What press should I not get?

I know a guy that reloads on a Lee Loadmaster that he inherited from his "G-Paw". Now I saw those two Bashing and picking on each other for 2 1/2 years but when "G-Paw" was explaining how to do anything with the press that guy would be as quiet as hell just watching and paying attention.

When "G-Paw" died he willed 4 LoadMasters to this guy. And he currently has one set up on his bench. This last weekend I saw him tear it down, clean it, lube it, and put it back together. Then I watched him run 400 rounds in an hour without having to stop to fix anything.

I have offered him to use one of my Ammo-Plants, but he prefers to use his "G-Paw" press.

Now, I don't let this Guy prime his own brass because I don't think it is safe for my 7-year-old grandson to do that yet.
 
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Lee equipment is price pointed for those that cant afford a dillon or hornady etc
With out Lee alot of people would not have been able to get into reloading.

I started out with a loadmaster ... lolol... it was a challange to do alot of reloading on it. I swear it was haunted.

I now own 2 Dillon xl650 and am very happy with them
But... I dont care what press you buy they all have there little problems from time to time... some more then others.
What ever you do dont fall into the ..." I can do xxx per hour on my press"
It's not about how many rounds per hour you make ...its the quality of the ammunition you make.
 
OLD 454I don't quite agree with your statement. I can afford to buy whatever presses I desire yet I own a Lee Turret press, a Lee Pro1000 and now also a new Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro. And like you I am quite happy with them.
 
Yea, but the problem is starting out and what to get to allow you to figure out what you want.

I was just lucky, the RCBS Junior worked for what I needed at the time and still serves and the RC the same.
 
opinions are like everything else, and it's all relative. This internet age we now live in is truly wonderful. When I started reloading (early 80's), I was only interested in loading cost effective pistol rounds, 357 and 44mag. I was tired of paying $18.95 for a 50 round box of Federal, 180gr JHP ammo. Not having a mentor, I bought a Lyman Reloading Manual (46th edition) and ended up buying a Lee three hole turret press. I still have it and use it regularly for various functions.

A couple years later I bought a Dillon RL450 and really liked it but tired of swapping powder bars and primer feeds for large and small. So I soon bought a second RL450. I still use both for all of my pistol reloads.

In the last 7 years I have have finally grown up and started loading for rifle and used one or the other RL450 in a single stage fashion. But I eventually realized that the torquing of the shell plate head at the top of the stroke had to be wrenching sideways on my rifle cases.

Today, I am way more interested in loading for accuracy, and have found myself aggravating the spouse with my must have purchases. Just recently after at least six months of pondering, I decided on a Forster Co-Ax press and love it. But as good as it is, I do not see how it can work with my RCBS collet bullet puller.

And so back to the the original question, "which press would I NOT buy" as my first and only press? The answer is none of the presses I just listed and own today. If I was starting all over, it would have to be a cast iron single stage press, and that new MEC press looks exceptional to me.
 
I agree KMW ..starting out reloading buy what you want absolutely!

Hell buy a cheaper press ... handloading is not for everyone find out if you like it.

And you bought, in my opinion the better of the lee presses. I wish I had bought the lee classic cast turret.. it's much better press then the loadmaster.

But my point was for those that wanted to get into reloading but could not afford the Blue or the Red presses could afford a lee press of what model best suited them..

When the old man Richard Lee ran Lee precision..I personally think the quality was better then then it is today.
 
I have a Lee Challenger press from the mid 90's, works great. I have a newer version with the breech lock set and forget die option, works great as well. I've loaded several thousand rifle rounds with 'em. Stay away from the LEE powder scale, very hard to set & read which can lead to operator errors.
 
What product, or brand should I steer clear of?
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I have presses, dies and scales, there are not many Herter presses I do not have; I also have RCBS presses and I have one Lee press. I do not use the Lee press but I do have one, I also have RCBS presses I do not use, two of the RCBS presses I do not use are called Partner presses.

And again, there is a chance I have the only press sold that looks like a spider doing push-ups. In a book of review on reloading equipment it was recommended reloaders stay away/avoid this press. I purchased my press from a man that was selling kitchen equipment at a flea market in NAPA, California. He claimed the press was a juicer; I could have as much trouble finding that press as I would finding the little Lee press.

If you are interested in purchasing used equipment let me know.

F. Guffey
 
Today, I am way more interested in loading for accuracy, and have found myself aggravating the spouse with my must have purchases. Just recently after at least six months of pondering, I decided on a Forster Co-Ax press and love it. But as good as it is, I do not see how it can work with my RCBS collet bullet puller.

And so back to the the original question, "which press would I NOT buy" as my first and only press? The answer is none of the presses I just listed and own today. If I was starting all over, it would have to be a cast iron single stage press, and that new MEC press looks exceptional to me.
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Agreed and buy local. Shipping prices for a RCBS Rock Chucker would be killer. I hate to think what some of Mr Gs old one weight, more like an anvil.
 
Looks like the OP never came back to his threat.

I would skip anything LEE and RCBS. Redding T-7 if you don't want to go fully progressive, Dillion 650 otherwise.

No way in hell would I buy an aluminium framed press.
 
I bought my Rock Chucker combo new from Gradys Wholesale Sports in 1973-74 mail order. Came with the press, shell holder and a set of RCBS .308 Win dies. My buddy bought one too and we ordered together and got free shipping, 42.00 each. No problems with anything but the plastic spent primer tray broke, E-mailed RCBS and they sent me a new one FREE !!!. I took it apart a couple times to clean and lube the ram and bore and pivot points. I'll wear out before the RCBS tools will !!! hdbiker
 
Getting a complet basic setup has a lot of appeal vs buying the bits and pieces sepearely.

I forget what I got with the Junior.

The RC was a kit on a good price (early 80s, Longs Drug AK of all things and a story there)

Got me going for hunting loads and a bit of target with rifle.

So its not just the press, its the shell holder or holders, dies, scale of some kind, funnel, deburr (and latter trim) and .........................................
 
I don't get all the comments on aluminum framed presses. Dillons are aluminum and they have a stellar record for longevity.
 
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