 2013
 
leverboy said:
x2 Lee Classic turret... If u are stuck on those two tho, I would probably go with the single stage kit for starters. Then you would have all the gear to get started.

edit... the Lee Classic turret can be run without the auto index rod in as well...
Click to expand...

I have what is now called a Lee Classic press but was just a Lee Turret Press when I bought it more than 25 years ago. It still loads thousands of rounds of handgun ammo annually. For the price you simply cannot go wrong with this setup.
 
mister308 said:
I haven't heard many great things about Lee. My dad has a Lee loadmaster and has had nothing but problems with it. I mean, if people here swear by it I might consider it a little more. Pistol reloading won't be my focus, moreso .308
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Don't believe the hype that "all" the Lee stuff is junk. The Loadmaster & classic Cast are two different animals...I've used both...both will build good ammo but the loadmaster is a beast that requires constant attention to function.

Over 45 yrs of re-loading I have used RCBS, Lyman and I currently have 3 Dillons and a Lee Classic Cast. I consider the Classic the best "all round" press of them all and when I do finally downsize, it will be the last to go. It will do everything a single stage press will do...only faster... and everything a progressive will do albeit a little slower. By far the best "value for the buck" in reloading I think.
 
For the guys who are recommending the Dillon presses: He did say that his main interest is in loading .308. Though you can load for rifle on a 550, I don't know of anyone who loads precision rifle ammo on a progressive or manually indexing progressive press. I do know some people who will load for their AR on a progressive, but that's about it. I'm not hating on Dillon presses (I have a 550 for pistol and I LOVE it), but it is not the best tool for precision rifle.

For the OP: If you are looking to load precise rifle ammo, single stage is the way to go for that job. Even a LEE classic single stage will do the trick, or a used rockchucker, etc. You "can" load pistol ammo on single stage, but it is slow. If you only load low-volume pistol ammo (about 50 rounds an hour-ish) then single stage can work for you for pistol ammo as well.

A turret press will work for both type of ammo, but isn't the best solution for either. It is not as precise as singe stage (for rifle rounds) nor as fast as progressive (for pistol). My recommendation would be to save for a bit, and get the right tool for each job, i.e. a progressive press for pistol and a single stage for rifle.
 
The Dillon 550 will do nicely for both calibres. If you aren't shooting in benchrest competitions or at very long ranges (600 yards+), it is capable of producing accurate rifle ammunition.
 
I agree with those recommending a single stage press the Lee Classic Cast or even the Challenger will be fine to get started on... OP, get yourself a good digital scale... Hornady makes a good inexpensive one, also pick up the Mastercraft Digital Caliper... best deal out there on a caliper and it is pretty well made.
 
hoytcanon said:
also pick up the Mastercraft Digital Caliper... best deal out there on a caliper and it is pretty well made..
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I'm sorry but this almost killed me. I'm just getting into reloading but I am a machinest and that mastercraft digital calliper is the biggest pierce of crap. Doesn't hold a zero and does not have a good build quality. Go buy a $40 DIAL veriner and it will last for forever.
 
The turret press is the way to go. And that RCBS press looks great. Watching a You Tube video from RCBS I especially like the primer handing.

Be sure to pick up a couple of extra heads. It's really handy to be able to just switch a head that is already loaded up with dies.
 
crasheralex said:
I'm sorry but this almost killed me. I'm just getting into reloading but I am a machinest and that mastercraft digital calliper is the biggest pierce of crap. Doesn't hold a zero and does not have a good build quality. Go buy a $40 DIAL veriner and it will last for forever.
Click to expand...
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I own a Canadian Tire digital calliper that has zeroing issues. Where can I find a $40 Dial vernier?
 
i have a lee breech lock challenger, an rcbs summit, and an rcbs turret. and i couldn't tell you which is best as they all have there advantages. and disadvantages.
but for versatility... maybe the turret has to take the lead? some dislike them. some love em. and you'll never know till you try em all which you like best.
 
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