I'ne been reloading for some 49 years. I have dies from every one but Dillon and, used correctly, they all load fine.
I still have presses from Lyman, Lee and RCBS, have had others. MOST of the comparasions by brand you read about leave out the press models and that very much matters; Lee's iron presses (Classic Cast and Classic Turret) are better presses than my 1987 Rock Chucker 2, or any other iron single stage press. Lee's alum alloy presses are as 'good' as RCBS' alum alloy presses.
Obviously a big cast iron press has more total strength than a light alum press but, used properly, any alum press will handle routine loading chores quite well and, if the ram is kept reasonably clean and lightly oiled, any press made will last much longer than the user. I've seen web photos showing broken top straps on RC pressses so even they aren't fool proof to stop a sufficently determined fool.
Buy your press by what you plan ro use it for, not it's color or cost. A new guy who doesn't quite know what he may eventually want would do well to start with Lee's Classsic Cast single stage. It's moderate price, brute strength, precision machining and excellant user features make it a stand out tool and most people will never need anything else. Even if you later decide to get a progressive press you'll still have many occasions to use a single stage press so it's not like the money would be wasted.
In today's insane reloading market, used tool prices make buying new a better deal inless you stumble onto a REAL deal! I'd never pay more than half of what new tools could be bought for, new cost isn't massive and paying more than half just doesn't save enough money to make a real difference at the end of the year.
All makers support their products quite well but none of them give away anything for "free", the average cost of "frre" parts is built into every tool they sell - if you bust a lot of stuff it may be a good deal to have a 'lifetime warrantee', otherwise you're just covering the support costs of those who do. Loading tools rarely fail and, if they fail under warrantee they all fix it; if something is out of warrantee it seldom costs much for most broken or bent parts. I've 'saved' a small fortune by paying for most of my few repair parts! lightbulb
No brand has a lock on the best tools across the board and kits are NEVER complete anyway; I don't care for kits because of that. There are always more bits and pieces you will need, depending on what you plan to load for, AND in what quanity. IF you need 300 rounds of 9mm spray and pray ammo a week it will be significently different than for an occasional 50-100 rounds of hunting/casual target practice shooting ammo.
As a noob, forget any hopes of immediately producing 1/4 MOA groups for your .285 Backfire Magnum in a new Remchester. Not only do you have way too much to learn to make costly dies and components meaniful, you will need a good deal of experience in just developing a load your rig will like. So -- get a good, solid press and avoid the high dollar dies and fancy case trimmers, measuring tools, case cleaners, etc, for now. Add what you actually need as you perceive a need. For now, get only what you need to produce the ammo you need, then have some fun learning and shootin'!
