Best single stage press and why

My concern is that with my Lee presses in order to get consistency I have to check each round when seating the bullet. There seems to be slop in the pivoting part of the ram. I have Lee and rcbs seating dies and both require that. I want to be confident that there is minimal unwanted movement in the press. I did find the forster for $300 on cabelas website.
Also I don't see how you can get match grade ammo out of a progressive when using extruded powders. I have a Lee progressive and it meters horribly. I bought the perfect powder measure from Lee and even that can be off .5 grains. Perhaps Lee is considered low grade tools, so what progressive will meter extruded powder absolutely perfect every time? For now it's weigh then pour into each case for me. The progressive is for plinking only.
Also you guys are hilarious with some of your posts. I could compete with Miwall if I could do 27k an hour!
 
Best could refer to function or quality.
Quality is hard to define and measure.
For instance, consider red wine. Ripple might rate the same as a rare French vintage. Grape juice with 14% Ethyl Alcohol!
I have looked into the Forster Co-Ax, and really liked what I have found for my simple needs. I also liked what I found about the Redding Big Boss II. I only load for revolvers, 38 and 44 caliber cartridges. I like the Dillon, very high quality, but too big for my needs. My press is bolted to a 1.5 inch plywood plank, which is clamped to my wood working bench with large bar clamps. It spends most of its time under my bench, which is a multi purpose affair.
Here is a video that does a good job of describing the features and operation of the Forster Co-Ax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzVZe7f6G0

Buying quality is not as expensive as it seems. I have owned a Rolex Submariner watch, and a LICA M camera, neither of which could be considered cheap. I bought the watch new and the camera used, from a friend, in like new condition. I enjoyed using both for several years, and eventually sold them for about what I paid. So, the cost to me was the use of my money and inflation.

Best,
Rick
 
Also I don't see how you can get match grade ammo out of a progressive when using extruded powders. I have a Lee progressive and it meters horribly.
Click to expand...

Maybe try a different measure?

You can also fit retry much any measure on a given toolhead.

IMG_20160212_173749_083_zps5y9dyokz.jpg


Or do what David Tubb does and throw charges with a Prometheus then dump them into the funnel.

BR_550_Ghosted.jpg
 
No idea if it is the finest ever, but I like my Rock Chucker it makes great 38, 357, 44 and 30'06 for me. I've acquired a 9mm die set but have yet to use it and I want to add a 5.56x45 tools soon.
 
Just saying;
There all good to excellent tools.
I wore out a Pacific single stage over 30 years. Bought a RCBS rockchucker (iron) for the pacific's replacement. As far as Lee. For those on a tight budget or wanting entry level tools just too. "try & see."_That's Lee's niche.
 
[QUOTEAt $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.
][/QUOTE]
The street price is $270 shipped from Cabelas pretty regularly. I didn't mind spending because most of my reloading gear was given to me or the prices on used stuff was greatly reduced. I am kind of a tool/gadget guy as well so there's always that in the back of my mind.
 
Does anyone know of or have a powder measure that can measure extruded powders by volume to match grade consistency? Honesty I dont think it exists. Extruded powders in my opinion have to be weighed to get the consistency. This is slightly off original topic but still relevant.
 
RCBS RS (Reloader Special) I think the frame is dated in 1977, but it's not in front of me at the moment. It served me well for many years to do all kinds of things. When i upgraded it pretty much went into depriming duty. I also used my brothers Rockchucker, and it was no comparison in terms of how beefy it was. It was also Heavy! Wow.

Anyway, I started using Lee products, added a LCT and because of it I picked up a Lee Classic Cast! I love it. It's also much cleaner to run than the RS. The primers just drop straight through to a bucket underneath. It'll handle pretty much everything I can personally throw at it. Why didn't I get the Rockchucker? Cost, for what I use a single stage for, I just didn't need that much of a press anymore. Especially because I rotate my presses on stands. My only permanently mounted press is XL650.
 
I have three Rock Chuckers, something went wrong the other day with one of them. Suddenly and without warning the ram slid out the bottom and hit the floor. There was no use in me trying to blame the wife because she has never used that one. I called RCBS to order the new Special Order Catalog etc. and mentioned the problem with the press. When finished they transferred me, I got tired of waiting so I hung up, in about 2 hours RCBS called about the press.

They said they would send me a new one; I wanted to know 'a new what?' because I am not trading for a new one. They said they would send a new ram and instillation kit. It has taken me years to get this one looking the way it does. I do not believe I have enough years left brake-in another press.

F. Guffey
 
Rock chucker jr 3 here. Got it from a friend and am very happy. Loading 30 06 with hopes for pistol soon (once wife decides). No plans for anything fancy press wise. Lee enfield indeed.
 
As I stated earlier, one can't go wrong with a single stage press. It's as simple as it gets, in theory or practice. Sure some are built heavier than others but again I still see many Old C presses being bought and sold on ebay. Like the old Lyman, C&H, Herter's and some I've never heard of.
 
"What is "match grade consistency" in terms of group size, to you?"

To answer the question it would be .5"
However my point is if you run 5 loads through a measure using extruded powder atleast one charge will be off .1 grain or more.
 
sold on ebay. Like the old Lyman, C&H, Herter's and some I've never heard of.
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I have an old press I purchased at a flea Market in Napa, California. When being operated it looks like a spider doing push-ups. It became affordable when I convinced the dealer it was not a juicing machine, he specialized in commercial kitchen equipment. One day I will dig it out, it has little value as a sizing press, as a juicer it would require mounting it upside down or under the table.

F. Guffey
 
To answer the question it would be .5"
However my point is if you run 5 loads through a measure using extruded powder atleast one charge will be off .1 grain or more.
Click to expand...

One can get 1/2 MOA with volume thrown charges, if the rifle likes everything else. Depending on the round, (total volume/weight of charge) .1gn isn't that much, less than a half percent in a small case like .223

It would be a 0.4% change in a 25 grain charge. I know some precision shooters that claim a .2 gn variance isn't a deal breaker for accuracy. If you ladder test your loads you can actually prove this to yourself.

If your the kind of guy that just sleeps better knowing things are precise, you can always find a spherical powder that will shoot and meter well.

Or I built this so I could see the difference between volume and weighed charges. It will make them the same within a kernel or two of powder (fraction of a tenth grain).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACd3yt0J3Bg
 
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