Best single stage press and why
- Thread starter towman32
- Start date
JeepHammer
Moderator
Which: It's hard to beat a 'Rock Chucker',
Especally if you get one with iron frame.
Why: Good leverage, so you whip the brass, the brass doesn't whip the press.
Some presses you don't get good leverage,
Some the arm or frame give so the brass doesn't get that final push into place.
Especally if you get one with iron frame.
Why: Good leverage, so you whip the brass, the brass doesn't whip the press.
Some presses you don't get good leverage,
Some the arm or frame give so the brass doesn't get that final push into place.
"Best" can be answered in many ways. Best selling over many decades? Probably the Rock Chucker. Best value for the money? The Lee Classic Cast makes a terrific case.
Best... BEST? Likely the Forster Co-Ax, if you can accept that it's not like any other and costs an awful lot of dough.
Best... BEST? Likely the Forster Co-Ax, if you can accept that it's not like any other and costs an awful lot of dough.
I would suggest looking for a used RCBS Jr. I have used one over many years. It has a shorter stroke than some of the bigger presses (RCBS Rockchucker, et. al.), so it is handier (faster operation) for pistol cases but has enough mechanical advantage for all but the .50BMG. It is also cast steel, not lightweight Aluminum so it is very strong. Even when I got a Dillon 550b years ago, I still kept my RCBS Jr. for rifle handloading and de-priming, etc.
ammo.crafter
New member
Single Stage Press
RCBS Jr single stage press was the first press I purchased almost 50 years ago.
Though I have several other presses that are more modern and multiple action presses, I always go back to the RCBS when making a short run and/or working up a new load.
RCBS Jr single stage press was the first press I purchased almost 50 years ago.
Though I have several other presses that are more modern and multiple action presses, I always go back to the RCBS when making a short run and/or working up a new load.
Forster Co-Ax
I added a Forster Co-Ax about 7 years ago. I can highly recommend it because of its ease of use and it just simply produces the most accurate rifle ammo that I have every made. Use it along with Forster’s Competition Bench Rest dies, if accuracy is a is a concern for you.
Keep your Lee press. It will always come in handy for things like Rx dies, bullet pullers, etc.
I started loading in 1987 on a US made RockChucker. Since then, I have owned and used the Lee Classic Cast, Lee Classic Turret, Dillon RL550B, Redding Big Boss II (highly recommended as well), and the Forster Co-Ax. In addition to those machines, I have used a Century arbor press and custom dies when I was competing in Bench Rest Rifle.
The presses that remain on my bench 29 years later are the Forster Co-Ax, the Dillon RL550B, and the Redding Big Boss II. I gave the old RockChucker to my son, and sold everything else. The last time I picked up a boxed RCBS kit that contained a RockChucker press, the box said "made in China and Mexico". I imagine that RCBS makes all presses, dies, etc. overseas now. As far as I know, Forster, Redding, Lee, and Dillon still made in the USA.
I don’t have any experience with Hornady.
I added a Forster Co-Ax about 7 years ago. I can highly recommend it because of its ease of use and it just simply produces the most accurate rifle ammo that I have every made. Use it along with Forster’s Competition Bench Rest dies, if accuracy is a is a concern for you.
Keep your Lee press. It will always come in handy for things like Rx dies, bullet pullers, etc.
I started loading in 1987 on a US made RockChucker. Since then, I have owned and used the Lee Classic Cast, Lee Classic Turret, Dillon RL550B, Redding Big Boss II (highly recommended as well), and the Forster Co-Ax. In addition to those machines, I have used a Century arbor press and custom dies when I was competing in Bench Rest Rifle.
The presses that remain on my bench 29 years later are the Forster Co-Ax, the Dillon RL550B, and the Redding Big Boss II. I gave the old RockChucker to my son, and sold everything else. The last time I picked up a boxed RCBS kit that contained a RockChucker press, the box said "made in China and Mexico". I imagine that RCBS makes all presses, dies, etc. overseas now. As far as I know, Forster, Redding, Lee, and Dillon still made in the USA.
I don’t have any experience with Hornady.
http://www.forsterproducts.com/product-category/reloading-tools/co-ax-reloading-press/
At $463.00?
For me there is not enough room around the case head and then there is the top of the die. I form cases with forming dies meaning when forming I trim, I trim with man tools like the file and hack saw. I understand for most when reloading there is not much outside of sizing, I have to have to have a press that has utility meaning I want most of the press under the table/bench because anything on top of the press is in my way.
F. Guffey
At $463.00?
For me there is not enough room around the case head and then there is the top of the die. I form cases with forming dies meaning when forming I trim, I trim with man tools like the file and hack saw. I understand for most when reloading there is not much outside of sizing, I have to have to have a press that has utility meaning I want most of the press under the table/bench because anything on top of the press is in my way.
F. Guffey
JeepHammer
Moderator
Accuracy Vs. Cost?
I wouldn't care how 'Accurate' the press was, a single press that costs as much as a Dillon auto indexing progressive reloader wouldn't be in my budget for anything but extreme bench rifle competition ammo...
Didnt know we were talking $500 here!
The Dillon progressives now have single round capability, are as ridged & powerful as any aluminum frame press on the market,
And would give you the capability to crank out 'Match' grade ammo at 450+ rounds a minute, depending on press you choose...
My Rock Chucker is 40+ years old, still capable of cranking out bench ammo.
Darn good investment over the long haul!
I wouldn't care how 'Accurate' the press was, a single press that costs as much as a Dillon auto indexing progressive reloader wouldn't be in my budget for anything but extreme bench rifle competition ammo...
Didnt know we were talking $500 here!
The Dillon progressives now have single round capability, are as ridged & powerful as any aluminum frame press on the market,
And would give you the capability to crank out 'Match' grade ammo at 450+ rounds a minute, depending on press you choose...
My Rock Chucker is 40+ years old, still capable of cranking out bench ammo.
Darn good investment over the long haul!
someone went straight to the Forster press and they were oohing and awing as thought only the elitist of reloaders with discerning taste owned one of them, I do not have one so you know what that says about me.
I did call RCBS about one of my Rock Chuckers; I explained to them my ram slid out the bottom of the press and hit the floor. They said they would send me another one. (Another what?). I was not interested in swapping my press for a new one. So, I ask "another what?" They said another ram and instillation kit. I had to ask; "you will do that for me?".
F. Guffey
I load most of my ammo on a Dillon 650XL and most of my precision and hunting ammo on a RockChucker. Honestly, I would gladly trade the RC for a quality turret press. The ability to have my dies in a tool head and just rotate is very appealing. Not sure which one I would get, but I see no reason to have 2 single stages on my bench.
A conscientious reloader can make good, accurate on almost any single stage press. A sloppy reloader can't make good, accurate ammo on the most high tech., costly, single stage press. BTW; you fellers remember the guy that held the record for smallest group at 1,000 yards? He used a Lee Loader...
The Forster Co-Ax is a unique design that works very well, nothing "elitist" or "snobbish" about them. Sinclair makes a $300.00+ single stage, precision press. Herrels make precision machined single stage presses from $200.00+ for a "portable" to over $300.00+ for their bench mounted single stage presses. If anyone wanted to be a "tool snob" they would prolly choose one of these, not a common Co-Ax...
The Forster Co-Ax is a unique design that works very well, nothing "elitist" or "snobbish" about them. Sinclair makes a $300.00+ single stage, precision press. Herrels make precision machined single stage presses from $200.00+ for a "portable" to over $300.00+ for their bench mounted single stage presses. If anyone wanted to be a "tool snob" they would prolly choose one of these, not a common Co-Ax...
My brother has the Foreseter Co-ax and likes it a lot. He also has a Horandy progressive and that was first and I think fallen by the way (accurate ammo now being the goal)
I have a Rock Chucker and am fine with it. Also an old RCBS Junior that goes to the range with me to adjust COAL
One reserve Rock Chucker one of my brothers gave me.
It may get setup if I work out the bench setup.
You really can't go wrong, just how much money to spend and what you are after.
If I get good enough I may go for the Forster , for now, good with what I have.
I have a Rock Chucker and am fine with it. Also an old RCBS Junior that goes to the range with me to adjust COAL
One reserve Rock Chucker one of my brothers gave me.
It may get setup if I work out the bench setup.
You really can't go wrong, just how much money to spend and what you are after.
If I get good enough I may go for the Forster , for now, good with what I have.
I don't know.
And the reason why I don't know is that I have used only one single-stage press: My RCBS "Reloader Special 2." I believe they're up to RS5's now. Anyway, I bought mine in 1984 and used it exclusively until I got my first progressive June last year. I still use my RS2. And it still works like the day it was made. That's all I've got on this subject
And the reason why I don't know is that I have used only one single-stage press: My RCBS "Reloader Special 2." I believe they're up to RS5's now. Anyway, I bought mine in 1984 and used it exclusively until I got my first progressive June last year. I still use my RS2. And it still works like the day it was made. That's all I've got on this subject
