Single stage press

I have the lee hand press due to limited space and it's great. But if I had a bench I would mount up any lee press and get to loading.
 
I bought a new RCBS years ago and it is a very good press . Last winter I thought about an upgrade . I have two Dillions and now that I am retired I have the time to load at my leisure . I do love the control of the single stage and bought a new Forster and it is nice should of bought one years ago .
 
Another vote for the Lee classic cast single stage.

With a few points I didn't see mentioned. It has the ability to use the excellent Lee safety prime system. It's supplied with the bracket that simply screws onto the top of the press. Then the safety prime slips into that bracket.

Another thing is the ability to use it for loading the ma-duce, or fifty BMG. Yes it does,BUT only with the lee dies. It's thread pattern is 1-¼ diameter, while the other 50 cal dies are 1-½ inch outside diameter.(This is of course after the 7/8X14 dia. bushing is removed.) Small point, but it needs to be mentioned.

I recently busted my Bonanza co-ax press! (I say Bonanza because that's who built it originally.) Forster bought out Bonanza, then continued to produce it. One of the pivot pins at the top is cracked. It's not threaded, but is pressed into the frame. No way to get it out. Those pins are very hard, so threading it to allow it to be pulled is not an option. I called Forster, they said they could fix it, just send it in. I retired it, bought the Lee classic cast. It's as good as the co-ax as far as precision goes.
 
well, you don't need it built like an Abrams tank. it needs to be built to do the job.
if you have an unlimited budget, then buy anything you want.
if you don't, buy a lee breech lock kit. i have one, they work great, no problems. the lee dies are also decent.
 
That's about like asking Ford or Chevy.
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Agreed!

Only thing I'd add is don't buy and S-10 when you need a F250 for the job.

I started with a RCBS Partner press, which even with pistol cartridges requred a lot of manpower to resize and to prime off the press. Eventually broke the handle resizing 30-06, and got a free replacement. I later got the big Honrnady 007, I think it is. Anyways, get a big heavy duty one with a long enough handle or reloading will be twice as work, especially with rifle cartridges. Whether be the Orange Crusher, the Rock Chucker, 007 or whathever brand, the big boy will make reloading easier.
 
Priming varies widely on different brands of single stage presses. If you want to prime on the press it may help you decide which press you want to buy. If all that matters is strength then any of the big names will work perfectly. I prefer the RCBS priming on the Rockchucker for single stage work (Lyman single stage has identical priming). The Lee is off my list because I don't like the priming method. If lowest price is the deciding factor you will want to buy Lee.

Another deal to look at is whether you want to use the quick change adapter for dies. Last I looked the Lyman single stage will not accept them.

Last but not least, if you want to load 50 cal that may thin the herd out too. All single stages will not do 50 cal.

Once you decide personal preferences it will help in the selection process.
 
Gheez, this gets my head hurting.

I'm not brand loyal. I own several kind. I use my Lee cast press more than any. Why? I don't know. I guess I like it better. My Rockchucker is great too. But, it doesn;t load the bullets the Lee does on my bench's. My Lee hand press is awesome for quick work up at the range, etc.....

For a Single stage press, I'm sure some are better. How much better can you get than 20,000 or so loaded cartridges with nothing but a bit of Liquid wrench every now and then on the ram? I use my Lee most times. God Bless
 
Before you buy anything determine what it is you want to accomplish. Once you do define your needs, shop and take your time doing it.

Example, on the FS Reloading site you can purchase a Lee Precision Breechlock single stage for $70. For $2 more you can have a 4 stage, indexed turret press.

So, how much loading do you plan on doing? Depending on what you are loading, you may require multiple dies just to prep a case. The same can be true with loading, i.e. separate dies for seating and crimping. Think through the processes you will need to execute and that should help you determine what type of press you want to commit to.

Don't get me wrong, a single stage press gets the job done. I purchased a Lee kit over two years ago when I began in pistol. After a year I purchased a 3 hole turret press so that I could prep brass faster and dedicate my time at the single stage to strictly loading rounds. Very recently I put the single stage aside, moved exclusively to the turret mounted on top of an In-Line Fabrication riser and couldn't be happier.

You have many options. Take your time.

Good luck, be safe and enjoy a fantastic venture.
 
Absolutely IMO best for the dollar is Lee Classic cast. I bought one to try after I bought a LCT for pistol. Sold my RockChucker and kept the Lee Classic Cast
 
The best thing would be a heavy cast iron press, RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, Redding etc. Save for it or better yet find a used one. They'll last forever.
 
any press can be used as a single stage press. so what is the budget? what are you loading for? you can get great deals at yard sales with someone who wants to get rid of stuff. good deals on used equipment on the web. I found a guy at a local range that would buy them at great prices clean them up and help out new reloaders by offering equipment for what he had into them.
 
my wife used to drag me to yard sales all the time. i have yet to ever see any reloading stuff for sale, or a gun for that matter. i'm sure it exists, but i wouldn't hold my breath. btw...if you are new to reloading, i recommend you get the breech lock anniversary kit from FSreloading. has everything you need to get started excluding a pair of calipers and a set of dies. i have never regretted it and have sent many others down the same road with good results. after you learn the art of reloading and do enough cartridges to figure out what you like and don't like about your press set, then decide what you think you need and don't need.

ive only been loading a few years, but am still very happy with the lee breech-lock even after 10k or so rounds. i have only upgraded the scale, but still use the original as a check for my digital. will probably eventually invest in a better powder thrower, although nothing wrong with the lee "perfect powder measure", it can be a pain with extruded powders.

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-breech-lock-challenger-50th-anniversary-kit-90050.html

i shoot a lot, more than most anyways, and still haven't felt the "need" for a progressive......the "desire" is there though, we'll see who wins


i just saw on FS that Lee now has a "cast" perfect powder measure, that looks interesting.
 
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skizzums:
my wife used to drag me to yard sales all the time.
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well I'm sure she isn't looking for tools and sporting goods. check craigs list. search on reloading and i'm sure some will show up. I,ve been reloading almost 40 years now I've picked up a few good deals. bullets just left by a passed family member I normally pay what they ask. they normally under value the products because they have no idea of the value. I've also had people just give me stuff because they just don't want it around. you do have to look and can't find it every weekend but a couple times a year its out there. the hunt is always fun. I've even found it at flea markets. you just never know.
 
I believe you won't go wrong with choosing any one of the presses made today (except Smart Reloader, stay away!). From Lee, to RCBS, to Redding, to Foster Co-Ax and everything in between, you'll get a good sturdy press that will last many, many years. I had a Lee Challenger way back when and if you heard anything about them it was bad; aluminum frame wears out and breaks easily, all Lee is junk, etc. I reloaded a lot of safe, accurate ammo for my handguns and two rifles. I sold it during a messy divorce. If you buy any of the major mfg's presses you won't need another press for many years...

I'd also suggest The ABCs of Reloading, not only for the "How To" stuff but for equipment needed for your reloading needs...
 
Redding Big Boss II
Lee Classic Cast original O frame(not breech lock)

Two best O frames on the market. Lee walks away from the Redding on price, and on press priming, even capable of 50 BMG if you ever happen to be lucky enough to own one.

No contest, Lee.

RCBS and Hornady don't even make it in to that race.
 
It's all in what you want. To me there basically made all the same I just made sure it was made of cast iron not aluminum. I had it narrowed down to a couple then just waited for one of them went on sale which was the rock chucker by rcbs. Dies are basically the same to I know hornady does free bullets with dies sometimes to so always look for good deals like that. Just take care of whatever you get and it will last you long time.
 
skizzums
my wife used to drag me to yard sales all the time. i have yet to ever see any reloading stuff for sale, or a gun for that matter.
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I have not seen reloading gear at a yard sale, but I was seeing guns up until 1999.
In the 1950s my father had wrenches, a bench vise, and a grinder. That made his garage the neighborhood shop.
Time was men did not turn loose of family tools and women did not turn loose of family jewels.
Now I have ~~ 1000 wrenches from yard sales. My 28 year old son has had a wrench in his hands twice in his life. Wrenches are being dumped.
I have been buying $5 screw drivers and wood chisels for 25 cents, cleaning off the rust and paint and then sharpening them. I now have hundreds. Tools are being dumped.
But gunsmithing tools, like lathes, are still worth something, while table saws go for scrap prices.
I was given a Dillon 550B for free. I never used it. I gave it to someone who said he would use it. But he is still using his single stage presses.
 
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