Best first single stage press???

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zackstab

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Regina sk
I know it has been discussed but I have a few specific things so I want the answer best suited for my situation.

I ONLY plan on reloading .223 and .270 for my bolt action rifles and I do not need high volume production. I just want to start reloading in my spare time in these two calibers because I cannot afford to buy match ammo for my rifles. I want to make match quality at bulk prices. I also find myself sometimes bored with nothing else productive to do, and would like to start reloading in that time.

SO, what single stage press can I get for .223 and .270 that will not break the bank and is not a piece of junk. I see a lot of people happy with lee, some with hornady, and and forster on the high end. I would also like a list of additional tools I will need to make the process easier.

If there are any kits available that have everything that would be great but I am sceptical of kits because I always hear about people changing a lot from them. If you suggest presses and tools can you please link me a site or at least give me some good reloading supply websites?

I have tried reading to find answers but I see so much conflicting info that I am having trouble...
Thanks
 
My first was a Forster I wanted a good press that I could use even for precision shooting, I asked the experts and followed their advice $349.00 did not seem excessive to me and if I wanted to sell it I would have very interested buyers.
 
silverfoxdj said:
My first was a Forster I wanted a good press that I could use even for precision shooting, I asked the experts and followed their advice $349.00 did not seem excessive to me and if I wanted to sell it I would have very interested buyers.
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I have heard of these megic presses but I have yet to be able to find one in stock anywhere... Can you suggest some places?
 
SO, what single stage press can I get for .223 and .270 that will not break the bank and is not a piece of junk. I see a lot of people happy with lee, some with hornady, and and forster on the high end. I would also like a list of additional tools I will need to make the process easier.

If there are any kits available that have everything that would be great but I am sceptical of kits because I always hear about people changing a lot from them. If you suggest presses and tools can you please link me a site or at least give me some good reloading supply websites?
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The Lee Classic cast is still selling for around $160... It makes a rock chucker look and feel like a toy...

Hornady has a few decent kits that rival RCBS too...

No kit is "complete"... There is always something missing such as shell plates, good lube, caliper etc so a complete list of what's actually needed is a good place to start.

The Lee 50th kit is a great "foot in the door" and for a casual reloader who just needs some accurate hunting ammo or some decently accurate target ammo you really can't beat the price... Most people hate the scale.
 
Hotwheels81 said:
The Lee Classic cast is still selling for around $160... It makes a rock chucker look and feel like a toy...

Hornady has a few decent kits that rival RCBS too...

No kit is "complete"... There is always something missing such as shell plates, good lube, caliper etc so a complete list of what's actually needed is a good place to start.

The Lee 50th kit is a great "foot in the door" and for a casual reloader who just needs some accurate hunting ammo or some decently accurate target ammo you really can't beat the price... Most people hate the scale.
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Could you give me a basic list? And I assume digital scales are preferable right?
 
zackstab said:
Could you give me a basic list? And I assume digital scales are preferable right?
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Balance beam scales are kinda like a hammer... They work unless they are broken... I'm sorta new to reloading with a digital but I've used some pretty accurate digi's in other fields and I'll say I TRUST a balance beam scale to double check a digital and I'll check the odd weight from a beam scale on a digi just to make sure... No reloader should EVER be without a good old school beam scale such as the RCBS 5-0-5 or 10-10... My Lee scale served me well for 15years then dies a horrible death at the hands of my curious cat... I replaced it with another Lee scale from a 50th kit I was given by a friend who had it in a closet for quite a while, it pre dates my scale by atleast 5yrs and is actually a lot nicer than my broken one... I also got a Lyman Gen5 dispenser a couple weeks ago, big step forward for me as well...

Yer gunna need...
Press
Dies
Case trimmer
Scale
Caliper
Chamfer tool
Some form of case holding tray
Powder funnel
Either a hand primer tool or an on the press priming tool
Good case lube not that Dillon or Hornady crap, spring for a tin of imperial sizing wax
A means to clean cases it's a hotly debated subject, my suggestion is a Lee lock stud case trimmer chucked into a cordless drill, let's you trim/chamfer/polish the case in about 20-30 seconds... I'm sure I missed something but that's a good peek into the tools of the addiction.
 
I started 5 months ago, I load 308 2250 .223 .45lc 9mm and waiting on .357 dies. I do all this with a RCBS rock chucker supreme kit . I got the kit and a RCBS vibratory case cleaner for $500. That was in NL , I'm sure you can get the same items for a lot less , off eBay . I had to order dies, shell plates , trimmer and a set of Calipers. That's it. Lube comes with the case , but I make my own , using lanolin and Isopropyl alcohol.
 
Go with a LEE Classic Turret press kit.
I use mine like a single stage with the index bar removed. Set your dies once and switch turret's in second's. Primer's are caught in the ram.
 
Buy the best quality you can find. That would be a Forster Co-AX. Avoid turret presses, too much flex and totally useless for doing any cartridge conversions. The Forster Co-ax is a press that will never need improving. Here's how I see it, if the Forster Co-ax costs $200.00 more than than a Lee Turret POS, and you load for twenty years the cost differential on a per day basis is less than 3 cents/day. If you can afford 3 cents/day throw caution to the wind and buy the best.
 
i bought mine from x-reload. they have a feature where you can put in your phone # and it text messages you when they are back in stock. That's how I got mine after a long wait :d

i love my forster.
 
One can waste a lot of money on other loading options scales, guages, dies etc but picking a really good press should not be on the compromise list.
 
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