[sthubert81]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

It's really hard to beat a Forster COAX.

RJ

Agreed!

 

[Blackhawk355]

I have some of the old lee loaders. I still use them every now and again when loading small quantities. Nice little tools.

 

[JBelk]

I still load four calibers by the Lee method but with Wilson/Sinclair tools and Lyman decapper stand and punch. An old round Lee hand primer does that duty and a Redding BR measure has the settings for each gun on the side.
Wilson neck dies and straightline seaters are on ebay all the time.

 

[crowtalks]

Do you have priming tools and and powder measures as well?

 

[tex ohfive]

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!

Same here. Loaded untold numbers of handloads with Jr., then went to a Rockchucker in the 80s. Still use it.

 

[tex ohfive]

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.

My Mec Sizemaster has been loading my 12 gauge loads for nearly 50 years. Works as good now as when brand new. I will never sell it.

 

[JBelk]

Here's where the A-2/A-3/Rockchucker and copies shine. This is heavy case forming. Swaging bullets takes as much. When you start wishing for a longer handle, the Rockchucker still works. It took two students on a six foot handle to stretch but not break an A-2 (supplied by Fred).
Remember, most case forming at that time was done by arbor press with at best 100 to one leverage. The A-2/Rockchucker was a boon to those making cases and bullets.

 

[recoil junky]

Lots of compound leverage here too

RJ

 

[schotzfyred]

I have this:
Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit (50th Anniversary Kit) very reasonable cost!
Use it from .223-45-70 and it's also great to make 32 Spcl brass out of 30-30 brass for my Winchester 1894 SRC

 

[schotzfyred]

Lots of compound leverage here too

RJ

You should name that one "Archimedes "

 

[recoil junky]

That Bonanza CoAx (before Forster bought them) is 50 years old. I've run green, orange and red presses and I wouldn't have anything else at this point.

For a beginner a Lee set up is hard to beat.

RJ

 

[Frank Whiton]

Here's where the A-2/A-3/Rockchucker and copies shine. This is heavy case forming. Swaging bullets takes as much. When you start wishing for a longer handle, the Rockchucker still works. It took two students on a six foot handle to stretch but not break an A-2 (supplied by Fred).
Remember, most case forming at that time was done by arbor press with at best 100 to one leverage. The A-2/Rockchucker was a boon to those making cases and bullets.

Hi Jack,

I had a RCBS A2 that I bought when they were first came on the market. A really great press. Unfortunately, I sold it in 2000 and have regretted it ever since.

Frank

 

[Frank Whiton]

Agreed!

Hi

That Bonanza CoAx (before Forster bought them) is 50 years old. I've run green, orange and red presses and I wouldn't have anything else at this point.

For a beginner a Lee set up is hard to beat.

RJ

Hi recoil junky,

The Bonanza CoAx is a great press for precision reloading. I could never get past the handle being on the top. It is awkward to me. After yeads of using other presses, I don't like using the CoAx. Anyone who buys one should check out how it works before buying.

Frank

 

[JBelk]

When did the Hollywood switch from the big central column to the twin column design? I remember one in the back of the gunshop in the late '60s.

 

[recoil junky]

Hi


Hi recoil junky,

The Bonanza CoAx is a great press for precision reloading. I could never get past the handle being on the top. It is awkward to me. After yeads of using other presses, I don't like using the CoAx. Anyone who buys one should check out how it works before buying.

Frank

I grew up with it so I guess I'm just used to it 😁

Hollywood never had anything to do with Bonanza presses and dies as far as I know.

Co-Ax® Reloading Press with “S” Jaws

Co-Ax Press, supplied with “S” jaws. No need to complicate the reloading process. Our Co-Ax Press keeps it simple while still delivering famous Forster precision....

www.forsterproducts.com

I do know that full length resizing 300 Win mags take about half the effort of an RCBS Rockchucker in an actual side by side test.

RJ

 

[lyseto18rigu]

I'm looking for a good loading press
Whats out there

I'm looking for a good loading press
Whats out there

Still haven't seen an answer to what you want to reload, and estimate as to how much you my shoot per week/month/year. That is a starting point. Many, maybe most, presses descussed already are single stage and there was a lot of good advice on them, If you are shooting a large amount of ammo then single stage is not the way to go IMO. Dillion progressive presses with their no BS warrenty on Square Deal, 550C, and 750 are what you should be considering. If you need higher volume or rifle the 550C, Super 1050, or 1100. Pistol only at the low end their Square Deal, if a mix of pistol and rifle RL550C (this include loading for precision shooting but there are tweaks to help make the press better for precision rifle), and if high volume then an XL 750, Super 1050, or RL1100. Price increases with each. Unless you are shooting several thousand a week or month a Super 1050/RL1100 is probably not a good choice due to price. The 750 is what a lot decide on or its predecessor the 650. I've loaded 500+ rounds a week on a single stage and it was time consuming. Switched to a Dillon 550B and the amount of time savings paid for itself in less than a year. Stumbled on to a Dillon 1050 at a phenominal price on eBay years ago and bought but kept the 550. Now use both regularly. Had I purchased their 650 (the 750 replaced the 650) I probaby would not have purchased the 1050. I can easily load 1000+ rnds per hour on the 1050, and closer to or better than 1200 with a bullet feeder (extra cost but worth it if doing high volume reloading), No experience with a new model in their product line -- the Dillon RL1100. Great customer service. P.S. The Super 1050 is an update/upgrade to the 1050. Different geometry on on operating lever for more leverage, and can handle more rifle rounds than the 1050.

 

[Frank Whiton]

When did the Hollywood switch from the big central column to the twin column design? I remember one in the back of the gunshop in the late '60s.

Not sure about the years but is this what you are asking about?
Hollywood Press
Frank

 

[JBelk]

That's not the press I was thinking of. I'll go through some old Am Riflemans and find an add. It had a center column that could have been a section of hydraulic shafting about 2 1/2" in dia. The base and top were cast iron. It seems the base had four positions for shell holders.
It was a long time ago and the owner of the press was a thief that was run off and left his stuff.

 

[JDBraddy]

Depends on what you want to do, and how you use it. For pistol and large volume loading for gas-guns, it's hard to beat a Dillon. I have two 550- B's, the advantage being they are progressive but not auto-indexing, allowing me to load rifle and interrupt the stages to lube and clean/remove lube from cases, and re-insert at any stage etc... I find the biggest time consumer in switching calibers is changing out and adjusting the primer feed from large to small, so I have one set up for each, then I can just swap out tool heads and base plates.

For precision rifle, I'd hold out an find an older RCBS A-2. these where the ancestor of the Rock-Chucker, and much heavier duty, they also accept the big 1.25" carbide bullet making dies allowing me to use them to make my own bench rest quality custom jacketed rifle bullets. they also drop spent primers neatly into a bucket placed on the floor below the press which is also handy for discarding damaged cases, such as those with loose primer pockets, ejector marks, or split necks.

If you plan on loading or doing load development at the range, you will need a more portable setup to take with you, for this it's very hard to beat a Harrells Precision compact press. Everything seen below fits in the black shooters bag on the table behind it, allowing me to simply grab the bag on my way out the door to the range, and have everything needed to load at the range. This is very useful when doing load development, allowing me to vary OAL and powder charge on the fly so that I can tune my load to get the best accuracy.

Then of course for shotgun, I like a MEC hydrolic press, but need to find a larger space and better table.

 

[Pudfark]

Very nice setups, JDBraddy. What I would'a given for some thing like that 35 years ago....