Question on presses

R

REPO

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Looking at getting my first press. Want to start with doing some rounds for my 22-250, then want to move up to my 45-70, and eventually my .338 Lapua. I am leaning towards the RCBS, but the Hornady Lock N Load looks pretty good too.ni don't know what the differences are with each press. I have been reading and found that RCBS has the Rock Chucker, Partner, Ammomaster, Rock Crusher, Special 5, & JR. (and others) I want to get something fairly descent. I don't mind paying extra for a better piece of equipment. Can you guys recommend a good press for the calibers I mentioned above?

Thanks in advance.
 
I believe the Redding Big Boss press is still made in the US (vs overseas for RCBS). I'm very happy with the Redding. However RCBS stands behind their products with great customer service. The Rock Chucker or Big Boss would both be great solid presses.
 
REPO said:
Looking at getting my first press. Want to start with doing some rounds for my 22-250, then want to move up to my 45-70, and eventually my .338 Lapua. I am leaning towards the RCBS, but the Hornady Lock N Load looks pretty good too.ni don't know what the differences are with each press. I have been reading and found that RCBS has the Rock Chucker, Partner, Ammomaster, Rock Crusher, Special 5, & JR. (and others) I want to get something fairly descent. I don't mind paying extra for a better piece of equipment. Can you guys recommend a good press for the calibers I mentioned above?

Thanks in advance.
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Rock Chucker is a good press.
 
Rock chucker is a very good press and I personally believe a single stage press is best to learn on. There are lots of them used on the EE
 
Tossing in the .338LM means that my favourite press, the Forster/Bonanza Co-ax won't work for you.
The Lee Classic Cast has had many excellent reviews, and is large enough for .50 BMG. If I was buying another single station press, that's where my money would go.
 
I don't think a person can go wrong with a Rock Chucker.

You asked about the different types of presses ... here's the readers digest version (includin "all encompassing" generalizations.

Single Stage: Some sort of inverted U shaped top with a lever on it - You must change the dies in the top of it for each step in the resizing/reloading process. Slow, but the best to learn reloading on. Also probably the best press to use if accuracy is your main goal. Cheapest style of press. Probably the longest lived style of press - I know of many people using the same single stage press fo well over 20 years.

Turret: Similar in process to a Single Stage, except all your dies are on a "turret" and can be rotated into place for each stage. Multiple calibers can be on the same turret. Slightly faster than a single stage as you only turn the turret for the next stage in the process, but initial set up time is about the same. More expensive than a Single Stage.

Progressive: Like a turrent, all the dies needed for a specific caliber are installed on the machine - but they are also all in use at any given moment. The casings rotate from one stage tot he enxt with each pull of the handle. Each pull of the handle means a new round Complete round is done and in your ammo box. Very Fast, excellent for mass production of handgun rounds or rifle rounds that don't require extreme accuracy due to the style of powder dispensing on these presses. Also, there is no "pause" in your reloading process to allow you to clean and unifor your primer pockets'holes. These presses also require a LOT of time to set up intitally, and also to change calibers when compared to the other styles of presses. Most expensive style of press. Also, Not recommended for very small batches of ammo when a person is developing a load for a new gun/caliber/bullet due to the intricacies of the setup process.

If you like developing loads and are not shooting a lot of ammo, a Single Stage or Turret are great options.
If you are shooting a lot of ammo (IPSC shooter, etc..) then adding a Progressive to your becnh is a good idea.
Personal Opinion: Everyone should learn on a singe stage (or Turret) before attempting to use a Progressive.
 
Yup. And you stated an obvious, but often overlooked, thing there - you usually need a different shell holder for each caliber. That is a generalization ... things like 243, 22-250, 30-06, 35 Whelen (and a host of others) can all use the same shell holder as they are all based on the same 30-06 case, and therefore have the same base dimensions, so don't actually need a new shell holder ordered when you order a set of dies for them if you are already reloading a similar round.

Yes, I believe the rock chucker will work for all your loads. I believe it can load all but the largest of ammo (458 Magnum, 470 Nitro, 50 BMG, etc..) but as I have not loaded anything larger than 35 Whelen (basically a 30-06 case) I'm not an expert on that. Any reputable store (or someone here on CGN) should be able to tell you which calibers, if any, a Rock Chucker is not capable of loading.



Editted my previous post as well to add soem more thoughts.
 
I learned on a dillon 550 which is a manually indexing progressive. I didnt find it hard, but I went slow at first and read alot about the process to understand what is happening. You can get into it cheaply with some of the single stage kits. I recently bought a rock chucker for sizing and decapping 223. Like my guns, my reloading stuff is having babies...
 
One other thing to consider in presses is the newer style using "quick change" dies.

Never used one myself, and probably never will. I don't like the idea of spending money on a die that will only work on a specific style of press. I'd rather use the traditonal "screw in" dies that can be used on almost any press out there. Far more "bang for your buck" in my opinion.
 
REPO said:
Thanks Imagius! That is great info.

So the Rock Chucker would do all of my calibers with the appropriate dies and shell holders?
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The newer Rockchucker has a slightly larger opening than the older models so that would be better for you to consider than an old one.
Loading 338 Lapua on my old Rockchucker was a chore so I went to a Lee Classic Cast because of the much larger opening and also its capable of loading 50 BMG.
Its also a cleaner press to use, very strong and precise and has a more affordable price.
 
I went to buy a Rock Chucker and sitting on the shelf right beside it was a Redding Big Boss. The Redding was a few bucks more but just so happened to be on sale for about $20 less than the Rock Chucker. I came home with the Redding Big Boss only because it was on sale. I would have been just as thrilled with the Rock Chucker.
 
Kevan said:
Loading 338 Lapua on my old Rockchucker was a chore so I went to a Lee Classic Cast because of the much larger opening and also its capable of loading 50 BMG.
Its also a cleaner press to use, very strong and precise and has a more affordable price.
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X2! I have Lee Clasic Cast and that's the best one so far; stronger, cleaner, left hand, right hand and lenght of handle adjustable, made in USA and way, way cheaper than junk made in China!
 
And the LEE classic cast will catch 99.9% of your fired primer's.
If I were to go with a new press it would be the LEE classic turret press.
You set you dies once and your done.
To change caliber's you just switch turret's.
It also has the same primer catcher as the classic cast.
 
Splatter said:
Tossing in the .338LM means that my favourite press, the Forster/Bonanza Co-ax won't work for you.
The Lee Classic Cast has had many excellent reviews, and is large enough for .50 BMG. If I was buying another single station press, that's where my money would go.
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My Co-ax would certainly work with that round, maybe you have a Bonanza model that is not tall enough? But I do agree, the Forster Co-ax is the best press out there and makes the best ammo.
Instant die change, no screwing or unscrewing, preset dies just slide in, no shellholders to buy, cartridge self centers in the die for least chance of run-out, dead primers fall down tube in screw on/off container, no mess, no primers on the floor, dual rams, most leverage advantage of all presses.
 
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