Single stage press.. but which one?

[Edwardteach72]

So I am looking to get my own reloading set up. (Years ago bought the Lee classic turret kit my dad recently took it out of the box and set it all up at my parents home so I figure I will let him have it and get another press)

So I decided that I want to go with a single stage instead of the turret style, my thinking is I can sit down one day and do a large batch of one of the steps (resize and deprime for example) then another day set up for the next step and so on.

I know that may not be the most favorable process and may not even be how I do things its just my thought process.

With that being said I'm looking at all the different single stage presses out there and boy thats fun.

There are a few choices from Lee but not sure all the differences, or if going to Hornady single stage would be worth the price increase .

Or even looking at RCBS and at those prices I could save a bit more and get a lower end progressive press.


So I know people have brand loyalty and I'm not trying to be cheap but the press is just one of the many things I'll need to buy, so I would like to get most bang for my dollar with the press and open for suggestions

 

[4WHLDRFTN]

or for the same amount of pulls as one sitting, you can make many completed rds (1000 per hour) on a Dillon 650-750

 

[Edwardteach72]

or for the same amount of pulls as one sitting, you can make many completed rds (1000 per hour) on a Dillon 650-750

Yea not trying to drop $1,500 on just a press at this point

 

[MilesTeg]

I really like my RCBS and can't recommend it enough. With that said any of the offerings from the big manufactures will be adequate. If you were loading for extreme accuracy there are a few single stage presses that help fight runout, but there even a debate if that little bit of improvement makes a difference.

 

[4WHLDRFTN]

Yea not trying to drop $1,500 on just a press at this point

your time is worth much more

 

[dsdmmat]

I use a RCBS Rock checker. I have for 30 years.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Looks like I'll have to check the rock checker, seems to be about the same price as the Hornady single stage

 

[togmaster]

Pistol rifle or both?

 

[dsdmmat]

Looks like I'll have to check the rock checker, seems to be about the same price as the Hornady single stage

Autocorrect got me it is Chucker

 

[Edwardteach72]

Pistol rifle or both?

Both.

I have my new 9mm dies which will probably be the main thing I load for. But I also have 300blk dies that I've had for years hahaha so ill load for that for fun. Also spoiler I have a set of 223/5.56 dies on their way which will be the 2nd most used unless it takes the 1st place away from 9mm

 

[Edwardteach72]

Autocorrect got me it is Chucker

Haha yea as I was typing i thought to myself I thought it was chucker not checker but I went with it because I figured I was wrong hahaha

 

[speedkills27]

I was gifted the RCBS rock chucker kit a few years ago. Works great for what Im using it for

 

[MilesTeg]

If your loading pistol I can't recommend one of these enough. More than doubled my output. A bunch of other great addons there as well.

Case ejector system for RCBS Rockchucker and JR single stage presses - Inline Fabrication

This system ejects your cases for you, allowing you to leave your right hand on the press lever and your...

inlinefabrication.com

 

[Edwardteach72]

If your loading pistol I can't recommend one of these enough. More than doubled my output. A bunch of other great addons there as well.

Case ejector system for RCBS Rockchucker and JR single stage presses - Inline Fabrication

This system ejects your cases for you, allowing you to leave your right hand on the press lever and your...

inlinefabrication.com

Well then I think its pretty unanimous and hard to argue. I will be looking to get the rock chucker..


Unless someone comes in with some crazy awesome sell on a different brand/model

 

[Edwardteach72]

If your loading pistol I can't recommend one of these enough. More than doubled my output. A bunch of other great addons there as well.

Case ejector system for RCBS Rockchucker and JR single stage presses - Inline Fabrication

This system ejects your cases for you, allowing you to leave your right hand on the press lever and your...

inlinefabrication.com

Also looks like that set up can be used with rifle as well

 

[Robin]

Rockchucker is a good, solid, reliable piece of equipment, I used one forty years ago and when I started back up recently, that was the press I bought.
If you were nearer I'd let you run a few through it and get the feel of it.
Robin

 

[MilesTeg]

Also looks like that set up can be used with rifle as well

Yes it works just not as well. Honestly I don't think I would run a single stage without it now.

 

[MilesTeg]

Here's my press decked out.

 

[togmaster]

Reloading pistol on a single stage press is time consuming and if ammo prices normalize it almost not worth loading 9 mm that way. You mentioned tha Dillon 650/750 being out of your price range but what about the 550? It still automates a lot of the process and is still an excellent choice for rifle. As mentioned above your time is worth something.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Here's my press decked out. View attachment 93095 View attachment 93096 View attachment 93097

Now thats a nice clean set up

 

[kev74]

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the single stage presses. Buy what you can and don’t look back.

Even if you buy a 50 year old single stage press, it will still work well. It will also still be useful if you decide to move up to a progressive.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Reloading pistol on a single stage press is time consuming and if ammo prices normalize it almost not worth loading 9 mm that way. You mentioned tha Dillon 650/750 being out of your price range but what about the 550? It still automates a lot of the process and is still an excellent choice for rifle. As mentioned above your time is worth something.

Eventually I'd like to upgrade to a more progressive or even an actual progressive press.

But we are currently in the process of buying something that cost.. well a good bit of money, and once we settle that I would like to get a basic reloading area set up to learn and just play with/kill time on..

 

[Edwardteach72]

It will also still be useful if you decide to move up to a progressive.

Thats my other thinking. If and when I move up to a progressive I can still use the single stage for some things

 

[Retired MSG]

Single stage I would go with Redding Boss or Big Boss

 

[JohnD13]

The Forster Co-Ax is hard to beat, a little more money but a great press. Die changes are fast and no shell holders to keep track of.

 

[JamieZ]

Ive been using this for 25 + years and have loaded thousands of 223, at least a thousand 204 and almost a thousand 6.8. Ive never had a problem with it. Does everything I want it to. Lee Classic Cast Single Stage Press Breech Lock Update Kit

 

[nortatoga]

My Dillon XL750 with a set of 9mm dies and the tall mount was $873.00 with tax and shipping.

 

[Edwardteach72]

My Dillon XL750 with a set of 9mm dies and the tall mount was $873.00 with tax and shipping.

One day lol

 

[holdover]

My Dillon XL750 with a set of 9mm dies and the tall mount was $873.00 with tax and shipping.

where did you get it from?

 

[nortatoga]

where did you get it from?

Directl from Dillon early this spring before the rush.