Good Reloading Press? Progressive or Single Stage?

J

jwalle1

New member
I want to get my brother a reloading press for christmas but don't know much about the new stuff out there. I have been using an rcbs single stage press that belongs to a friend. What do you guys think would be good. Single stage or progressive. I know progressive will be more time efficient but how accurate are powder measures. Thanks for all input and suggestions!
 
Personally, If you are wanting to get him started. Lee's anniversary kit is by far the biggest bang-for-the-buck.
It's a single stage, but has EVERYTHING that you need for less than a C-note.
 
Unless he shoots a lot then go single stage for sure. Lots of good choices. One of the RCBS kits would be good.
 
Progressive presses can be a pain in the neck to adjust correctly, especially if you are changing calibers on a regular basis....In regards to powder drops, it's not uncommon during the change overs to get the adjustments off a little and that can result in a string of squib loads that cause bullets to become lodged in the barrel...But I won't go into how I know this..

80% of my loading is done on a single stage, whether building rounds for hunting, target work, or load development, even with a handgun caliber...Once I get my handgun caliber accuracy loads established, then I'll set up my progressive to run a few hundred rounds for range work...but my hunting or self defense practice rounds are still done on the single stage press...
 
I believe everyone should start with a single stage press to fully understand the steps required in the reloading process. The RCBS kit is a good place to start.
 
I've been using a Lyman T-Mag for over 25 years now and I love it. I've thought about a Dillon but don't shoot anywhere near as much as I used to. We used to shoot 800-1,000 rounds a week back in the day. The thing I like about the T-Mag is it holds 6 dies and you can get extra heads for it. Once the dies are set you're good to go. No constantly changing out dies, to me that's a big deal...
 
I don't think you could go wrong with a nice single stage press. They come in all different price ranges! Remember, make sure whatever you get him is really nice ... that way you can borrow it a time or two!
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If I was limited to just one press then it would definitely be a single stage press. Buy him a good quality single stage press and he will have it, and use it for life. Even if he buys a progressive someday. He will still use his single stage.

Also a progressive is definitely the wrong press for a beginner. Tom.
 
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Thanks a lot, i see the rcbs rockchucker kit is on sell at the moment so i may go that route. The one I've used seemed to work ok and sounds like most of you guys suggested the single stage. We don't need to load that much anyway, mostly for hunting. I appreciate all the input!
 
You can't go wrong with the RCBS Rockchucker. I've seen/used others, but it's still my favorite. I dream of one day getting a Redding T-7, RCBS Turret or Lyman T-mag, but for now, I'll keep rocking the Rockchucker. I do all my sizing on the Rockchucker, and I have one of those flimsy Lee Reloader single-stages (with the open front) for bullet seating. I set up both presses simultaneously, so I can load a cartridge all the way in one step if I desire, without having to change anything.
 
Dillon 550 for sure. Their powder measures are spot on, there are several options also for customizing them. I have two of them and I set up tool heads for each caliber so change overs are a snap. It will reload everything from small pistol to large magnum rifles and do so accurately. If I want to load precission rounds I just take my time and feed them through single so I can make sure the bullets are seating square. I shoot tens of thousands of rounds a year all hand loaded and never any problems. I dont know where all the hate is coming from on multistage reloaders, I guess I am on a predator hunting forum and not a shooting forum and that's maybe why.
 
I started with a Lyman C press, graduated to RCBS Rockchucker, now I use 2 Dillon 550B's. You can use the Dillon as a single stage, or as a Turret, or as a semi progressive. I have never had a squib load or had a bullet lodge in the barrel. I use a different powder bar for every load, and you can change the bar in about 2 minutes, along with caliber change. By switching powder bars, the only adjustments you have to make is with different lots of powder, and that would only be 1/10th of a grain or less. I only use ball powder, and you can do everything with ball that you can with stick.
 
This old reloader is set in my ways. I like using a progressive press in a simi-progressive manner. Size brass in 2 steps - body size 1st (Redding Body die) - neck size (Lee Collet) - tumble polish brass and /or prep. as needed - prime cases (Lee hand primer) - Charge cases with powder (Lyman 55) - seat bullets ( any make of Bench Rest quality seater works well).
Pistol cartridge reloads require case flaring ( Lyman M die ) and crimping (Lee factory crimp die).
Progressive press speeds reloading up even if you do not use it in a progressive manner. I like the Dillion 550B overall. The Lee Classic turret press speeds things up for me and is economical.
 
Originally Posted By: Jim n IowaSingle stage and keep it green in color as you get what you pay for, bring on the flames.
Jim
No flames, I started with RCBs but slowly moved on to other products. I think the RCBs bench rest bullet seater is the fastest , easiest , and accurate bullet seater on the market. RCBs bench rest full length rifle die is the best on the market today, much much better than their regular dies.
 


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