What press should I not get?

Runs With Fire:
I'm not sure of my budget yet, as I'm not 100% sure of the manditory startup costs. My shooting is currently limited by my finances. I would like to hit the range each Saturday, but that's too costly right now.
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Then a follow up with new baby on the way. I remember those days.

Right about this time maybe 10 years ago I got my brother a RCBS Rock Chucker Kit on sale as a Christmas gift. Now a starter kit has some advantages and some disadvantages. Most kits do not have everything you need to start loading but they do cover the basic bases. Generally things like a decent vernier or digital caliper are not included or a scale, a good Lee kit will likely include the Lee Safety Scale which is adequate or get a set of Lee dippers and learn how to use them. The point is to know what a starter kit of your choosing does or does not include. I went with a starter kit for my brother because I simply didn't want to screw around and piece part everything to get him started.

Just about any starter kit will get you going with a few additions. Again, just know what is in the box. I would not start with a $1,000 high end progressive press with whistles and bells as you simply do not need it and your budget will include powder, primers, bullets and of course before all else Pampers. :)

The RCBS 9354 is not bad and you are looking at about $325 on Amazon. Just as an example as all manufacturers have starter kits out there. Also, as I saw mentioned, Used is also a good way to go. People move into reloading and people move out frequently making for good deals on used stuff which will work a lifetime. Enjoy reloading and really enjoy the new addition.

Ron
 
Best wishes for the new baby and mother!

I'm not sure of my budget yet, as I'm not 100% sure of the manditory startup costs. My shooting is currently limited by my finances. I would like to hit the range each Saturday, but that's too costly right now.
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Ok, you got a big event coming up and you won't get much sleep for a while (some luck out but.....)

So, if you proceed, then it puts you in the poor lane. Not that its bad, most of us likely started there. My first was an RCBS Junior (still have and use it for COAL)

It did not have the leverage I wanted for rifle cases latter on, I was shooting pistol exclusively at the time. But its not gone to waste either.

So if you have to start lower cost and work up, then a single stage press from one of the good mfgs and used would be more than fine. Even a bit rusty and clean up and you have a fine machine.

That does remove the Dillons and Co-Axe. Any US made O type that is similar to the Rockchucker.

Unlike Houndawg it just does not bother me on the Rockchucker to take a dustpan once in a while and clean up the ones that jump out.

Its not the only one, its what I have (and a spare if I get table space to mount)

RCBS was pretty much if not the only type available so never got into other presses.

So if someone has a different mfg and like it and you find one, get it.

The dies all fit (Horandy has an adapter for their cam lock setup but that is turret only I believe )

The other things to buy are a powder scale and decision on electronic vs beam as well as the others bits and pieces to have a setup.

The packages are worth looking at, they don't have the best stuff bu8t they do have the stuff you need to get started.

It will take a while to sort it out with what you can afford and what you need.

I took my basic setup when I started back in 5 years ago or so, have added to it with some of the newer items to where its working reasonably well for what I do (target shooting)
 
Houndawg i am with you. I have a jr3 that does the same thing. Helped me justify the co-ax purchase. All in how you look at it.
 
Just remembered. In 30+ years of reloading I have found only one worthless press, but it does have some value because I hung it on the wall in front of my reloading station to remind me never to purchase any Smart Reloader product. A few years ago I saw an ad for a Smart Reloader "C" press on sale. I bought one half out of plain curiosity, and half mebbe for a dedicated priming press. I got the press and it looked pretty crude, and the action real felt gritty, even after I disassembled and cleaned it, and it was difficult to F/L size a 38 Special case, poor/no leverage. The only thing good about the press is it had a halfway decent paint job and a nice wooden ball for the handle...
 
Reloadron said:
Runs With Fire:


Then a follow up with new baby on the way. I remember those days......
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The RCBS 9354 is not bad and you are looking at about $325 on Amazon......
Ron
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Yep I remember too. That's when I bought an RCBS Rock Chucker starter kit....and still use nearly every piece of it 25 years later. Quality lasts. The kit Reloadron suggests above is even better. Totally agree and recommend. You will eventually want more and faster, but you won't find a better kit to start with.
 
Just remembered. In 30+ years of reloading I have found only one worthless press,
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There was a time, long before the Internet, a few manufacturers reviewed presses. I thought the reviews were fair and objective. That was before the RCBS Partner press. Included in the presses that were tested was a press that looked like a spider doing pushups when it was put through its paces. They said nothing good about the press and it seemed it bothered them their review was so negative.

Many years later I found one of the presses at the flea market in Napa, California. The kitchen appliance dealer selling the press was insisting the press was a juicer. I could not convince him it was a reloading press and-if it was a juicer it was upside down and missing too many parts. I purchased the press and then put it away to be dug out later in my life to be sold. Well it is later and digging it out is going to take time. The press was designed to skid on the two front legs while the back 2 legs were bolted to the table.

F. Guffey
 
I use Lee Classic Turret Press. No problems. Affordable. Happy with it. I’ve been reloading for 3 years now. Reloading 9mm, 223 and 300 ACC.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
If you pick wisely, the cost per round can be substantually lower than "factory" ammo.

However, don't think you'll save money, you end up shooting more.

Fair trade in my book.
 
Due to the fact that you are loading .223 and 308 I wouldn't get the Dillon Square Deal B. At $427.00 and only 4 stations and it will only load pistol. For me, that would be a "No Brainer"
 
Welcome to the world of reloading.
Reloading is not cheap, even when buying an inexpensive press.

You always going to need something...ALWAYS !...
My wife wants to skin me alive.... what do you need now ?

But it is a great past time.
Read everything you can... you can never know enough.
BE SAFE ! ...safety is paramount to good loading practices.

Buy your self a few good loading books so you can cross reference when you need to.
 
OLD 454:
You always going to need something...ALWAYS !...
My wife wants to skin me alive.... what do you need now ?
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This is where I use honesty. I tell my wife I do not need this (insert item) but it would be a nice to have.

Do you have one of those guns? Yes, honey I do but not this serial number. Do I need that powder scale? No, not really but it would be a nice to have and allow me to do with ease things you wouldn't understand. :)

Getting started in reloading does take a few bucks to get started, even a mid range single stage press can be somewhat expensive with expensive being a relative term. Once you get over the initial investment you are pretty much there short only the nice to have items.

Ron
 
I tell my wife I do not need this (insert item) but it would be a nice to have.

Do you have one of those guns? Yes, honey I do but not this serial number. Do I need that powder scale? No, not really but it would be a nice to have and allow me to do with ease things you wouldn't understand.
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Ron,

Does your wife have an unmarried sister.;)

Don
 
If you pick wisely, the cost per round can be substantually lower than "factory" ammo.
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I would guess I have added about $1000 in equipment that is direct reloading or related to shooting (boro scope)

I am looking at the Lab Radar for $500 now (will wait but .....)

On the other hand its not as costly as drugs and less impact on our life!
 
Lee gets a lot of bad rap but I have an old Lee "O" press laying upstairs which will load single stage with the best of them. The Breech Lock Challenger "O" Frame Press Model is a pretty stout press which, over the years I have loaded some really great match ammunition on in primarily 308 Winchester and 223 Remington. Anyone would be hard pressed to wear it out. The one I have is about 25 to 30 years old and functions just fine. I like the design as an O press is stout from the beginning. While it is no Co Ax it does well enough.

I am not as fond of other Lee products but I like the Lee O Press design and durability. My existing one was a part of a gun trade in deal and that is how it came along. Were I to see another at a reasonable price I would likely buy it.

Ron
 
I don't wanna get into the "Lee Hater" stuff, but there is only one tool (presses, dies, hand tools) I've had problems with and that was a Lee 45ACP powder through flaring die.

FWIW; I have no idea what my handloads cost me. I don't count pennies for my components (but I don't spend foolishly either) and in the last 5 years I've purchased two boxes of factory ammo. I reload because I like to, it's a good pastime, I learn a lot more about my guns, and I custom tailor ammo for each of my guns. I may be saving money, but I doubt it, and I don't care...
 
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It really comes down to the gear that fits your wallet and makes you happy at the end of the day.

Anyone saying stay away from lee is simply a know nothing. They make one of the best O frame presses on the market. The original classic cast(non breech lock) press makes the rock chucker primer thrower look like exactly what it is, 1960 tech.
They also make dies that are as good as any, and quite a bit cheaper than most others.

Anyone saying stay away from a progressive is simply repeating an age old myth that most people aren't smart enough to figure one out on their first go.

If you can change oil plugs and tires on a car you can operate any consumer level press.

Do your research, regardless if you can always sell off and start over it sucks a bunch to drop $500-1000 or more and build a bench, area, all set up then realize it wasn't what you wanted.
 
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