Building a reloading bench; where to spend

ThisIsMyBoomstick

ThisIsMyBoomstick

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Evening. I've started assembling my equipment, so far I have a few good calipers (Tesa, Mitutoyo) and a full set of micrometers (Mitutoyo), a 5lbs tumbler and an annealer (almost - building a induction annealer, waiting on parts)

Calibers : 223/556 and 6.5x55, only hunting paper right now, 250+ yards.

I've been saving up my discretionary funds, and have a fair chunk saved up and am thinking I should put that towards a press. Is the press what you really want to use the saying "buy once, cry once" on? I ask because I came across the German Prazipress (Turban CNC) and its apparently the bees knees of reloading presses. It would be ~$1500-$1600 CAD to my door. I realize its a subjective question, but is it a good value proposition? Trying to rationalize it to myself, I decided that I would have no problem throwing that amount of money at a rifle on the used market, but I would still have to feed it --- so why not spend the same on press that I could use to feed all my rifles? I think there is a some gun owner logic in there that makes sense.

Or, just get a Forster Co-ax or something along those lines and reinvest the savings into a case turner + trimmer, mandrels, dies, scale, powder trickler, ect ...

Thank you.
 
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If you’re just starting out buying all the reloading tools, you’d don’t need the best of the best press. If you do, you’ll be spoiled and want all the best of every other tool and accessory. That gets expensive quick.

I’ve had an RCBS rockchucker for decades and have reloaded thousands of rounds per year with it. Is it the fanciest? No. Does it make quality ammo? Absolutely.
For you I’d buy quality tools, but maybe not the highest end ones. Then upgrade them over the years if you desire.

Over the years I’ve upgraded my dies, scales, powder throwers, cleaning tools but I’ve kept the same press.
 
I've owned, and used, an RCBS RockChucker Bullet Swage press [where the RCBS moniker came from ~80 years ago. As you posited, "Buy once, Cry once". I really cannot see how you could go wrong with an RCBS RockChucker press. Yes, it is not a progressive press, and it will not process, without some finagling, .416 or .450 Rigby, but that is about all that it cannot do. I owned, for a time, a .416 Rigby, so bought a Lyman Crusher II press, but after I sold that, I sold the press too.

I've bought a few more BCBS RockChucker presses overe the years, not because they gave up the ghost, but because my daughters got into shooting & reloading. As a result, I bought each of them an RCBS RockChucker; I expect they will last until my Great-Grand-children take up shooting & reloading.
 
I kinda feel that resizing dies, powder charge, and bullet seating are, generally, higher priority variables than the press itself (to a point!). I say this as a novice reloader.

I asked myself the same question as you, and I ultimately decided to get a reliable press (MEC metallic reloading press - about $300 or so), while focusing most of my spending on an autotrickler v4 and short action custom dies (resizer and bullet seater), things that have a great effect on consistency and precision.

I have not regretted my choice.

All this said, it's your money. Giv'er tits. There's nothing wrong with buying once for anything ... except guns and reloading components, of course. Lol.
 
Thanks for all great information. Autotrickler where mentioned twice. Initially I was going to buy a manual trickler and a good quality scale, but I can see that getting tedious after a few dozen rounds. The Autotricker V4 + scale looks like it around $1500 USD? Is that about right?
 
ThisIsMyBoomstick said:
Thanks for all great information. Autotrickler where mentioned twice. Initially I was going to buy a manual trickler and a good quality scale, but I can see that getting tedious after a few dozen rounds. The Autotricker V4 + scale looks like it around $1500 USD? Is that about right?
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I think the Forester will do you fine baby... and you could probably spend less on a Rock Chucker Supreme to last a lifetime of the basics. Save a little spend a little elsewhere... Get some sugar....
 
Your money for sugar ratio....
The V4 is the pinnacle though the RCBS Matchmaster comes close and has some huge advantages with the bluetooth phone stuff.. UR does all sorts of comparisons..
 
my first press was a single stage lee - bought the co-ax after a couple years - was okay - sold the co-ax and went back to using the lee. fwiw since i bought the lee the price on them doubled
 
ThisIsMyBoomstick said:
Thanks for all great information. Autotrickler where mentioned twice. Initially I was going to buy a manual trickler and a good quality scale, but I can see that getting tedious after a few dozen rounds. The Autotricker V4 + scale looks like it around $1500 USD? Is that about right?
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I paid $1451 cad shipped.


If I had $1500-1600 to spend and I was starting out I’d look at a rock chucker, rcbs matchmaster trimmer and a Lyman gen 3 powder thrower. It might be a bit out of your budget but one can wait. Assuming you have most of the other stuff you need to reload.

The autotrickler is really nice but it probably won’t pay off unless you have a match rifle and you’re loading lots of bullets for it. I think my autotrickler throws powder for a creedmoor case in about 20 seconds(if I remember correctly) and the Lyman is probably 30-40 seconds but I haven’t used that in a long time.

And I hate trimming brass. The matchmaster will do 100 pieces trimmed and chamfered in 12 minutes.

Less time reloading=more time shooting
 
My "bench" started as 2x4's screwed into wall studs - two layers of 3/4" plywood - circa 24" deep and about 90" long - as you can see in picture - has "sit down" height - not "stand up" to reload. I also keep my laptop on there - and that size just fills up with junk. Bullet and die storage are on separate shelves above the bench. Brass, powder and primers stored elsewhere in here. My brother set up his reloading area in a coat closet - maybe 36" or 40" wide - at least he can close the door on the mess.

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For press - I started with standard old school "Lee Loader" - no press (1970's). Then I got a single leverage RCBS press (1980's). Now I use a compound leverage RCBS press (2023?). I have never loaded for handgun - only rifles, so single stage does fine for me. I am retired - no longer in a "rush" - do not buy things to "save time", but I do get stuff to "save effort"
 
I have a firm belief that reloading turns into a entirely different sub-genre of the firearms hobby. 👍 My father is totally into it. And spends more time reloading and researching than shooting, it becomes a science, looking for the best powders, total gr and weight. Its fascinating to watch.

Cheers and good luck
 
I'm 10+ years into reloading and still use a manual beam scale, no auto-trickler for me. That's also because I use reloading as a relaxing hobby and I'm never in a rush to load rounds. Heck, I don't even use a powder thrower. Small container of my powder, a scoop, beam scale, and single stage press.... even when I'm loading 9mm! I live where winters are long and crappy, so I tend to load during those months then burn through my loaded ammo in the warmer months

Don't overthink it and believe you need the top end of everything. I would suggest a good press (~$3-400) and a good scale. Everything else you can collect as you go
 
I started with a lee challenger press. Bought a rock chucker but still use the lee. Honestly I cant shoot better than what I can load with the lee anyway. Id rather spend the extra 1200 bucks on components for shooting.

I built my benches from 2x6 spruce. My working surfaces have that black melonite type board from home depot screwed to the top. My loading room has benches on 3 sides with shelving going to the ceiling and under the benches. A well organized idea over stuffed with alot of stuff
 
the ideal dream machine used to be a progressive press for high volume pistol and 223 with bullet feeders and brass feeders
take speed and volume out and most any single stage press will do for 95+% of users

I like Lee these days, their new dies sets are a bargain with good features
 
boxhitch said:
the ideal dream machine used to be a progressive press for high volume pistol and 223 with bullet feeders and brass feeders
take speed and volume out and most any single stage press will do for 95+% of users

I like Lee these days, their new dies sets are a bargain with good features
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Lee Bushing dies 🤷‍♂️ 😊
 
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