Advice on Single Stage Press

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Rockmcdock

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I have never hand loaded, but I am quick to learn, handy, have some money, and am motivated. I started a thread about whether I should buy a progressive press, and the advice was to go with a single stage press. So, my question is now refined: What is the best single stage press I can buy (with saving money Not the priority) and what are the best other components to the process that will allow me to turn out quality precision cartridges? I have had two custom rifles built, one in .300 win mag and one in .300 wsm, and I want to find the most accurate loads for each in various bullet weights. What will allow for precision? I also have purely factory rifles (.243, .308, .270 wsm) for which I also want to find the most accurate loads. I will not be loading for handguns. Thanks!
 
The very first thing you should by is a manual or two such as the ABC's of reloading as many techniques and safety protocols are covered. Almost any of the cast iron presses like the RCBS Rockchucker , or the Lyman and Redding equivalents would work for your purposes, though the Forster Co-ax has an excellent reputation and is more pricey . Get good dies from the get go, I like the Forster dies with the Bench rest seating die as these will minimize bullet runout promoting more consistent ammunition. Getting a good scale , I like mechanical scales like the RCBS ones as they are not affected by things like fluorescent lights or temperature changes but if you go electronic don't go cheap. Some kind of case cleaner will preserve the life of your dies , I have a Lyman tumbler that has worked for years but there are very many other options. Some way to measure bullet seating depth is handy with the Hornady version being most common. Good luck in your new hobby.
 
Just put some comments in your other post so here is some for the single stage press. If I was starting out with what I know now I would buy a Forster Co-ax, expensive but very good. Most of the other companies put out good presses, have an old Lyman Orange Crusher still in use. Get some good reload manuals, they have lots of info to get you started.
 
A Redding turret press will allow you to keep your dies adjusted. The press is one thing but quality dies set is more important.
Get competition dies - bushing die to allow choice of neck tension.

A mechanical scale is a thing of the past..get a quality powder dispenser - the best way to put you off reloading is to have to weight each charge on a beam scale - very slow and not practical. Even benchrest champions use digital scale at matches, that should tell you something.

Buy quality equipment - you will not regret it.
 
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I am a high volume shooter, at least 7,000-8,000+ rds per year in 10 assorted calibers. I started in 1986 with an RCBS RS3 and it is still cranking out rounds today. If I had it to do all over again, I would have started with a good turret press. About 8 years ago I bought a Lyman T Mag II press with 4 additional turrets. With the fact now that I no longer have to constantly reset my dies, the overall length of the ammunition is now consistent, where there were constant minor differences before. The RS3 still works today for loading rifle cartridge calibers. I have been the Dillon route but I like the quality produced on a single stage better.
 
I started loading 42 years ago on a RCBS Rock chucker which I still have and use regularly. I have never regretted this purchase and I have never had any problem with this press.
 
In my opinion presses of a similar design are all pretty equal. A C-press will be pretty equal across all manufacturers. As will a cast aluminum or cast iron O-press. The Forester co ax is probably the most advanced design and looks good, but I've never used one. Truthfully though unless you're shooting bench rest or similar, I wouldn't over think which press you buy. They all have a little slop in the shell holder to allow the case to auto align to the dies. I would say for maximum durability go with a cast iron O-press. Pick your color to match the room.
 
If you are concerned about "precision", as you should read in good reference books, make sure you allow for a way to measure concentricity of your finished product. As has been posted on this site, is actually a very good tool to find the source of any mis-alignments in your die and press set up - poor concentricity is not really something you want to correct, but you want to prevent it from occurring in the first place. I have and use an RCBS tool - as bought it needs some help, but enough mods are on Internet to give very reliable results. No doubt other brands get it done as well
 
Don't shy away from getting a used press. They don't wear out and sometimes you can get the whole setup (dies scales brass etc) for a good price from someone who is getting out of reloading or from an estate. Check the EE.

This can be a relatively inexpensive way of finding out if reloading is for you and you an always re-sell it.
 
Rockmcdock said:
I have never hand loaded, but I am quick to learn, handy, have some money, and am motivated. I started a thread about whether I should buy a progressive press, and the advice was to go with a single stage press. So, my question is now refined: What is the best single stage press I can buy (with saving money Not the priority) and what are the best other components to the process that will allow me to turn out quality precision cartridges? I have had two custom rifles built, one in .300 win mag and one in .300 wsm, and I want to find the most accurate loads for each in various bullet weights. What will allow for precision? I also have purely factory rifles (.243, .308, .270 wsm) for which I also want to find the most accurate loads. I will not be loading for handguns. Thanks!
Click to expand...

RCBS Rock Chucker and your friends will be Green with envy.
It will do what you are looking for for the calibres listed.
The accuracy part will be between you the gun and the other component selections ;)

Rob
 
I have a Hornaday lnl. It's good, but the quick change inserts aren't as solid as a threaded in die. With that said, you can thread in an insert to make it "regular" and it has larger threads for magnum dies if ever required.

Down side is, the frame is aluminum. I would rather have steel.

Maybe 5000 to 10000 rounds reloaded on mine.
 
I just started where you are a year or two ago.
Someone here brought up a Home Hardwar somewhere deep in Saskatchewan had a Rock chucker kit on a great deal. Awesome set up to get you started for rifle and pistol.
It comes with the press, the powder dispenser, the scale,a hand priming tool, a Hornady Book on reload data and even a few more odd bits. It is a great deal as a start up kit if you can find it.

Ask here on CGN and guys will point out where they are available and if there are any current deals.

Once you get the kit all that is left is the reloading dies and the shell holder.
The only thing after that are the componenets of brass, primers, powder and projectiles.
 
I started out with a RCBS Rockchucker. Sold it, then bought a Dillon 550 when I decided to get serious about shooting handgun. I missed the old Rockchucker so I bought another in the form of a Rockchucker Supreme. Then circumstance got me another new never used Rockchucker. I use both Rockchuckers for loading rifle and my .41LC. It seems to me the RCBS will do everything you will want it to do. The Dillon Progressives really excel when it comes to loading handgun ammo and for quantity say in .223 caliber for those who shoot 3Gun. I found I spent to much time easing long cases into the dies on my 550 so I pretty much stick with the Rockchucker's for rifle.

I can;t really see much daylight between any of the single stage presses for what I use the press for. The Aluminum alloy presses are just as strong as the cast iron ones for the purpose intended so I would not worry to much one way or another. Buy quality, Dillon, RCBS and Lyman all produce excellent products, they have been around for awhile. Their equipment have lifetime warranties so don't be afraid of sourcing used. My Dillon has loaded well over 200K rounds over the last 30 years, has had the bottom of the press replaced by Dillon for free under warranty about five years ago. Maybe my sons will wear it out and Dillon will send them a new press under warranty. I have not been able to.

Buy quality reloading manuals. Hornady has a set of two and Lyman produces several you will want to reference.

Welcome to reloading. You will enjoy the journey I am sure.

Take Care

Bob
ps A balance beam scale works well but the RCBS Chargemaster is hard to beat. I bought one and only wished I had bought it years earlier.
 
As a general rule, an O frame press is more stable than a C frame press. Things get e bit complicated when it comes to decide which O frame.
Steel vs Aluminium, Fixed or Floating Shell Holder, threaded shellholder vs quick change or universal shell holder, price, press ergonomics .....

6-7 years ago(when I started reloading) I bought a cheap Lee O frame press as the budget was tight. A couple of years later I bought a Hornady concentricity gauge and checked my reloads with it. Most of them (about 95%) where within 3 thousands of run out. Needles to say, my plans for a press upgrade were immediately scrapped.
Now, I reload 200-300 rounds a year, mostly for hunting and some for fun in the range. Your numbers and precision requirements might differ. Nevertheless, I think you would be better off, not to go crazy on the press and invest the money on other reloading accessories.
 
As a general rule, an O frame press is more stable than a C frame press. Things get e bit complicated when it comes to decide which O frame.<br>
Steel vs Aluminium, Fixed or Floating Shell Holder, threaded shellholder vs quick change or universal shell holder, price, press ergonomics .....<br>
<br>
6-7 years ago(when I started reloading) I bought a cheap Lee O frame press as the budget was tight. A couple of years later I bought a Hornady concentricity gauge and checked my reloads with it. Most of them (about 95%) where within 3 thousands of run out. Needles to say, my plans for a press upgrade were immediately scrapped. <br>
Now, I reload 200-300 rounds a year, mostly for hunting and some for fun in the range. Your numbers and precision requirements might differ. Nevertheless, I think you would be better off, not to go crazy on the press and invest the money on other reloading accessories.
 
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