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Reloading Presses

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Category: Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition
Forum Name: Reloading & Ballistics
Forum Description: Anything to do with ammunition
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10300
Printed Date: March/29/2024 at 10:17
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Topic: Reloading Presses
Posted By: Corky
Subject: Reloading Presses
Date Posted: March/10/2008 at 20:24
I am considering getting a new press and what like some opinions.  The Forster has me intrigued.  Let me know what you guys would get.



Replies:
Posted By: ckk1106
Date Posted: March/10/2008 at 23:35
I've always heard good things about the RCBS rockchucker.  I have a cheapy RCBS partner.  It works fine for everything I have needed, but I have to use quite a bit of pressure sometimes with resizing and removing the expanding ball.  If I had to do it over again I would probably purchase a bigger press. I have loaded thousands of rounds through that thing and really had no problems.


Posted By: mwyates
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 08:09
I'm sure Forster makes a good press.  I've been using an RCBS Rockchucker for many years and can't imagine anything being any better if you're loading a wide variety of cartridges.

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No man on his deathbed ever said "I wish I'd made more money".


Posted By: RifleDude
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 09:42
The RCBS Rockchucker is a good, solid press that will last virtually forever.  I'm partial to Redding presses because of their heavy duty feel and smooth wobble-free operation.  The Redding Boss is an excellent, very stoutly built press that's basically equivalent to the Rockchucker, maybe a tad heavier built.  I have the Redding UltraMag, which is a fantastic press, but it's overkill for most jobs short of loading .50 BMG.

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Ted


Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 12:14
The Forster is the same as the old Bonanza Co-Ax and they are a good press. I know a guy that's been using one for over twenty years and has had no problems. I don't think you can do auto feed with primers, though.
I have a Rockchucker for twenty five years and it is solid and well made. I have never had a problem with it, either. You definitely don't want to drop it on your foot, it is heavy duty.
I ran spell checker on this response. You wouldn't believe what the software wanted to replace Rockchucker with.Shocked


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 12:42
Originally posted by tahqua tahqua wrote:

I ran spell checker on this response. You wouldn't believe what the software wanted to replace Rockchucker with.Shocked
 
Please do tell Doug. Everyone loves a good laugh.


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With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: Bigdaddy0381
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 12:52
I have a lyman turret press.I bought it in a kit and it is really a good solid press.I like it because I can leave my dies in it for a length of time with out adjusting them.


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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.

Ecclesiastes 10:2


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 12:58
Originally posted by cyborg cyborg wrote:

Originally posted by tahqua tahqua wrote:

I ran spell checker on this response. You wouldn't believe what the software wanted to replace Rockchucker with.Shocked
 
Please do tell Doug. Everyone loves a good laugh.
 
LOL....I can only imagine. Wink


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 13:07
Corksoaker Wink
Darn, I spell checked this and came up with the same. It wasn't the fist choice, though.


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 13:10
Laugh

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With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: RONK
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 19:49

 I have had a Forster Co-ax and love it.  The dies snap in and out in half a second and never need adjusting once the lock ring is set. It is smooth, sturdy and solid.

 I like single-stage reloading, but screwing dies in and out all day is a pain.  The Hornady Lock-N-Load system is nice, but you need to buy a bushing for every die you own.

 The Forster press uses standard screw-tightened locking lock rings. I use Hornady's lock rings on all my dies, but others work fine.

 The Forster also uses an ingenious shellholder that eliminates the need to buy others.  The one on the press works with most cartridges. An extra-large one is available for the freaks.
 
I'd get the Forster.  Not cheap, but it's a GREAT press!


Posted By: Mike McDonald
Date Posted: March/11/2008 at 20:53
I have a Co-Ax used for F/L sizing big nasty stuff.
Also use an RCBS Jr for light work, and a pair of Dillon 550's, one for large primer cartridges, the other for  small primer cartridges.
 
Don't think single press for everything, these things are like mechanics wrenches.....one for every job.


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: March/12/2008 at 18:59
I have an old RCBS Special 5, I think it is. 
Been a terrific press over the years, but it's not a Rock Chukar or a Dillion either.


Posted By: Dolphin
Date Posted: March/12/2008 at 20:03
My Lyman turret press is excellent, purchased as a kit.  Problem is that I do not use most of the stuff that came with the kit.  The scale was less than impressive and bought the RCBS digital auto scale.  That made not only the scale, but the powder dispenser obsolete.  Personally, I would talk to someone who is experienced in reloading and buy a good press and the extras separately.

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D. Overton


Posted By: 3_tens
Date Posted: March/15/2008 at 21:27
Rockchucker here too. It has been going since 72. It has sure done a lot of shells. Not the fastest reloader but its solid.

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Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.

Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow
Now the rules have changed again.


Posted By: J!m
Date Posted: April/03/2008 at 16:40

I have an older rockchucker, and a piggyback-II for it.

Any 'normal' rifle cartridge is fine in the 'chucker, and the piggyback handles up to and including .357 mag with no problems. I have done THOUSANDS of 9mm rounds with the piggyback, as well as countless .38 special for my dad, including a bunch of load development projects for accuracy in his revolver...

Come to think of it, I think the piggyback will handle .30 carbine too. I know I did a small batch of those at some point, and I think I used the piggyback for them. Basically, if they physically fit in the press, you can load them . If not, you have to take the piggyback off, and go single-stage with them.

I am gearing up for 'stupid-accurate' .308 (read: cartridges treated better than some parents treat their children), and the rockchuker will be the cornerstone of that project. I will likely mix-and-match dies to get exactly what I want (I normally stick with RCBS sets) but the press will be the same.

I would not hesitate to buy another 'chucker, or perhaps a dedicated progressive for small calibers like the 9mm, although I don't shoot through 9mm cartridges like I used to...



Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: April/03/2008 at 17:13
I currently load on a cheap Lee press, but am looking to upgrade, so this topic is very interesting to me. I was looking towards the Redding Big Hoss II or a Lee Classic, but I have an open mind with no opinion, which obviously comes from marriage.

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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: J!m
Date Posted: April/03/2008 at 17:41

I use a MEC that is older than me for 12-gage reloading.

I was reloading 12-gage before I could fire a 12-gage (and still stand)!

I like the RCBS stuff, and it is like the "Chevy Small-Block" of reloading equipment- very easy to get parts for.
 
That said, I always liked the look of the Dillon Precision stuff; however I have no experience first-hand with it... I think a blue pres would be great for 9mm, but perhaps not so good for precision rifle cartridges? Again: no first-hand experience...
 
Redding seems to be economical- quality on-par with RCBS at a lower price point (usually). Also no first-hand experience with it, but just from observation of display units etc.


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: April/04/2008 at 10:31
i love my rockchucker IV the redding boss is a nice press also.

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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: AWS
Date Posted: April/07/2008 at 21:29

Having been reloading for45 yrs and owning a gun shop in the 70's I've loaded on alot of presses over the years.  Right now I'm limited for space and only have a Lyman Truline converted to 7/8x14 and keep it set up for the Bugs(22Hornet & 218 Bee), a Lyman T-Mag turret set up for my small base cartridges, and a small Lee for misc.  Moving to new digs at the end of the year and will add some machines that I've had in storage a Lyman All-American turret set up for .473 base cartridges plus Lyman Crusher II and a C&H Magnum for heavy work.  My coyote hunting partner is running a new Lee cast classic and it's a heck of a machine. 

Which is best,  in a single stage I'd put the  Co-Ax at the top, with the top of the line presses from all the major makers a close second.  I can't find a bit of difference in the Rockchucker,Orange Crusher, Lee Cast Classic, Redding Boss's and the Hornady LNL Classic.   The turrets are about even the extra station on the Redding T-7 is nice, you can find the Lyman T-Mag for alot less money.  I don't do progressives so haven't looked at any.
 
AWS


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After the first shot the rest are just noise.


Posted By: VN350X10
Date Posted: April/13/2008 at 14:16
I'm a new member, but I think I can offer a bit of knowledge here....
I've been reloading since 1973, have worn out a couple of firearms with reloads & should have been able to deduct Remington & Winchester a few times as dependants.
That said, here goes:
Current loading presses on my bench, left to right, calibers/tooling avaliable.
Lee 1000, dedicated to 9mm
Dillon SDB, 10MM & .45ACP
Dillon XL 650, 10MM, 40 S&W,(mm, 38 super, .44 Mag/Spl.
Dillon 1050, .45ACP, .44 AutoMag
Dillon 550, Rimmed revolver cals, varmint cals  & CF rifle up to .375 H&H
Bonanza Co-Axial
RCBS RockChucker
Lyman Spar-T
 
I currently reload for a 4 man IPSC team; 9mm, 38 Super, .40 & 10MM, we just got to agree on something one of these days !
 
All of the presses I own have good/bad features, no one press is "perfect", not even the Dillon 1050. The new model, the Super 1050 might come close, as it can handle up to .30-06 & .45-70 size calibers, but won't do the real big stuff.
In a single station press, the  Reddings are what I'd now chose over the RockChucker, but they wern't avaliable when I started loading.
I use my Co-Ax for case forming & heavy de-capping, it's stronger than the 'Chucker, not much, but it has a bit better leverage.
Sorry this is so long..I could keep going !
I'll try to answer any loading/press questions I can; My experience may as well keep someone from making the same mistakes I've made !
 
uncle albert


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My gun safe is LARGER than my first appartment !


Posted By: tahqua
Date Posted: April/13/2008 at 14:36
Thanks for the input and welcome to O.T., Uncle Albert.

Doug


Posted By: bagger
Date Posted: April/13/2008 at 22:24
I use the RCBS Rockchucker single stage.
I'm looking for something faster due to the amount of .45 I shoot. I'll still load my rifle stuff on the Rockchucker. Been looking at the Dillion but I'm up for suggestions.
 
Thanks


Posted By: VN350X10
Date Posted: April/13/2008 at 22:37
If you have small hands & plan on only 1 or 2 pistol calibers, the Dillon SDB is good.
Small hands is the key here, there isn't a lot of room to work. Another drawback is the propriatary dies that the SDB uses. All other Dillon presses use the industry std. 7/8-14 dies.
If you went to a 550, you could load everything on it & there is a case feeder avaliable for it now.
Loading pistol or revolver ammo on a 550, without the case feed, a steady rate of 250-300/hr is realistic, as long as you get all of your components close by & handy to work with. Ignore the rates shown in the Dillon catalog, they're closer to an operational cyclic rate, but not a true production rate.
 
uncle albert


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My gun safe is LARGER than my first appartment !


Posted By: neil
Date Posted: April/26/2008 at 00:59
I have been using a Co-Ax for over 20 years and I haven't found any reason to change to another single stage press.  The ability to swap dies quickly and have an almost universal shell holder, the dies and brass have some "wiggle room" that allows them to float and line up better when loading is rather unique, too.
 
The Co-Ax has a really precise priming system but it is slow and you almost have to either handle the primers with your fingers or use tweezers.
I do all of my single stage priming with a Lee hand primer, so that is not a problem that I have.
 
I do have two Dillons on the bench but the Co-Ax is right were I bolted it down back in the '80s.
 
neil


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neil
If I can't take it with me I'm not going!


Posted By: yellowdog
Date Posted: April/26/2008 at 06:30
  +1 on the 550 Dillon

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If you don't want to stand behind our troops, then we will gladly have you stand in front of them.


Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: April/26/2008 at 09:53

Originally when this was posted, I had great interest because I also was looking to upgrade my single stage press. Well I took the advise of no one and chose the Lee "classic" press based on price, strength and origin of manufacture (wisconsin).  I don't have alot of time on the press, but it is definately an upgrade to my Lee challanger press, much smoother and stronger, especially when resizing.



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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: RONK
Date Posted: April/26/2008 at 14:17
Originally posted by lucytuma lucytuma wrote:

Originally when this was posted, I had great interest because I also was looking to upgrade my single stage press. Well I took the advise of no one and chose the Lee "classic" press based on price, strength and origin of manufacture (wisconsin).  I don't have alot of time on the press, but it is definately an upgrade to my Lee challanger press, much smoother and stronger, especially when resizing.

 
 Should be a great machine.
 Good on you for supporting Wisconsin manufacturing, too!    Thunbs%20Up


Posted By: koshkin
Date Posted: April/26/2008 at 21:01
I have Lee Classic and a Rockchucker.  Rockchucker is probably heavier duty, but both have worked well for me.

ILya


Posted By: RONK
Date Posted: April/27/2008 at 11:24
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

I have Lee Classic and a Rockchucker.  Rockchucker is probably heavier duty, but both have worked well for me.

ILya
 
 .... and I'll bet they will still be working for your great-grandchildren, too!


Posted By: ceylonc
Date Posted: April/27/2008 at 11:42
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

I have Lee Classic and a Rockchucker.  Rockchucker is probably heavier duty, but both have worked well for me.

ILya
 
Ha! We share the exact same setup!  I agree with your assessment of the two presses but I will add that, in my opinion, the Lee Classic can do everything the RCBS Rockchucker can do with the same results. The Rockchucker just feels a little more "solid".
The Lee Challenger, while functional, definitely feels like a step down in quality from the the aforementioned presses. I think it would work fine for depriming but it left a lot to be desired when it came to full length resizing...


Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: April/27/2008 at 12:03
That was my single most complaint with the Lee challanger, just felt wimpy when sizing shells, the "classic" press is a great improvement in this department.

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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: J!m
Date Posted: April/28/2008 at 06:43
If you have a Rockchucker and want to go to higher volume, you could do what I did:
 
Get the PiggyBack set-up for your Rockchucker.
 
This is great if you have a small work space, or small budget. One press converts from single-stage to multi-stage indexing, in a few minutes (probably 15-30) and back again easily.
 
I was doing tons of 9mm on the piggyback with excellent results.
 
Now I'm doing precise .308 on the rockchucker with excellent results.


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Hmmm... It seems he's suffered from acute lead poisioning...



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