I have always been and RCBS guy when it came to the basic stuff, like presses and powder measures, but after a move where I had to sell EVERYTHING on my bench, including the bench (don't ask - it's just a sad, dull story), I find myself setting up a new bench and considering things from scratch. Anyone have any experience with Redding stuff, like the Big Boss II and the Redding 3 Powder Measure? I like the primer catcher on the Big Boss II a lot better that the RCBS setup (which basically deposits spend primers on the floor for you). I have always loved the Redding dies and figure the quality must be similar for their equipment as well. Opinions? Thanks. - Mykal

Mykal all the equipment on the market today does a good job of making quality ammo. Any of it you buy will do a good job from the lowly Lee presses, which I like by the way, to the very expensive Corbin S-1 press.

Lots of folks like the Co-Ax press for a top of the line press and the folks that load for the military target shooters use it. The Corbin S-1 is probably one of the most accurate, but like I said any will make good ammo. Just pick the features you like. You might also take a look at some of the new Lee cast iron presses, they are getting very good reviews.

Redding make some very good items. Most of rifle dies are Redding. It's all that my son will buy...

I have a Big Boss and it is a very well built strong press. My only complaint is the cup to catch spent primers will only catch 75% of them. The II version should eliminate that. I have just started buying the dies but you already know about them.

i really like my redding ultra mag press. easy in and out, good visibility and if you have large hands like me plenty of room to work.
other than a half dozen sets of dies thats all i have up to this point in time but based on my experience i'd buy more of their stuff.

I've bought two competition dies sets and two sets of shell holders that are in .002 increaments, all very good tools. If the whole product line is as well engineered as those products, you'll be happy with Redding after sticker shock wears off.

I have no experience with any Redding equipment, so take this with a grain of salt, but it seems to me after having looked across the spectrum at equipment from different makers in the different hobbies that I have (trumpet, drums, guns) that often times paying more does not necessarily equate to better performance in the final product.

Case in point, at one point I bought a very expensive all-leather triple trumpet gig bag from a company called Reunion Blues, and I used this case to carry a flugelhorn, a trumpet and some other gig accessories. That case cost me about $350. Later, when I bought another flugelhorn, it came with a ProTec nylon covered trumpet/flugel combo case, worth about $100 new. I ended up selling the Reunion Blues bag because simply put, it didn't protect my horns as well and it wasn't nearly as gig friendly. I should have saved $250 years before.

Another case in point, there is a tremendous amount of hype when it comes to drums and drumming related equipment. I have a friend who plays a $3500 DW drum kit. I play a $1100 Pearl drum kit. Mine sound better. Whether it's the drums or the fact that I make sure mine sound the best they can though proper head selection and tuning is up for debate, but why spend $2400 more to get drums that don't sound any better?

There is a statement in the Lee Reloading manual that states something to the effect that you can spend a lot more money for really expensive reloading gear, but you won't necessarily wind up with any better reloads than can be produced from gear that costs much less. The bottom line, if it makes you feel better to use Redding reloading equipment, go for it, but I think you would be just as happy with quality gear from just about any other brand as well.

Redding's dies have always worked well for me.

Among the best IMO. Any more if I have a choice I use either Redding or CH-4D. Occasionally I will use another brand if I have to and I do have a lot of Lyman and RCBS dies from days gone by, but IMO the Redding offer the best machined dies out there next to the semi-custom CH-4D. When I need a custom die, Dave at CH-4D is my go-to guy.

Among the best IMO. Any more if I have a choice I use either Redding or CH-4D. Occasionally I will use another brand if I have to and I do have a lot of Lyman and RCBS dies from days gone by, but IMO the Redding offer the best machined dies out there next to the semi-custom CH-4D. When I need a custom die, Dave at CH-4D is my go-to guy.
But what do you really get from your Redding dies that you can't get with RCBS or Lyman? I can understand having custom work done with CH-4D, but do you get better reloads with your Redding dies? I have read testimonials regarding Lee dies (which seem to be about the least expensive dies you can buy) from folks who were diehard Redding and RCBS users before trying Lee dies on a whim, who wish they had gone to Lee dies sooner because they were easier to use and the end result was just as good. I'm not trying to make a case for Lee - I'm simply asking that if your end result truly is better after having spent more money.

I don't think there is anyone on the board that is exclusive to one brand of reloading equipment. I like Redding stuff but I like a lot of other stuff too. I recently added a Lee Classic Cast Turret press to the bench, it joined the two Redding Ultramag presses, I like both models. As for dies, I use a mix for all my cartridges. I usually end up with a Lee Collet Neck Die, a Redding Body Die, and a Forster Ultra Seat Die. FL sizers are all over the map, I have Hornady, Lyman (good for extended web sizing), Herters, Lee, and Redding. The only die manufacturer I'm not real keen on is RCBS and that comment is not made to flame anyone, it's just not my choice of product. I have plenty of other RCBS equipment that I use and like. But with the dies, I use the combinations that work well for me.

I'm also a Lee fan, but after nearly 50 years of loading I'm like Flashhole, I've got a bunch of different companies dies on and under the bench. RCBS, Redding, Lee, and C&H. No flames on any of it and all my ammo goes bang and makes nice holes in stuff I shoot at.

I'm always picking up used die sets and equipment at yard sales, not so much for my use, but I've set up several new reloaders with good but inexpensive equipment doing so. Most of them are now making good ammo at a price that allows them to shoot more.

In this business it's not so much which equipment you use, but how well you learn to use it.

For my .02 I like Redding. Costumer support is great the only time I used them. For a base I would buy the T-7 press. It holds 7 dies or as I do one rifle set and one hand gun set. I’m ordering head #5 next week. It is nice to just change the head then spin dies in and out and try and remember if you have them tight in the press. I have scales, case trimmers and the whole nine yards. I love the fit and finish. For field work I love the old Lee comp hand dies. Too bad they are hard to find. Its one thing I wish Lee would bring back.

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. Like most of you folks my old bench had a mix. It was basically RCBS based (when I started reloading I bought the kit from RCBS), but over time, many other companies snuck into the mix. I really love the Redding dies and will probably go with the Boss II. I was asking mostly because I haven't seen a lot of posters that use the Redding Press and was curious there might be a negative I didn't know about. I am considering the Lyman Crusher, too. Building a bench back up completely from ground zero has it's pluses - I am like a kid in a candy store.

I forget where I read it, but someone said that all the major presses are excellent quality. You just have to decide what color you like best.

Thanks again. --Mykal

I would try not to go with one brand for everything. No one company offers best in class tools for every function. Redding does not even offer a hand primer or a collet bullet puller. While the Big Boss II has better spent primer handling than the RC Supreme, it lacks adjustability that the Lee Classic Cast press has at almost half the price. The UltraMag is probably the best single stage press for extra-large cartridges available, but the Forster co-ax offers superior design and features for standard size cartridges (including the standard magnums) for about the same price. Redding Competition Seating dies and Forster Ultra Seating dies are comparable, but Forster also offers the same floating sleeve design without micrometer adjustment for a little less $$. Lee makes the incomparable collet neck sizing dies and collet-type crimp dies. RCBS has windowed seating dies and X sizing dies which no other major manufacturer has. Wilson makes one of the finest case trimmers available, and arbor type bench rest dies and case gauges, but not much else.

Do you want color coordination or functionality on your loading bench?

Look for best in class point tools, not brands.

Andy

If your in the big dollar market check out Corbin's S-1. It' probably one of the best built and toughest on the market and you can always use it to make your own bullets down the road which might be a plus the way prices for bullets are going.

http://www.corbins.com/

I have some Redding dies and their powder scale. Both work very well for me. I like most have a mixture of brands as far as equipment goes, Forester, Redding, Lee, etc. One company just doesnt make the best of each tool.

Faucettb: That Corbin press is darned tempting. What a magnificent piece of equipment, and it sure would look sweet on my bench. Now, if I can only talk myself into the pricetag! Let's see - well, for starters it is a bullet swagger, as you mentioned - and it does come with a bunch of accessories. I almost wish you hadn't mentioned it. --Mykal

Like many others have said I have some of most every brand.

Redding dies are my favorite but they all work just fine.

I have a Lee Classic Cast single stage press; I will not claim it is the best because I haven't used every other press available. IMO, it is better than the RCBS Rockchucker which many folks consider the class of the field in conventional single stage presses.

Harrell powder measures are a genuine pleasure to own and use and I highly recommend them if the price is not a hardship.

Mykal, I hope the .257 Bob didn't disapear in the unpleasantness.

KenK: I can't believe you remembered. I am proud to say that the Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts is the single rifle that I simply couldn't part with. My other 15 or so rifles all went the way of all things on GunBroker during the recent unpleasantness. It was by no means the most accurate or most expensive rifle I owned, far from it, but it is the one I loved the best and could not sell. Can't say why, really. It has a wood stock, which was part of it. I feel that a man's sweat and soul, or something like it, is absorbed by a wood stock in a way that the synthetics can't match, becoming part of the man. The only other rifle that I truly grieve over is the Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum, which had a wood stock as well and was made slick and shiny by my grip. Lord, I hope it found a respectful home.
<O:p
I have that Ruger .257 Bob now, sitting in a case beside the spot where my new bench will go. Thanks for asking -Mykal <O:p

Given the years I've spent reloading and shooting if I were going to buy a new press at this time in life it would probably be the Corbin simply for the bullet making capacity over the next span of years in this troubled time.

It does seem like a lot of money, but really not much in today's economy, especially compared to many of the other high end presses. With almost 50 years of reloading metallic ammo behind me I've used most of the presses on the market and haven't found a whit of difference in accuracy between the least expensive Lee's and the most expensive Co-Ax's as far as single stage presses go. If your feeling like treating yourself to a really good piece of equipment than go for the Corbon.

If I were simply looking for a good reloading system without wanting to make bullets I'd put a Lee cast iron turret press on the bench and then add one of the new Lee breach lock kits with all the extras so as to have two presses and everything else besides dies and a bullet tumbler.

This will make excellent ammo and still be less than any of the higher end presses by themselves. I've yet to find a non-electronic powder scale as accurate as the little Lee scale. I'm not saying that their isn't some good equipment out there, but I just don't believe, from my experience, that any of it makes better or more accurate ammo.

My 2 cents.

The CSP-1 has a relatively tight 2" clearance between the guide rods, but the CSP-2 has a little more room at 3". The CSP-3 also has a better ram/guide design, but it is also a lot more expensive.

The RCE Walnut Hill press is also very nice, similar in design (not sure about size) to the CSP-2.

But none of these have decent spent primer/debris handling...