Favorite Press

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Elpatoloco

Active Member
The first press I ever purchased was a RCBS partner press. Ive been using it for 35 years now.
I also have a Rock Chuckar.
I built a small "Bench" that I tie crappie jigs on as well as reload on the coffee table. I even throw it on the tailgate of the pickup when developing a load at the range.
 
Edward R Southgate

Edward R Southgate

Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
Elpatoloco said:
The first press I ever purchased was a RCBS partner press. Ive been using it for 35 years now.
I also have a Rock Chuckar.
I built a small "Bench" that I tie crappie jigs on as well as reload on the coffee table. I even throw it on the tailgate of the pickup when developing a load at the range.
Click to expand...

Buy one of the Lee hand presses for the range.
 
todd

todd

Well-Known Member
i bought a Lyman turret press back in the early '90s and then about 6 - 7 years ago, i bought a Lee Classic Cast press. the Lyman is put away and the Lee Classic is now my #1 press.
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
Elpatoloco said:
The first press I ever purchased was a RCBS partner press. Ive been using it for 35 years now.
I also have a Rock Chuckar.
I built a small "Bench" that I tie crappie jigs on as well as reload on the coffee table. I even throw it on the tailgate of the pickup when developing a load at the range.
Click to expand...
I'd be interested in seeing that little bench you made if you couldpost a picture or two. A portable reloading set up is something that has me fascinated for some reason and I'm interested in other people's ideas.
 
TXTad

TXTad

Active Member
todd said:
i bought a Lyman turret press back in the early '90s and then about 6 - 7 years ago, i bought a Lee Classic Cast press. the Lyman is put away and the Lee Classic is now my #1 press.
Click to expand...
That's interesting that you prefer the single stage press over the turret press. I first reloaded in high school metal shop teacher when one semester I cast a bunch of bullets for the teacher's .30-30. I then used a Lee Loader with dippers to load those bullets into cartridges for him. Later I got myself a Lee Reloader press that I used to load many rounds of .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special and Magnum, and .45 ACP. A neighbor then gave me an RCBS Reloader Special that he had been given but never used in return for loading a bunch of .45 ACP for him.

In the 90s, a friend decided that he wanted a Dillon 650, but since he lived in an apartment, he kept it at my place on my loading bench. Even back then I used it more than he did, and he eventually just gave it to me when he lost interest. Mostly, though, I used the Lee and RCBS presses for years until I got a very good deal on a very lightly used Redding Ultramag that I found at Speedy Gonzalez's shop when it was here in North Texas.

Most of the time I use two or three of those single-stage presses at the same time, with a different die in each one. That seems quite fast and has worked well for me. I recently added a few more single-stage presses I got online at some very good sale prices. An RCBS Rock Chucker and a Lyman Ideal. The Rock Chucker was such an incredibly good deal that I didn't even ponder what I need it for, and I'm thinking that the Ideal will replace my Lee Reloader that after more than three decades is getting a little loose.

I keep thinking that I want a turret press, but I seem to never get around to getting one.
 
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Elpatoloco

Active Member
richhodg66 said:
I'd be interested in seeing that little bench you made if you couldpost a picture or two. A portable reloading set up is something that has me fascinated for some reason and I'm interested in other people's ideas.
Click to expand...
Not really a bench, but a stand. I put mar proof pads on the bottom as to not mark up the wife's coffee table. Works on a tailgate as well.
 

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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
That's pretty cool. Is it stable enough to full length resize rifle cases?

Been thinking of making something like this to clamp to the top of a heavy, strong dresser I have in the house.
 
todd

todd

Well-Known Member
TXTad said:
That's interesting that you prefer the single stage press over the turret press. I first reloaded in high school metal shop teacher when one semester I cast a bunch of bullets for the teacher's .30-30. I then used a Lee Loader with dippers to load those bullets into cartridges for him. Later I got myself a Lee Reloader press that I used to load many rounds of .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special and Magnum, and .45 ACP. A neighbor then gave me an RCBS Reloader Special that he had been given but never used in return for loading a bunch of .45 ACP for him.

In the 90s, a friend decided that he wanted a Dillon 650, but since he lived in an apartment, he kept it at my place on my loading bench. Even back then I used it more than he did, and he eventually just gave it to me when he lost interest. Mostly, though, I used the Lee and RCBS presses for years until I got a very good deal on a very lightly used Redding Ultramag that I found at Speedy Gonzalez's shop when it was here in North Texas.

Most of the time I use two or three of those single-stage presses at the same time, with a different die in each one. That seems quite fast and has worked well for me. I recently added a few more single-stage presses I got online at some very good sale prices. An RCBS Rock Chucker and a Lyman Ideal. The Rock Chucker was such an incredibly good deal that I didn't even ponder what I need it for, and I'm thinking that the Ideal will replace my Lee Reloader that after more than three decades is getting a little loose.

I keep thinking that I want a turret press, but I seem to never get around to getting one.
Click to expand...

i load 50 cartridges or less. i used to load them by hundreds. the turret press was good, but for what i do, i like the cast O press.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Hoping to meet up with my buddy today and pick up this press. If not, we'll go to breakfast tomorrow and I'll get it then.

My adapter plate left Oregon yesterday, so probably Saturday if I'm lucky. Well it's not luck, it's the kid at the post office doing his job and timely manner as Saturday is a short day for them. If it comes in on Saturday, I surely won't see it until Monday. CW
 
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ChestnutLouie

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
Started with a Lee Classic 4 hole turret press and I think that it is the best beginner press. It would have been with me forever but the primer dispenser had to be replaced every 800~1000 rounds, but I could not tolerate powder puking with fine powders like Accurate #2 or 1680.
So I ponied up the $$$ and got a Dillon 550 and it was money well spent. Not quite as easy to change calibers as the Lee turret but far fewer "fiddly" issues and its built like a tank.
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
richhodg66 said:
I looked at an RCBS Rebel in Scheel's a while back, also a fine press.
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Midsouth is selling the Rebel for $200. That's a deal and likely close to the bottom price (IMO) that you are likely to see in the near future.
I purchased a RCBS Rebel a few years ago and it is an outstanding press. Simple, strong, well designed, well made. No regrets. One of the best purchases I've made.

If you're in the market for a heavy duty, single stage press - you owe it to yourself to check out the Rebel.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
richhodg66 said:
CW, have you gotten to load some ammo on that MEC yet?
Click to expand...
I loaded up some 300 HAM'r right after the video. Brass was sized and prepped. So just powder and bullets.
But I really like how it worked.
Then I took about 20 300 AAC cases and resized and loaded.

Yes I like it so far. Nice room and the floating shell holder is nice. VERY SECURE up and down. But slides 1/16" all directions.

I want to do some runout test and see what it can do.
 
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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
I have too many presses now. The Rockchucker is still doing nearly all the loading for me, I do have a Forster C0-Ax set up and use it now and again, just can't warm to it. Too different.

When I get the realoding room set up the way I want it long term, I suspect the C&H CHampion will become the press of choice and all the various antique ones will get set up to be toys to play with.

That Champion is a freakin' Hoss. I cannot imaine anything reloading related it couldn't do and I got it so cheap I'm almost embarrassed about it. Unlike the Forster, it functions like a "normal" preass so this inability I have to adapt won't be so much of a problem.

If I were starting new, that RCBS Rebel would lilkely be what I'd get.
 
JonB

JonB

Halcyon member
once you have controlled spent primer disposal, you'll never go back to random primers occasionally missing the target. Also, my reloading room is not in a shop/garage, it's the Livingroom of the upstairs apartment of my Duplex.
 
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