Which type reloading press?

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gnich40

New member
I'm just about to plunge into reloading and I can't decide whether to get a single stage press or a turret press. It sure would be nice to have the luxury to leave the dies on a plate all set up, but I want the potential for good accuracy also. Can any one help me? I would probably guess from past experience that I am opening up a big can of worms; that there are many opinions. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif But any help you guys can give me will be appreciated.
 
I wrestled with the same decision for quite a while, and on Friday I finally bought the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Master Reloading kit (Single Stage). I'm very happy with it! I thought about the RCBS Turret kit for the same reasons you mention. But with the difference in price and also wanting to get the hand primer...I was able to get the single stage kit...an extra set of dies for a second rifle, the rotary case trimmer, and a few other items that don't come in the kit but are necessary. Since I'm a beginner...changing dies does take some time, as I'm fearful of making a mistake and keep rechecking things...but I suppose as I get more proficient, it will be much easier and faster. And somewhere down the road (now that I have all of the basic gear), I may purchase a turret if I find it at a good price. Make no mistake about the Rockchucker Single stage...it is a quality press! I loaded and tested 50 cartridges for my .243 just today!!! I've already improved over the factory loads!!!
Muskrat
 
I have a rockchucker press, I bought new in or around 1970. It has loaded tens of thousands of rounds. I think its close to being broken in. It's as good today as it was when it was new. I also have 2 550 Dillon presses for 223 Rem and 40 S&W. If I only had one press it would be the RCBS.
 
If you are going to reload for rifles, the single stage does just fine.

If you intend to load for both rifle and pistol, the turret press saves plenty of time and hassle of changing dies. Keep in mind pistol requires three dies and sometimes the fourth die (crimp die).

Best for pistol reloading if you are a volume shooter...something like two thousand or more rounds a year..you'd be better served with a progressive machine. One pull gives one fully loaded round.

I had same dilemma when I first started into reloading. I started with a single stage then to a turret and finally a progressive. Even though I burn much less than a thousand rounds nowadays it is still nice to have all three...:)
 
I have a old Lyman press I got in a start up kit from Cabelas almost 20 years ago. It has a 6 hole turret on top, and that's just enough room to leave the dies of my three work rifles in all the time. The dies for my 25-06 haven't been removed (other than a few cleanings) in those 20 years.
 
If you want the best check out corbin s press it is top notch quality it is very smooth it has bearings in it and is almost efortless to use and it could be used as a press for pressing pins in or swaging bullets or as a arbor press check out www.corbins.com also the forster is a good press better than the other brands and very smooth the only thing I don't like about the forster is the handle it is straight and you pull it toward you,I bent the handle on mine so I can sit in front of it.The forster dies are great also.But the corbin is smoother with less effort the forster is around 180.00 and the corbin is 335.00
 
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I am concerned that a turret press might not be as accurate as a single stage. I believe that a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme will be dead on all of the time. But with a turret press, the way it indexes, will it return to a proper location as far as the alignment of the dies? Will it be really good or somewhat sloppy?
 
IF you want to quickly change dies and do not want to have to adjust a few thousandths each time you switch look at the forster. I have a rock chucker supreme that sits in the basement since I got the Forster. Die changes take only a few seconds since the snap in and out. There is not need to change shell holders and the shell holder "floats" to ensure alignment with the die minimizing runout. They cast a bit more up front, but it is money well spent, plus they usually go for $35-60 under new on ebay.

There is probably a reason that many government agencies which load for snipers use only the Forster press.
 
I started reloading in the 60's and had a hand me down Lyman. I decided I needed a newer press and got a Rockchucker and have been using it ever since. I decided some time ago that I needed more volume so I got a Dillion 550 and use it when I load a large quantity. For smaller lots under 50 rds, I still bring out the Rockchucker. The point, there is a place for both. First buy a good single and after you learn to use it safely, then buy something like a 550 and keep the single. My 550 reloads just as accurately, if not more so, than the Rockchucker. The Dillion powder measure is more accurate than my Ohaus.
 
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IF you want to quickly change dies and do not want to have to adjust a few thousandths each time you switch look at the forster. I have a rock chucker supreme that sits in the basement since I got the Forster. Die changes take only a few seconds since the snap in and out. There is not need to change shell holders and the shell holder "floats" to ensure alignment with the die minimizing runout. They cast a bit more up front, but it is money well spent, plus they usually go for $35-60 under new on ebay.

There is probably a reason that many government agencies which load for snipers use only the Forster press.



I will strongly second that. The Forster Co-Ax is the absolute best, turns out ammo every bit as good as an arbor press if not better. Like others have said, a progressive press is good for high volume pistol ammo. The military teams that compete in the World Cups, World Championships, Pan American Games, and Olympics all use the Forster Co-Ax press.

Jack
 
I use an RCBS Jr. for case sizing and a Lyman All-American turret for bullet seating. The Lyman has my four most-loaded seaters.

I'm not a large volume shooter, but the convenience is nice.

Rick
 
I have two rockchuckers I broke down a few months ago and bought a RCBS turret press with enough plates to set the dies up that I use the most. It has improved my handloading to the tune of anout an hour per hundred rounds I never load much more than that at a time because I get tired and tired makes mistakes.
If you are just starting out I would sugest you get a single stage, until you learn the in's and out's. I have been handloading long enough that I inspect at each stage, the sequence is the same with the turret press. After tumbeling I lube, size and decap. The case comes out I check the primer pocket, trim,recheck case length. Install new primer with a RCBS Hand priming tool. Chambfer case mouth. If useing a three die set I flair casemouth, if not I wiegh powder charge and charge the case, then set and seat bullet crimping in the same die, then remove and check OAL wipe off any residual lube and put in box. With a single stage I was doing the same thing but I would do all cases at each stage then change dies About a five minute operation. Why it saves me an hour on average I can not figure out since the die change takes hardly twenty minutes total. But Any way I have not noticed any degrading in quality of handloaded ammo since I began useing the turret. If any thing I seem to be getting a bit more consistante.
 
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IF you want to quickly change dies and do not want to have to adjust a few thousandths each time you switch look at the forster. I have a rock chucker supreme that sits in the basement since I got the Forster. Die changes take only a few seconds since the snap in and out. There is not need to change shell holders and the shell holder "floats" to ensure alignment with the die minimizing runout. They cast a bit more up front, but it is money well spent, plus they usually go for $35-60 under new on ebay.

There is probably a reason that many government agencies which load for snipers use only the Forster press.



I will strongly second that. The Forster Co-Ax is the absolute best, turns out ammo every bit as good as an arbor press if not better. Like others have said, a progressive press is good for high volume pistol ammo. The military teams that compete in the World Cups, World Championships, Pan American Games, and Olympics all use the Forster Co-Ax press.

Jack



I third this...Wouldn't trade my Forster for anything else. Had mine since March and looked at a lot of presses before buying. I wanted something easy to use and didn't want to keep up with a multitude of shellholders. The Forster fit the bill. The only thing negative about the Forster is that you can't use it as a bullet puller and it won't load the longest of cartridges due to the design of the handle swinging over the die.
 
I have the opportunity to pick up a brand new RCBS master reload kit for 165 bucks. I really like what i'm hearing about the Forster Co-Ax kit though. Should I not get the RCBS and go with the Forster? Or get both and sell the RCBS press??

One last question about the Forster, do the RCBS carbide dies work with it?
 
The Forster Co-Ax and the Dillon 550B are both great presses, and if you shoot a lot you'll use them both (I use my 550B the most).

Having said that, since you are "just about to plunge into reloading" you might want to try something a little cheaper to start with. Reloading isn't for everybody, and you'll have a lot of money tied up in something that may not suit you if you buy new top of the line stuff before you've loaded your first round.

You might consider something like one of the Lee Reloading kits for under $100 just to see if reloading is something for you.
 
Well, if the Lee Classic Cast is what is is cracked up to be it is better than the Rock Chucker Supreme. By its dimensions it is bigger and beefier. It holds larger dies as well as the standard, and has a built in priming tool. I do not see why they are not going to give RCBS a run for their money on that one.
 
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