Which Reloading Press should I buy - How to pick the reloading press that is right for you

"As to the people who have went down that road..." GRAMMAR!

Rcbs single syage presses

Getting a Dillon 550 as a first press would be amazing lol.

Buy Once Cry Once:
I got the Buchanan Precision Hand Press with the Hornady LNL system, and Redding Competition dies, for high precision on the fly reloading. If I ever get a bench mounted press it will be the Area 51 Zero Turret Press.

Sold. I've been using a single stage MEC for a few years now. I never knew the co-ax could do that. I'm sold on it. Just bought one online. 😁

Exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks and SUB! 😅

I started out with a RCBS single stage press. It's a good press, but when changing from one die to another, it made it tedious. I was talked into buying a Dillon 550B, and man, did it make a difference! I load for more than one caliber, and use their quick-change dies. It cost for these quick changers, but it's worth it in the long run if you shoot a lot. My Dillon is over 20 years old, and still works just fine. That's how well their built! My warranty is still good to this day!

Would love to own a Dillon progressive but can't afford the blue cool-aid... love my lee pro-1000s.....

That is very good video footage and explanation . But I have a question to ask you ? can you refer me a good complete press loading kit for beginner. Right now I’m shooting. 223 , 5.56 , 308 , .38 ,and also 9mm . 🤔 thank you for your time.

Been using 2 single stage RCBSs for years.. Not sure I'll change, but like the Forster co-ax operation. Seems it's essentially also a turret press since it's so easy to swap dies: to me not much difference between rotating the turret vs swapping the die.

I started with Lee...n stayed with them. Wound up with the 4 hole turret press. I load both rifle n pistol, use just one turret for pistol, 2 for rifle. Gotta work the brass on rifle 1st, n if your reloading for a semi, ya better be reworking your brass on both ends! I use Lee's auto-drum powder measure n for .308 with Sierra MK 175 gr over 42 gr of H4895, can easily hold 1/4 MOA at 100 yards. Sad part is, if you're just trying to get into reloading...good luck! No large rifle primers for years now n if you can find anything its now 3X what it used to be! Used to buy 1000 CCI large rifle for $32!

Great video..thanks

Never had an issue with the LNL Progressive press, just some occasional tweaking, something you will have with EVERY other brand in the market including the overpriced ones, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, I currently load, 9mm .223, .40 S&W, 38 special, 357 magnum, .50 AE, 300 Wby mag, 270 win, .45 acp, .500S&W.
Do a bit of homework, get adapter bushings, have everything neatly organized, I usually pick a day for a specific caliber, very seldom I reload more than one caliber on de same day, in fact, I don’t remember last time I did.

Good video, thanks.

Go with a classic brand that has been around for decades, not the red brand that buys up shelf space at stores forcing the classics out.

I get 0.001" or less runout on my Lee Classic Cast press. Though I do seat with a Harrell's micrometer seating die and hand press. My custom Savage RPLB shoots 0.125" 5 shot center to center groups at 100 yards. I use a Lee 4 hole turret for quantity pistol and get 1.5" accuracy at 25 yards with my .45. You don't need to spend stupid amounts of money to start reloading. The whole point of reloading is lower cost or calibers that are not commercially available.

Look at that bench, looks solid, well lit, spacious. That's an unmentioned requirement for reloading. A solid spacious well lit area. This could cost more than the press.
I've reloaded rifle and pistol on the lee classic cast. If you are just a hobbyist, have time, and don't shoot more than a couple thousand rounds a year, it works. The handle is adjustable, so you can use a short throw when you don't need a lot of force (most steps of reloading) You don't need a separate priming station. It is easy to maintain. It is solid and heavy.
If you are considering reloading
If you are easily distracted, don't like to follow or read instructions, cut corners because you think you might get away with it, don't have time or space, reloading may not be for you. Reloading can be safe or it can be dangerous. It is your choice.
Buy the book and read the introductory chapters.
There's a couple types of primers, Boxer and Berdan. Boxer primers have once center hole on the inside of the case. These can be reloaded. Berdan has two holes inside the case and cannot be reloaded. If you run them through a sizing or decapping die you can break the decapping pin.
ALWAYS store your powder and primers in a cool dry location. Heat and humidity will damage them both.
Legally unless you have a specific FFL you cannot legally sell your reloads. (just sayin') People will ask you to sell your reloads. If there is an accident with your reloads...

Rock Chucker II single stage press kit. Thirty years and only hundreds of rounds later, it is as valuable as my Tundra SR5. Thinking about adding a turret press. I load mostly magnum rifle and pistol rounds. Don't need to crank out a thousand of 'em at a single sitting.

Great video I am new to it and just want to make a bunch of 9mm target loads for range day I own my land and the range but I'm thinking maybe 500 to 1000 rnds a month tops

I bought the Dillon 550B, with a full load of accessories at their showroom in Flagstaff, AZ....I was going to get into reloading but never got around to it.

I chose the Redding Turret press with a spare turret plate, enough space for 4 die sets.

everyone in the comments is a salesman LOL

Very well said!

why is there so much play with the frankford arsenal die blocks when inserted ;
does this affect cartridge measurements when attempting to produce match rounds ?

Great video...thanx...I just bought my first reload ress kit from Lee...the 1000...I'm excited and ready to start a brand new way of life... thanx again and many more videos fo sho💪🤙

I started out reloading with a Dillon 550C for high volume 9mm pistol & 223 Rem AR15 ammo, Then bought a Hornady Lock N Load Single stage for some rifle ammo .After that I got a K & M Precision Arbor Press with Dial Indicator for Seating Pressures/Neck Tension for my 6.5 PRC Competition Ammo. I had wanted a Forster Co-Ax or the Frankford Arsenal Co-Ax Press. The Forster had been on backorder for so long. My friend has a Frankford Arsenal and he loves it so I bought it when it came off back order. Its made so well and I love it. Great Video..Thank you

I bought a used Dillon 650 then because of Covid, it was kept boxed up. I will use it for 9mm and 556. I just bought a Forster Co-Ax it will reload everything else I do which will be 308, 30-30 and maybe some day 10 mm. I was torn between the Redding T7 and the RCBS and agonized over them for a year. Then I was the Co-Ax and made up my mind in about 30 seconds. I see no advantages that the T7 has over the Co-Ax. The Rebel is a cheaper press.

Good video sir.
I started with a lee single stage kit. I still use it for small runs and rifles.
I picked up a used lee turret press, old classic they have changed. I run 9mm in that or anything else that I keep in a 3lb can of empty brass.
Both work great for me and make good ammo. I enjoy the fact that you can make the classic turret press manual indexing if you want. I find I am faster that way then when the rod rotated the head. Then again I'm a lefty so that might be why it works for me.

In my opinion the Turban Prazipress is the best single stage press for precision rifle cartridges.

Late comment, new to this channel...IMHO, the most PROBLEMATIC area of the Dillon 550C is the primer feed...can't tell you how much time I have spent with Customer Service on this issue...can't make it reliable...

I started out with a RCBS Partner press for load development and sizing and I bought a Dillon 550C with multiple tool heads and everything else for it to reload 9mm to 7mm Rem Mag. I seen videos saying that sizing on your progressive press while loading ammo could give you inconsistencies in your reloads so that was the main driving factor for a single stage and load development but once I work up a good forgiving load I transfer everything to my Dillon to crank out ammo. I love my Dillon but I hate that Partner press there's so much slop in that press that I get a lot of inconsistencies which is kind of ironic because I bought it to make my reloads on my Dillon more consistent... LOL I've loaded a bunch of ammo on that crap press but I'm definitely looking for a new one and kind of thinking about getting a turret instead of another single stage just to speed things up. I was looking at the Redding T-7 have you heard good things about that one also???

RCBS Rockchucker verses a Lee Classic cast press.... 50 dollars more then the Lee, but a better press. Redding makes a great single stage press not much more than Lee, but is a waaay better press, from what I hear. They produce straighter ammo than the Lee. The turrets..... Redding T 7 is a bit expensive but alot of people love them. I got a Lyman All American 8 which is a very stout press for 300 bucks but for a little bit more, $359 the T 7 is waaaayy better and weeellll worth it. And then the Creedmore sports turret head upgrade, think about it..... they only make one for Reddings press ! Dillion progressives..... total rebuild for zero dollars. Lifetime including normal wear and tear up to the RL 1100.

Great info. Really helped me grasp the whys of each type. Thanks!

If you use the LE Wilson Case Gauge Depth Micrometer with their case gauges you can accurately measure shoulder bump and set up your full length dies to what you wish. Therefore this can replace a comparitor. I found this very accurate.

Probably a stupid question but does the die brand matter? I.e will Hornady press accept lee dies? Other brands as well

Great advice for a beginner looking to buy. I started out with a RCBS Rock Chucker set and have had a few in between my Dillon 550. What I love about the Dillon is the fact you can run just the stages you want. You can do single stage to multiple stages depending on how you set it up. You can always remove pins in order to just put the cartridge in and remove it for just one stage if you like. I usually hand prime everything and weigh my charges. I sometimes just size the brass in the first stage after cleaning primer pockets, trimming deburring chamfering and repriming remove the pin in the second station after putting powder in the cases and progressively seat and sometimes crimp the bullet. 223's I actually use a Dillon powder measure in that station because it is ball powder and meters well. It's very versatile. I don't really pump the ammo out fast though. It is more important to get it right. I do also use neck sizing dies in the first station for some of my bolt guns. What I do is after years of reloading and certainly would not suggest a beginner even try until they have reloading entirely figured out. I do have all my dies set up on toolheads as well, too many to mention.

Buy a Dillon XL 650/750 and be done with it. Easy to use, best dies, fast, reliable, proven. You will end up paying the same so may as well get the Dillon.

I started with a Lee Classic Loader. Loaded a few thousand .223, some 9mm, 10mm, and even .243 on it. It works okay. I still have it. But it’s relegated to a dark corner of the garage. In it’s place is a Forster Coax and Dillon 550c. I’m a happy boy now.

Get one of each - single & progressive.

I've been binge watching a lot from your channel, so far my only complaint is that your affiliate links are only valid for Amazon in the USA, so i have to transfer to the Canadian Amazon page to buy them without massive shipping costs.

I started with a Bonanza 68 in 1970 , still use it for priming

What stand/mount are you using for that frankford?

I have a t7 on order but I like your co-ax👍

I’ve been wanting to go down this rabbit hole for some time now, this is great information, would a single stage be the best option for manufacturing match ammo for hunting calibers?

Thank you for your videos. You present honest information in a clear cut way, and I appreciate it. I'm a young guy looking to start reloading to save money over time.

Thank you so much!

You didn’t mention using an arbor press. It may not fit in this video because it isn’t bolted to the bench. I only use it for one round I reload. It is supposed to be the ultimate for precision but I really don’t get much, if any, less run out than with my 35 year old RCBS Rock Chucker. If you want to speed up precision reloading get an automatic powder dispenser. When I shot a couple of high power matches per month that was worth while. Now I shoot a couple of matches per year and don’t use it.

Read the whole paragraph and I’m sorry it’s so long. But as of November 20th 2021 at 05:25 am you have 1.7k likes to a walling zero 0 dislikes come on bro make some uodated videos however your data is accurate but I’m shure there are new things presses exc to talk about.

Great 101 class here. Thanks for posting it. Learned quite a bit that was missing from some of the other beginner vids.

200 round in an hour is 18 seconds per round to prime drop a charge and load a bullet. Don't expect to get that kind of time on a single stage press. Im not saying its impossible but thats very far fetched