Best press to get for beginner reloading?

All this, coming from someone who loads up 50 rounds of a STIFF charge for a .221 Furball that he's probably never fired before! I might not have as much experience, but aren't you supposed to start at the minimum listed in the manuals and work your way up? Just saying! I apologize for getting away from the original post, but sometimes I can't help myself.
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go back and read. "After working up and checking for signs of pressure" I fired several rounds as I worked my way up thank you. Btw: 18.5 g of rl-7 is still under max.

"I havent tested these out yet on paper but the previous owner of the gun suggested this load shot well for him..after cheking for pressure I decided to take his word for it and roll them up."


Funny.... I must have struck a nerve
 
For rifle reloading its hard to beat a good single stage press. Rockchuckers are hard to beat. I personally have a redding. They are both great and you can't go wrong with either.
 
My reloading bench is covered with products from many companies. I don't know that one company could be the best at everything, however I would recommend a Lee kit with another powder measure. The Lee is good, but it takes some getting used to. I love their powder measure and hand priming tools. I currently use a Lee Classic Turret press and absolutely love it.
 
I would get a good single stage press. I have run rcbs, hornady,pacific and lee. They all do what you need them to do. Like others have said my bench has various brands of reloading equipment on it. I have a single stage press and have used it for years and just picked up a LNL progressive last fall and use it for pistol reloading and some rifle at this time but I find myself using the single stage for load developement and small volume reloading. I have not found a need for a turret press due to my reloading process. There is a big learning curve when it comes to running a progressive press and it can be very harmfull to you or the firearm. JMO
 
If you are hoping to be into reloading for the long run, try to get a press that you feel will meet your needs for many years. The RCBS RC has been a good press for me for the last 15 years. However, I still have my original press... A RCBS Jr., (1972). Kinda hard to wear them out.
 
Definitely Lee Precision II Shotshell Reloading Press is the best alternative on the market . This self-contained shotshell press is probably the best model out there for beginners. If you didn’t load your own shells until now, but you think you have the time and the patience for it this is probably the best press for you. The press can load both 2 3/4” and 3” 12-gauge shell with powder bushings and 24 shot. After you get used to using this reloading press you should be able to fill 100 shells or more in an hour, and you can use it for standard shells, trap shells, and slugs. The press will create nice scrimps on the shells, and once you get used to it, you’ll make factory quality shells, or even better.
 
Holy thread resurrection Batman! Almost 6 years old, is that a record?

And I had a Lee shotshell press, I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. But I think the OP was asking about loading rifle ammo?
 
Best has a lot of criteria that may apply. Lots of really great equipment out there and it all seems to work fairly well. Best fit or best press depends on what you need.

I had to reload on the cheap and found very good results. I guess it's just not that hard, even I can do it. Been at it for over thirty years and started w/ a Lee anniversary "0" type single stage press. Use to get Chek surplus ball powder called Accurate Data Powder 2200 for about $46/8lb keg to the door. I could feed my ravenous Daewoo lots of very accurate M193 reloads for $0.09/rd. AA DP2200 was also great for 30-30Win and was made for 7.62x39R. Loaded about 12k rounds on that press of good cheap accurate ammo, and had a lot of good cheap fun.

Got tired of setting up dies and maybe crunching a casing or two in the process so I got a Lee turret press and a turret for all my setups. Drop them in and crank them out.

Still using good cheap Lee stuff and various other's dies and widgets to produce very good ammo. Would have upgraded a long time ago but never saw a need to pay the extra money for something really nice. The ammo the Lee presses produce work just fine.

Friend of mine tried the Lee stuff and he just couldn't stand it. Yeah, after several thousand rounds the presses do seem a little ... wobblier? Yeah the stuff is a little clunky, the run-out is crazy, plastic, but it just works. This guy is a machine builder and decided an RCBS turret was his kinda one armed bandit. His press is really sweet. He had some kind of super electronic scale and I compared it to an electronic I have and the Lee beam scale. The 30yo Lee beam was right on with the digitals. Never verified that scale before but was relieved w/ the result.

Almost upgraded but after running a new 6x45 70gr Varmageddon load on AA Data Powder 2200. RCBS dies , Lee turret and a light factory crimp. Each charge weighed on the digital, reloaded NATO 5.56 TAA cases. Nice tips on those Varmageddon bullets, OAL varied
 
I like to buy quality stuff second hand.

So, I would watch craigs list and local sale papers for a:

Rock Chucker press

Redding Boss

You will also find other stuff with them for sale.

If you are on a really tight budget, the lee press is adequate and they do have a life time guarantee.

ON the scales, I am a big believer in the RCBS 505 and the twice as expensive 10/10, these two are extremely fine scales.

ON dies, I love the std RCBS and the Redding.

The Lee powder dippers make loading ammo very fast, and are a good substitute for a powder measure, they run around $13 on ebay.
 
I hope he got his press since he hasn't been on since November 2013.
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Some of these old resurrect threads are interesting when you read back and see what comments others, or even you, have made.

Greg
 
this all depends on your budget and the reloaders dedication to using the tools.
if you have a tight budget I would recommend the Lee Challenger kit along with dies for your specific caliber.

$160 and you have everything to start reloading
 
I have the same RCBS rockchucker I bought 44 years ago and it still works great. I bought a kit with scale and other stuff. RCBS has always stood behind their products. Buy what you can afford. That is what I did when I started out. Welcome to reloading and enjoy reloading! Rudy
 
I bought the RCBS Rockchucker Combo kit back in about 1978 or 9 and still use it today. I have added things to it over the years but the press and some of my dies are from that era and in great shape. I don't ever see getting anything different and that press will last my lifetime.
 
I prefer the Hornady lock and load single press.

I like that i set the die in the quick change collars once. Then they change in seconds and are set just right every time.

But, it's hard to beat an estate sale press.. They are usually almost given away, and all solid metal presses are good and last forever.

If you find a baby blue Dillon and they want less than $200 for it, buy it. Especially if it's big, and has lots of attachments. If you don't like it, post it here for sale for what you paid for it and i am sure that someone will take it off your hands.
 
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