Could use y'all's input again...

P

PunisH2Live

Inactive
I've been reloading using my Lyman T-Mag turret press for ages. Love the setup and it works well for me and is plenty beefy, but....I'm considering a second press. I'm thinking along the lines of a single stage press and prefer cast iron construction.

Honestly, the main purpose would be for decapping 5.56mm ammo and possibly reloading the same and Winchester .270.

I already have separate powder measures for rifle and pistol powders ( I know some people think it's redundant, but I prefer it that way). Basically I'm stuck between a Lyman Victory press and the RCBS Rock Chucker.I wish Lyman still had the Crusher press but they discontinued it, however they are still available via eBay, I believe.

Again, please keep in mind I am a fan of cast iron frame presses. Also, I have several spare turrets for my Tmag turret press, that I generally dedicate to pistol calibers since that is the majority of what I shoot.

Thoughts? Criticisms?


Thanks!
 
If you wanna get a good one at a practical price, look on ebay for a RCBS Jr press.

I have a couple of them and one has been in use since 1967. I also have the original Rock Chucker from 1969 and 1973, but I use the Jr the most.

I can get from 0.000"-0.001" concentricity consistently with it.
 
Thanks, Dufus. I like looks of the Jr., but am really stuck on a cast iron frame (it's the machinist in me, makes me stubborn, lol).
The Rock Chucker I do like due to the cast iron construction.

Appreciate the input!! :)
 
Have you also considered the Forster Co-Ax. I have one and it is a quality piece.
Die swaps are the easiest as is priming etc.
Give it a look if you haven't already.
 
While I love my Co-Ax, the best cast iron press for the money is the Lee Classic Cast. I'm not fond of the linkage design, but it's held up to loading .50BMG.
 
"O" frame presses

It would better if you dropped the social greeting, and, instead, used a thread title that summarizes your question. That is what we do here.
I have the Redding "O" type single stage press. Best quality and not too expensive.
"The Boss Single Stage Press
By: Redding | Item # 076-72100
$140.94" @ Midsouth Shooters Supply
But if your purpose is to decap, the Lee hand press is very handy. I have the Lyman turret, too.
RCBS is legendary, but when they went to "made in China", I realized the Redding was worth it.
 
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RCBS Jr.2 is cast iron

Thanks, Dufus. I like looks of the Jr., but am really stuck on a cast iron frame
Click to expand...

My RCBS Jr2 is a cast iron frame and has given me great service since 1966. I like it for handgun calibers and priming any cartridge. The non-compound linkage gives an excellent "feel" to seating primers.

For the heaver work such as 30-06 or 45-70 I use the Lee Classic Cast Iron press and it does a very good job. It would be over kill for handgun cartridges. The RCBS Jr.2 will do the larger cases and I used it for them for years. It's just that the compound linkage of the Lee Classic Cast makes the sizing of the larger cases somewhat easier as far as handle pressure is concerned.

Edit addition: Decapping is fast and easy with the Jr.2 cast press. Less work than one with compound linkage (shorter stroke). Be sure to get the primer catcher with the press since it spits them out of the ram toward you as opposed to down the center of the ram as with the Lee Classic Cast.
 
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Marco Califo said:
It would better if you dropped the social greeting, and, instead, used a thread title that summarizes your question. That is what we do here.
I have the Redding "O" type single stage press. Best quality and not too expensive.
"The Boss Single Stage Press
By: Redding | Item # 076-72100
$140.94" @ Midsouth Shooters Supply
But if your purpose is to decap, the Lee hand press is very handy. I have the Lyman turret, too.
RCBS is legendary, but when they went to "made in China", I realized the Redding was worth it.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the format, it is just my way of speaking
 
well for cast iron you have 4 choices unless you want high end prices, Lyman O press, Lyman C press, Redding Boss, or RCBS. Toss a coin. I bet anything you choose will outlive us
 
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There are other steel and/or cast iron presses avaialable, to include Hollywood and CH/4D. Also Herters.

How about a tool steel and cast iron base Dunbar I rebuilt? I sold one but have this one available for $250.

IMG_0301.jpg
 
RCBS never made the Jr series of presses that were NOT cast iron.

The non-compound linkage gives an excellent "feel" to seating primers.
Click to expand...

Exactly, plus it gives a superb feel for crimping bullets.

I set the die in the press, adjust the seating stem to give me the depth I want, then I just feel the crimp. I get very consistent crimps this way without having to adjust the seat and crimp functions together.
 
The redding boss is cast iron, strong and precise, and about $150. I own one and it is perfect for me.

I removed the bike grip on the handle and replaced it with a wooden ball that I varnished. The primer catcher is less than perfect. The priming arm on the press is less than perfect.
 
Meh, for the $120 spent you won't beat the Lee original classic cast iron O frame press(not the breech lock version).
The other presses mentioned like the rock chucker(Would be great, if we were in 1972), and the cheap Lymans(complete junk) aren't even close.
The only thing close to that Lee is something like the Redding Big Boss II at twice the money.
 
Dufus said:
RCBS never made the Jr series of presses that were NOT cast iron.



Exactly, plus it gives a superb feel for crimping bullets.

I set the die in the press, adjust the seating stem to give me the depth I want, then I just feel the crimp. I get very consistent crimps this way without having to adjust the seat and crimp functions together.
Click to expand...


Midway had the Partner, not Partner Jr. and I was working from that..They had it listed as cast aluminum. I'll revisit the idea of the Partner, Jr. Thanks, Dufus.
 

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PunisH2Live asked:
Basically I'm stuck between a Lyman Victory press and the RCBS Rock Chucker.
Click to expand...

Everything I have bought from Lyman has disappointed me to one degree or another. And Lyman's Customer Service has been dreadful. I'm still waiting on repair parts ordered in 2016!

Little wonder I'm going to tell you that I have yet to be disappointed with an RCBS product and I have never been disappointed by RCBS Customer Service. For me, the choice would be clear; Rock Chucker. In fact, I recently bought a Rock Chucker and had it shipped to my family's farm where I do most of my shooting.
 
Sorry but I am a firm believer in buying used. Have three I am using and all were purchased used. The RCBS JR3 was won on ebay for less then $50.00 and that included the shipping.

If you watch regularly you will at some point see any one of them come to auction. The RCBS presses are plentiful and can be had reasonably. The Lee are probably the second most common on ebay.

Good luck in your quest!
 
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