First reloading press suggestions

[Takem406]

I've got everything I to load except for a press. Up till now I've never had a place for one and I've just went to friend's houses and used theirs. I've literally have everything except a press.

Kinda on a budget so I'd like to get a used QUALITY model for LR shooting.

I've used RCBS's mostly, But I'm open to suggestions. Would a Rock Chucker be alright or is there something "better"? How are the Hornady's?

Getting an 7 STW come hell or highwater next spring and looking at the price of ammo, a press will pay for itself. Plus shooting a ton of 22-250 you can't afford factory. Not bad buying a box of factory to shoot a couple deer with smaller calibers, But this STW WOW! 75 BUCKS?!

 

[sbhooper]

I think that about any of the presses on the market are pretty good, but you cannot beat RCBS.

 

[g0rd0]

If you are on a budget and want a sturdy press check out the Lee cast https://fsreloading.com/single-stage-presses/
these people have both a breech lock (for quick change die set up, very useful) and a standard screw the die down model. I have delt with these people before and recommend them.
If you want the best IMO FORSTER CO-AX RELOADING PRESS | Sinclair Intl
I have also delt with Sinclair and highly recommend them also.
2 choices, both will out live you

 

[sbhooper]

If you are on a budget and want a sturdy press check out the Lee cast https://fsreloading.com/single-stage-presses/
these people have both a breech lock (for quick change die set up, very useful) and a standard screw the die down model. I have delt with these people before and recommend them.
If you want the best IMO FORSTER CO-AX RELOADING PRESS | Sinclair Intl
I have also delt with Sinclair and highly recommend them also.
2 choices, both will out live you

I agree with the outlive part. My little press was purchased as a gift when I was 17. It is from a company called "Bair". It still works just fine after 42 years of use. That pretty well dates me-doesn't it?

 

[boomtube]

I started loading in '65 with a smallish Lyman Spar-T that's still going strong. I now have five presses and my main press since '87 has been a 'Chucker. It's an okay tool but it's highly over-rated in comparision to others; used intelligently they all make equally good ammo and all will outlast virtually anyone. I have seen photos of RCs with the top strap broken - seems nothing is fool proof for a sufficently determined fool! IF I had to replace my old RC next week it would be with the excellant (iron bodied) Lee Classic Cast; it's an equal or better press in every respect, regardless of cost. Hornady presses's have heavy alum alloy bodies so I would expect them to last as long and work as well as any in its class.

Speed has no place in my reloading so I have no use for additional expensive gadgets like quick die change bushings. Normal lock rings properly retain die settings quite well and I can screw swap my dies in much less than a minute without hurrying anyway; that means two or three minutes, total, in a normal loading session. That's plenty fast enough not to eat up too much of my day. YMMV.

 

[JesseJames]

My vote is for the Forster Co-ax press. I personally think it is probably the best single-stage press you can buy. Get a good one right away, and don't look back.

 

[Daveinjax]

Forster co-ax for the "best" , I love mine , and the Lee classic cast press for value. I saw some classic cast on the lee website in their refurb and seconds listing for a pretty good savings. They are cosmetic seconds mostly and fully functional. If you are looking to save some cash I'd do one of those.

 

[Takem406]

How are Redding?
When I go to get STW dies which should I get for the best accuracy and value? My grandpa gave me a set of competition dies for 308. Is this the way to go to get the most consistent seat depth?

 

[Bullet bumper]

My opinion is Foster Co-ax are not the best . Hard to use , tiring long handle throw. Dies flopping about on the lock ring . What a stupid way to hold a die.
Will not take some micrometre dies . They work but an RCBS RC supreme is my choice.

 

[boomtube]

The Coax is a great press ... IF you like the ergomics of that 'straight out' lever; a lot of people don't.

User features vary a bit between tool brands and models but that's just personal taste, it's not a 'quality' or performance issue. Redding makes as good a press as anyone else but, unless you need the great leverage of their massive UltraMag or like the die and lever arrangements of the Forster Coax, there are no other meaningful advantages to either one. Lee's Classic Cast is a great press at any price and the comparitively low cost is simply a bonus benefit.

Dies and presses are steel/iron (usually) so there's nothing spongy for seating about them. A highly consistant OAL has little effect and most such variation comes from differences in the bullets. Jump to the lands does matter but even bullet jump doesn't require rocket precision, other variables have larger effects on accuracy. Anyway, consistancy of seating depends on the user, not the die.

 

[Trickymissfit]

If you are on a budget and want a sturdy press check out the Lee cast https://fsreloading.com/single-stage-presses/
these people have both a breech lock (for quick change die set up, very useful) and a standard screw the die down model. I have delt with these people before and recommend them.
If you want the best IMO FORSTER CO-AX RELOADING PRESS | Sinclair Intl
I have also delt with Sinclair and highly recommend them also.
2 choices, both will out live you

brother inlaw uses a Lee Cast iron press (whatever it's called). A steal at the price, plus it's 100% US made instead of simply assembled and boxed over here. He had trouble getting it setup, and came to me for some help. It was 80% operator error! The only rounds he has trouble with are 45-70's and things like that. He came over to my place with a cigar box full of 30-06 brass, and we sized them with his dies on the CO-AX to fit the chamber on a Savage rifle he has. Then went over to his place and gave his Lee a good look over. Made some shim plates to seriously beef up his bench mount. That seemed to make it easier as the mount was rock solid. He liked the Forster so well that he bought one. But what he really liked best was the Forster 30-06 dies. Yet the main reason he bought the CO-AX was for it's shear power and the ability not to flex under extreme pressure. If I buy another press to set along side the Forster it will be that same Lee, as it's just that good.
gary

 

[Trickymissfit]

If you are on a budget and want a sturdy press check out the Lee cast https://fsreloading.com/single-stage-presses/
these people have both a breech lock (for quick change die set up, very useful) and a standard screw the die down model. I have delt with these people before and recommend them.
If you want the best IMO FORSTER CO-AX RELOADING PRESS | Sinclair Intl
I have also delt with Sinclair and highly recommend them also.
2 choices, both will out live you

XYZ

 

[Trickymissfit]

I agree with the outlive part. My little press was purchased as a gift when I was 17. It is from a company called "Bair". It still works just fine after 42 years of use. That pretty well dates me-doesn't it?

my Forster is 36 years old, and is as square and tight as day one
gary

 

[Daveinjax]

Does anyone know when Forster took over Bonanza ? My press is a Bonanza press with the primer on top but without the jaws. Just the 3 tabs to hold the shell. Just wondering about its age.