Looking for Loading press
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12,511 Posts
Depends on how much you want to spend.
It's really hard to beat a Forster COAX.
RJ
It's really hard to beat a Forster COAX.
RJ
Ebay has a bunch of presses at any given time, totally depends on what you load and your budget, I'm able to load just about anything with 4 different ones, rcbs partner, rcbs rockchucker, Dillon 550b and mec 600jr.
Rcbs rockchucker is probably the most popular metallic press of all time, there's a good reason for that, you can load everything except 50 bmg and shotshells with it, albeit slow however.
Mec shotshell loaders are not great but they work and most are budget friendly, 600jr's will do a decent job unless you shoot often, for high volume loading get a grabber. If anyone ever offers to sell you a 9000g consider that person with suspicion, they do not have your best interests in mind!
Check with your LGS, not unusual for one that's been around a while to have boxes of old reloading equipment in the back including presses, sometimes these can be a real bargain. You'll see lots of C frame presses, these are not suitable for magnum cartridges imo, some O frame presses feel like they're going to come apart when sizing magnum cases as well, good example of that that's seen often for sale used is the rcbs junior, 30-06 is about the limit for that press.
Rcbs rockchucker is probably the most popular metallic press of all time, there's a good reason for that, you can load everything except 50 bmg and shotshells with it, albeit slow however.
Mec shotshell loaders are not great but they work and most are budget friendly, 600jr's will do a decent job unless you shoot often, for high volume loading get a grabber. If anyone ever offers to sell you a 9000g consider that person with suspicion, they do not have your best interests in mind!
Check with your LGS, not unusual for one that's been around a while to have boxes of old reloading equipment in the back including presses, sometimes these can be a real bargain. You'll see lots of C frame presses, these are not suitable for magnum cartridges imo, some O frame presses feel like they're going to come apart when sizing magnum cases as well, good example of that that's seen often for sale used is the rcbs junior, 30-06 is about the limit for that press.
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2,821 Posts
As others noted, eBay is always a viable place to look for reloading equipment.
You did not mention what you will be loading. Cannot give a knowledgeable response without knowing.
Good luck and all the best.
You did not mention what you will be loading. Cannot give a knowledgeable response without knowing.
Good luck and all the best.
Joined
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1,619 Posts
I started on a lee turret because that's what what the friend that taught me had. Don't regret it a bit. Still have it and use it after near 50 years. Recently got a Lyman orange crusher off of ebay and like it too. I would suggest you begin with a single stage press until you get some experience before going to a progressive
The Lee stuff is pretty cheap and will last a lifetime, I did manage to break one of their Challenger??? presses that I bought new for about $25.00-$30.00. Took me about 30 years and allot of abuse (re-forming cases to break it. The Classic series are just about indestructible.
Stick with a single stage for your first one.
Stick with a single stage for your first one.
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1,498 Posts
I believe the biggest difference between the most expensive and least expensive single stage press is only in over all finish. Seem's other than that every one of them have the group of people that love and/or hate them! I started with an RCBS Jr many years ago and bought into the spend more get more mentality so stepped up to a Rockchucker. Nothing about my ammo changed. Of course I suppose if you were going to be doing heavy case forming, it might make a difference. On my Jr years ago I made a lot of 243 cases from 308 case's in one operation. Same with 25-06 cases from 30-06 case's. I'm not sure what heavy sizing means! About Lee press's I hear as much good as bad and it's Lee that get's the most negative responses, seem's they are simply to inexpensive to be good press's but somehow for many they work well for years! I like my RCBS tools! I could live with any other including Lee!
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1,619 Posts
Heavy case forming is basically why I bought the Lyman orange crusher. I didn't feel the lee turret was up to forming 7 mag into .350 Remington mag. Orange crusher does that easily.
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2,821 Posts
I started with a MEC 600 Jr. in 1975 in 12 gauge, I still own one in .410 that I bought in about 1982. I have Sizemaster's in 28 and 20 gauge. I now have an 8567N Grabber in 12 gauge after a Sizemaster for many years. I have NEVER ONCE had an issue with any MEC shotgun loader.
Between them, I think I have close to 300K or more shells loaded. Hornady and Spolar mad/make fine loaders that can produce faster, but I will NEVER own another shotshell loader than a MEC. I no longer load the volumes I used to, but would recommend one to anyone looking for a shotgun loader.
You are right that there is a reason that the Rockchucker is the best seller. I have had a Pacific C press, a Lee O press and probably an other or two, but my Chrome handled RCBS will always be my favorite.
Although I have a Foster Co-Axe as my primary loader and really like all its features, there is an old Hornady 007 single press kept for the heavy duty stuff like resizing oversized cases and forming cases to different cartridges. Used a Rockchucker for many years until making a house move one time and didn't have reloading space at the new home. Let it go along with a bunch of stuff which had to be replaced over the following years.
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690 Posts
Another Rockchucker fan. eBay is a good source, but shipping is a killer on heavy, bulky items so look at gun shows, shops, flea markets and garage sales.
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18,987 Posts
Two things are needed for handloading most calibers-- Strength and leverage. Block O frame of cast iron takes care of the strength. The compound leverage system patented by RCBS in the A-2 takes care of leverage. My Rock Chucker has been working since January '68. I've bought three more since then and sold or given them to friends. They are a multi-generational tool.
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1,619 Posts
I think you can still get many presses from Walmart or Amazon and many times get free shipping over a certain $$$ amount
I have 5 Mec shotgun loaders so I know their products well, got my first 600jr as a teenager.
Back in the 80's I got to be friends with a couple of guys who shot trap and skeet a lot, went over to one their houses one afternoon to bs and see his reloading set-up.
That was the first time I ever seen and used a Ponsess/Warren shotgun loader, I've never shot enough to justify buying one but wow, they make a shotgun shell loader to be proud of!
My only real complaint with Mec loaders is with the 9000g, I have one in 410 that can load about 2 boxes before screwing up requiring at least a half hour to get back working again.
Looks good on the bench though.
Back in the 80's I got to be friends with a couple of guys who shot trap and skeet a lot, went over to one their houses one afternoon to bs and see his reloading set-up.
That was the first time I ever seen and used a Ponsess/Warren shotgun loader, I've never shot enough to justify buying one but wow, they make a shotgun shell loader to be proud of!
My only real complaint with Mec loaders is with the 9000g, I have one in 410 that can load about 2 boxes before screwing up requiring at least a half hour to get back working again.
Looks good on the bench though.
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18,987 Posts
Fred Hunnington of RCBS lobbied the gunsmithing students a LOT. He gave us half jobber price and delivered our stuff in his long Caddy. My Rockchucker, set of 25-06 dies and #3 shell holder came to $26.00.
I set up reloading centers in two gunshops. Want to guess what gear was stocked?
I set up reloading centers in two gunshops. Want to guess what gear was stocked?
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12,511 Posts
RCBS has good stuff but one really hasta look at the COAX. More leverage than the rockchucker, easier, faster die changes and no need for a box of shell holders.
"Oh, but RJ, what about needing all those special lock rings?"
Well, even Lee's dies have lock rings that fit the COAX. RCBS? Nope. Hornady, yep.
Plus plenty of room to FLR 300RUM's
🤷♂️ What else do you need to know?
RJ
"Oh, but RJ, what about needing all those special lock rings?"
Well, even Lee's dies have lock rings that fit the COAX. RCBS? Nope. Hornady, yep.
Plus plenty of room to FLR 300RUM's
🤷♂️ What else do you need to know?
RJ
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