Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Let's Call This an Unofficial Press Poll

I would like to be specific. I am curious about the single stage press(es) you own. No progressives please. No shotgun presses. Just single stage stuff.

The question, "Which single stage press(es) do you own and use regularly? And why"

I use three regularly. A Rock Chucker. A Redding Boss. A Lyman Brass Smith Ideal. They are all strong, well made and produce great loads. I use them concurrently, and each has a specific function in the process. The Rock Chucker resizes. The Boss bullet seats. The Lyman crimps when needed, or flares and adds powder when I load straight walled cases.

I use a old RCBS "O" press for the hard work and a light Lee "C" press for seating bullets. The open front of a "C" press is much easier to get my fat fingers into and there isn't enough force to torque it as far as I can tell. Or at least I haven't seen any additional seating depth variance.

I used an RCBS RS2 for 30 years. I now have a Hornady Iron Press.

I used a Lee handpress to seat bullets at the range. I'll have to see if is compatible with Hornady Lock n Load bushings.

Good evening, started with a C press, moved up to a rockchucker, gave that away to a new younger re- loader, now just have a small Lee loader & only re-load for varmint cartridges now. Lots of hand operations now since I gave most of my re-loading tools, & electric trimmers away to younger loaders. Kind of ended up were I started out re-loading & sort of enjoy the simplicity of it all. Bill out, 🐾👣🐾👣🇨🇦

A lee classic that I use most, a quite old RCBS rockchucker that I use mostly for seating and I also have one of those cheap lee c presses that I have mounted to a 2x8 that I can clamp to the bench at the range if I want to do some reloading "on the fly"

Lee "C" press for decapping, RCBS JR2 to resize case, RCBS RS to seat bullets. They are not used exclusively, but are regularly.

Steve;
Top of the morning to you sir, I hope the day is as bright and clear in your part of the world as it's looking to be here.

Way back in '81, I picked up a Reloader Special I believe it was - the old one without the compound linkage arms anyway.

In a few years when they began to make the Reloader Special II, I believe it was - the one with the two compound linkage arms - I had to have one. So I sold the first press to a youngster for a deep discount and picked it up.

While there wasn't a substantial difference, I would say that the compound linkage arms do put less stress on the reloading bench.

Sometime about 20 years back, a shooting buddy was getting out of the game entirely and offered me a screaming deal on 3 firearms as well as his entire reloading setup - with the exception of the Dillon progressive machine which he sold separately. The press in that pack was a fairly early Rock Chucker, but I have no clue how much he used it as he mostly shot handgun and had picked up the Dillon quite early on.

Long story short then Steve, the primary press at my bench is a Rock Chucker.

If I get a bigger reloading room after the kids move their stuff out, I'll hook up another little press - have a tiny RCBS and a LEE C press somewhere in the shop - I think???

Thanks for the interesting thread sir and all the best to you as we head into warmer weather.

Dwayne

I also use the Lee C press for decapping.

Quite a few inexpensive Lee C presses being used. That's smart. Not every piece of reloading gear needs to cost a fortune. They make great accessory presses.

Rockchucker for me.

Gave away a RCBS Rock Chucker a few years back to a friend. The single stage presses I use now are Redding Big Boss converted to a Big Boss II, Redding T7 turret and a Lyman Brass Smith Ideal. Lately I have been using the Lyman Ideal and find it to be a great press for loading the smaller cartridges, 17 HH, 22 Hornet, 22K hornet and 218 Bee. The Lyman Ideal been a great little press so far and I sure would recommend it for those looking at a small single stage.

Forster co-ax.... but good grief they are getting expensive. Mine lives up to the ballyhoo, more or less. Hate to admit it though...with some care on my part...the runout is about the same as the Lee Loaders that I use on the kitchen table on stormy winter days. The horrible old Herter's, weighing as much as a dead priest also produces very low runout rounds. It should, the ram is a full 2" dia. It's got leverage too, used to squish down 8mm/.323 jacketed bullets to fit a .318 groove 8x57.

Rockchucker. Except when I'm using a ramrod.

What is this ramrod of which you speak? Ramrods ruin a manicure! If you wish to tap something, watch!

Steve;
Top of the morning and Happy Victoria Day to you sir, I trust this finds you well.

While I am most certainly not Dan and don't mean to answer for him, I seem to recall he's got a few really interesting arms which look sorta like this.



That is, I believe the purpose of the ramrod.

All the best to you as we head into warmer weather Steve.

Dwayne

That isn't a real gun. A few items that look like your picture were sent to the Colonies by the British to confound naughty, rebellious Americans. How did the Brits make out with that?

Lee Classic Cast
I also have an old Lee 2001 Challenger that I use to size cast bullets.

My main single stage press is a Rock Chucker Supreme which is built like a tank. I have an old Bair single stage set up for depriming duty.

While you didn't ask about turrets I will mention that I have a current production Lyman that is set up with several turrets for handgun and straight-walled rifle cartridges.

1971 RCBS JR. Lyman hand Press, Lee hand press. Corbin. GD

A 1967ish Rockchucker with the bicycle grip handle. And a ten year old Forster Co-Ax that seldom gets used as the old RCBS produces ammo every bit as straight.

I have two single stage presses that I use regularly, an old Pacific 007 ( similar to the newer Hornady lock n load) and a Forster CoAx. Both good, but for somewhat different jobs.

RCBS Rockchucker circa 1982ish.

A RCBS Ammo master, a Rockchucker, a Reloader Special #5. A Herters boat anchor one, a Lee Classic 4 hole turret press used as a single stage and (2) CH H presses. The thing is, beings that I'm not married my wife couldn't object to how I spend MY money. Yes I use them all and they are scattered over 3 bldgs. Been thinking of putting one next to a computer for use in the bathroom for posting other kinds of crap on the internet. Resizing brass and posting crap to liberals on the net while taking a dump might be effective multitasking. Yup got 5 lubricator sizers too and 8 Mec 600 jrs also. Can't have too many guns ,components or reloading tools period. MB

Reloader Special 5 bought in a kit in the mid 1990's is my only press and it has served me well. I'll always have it and am happy with it, if I ever get a second press the RCBS Summit looks very interesting.

Redding T-7 and a massively built blue Symplex O frame.