Single stage press recommendations

Gear Head

Gear Head

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So I bought a creedmoor and want to load for it. I have a loadmaster that I use for 9mm and a Lee turret that I use for precision .223 but I took the indexing rod out and use it as a aingel stage and rotate the dies as needed since I rarely go in order. My issue with the turret is the die plate does not lock into the press snugly so when you being the ram up the plate moves slightly as well. The dies set up correctly and runout seems to be minimal but it has always bothered me. I've looked a little at the lock n load and the rock chucker. I really like the lock n load quick change bushings but doesn't a lock ring with a set screw essentially do the same thing?
 
The only folks that don’t rave about it are the guys trying to use them to squeeze the brass of one really big rifle caliber down to a medium but rare caliber, not enough leverage and broken linkages. It also might not be my first choice for sizing cast bullets.

I do think that they have a lifetime warranty though.
 
So I went a watched a vid on the forster and while it looks super nice, I don't want to spend that much on a press. While I do want to load for accuracy, I'm not shooting PRS or anything so for just punching paper and banging steel I can't really justify it.
 
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I would look hard at the Lee Classic Cast non-breechlock press. It comes with a reducing insert that, if taken out, allows you to install the Hornady bushing insert for quick-change of dies. I prefer this over the Lee breechlock inserts, and I also like the way the non-breechlock press handles spent primers when decapping - they drop down through the center of the ram so that none of the primer residue gets on the ram. With the insert out, I have heard that you can use 50 BMG dies.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press
 
Toprudder said:
I would look hard at the Lee Classic Cast non-breechlock press. It comes with a reducing insert that, if taken out, allows you to install the Hornady bushing insert for quick-change of dies. I prefer this over the Lee breechlock inserts, and I also like the way the non-breechlock press handles spent primers when decapping - they drop down through the center of the ram so that none of the primer residue gets on the ram. With the insert out, I have heard that you can use 50 BMG dies.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press
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Trying to get away from Lee this time. I've been pleased with my Loadmaster and the turret is alright. Just wanting to try something different this go around.
 
Gear Head said:
Trying to get away from Lee this time. I've been pleased with my Loadmaster and the turret is alright. Just wanting to try something different this go around.
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That Lee Classic Single stage is a different beast from their other stuff...it's a solid press.

The RCBS Rockchucker is solid and dependable option.

I've been very happy with my Hornady LNL

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
Redding T7, turret press. The play can be adjusted. Not a single stage, but i hate setting up dies.

A slight amount of play shouldn't hurt anything. If the die isnt perfectly aligned with the case.....a small amount of play should be a good thing.
 
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BowWow said:
Redding T7, turret press. The play can be adjusted. Not a single stage, but i hate setting up dies.

A slight amount of play shouldn't hurt anything. If the die isnt perfectly aligned with the case.....a small amount of play should be a good thing.
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I looked at the t7 as well and it looks sweet but like the forster it's just a little more than I'm wanting to spend.
 
What’s your budget and how good are you? I agree that you need to move off the Lee turret but whether you go with Lee/RCBS/Hornady/Redding/Forster you would have to be a lot better shot than I am to tell a difference on the range.

My advice would be watch for a used RC
 
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The forster is the ticket. I've use to have a Hornady LNL and after having the hub snapped 3 times I sent it back. Had a lynman, got rid of it for the forster.
 
I have used a Hornady LNL now for a few years. I like it and have had no problems with it. For pistols I use their dies and for rifle I use Redding dies. I have tried others (friends) and have found no reason to switch. I think most of the presses are decent and you will do fine with what ever you can afford. I believe the dies you use are more important then the press itself.
 
hlpressley said:
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Gear Head, is this for the Bergara that you go the sweet deal on? If it is, spend the extra coin if you can on Forster Co-Ax and Redding dies or Forster if you can afford those. That rifle, a good piece of glass and a Co-ax and any human will be the limiting factor in that weapons system.

There is much to be said for not over spending and acquiring gear that is superior to your ability. I have long subscribed to that belief and still do when it comes to my boys. For me however, well I am now at a point where I can no longer plausibly deny that I have attained midlife. That being the case, I don't have time to improve and then determine if equipment is now limiting. At my age, hit it with the biggest hammer you got and drive on.

Besides, look at the picture, what a thing of beauty.
 
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Charlie R said:
Gear Head, is this for the Bergara that you go the sweet deal on? If it is, spend the extra coin if you can on Forster Co-Ax and Redding dies or Forster if you can afford those. That rifle, a good piece of glass and a Co-ax and any human will be the limiting factor in that weapons system.

There is much to be said for not over spending and acquiring gear that is superior to your ability. I have long subscribed to that belief and still do when it comes to my boys. For me however, well I am now at a point where I can no longer plausibly deny that I have attained midlife. That being the case, I don't have time to improve and then determine if equipment is now limiting. At my age, hit it with the biggest hammer you got and drive on.

Besides, look at the picture, what a thing of beauty.
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Amen..... Save your nickels and dimes for a few more months and get what you want. Im curious about the forster co-ax now....but it will have to wait.
 
Gear Head said:
So I went a watched a vid on the forster and while it looks super nice, I don't want to spend that much on a press. While I do want to load for accuracy, I'm not shooting PRS or anything so for just punching paper and banging steel I can't really justify it.
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I got a barely used Hornady LnL for sale dirt cheap over in the reloading equipment classifieds... wink wink :rolleyes:
 
Man the peer pressure is real!! Haha. It's not that I can't afford it, I just don't know if the amount I actually get to shoot is worth me spending the coin on all the big money items.

And yes @Charlie R this would be for the Bergara.
 
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Gear Head said:
Man the peer pressure is real!! Haha. It's not that I can't afford it, I just don't know if the amount I actually get to shoot is worth me spending the coin on all the big money items.

And yes @Charlie R this would be for the Bergara.
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I’ve loaded exactly 93 rounds on my Co-Ax since I have owned it, which is almost a year now. It’s not that I don’t want to shoot, I don’t have anywhere to shoot my rifles. However, I’d buy it again tomorrow!

I’ve loaded my pistol ammo (few hundred thousand) on a multitude of Dillon progressive presses. It works, but it’s definitely no Co-Ax! I hear pistol guys always talk about how nice the Dillon is and I can’t help but chuckle when I say “don’t buy a Forster”!
 
So looking at the co-ax online, I can't find any in stock. Cheapest I found was $319 free shipping though.

The lock n load on the classifieds looks like a good deal but over an hour away.

I have an Amazon card and the RC and LNL are on there so I could get 5% cashback plus use about $30 in rewards.
 
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So if I get the co-ax, what dies should I get? My cheap uneducated self bought Hornady dies but if I go with a nice press I might as well go nice dies. I looked at Forster and Redding but there's so many out there it's hard to know what I need.

Do people do the 3 die set and and neck size until the shoulder needs to be bumped then full length and go back to neck? Precision rifle is new to me
 
Gear Head said:
Do people do the 3 die set and and neck size until the shoulder needs to be bumped then full length and go back to neck?
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I bought Redding and they do a great job. That said, the Forster dies are not that much more expensive and are IMHO, a cut above Redding, but probably not anything you would notice while shooting.

The answer is you will need to be able to both full length Resize and neck only/shoulder bump size. My guess is that the chamber in the Bergara is probably tighter than a standard off the shelf rifle, so you will need to be able to do both. I really like the Forster resizing dies a lot, and those are what I have on my Christmas list at the moment, but Redding S-Type are the precision rifle series standard at the moment.

If you want to watch some good videos on these, go to the 6.5 Guys blog. Some great information on reloading.
 
Toprudder said:
I would look hard at the Lee Classic Cast non-breechlock press. It comes with a reducing insert that, if taken out, allows you to install the Hornady bushing insert for quick-change of dies. I prefer this over the Lee breechlock inserts, and I also like the way the non-breechlock press handles spent primers when decapping - they drop down through the center of the ram so that none of the primer residue gets on the ram. With the insert out, I have heard that you can use 50 BMG dies.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I do - Lee with Hornady LNL bushing - for 6.5CM. It's been a great setup.
 
Everywhere is out, Forsters websi
Gear Head said:
So if I get the co-ax, what dies should I get? My cheap uneducated self bought Hornady dies but if I go with a nice press I might as well go nice dies. I looked at Forster and Redding but there's so many out there it's hard to know what I need.
ound.
Do people do the 3 die set and and neck size until the shoulder needs to be bumped then full length and go back to neck? Precision rifle is new to me
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For precision, I use Redding Competition set. The built in mics aren't a big deal but I do like the bushing dies and I do neck size. Forster Bushing dies would be just fine. I had a set of RCBS rifle dies but I didn't like the amount of tension on the neck.....the expander ball was too tight of a fit too.

At any rate.....yes.....3 die set with neck bushing dies for a bolt action rifle. Literature will come with the dies to help you figure out what size bushing you need.
 
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BowWow said:
Everywhere is out, Forsters websi


For precision, I use Redding Competition set. The built in mics aren't a big deal but I do like the bushing dies and I do neck size. Forster Bushing dies would be just fine. I had a set of RCBS rifle dies but I didn't like the amount of tension on the neck.....the expander ball was too tight of a fit too.

At any rate.....yes.....3 die set with neck bushing dies for a bolt action rifle. Literature will come with the dies to help you figure out what size bushing you need.
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The built in mics seems great for load development but after you settle on a load I don't see you using them very much. I understand how to measure neck tension but what I don't understand is what die to use when. There's so many dies out there. Full length, full length bushing, body only, neck bushing, ect.
 
Trying to figure out the Redding die nomenclature for rifle calibers gives me a headache. Is there a primer somewhere?
 
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