getting back into reloading

[oc shooter]

so it's been about 20 years since I've done any reloading and now I'm about to start again need some recommendations for a press in my day it was all about rcbs but now i understand that they are cast in china and are aluminum and not iron any thoughts on the forester or redding i used to use redding dies are they still good

 

[ManualF150]

RCBS is good, as well as Dillon. I've got both presses. I only had one part on the RCBS break over the pandemic, and no questions asked they shipped out not one, but two of the parts for FREE!

Are you looking to do high volume, or just do a little as you get time for fun?

 

[oc shooter]

RCBS is good, as well as Dillon. I've got both presses. I only had one part on the RCBS break over the pandemic, and no questions asked they shipped out not one, but two of the parts for FREE!

Are you looking to do high volume, or just do a little as you get time for fun?

not high volume mostly small batch for accuracy

 

[Shoots100]

This Press with the safety prime system, quick change bushings and good Die sets is all you'll need.
If you want a stronger press, get the classic cast, made to load the 50 Bmg.

SJC

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

I'm running 2 Rock Chuckers. I only use the Hornady LNL for depriming now....



Spent the better part of the day out there.

 

[oc shooter]

This Press with the safety prime system, quick change bushings and good Die sets is all you'll need.
If you want a stronger press, get the classic cast, made to load the 50 Bmg.

SJC

not to nock Lee but they seem to be pretty much entry level 2 friends and a brother in law had them and pretty much moved on but I will look at them as well thanks I've some what forgotten about them

I'm running 2 Rock Chuckers. I only use the Hornady LNL for depriming now....

View attachment 195723

Spent the better part of the day out there.

had a rock chucker back in the day are they still cast iron or are they cast aluminum now

 

[Retired MSG]

Redding made in Cortland NY, great equipment

 

[Darth]

Has anyone "broken" a press because it was made of aluminum over iron?

Lee makes cheap stuff that works. I have a Lee for single stage and Hornady progressive.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

not to nock Lee but they seem to be pretty much entry level 2 friends and a brother in law had them and pretty much moved on but I will look at them as well thanks I've some what forgotten about them

had a rock chucker back in the day are they still cast iron or are they cast aluminum now

Mine are iron.

 

[Shoots100]

not to nock Lee but they seem to be pretty much entry level 2 friends and a brother in law had them and pretty much moved on but I will look at them as well thanks I've some what forgotten about them

had a rock chucker back in the day are they still cast iron or are they cast aluminum now

I've taught a lot of people how to reload ammo with my Lee single stage presses over the last 30+ years.
If you want to load for several different calibers, the Breech lock feature is as good as it gets and light years ahead of the old style screw in presses.
Spending more on a single stage press is wasted money.
Use the savings to buy loading components or better Die sets.

SJC

 

[Xae289]

Has anyone "broken" a press because it was made of aluminum over iron?

Lee makes cheap stuff that works. I have a Lee for single stage and Hornady progressive.

Yup. I have a Lee single stage, Lee hand press, and all my dies are made by them. They all work great.

Out of the brands I've tried, the only company whose products I would stay clear of is Lyman. I bought some of their things off their old reputation, but the few things I've bought from them have been trash. My Lyman case gauge is rusty unlike any of my other case gauges. Their hand priming tool sucks and it only works right with Lyman shell holders. The only product of theirs that seems worth a damn is their reloading manual.

 

[oc shooter]

Has anyone "broken" a press because it was made of aluminum over iron?

Lee makes cheap stuff that works. I have a Lee for single stage and Hornady progressive.

problem with aluminum is that it flexs cast iron is much more rigid i don't think you could break an aluminum press but at this stage of my life I'm all about precision not saving a lot of money how do you like the hornady?

 

[dsdmmat]

I have RCBS both a rock chucker and a Pro 2000 progressive press. I also use APS strips for priming cases. I have been eyeing the Lyman turret press but I am not shooting near the volume of 6.5 CM, 308 and 30-06 I used to.

 

[Darth]

problem with aluminum is that it flexs cast iron is much more rigid i don't think you could break an aluminum press but at this stage of my life I'm all about precision not saving a lot of money how do you like the hornady?

They both have been great. Both are aluminum.

I get we might have preferences, I don't belive the flex thing for a minute.

 

[Acer-m14]

 

[Acer-m14]

Redding made in Cortland NY, great equipment

if you have a old old Redding press .. they have to look in the basement for parts .. Far right is my old Redding 12ga press .. shop vac blocking it lol


they are awesome for Customer Service .. call them .. email them .. they will help ..

But Reloading is fking expensive now lol .. Primers .

 

[kev74]

I've got a Rock Chucker and a Lee single stage press sitting side by side on my bench.

I like the feel of the RCBS better, and tend to use it a lot more.

I like Lee stuff and have 3 Pro1000 progressive presses in addition to the single stage, so please don't take the above comment as any kind of brand bashing. Its just that the RCBS is a better press.

 

[Shoots100]

problem with aluminum is that it flexs cast iron is much more rigid i don't think you could break an aluminum press but at this stage of my life I'm all about precision not saving a lot of money how do you like the hornady?

Then a Corbin Press is what you want.
Buy once, cry once.

 

[Shoots100]

After a nuclear war, the Cockroaches will be reloading on an Lee "O" type single stage press.

SJC

 

[JamieZ]

not to nock Lee but they seem to be pretty much entry level 2 friends and a brother in law had them and pretty much moved on but I will look at them as well thanks I've some what forgotten about them

had a rock chucker back in the day are they still cast iron or are they cast aluminum now

Ive used the one he linked to for 30 years,,, cant say I ever had a problem and it always works well.

I only load for hunting purposes,,, I'm not a range guy

 

[oc shooter]

They both have been great. Both are aluminum.

I get we might have preferences, I don't belive the flex thing for a minute.

ok on not believing but all the most precesion machines are cast iron not aluminum

 

[kev74]

I think the Lee & RCBS are equally "rigid" in that there is no perceivable flex in the press frames or rams that would effect the straightness of either a case entering a die or a bullet entering a case. There is however a lot more slop in the Lee.

I just measured the wiggle of the rams in the frames of the well used Lee and RCBS presses on my bench. I measured about 0.0033 inch wiggle in the Lee and about 0.0015 inch wiggle in the RCBS. I've loaded very good ammo on both presses, so I don't know what effect this has on accuracy.

 

[alistair]

so it's been about 20 years since I've done any reloading and now I'm about to start again need some recommendations for a press in my day it was all about rcbs but now i understand that they are cast in china and are aluminum and not iron any thoughts on the forester or redding i used to use redding dies are they still good

What calibers do you want to reload?

 

[ManualF150]

I'll add... don't forget about the classifieds section on this forum. Folks selling reloading gear all the time.

 

[Shoots100]

Discussing reloading got me to search for the list of needed accessories I made during my last 20-250 loading session.
.20 cal Satern funnel, deeper powder pan for the auto powder dispenser and a new Hornady pro powder dispenser.
You guys/gals or anyone that self identifies as something here are costing me money.
OC shooter, since your friends and brother have presses, it might be easier and probably way less less expensive to buy the components needed and ask them to load for you !!!

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

I think the Lee & RCBS are equally "rigid" in that there is no perceivable flex in the press frames or rams that would effect the straightness of either a case entering a die or a bullet entering a case. There is however a lot more slop in the Lee.

I just measured the wiggle of the rams in the frames of the well used Lee and RCBS presses on my bench. I measured about 0.0033 inch wiggle in the Lee and about 0.0015 inch wiggle in the RCBS. I've loaded very good ammo on both presses, so I don't know what effect this has no accuracy.

This is what it comes down to. What is your finished ammo like? Do they go bang? Are your groups good? That's what's important. I have yet to hear anyone give any convincing arguments on why any brand is totally out of the question. They all have their strengths and weaknesses but none so good or bad to totally eliminate one over another. For instance, I always hear Dillon is the top of the top. What is a caliber change on a Dillon like vs say a Lee? How many calibers can you set up for on a Lee for the cost of one for Dillon?

Then there is iron vs aluminum (flex). Are you doing pullups on your press? The most force required in reloading is resizing a case. This can easily be done on a hand press. Second is flaring, seating a bullet and then seating a primer. Even when doing them all simultaneously it's not enough required force on the press to really make a difference. If you manage to crack/break one of the aluminum brands, you are doing something wrong. Way wrong. To me picking steel over aluminum simply leaves you with heavier equipment. The flex you should be accounting for is in your mounting surface. There is a beloved rifle in the US that has aluminum housing. It escapes me at the moment.

So. Do your research and choose the press that has the most important strengths that you desire. Also consider that any weaknesses can be worked around and possibly even eliminated if you're mechanically inclined.

 

[Shoots100]

I think the Lee & RCBS are equally "rigid" in that there is no perceivable flex in the press frames or rams that would effect the straightness of either a case entering a die or a bullet entering a case. There is however a lot more slop in the Lee.

I just measured the wiggle of the rams in the frames of the well used Lee and RCBS presses on my bench. I measured about 0.0033 inch wiggle in the Lee and about 0.0015 inch wiggle in the RCBS. I've loaded very good ammo on both presses, so I don't know what effect this has no accuracy.

All presses have wiggle, it's the quality of the die that makes the real difference.
When I used to shoot a lot of rifle matches with my 30.06, 308 and 260 , I used a Dillon 550 press with Wilson and other match die and it loaded them just as concentric as a single stage press.
While a single stage press is good for low volume and small batch test loading, the Dillon 550 is a great press for when you want to up your volume and still load accurate ammo, plus Dillon is a kick ass company that sticks behind their products 100%, even after decades of use.
I still use the Rl-550 press I bought for myself as a HS graduation present in 1986 and added another one in the early 90's.

SJC

 

[Darth]

ok on not believing but all the most precesion machines are cast iron not aluminum

Are there a lot of iron F16 fighter jets?

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

I have used an RCBS single stage press for over 15 years. Churned out well over 10k rounds on it. I have another cheap Lee press I use for depriming. Also a Hornady progressive press I generally use for resizing/expanding, and priming. After throwing powder with my RCBS charge master I finish off seating and crimping bullets with the RCBS single stage. For that "precision" feel I just like and trust the RCBS.

Speaking of getting back into reloading I want to do shotgun again. Been eying the Lee load all press.

 

[oc shooter]

Are there a lot of iron F16 fighter jets?

there's no iron in aircraft because the wings and body have to flex