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Re-Loading Presses

glb243glb243 Member Posts: 49 ✭✭
edited December 2001 in General Discussion
I'm in the market for a new press(single stage), with so many to choose from, just thought I'd ask my comrades as to which they thought was the best, and why. How about dies?
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Comments

  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In single stage presses, one word: RCBS; quality, endurance, warranty, service. Anything else comes in 4th.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Also buy one or two cheapo Lee c-presses to dedicate to priming and the Lee powder measuring/neck expanding operation.
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  • badboybobbadboybob Member Posts: 1,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    RCBS and Lee both make high quality single stage presses. I've both and don't favor one over the other.
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  • COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
    edited November -1
    My dad had a loading bench full of various presses and it seemed like it took him forever to come up with a finished product.I bought a used Dillon 450 progressive about 12 years ago and it still works great. I can adjust each station and monitor its functions to for quality control. I too am interested in getting another press but was looking at a Dillon 550, So I could have 2 cartridges set up to load. My question is am I missing something? Are single stage units better? And if so how? Thanks Kidd
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like the RCBS Rockchucker. It has the strength to easily resize the longest cases. It also remains very accurate in OAL when I switch from die to die. The setting is just right when I come back to any caliber. Plus it's only $80.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    I favor lee equipment in most matters, presses included. For those who say Lee stuff isn't sturdy, listen here- yesterday I was resizing some .303 brass to 6.5 Dutch. I got a stuck case; I pulled so hard on the ram that the head seperated and the bolts holding the press to the bench loosened. But the press is fine. If it can take this, it can take any ordinary reloading effort. Go with a Lee O frame press.
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    rcbs is all I use but I have never given much thought to other brands. Single stage gives alot better control over finished product and the ability to fine tune each and every cartridge. I do use a lee hand priming tool, goes much quicker and I get a better feel for primer seating.
    when all else fails........................
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  • glb243glb243 Member Posts: 49 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How about dies? Is there a noticable difference between the brands?
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not any difference that I can notice, I use redding and rcbs depending on whats available for the cal I am working with. I always have one set for each gun not caliber. once i set dies to a gun I do not use them for a different gun of the same caliber. Some i use multiple seating dies for one gun if I switch bullets because once I get a seater set I do not want to move it for another bullet so I spend alot of money on dies!! gets confusing sometimes if wifey goes into MY basement and gets nosey but I mark each box for each gun.
    when all else fails........................
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  • semi-autosemi-auto Member Posts: 50 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I purchased a LEE 4-hole turret press as a first rig, and to me it seems the best of both worlds. You get single stage precision due to the die plate arrangement keeping each one locked where you put it, and the speed of having all your gear up there ready to move on to the next step. Once I've got her set, I'm still controlling each stage of it with a hand on the lever, and only one thing happening at a time. Every handgun load I've made has easily outperformed factory ammo., and now I'm looking at some rifle dies.
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  • COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
    edited November -1
    7mm Do you use single stage presses? or a press and switch dies from sizer to powder drop etc, Have you ever used a progresive loader? Please explain to me how single stage presses are better. Thanks Kidd
    Wheel guns Rule but Machine-guns Rock-N-Roll
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  • AdamsQuailHunterAdamsQuailHunter Member Posts: 2,022 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Gentlemen:I suspect that being older than most of you on this forum -- save a few -- I have or have had equipment most of you have never even heard of much less seen. Heck - I still have Val-Scott and Hollywood equipment. I have two Pacific and an early Herter's press in OUR living room right now that I am doing maint. work on. Yes - I have plastic down over the carpeting and three layes of newspapers over that - yes - I am still getting "dragon-breath" over it.Iconoclast and I are usually on the same page most of the time - maybe not the same paragraph. If we are talking about the Rock Crusher NOT the Rock Chunker - then I will agree as well. Otherwise, then my vote goes for Forester. I can change dies before you can blink an eye. Bring out your concentricity measuring equipment - I will match almost anything you have got - save a few. Plus no stinking shell holders to change. I can go from one caliber to another before you can even get the first die unscrewed.And I second V35's motion for the most part. I have two Lee presses - one dedicated to depriming with a universal depriming die and the other dedicated to priming. I can feel the primer seat better with the Lee better than any other press I have ever had. (I don't happen to like the Lee hand priming equipment.)As for dies - I have again have had or have just about everything you have heard of. I still have Lee, Redding, Lyman, Pacific, Val-Scott, Hollywood, Herters and CH4D. I no longer have nor will I have any Hornaday for reasons that I do not care to discuss - if you like them fine - but they will never be in my reloading shed ever again. For my money, CH4D wins. If I have a problem - I call Dave Davison at CH4D - and problem solved - no ifs-ands-buts-or-maybes.I do not mean to slight Dillion - they too have great customer support and if I were to ever consider a progressive - then without a doubt it would be Dillion.
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  • 17mach417mach4 Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bonanza-Forster Co-Ax press, beautiful serious equipment, same for Bonanza dies with Redding being second choice. Never a problem, take care of them and your great-grandchildren will love them as much as you will.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As far as dies go, I like the RCBS Competition dies if they are offered in one of your calibers. They are adjustable by .001" increments. This is great for perfecting the load for each gun. You can also load the same caliber for another gun by turning the dial to get another OAL. Just write down the measuements for each one and you can go back and forth without resetting the dies.
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  • AdamsQuailHunterAdamsQuailHunter Member Posts: 2,022 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    By the way ---- if any of you Ladies/Gentlemen happen to have a Val-Scott sizing die and/or wad seater die in 20 gauge that you would like to get rid of, would you please let me know. I would like to give it a new home.Just give me a holler --- AdamsQuailHunter on the "Ask The Experts" forum --- as I generally spend more time there --- and I will respond as soon as possibleMany Thanks In Advance
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  • glb243glb243 Member Posts: 49 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you all for the input.
    Aim small...Miss small
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