What is the Best Reloader for Multilpe calibers

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Bow-Hunter

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Hi,
I am new to reloading and looking for a reloading press that would be the best for multiple calibers. I would like to buy 1 press and not really upgrade later. The calibers that i will be reloading are:
300 win mag, 243, 7mm Rem Mag, 308, 222, 45-70, 444, 450, 338 Marlin, 356, 218bee, 375 win, 30-30, 25-20, 32-30, 44mag, 45 colt, 38-55, 44-40,ect,,,
Most of the calibers will only shoot 200 - 300 rounds a year

Any advice is greatly appreaciated.

Thanks,
 
A Lyman Turret will do nicely. You can mount 2 or 3 set of dies on one turret (depending of number of dies you use for each caliber ) and buy extra turrets. That way your dies stay adjusted -specially nice when you have found a good load. The Lyman Turret press is relatively inexpensive and made of cast iron.

Redding got a nice one..cost $$$.

Any single stage press will do also but a turret will make your life a lot easier.
 
Hornady's Lock and Load bushing system installed on a Redding Ultramag is what I use. Pop dies in and out with a 1/8 twist. The L&L bushings probably work with other SS presses too. The Redding happens to be the one I have.
 
Janeau said:
A Lyman Turret will do nicely. You can mount 2 or 3 set of dies on one turret (depending of number of dies you use for each caliber ) and buy extra turrets. That way your dies stay adjusted -specially nice when you have found a good load. The Lyman Turret press is relatively inexpensive and made of cast iron.

Redding got a nice one..cost $$$.

Any single stage press will do also but a turret will make your life a lot easier.
Click to expand...

:agree:
 
You didn't mention if you wanted a single stage or progressive, but if you are only shooting 200 to 300 per year, any single stage or turret will do just fine. Since you are just starting out, it is always best to start with a single stage to get the "feel" of reloading before going on to a progressive where things happen all at once.

Best single stage press - Foster Co-Ax,
Best "value" press - Lee Classic Cast. (but still a very good press)

Best progressive, especially if you want to load a large number of different cartridges - Hornady
Dillon is a poor choice because of the major costs involved in setting up die sets/plates for every calibre.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127691 click on the "Here it is" link for the best comparison around.
 
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I agree with the Forster Co-ax and you don't have to buy any shellholders! It produces the most accurate ammo among production presses(everything else being equal)..
 
I bought that Lee breechlock challenger kit and it's awesome, I'm not just saying that. $150.00 got me a killer single stage press with 3 quick change bushings, this makes it so I don't have to adjust my dies every time I go from resizing to seating to crimping. It also included a scale and powder measure, along with the pocket primer cleaner and chamfer tool. The Lee autoprime kit for large and small primers were thrown in as well.

I seriously didn't have to buy a thing except dies, primers, powder, and bullets. That cost me an additional $130.00, all in all I paid about $300.00 to start reloading, and I ended up with 500 rounds of ammunition which normally would have cost $280.00. I'm not counting brass as a cost though because I scoop that stuff up from the range after the police visit :)

If you go with anything other than Lee for a single stage press, expect to pay 2-3x this amount. The more expensive stuff usually comes with a lifetime warranty. The rifle ammo quality has a lot to do with the dies, don't cheap out on those. For pistol, go Lee carbide all the way. The press in my opinion isn't as important as the dies. Go with the breech lock challenger and pick up redding dies for your rifle calibres :D

EDIT: It looks like you don't do pistols, and some of your rifle calibres will be too large for a turret press. There is also some "play" with the Lee turret presses, so I would stick to a single stage with quick change bushings.
 
The RCBS press doesn't have through-ram primer disposal. I consider this to be a show-stopper. The other single-stages mentioned - Forster Co-Ax, Redding UltraMag and Lee Classic Cast - do.
 
Thanks guys for your advice. I think i will be looking at the Foster Co-ax or Hornady reloading press. I have do some more reading on them.
Does anyone have any downsides towards the Foster Co-ax or Hornady presses???
 
To do .22 Hornet or 45/70 cases with the Co-ax you need to purchase a different set of "jaws". The Co-ax is still the bee's knee's, no shell holders, you don't screw in the dies, fastest cal. changeover possible. I had always used a Rockchucker and still have a couple, but I seldom use them now!!! The cost of the "jaws" mentioned above is $24.
 
Bow-Hunter said:
Thanks guys for your advice. I think i will be looking at the Foster Co-ax or Hornady reloading press. I have do some more reading on them.
Does anyone have any downsides towards the Foster Co-ax or Hornady presses???
Click to expand...

Cost but they are very nice presses and will last a few lifetimes. Great factory support too.

Popular enough that my dist is backordered on all of these presses.

I use the Lee breech lock challenger press and am very impressed with both the quality of manf and those quick change bushings. There is nothing on the market for this type of price.

Yes, RCBS has been offshoring some of their stuff and it shows.

Let me know...

Jerry
 
Bow-Hunter said:
Thanks guys for your advice. I think i will be looking at the Foster Co-ax or Hornady reloading press. I have do some more reading on them.
Does anyone have any downsides towards the Foster Co-ax or Hornady presses???
Click to expand...

The only draw back to the Co-Ax is price as I think it is the most expensive single stage press there is. I have a nice old one that I traded a 22 rifle for. And a nice new one just in case. FS
 
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