Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What was the first die set/press you owned?

We often talk about why one brand of dies or press is better than another...then someone disagrees. Then the discussion changes to why Brand A is better than Brand B. And the thread devolves. Which will likely happen to this one, but...

I would be interested to hear about your first set of dies and press. How did you end up with them? I know that most people have a mix of brands now, due to later purchases.

What about your first? Why did you buy them? Were they new or used? Bought at a gun shop, or a gun show, or out of the back of a van somewhere?

My first was a Lee Loader. My press was a wooden hammer. I bought it because a friend showed me his 243 Lee Loader, so I went to the LGS and got one. I don't remember the price. I do remember getting 100 primers, 100 bullets, and a pound of 3031 though. No cases. I couldn't afford it.

First dies were Lee Loaders, for the 7.62 "Russian" (my "war surplus Mosin-Nagant) and 20-gauge for my bolt-action Marlin.

First press was the cheapest single-stage model Herter's offered. Wore it out within about 3 years, then purchased an RCBS Rockchucker--which I finally gave to a much younger handloader about 15 years ago. It was still working fine....

Lee Loader for the win!

1969 Herters 223 dies and Pacific C press, dies new, press used. I did start loading shotshells 1963 with a 16ga Lee loader and built a press to use with it instead of using a hammer.

Lee Loader for 30-06.

A friendly neighbor strongly advised that I use hollow points for hunting deer.

My one and only press a RCBS JR2.

Lyman Spartan press and die combination kit in 243 in1966 I believe. I got it for Christmas. I don’t remember if it came in the kit but I got a Lyman scale (D-5?) which I still use on occasion. I built my own bench and still use it.

Lee loader in .30-30 that ws purchased from Gander Mountain for less than $5 in approximately 1971.

Around age 20, I owned two rifles. A Ruger 280 and a 700 BDL 30-06. I traded the 700 for a RCBS Rockchucker reloading kit. It had the scale, powder measure and a bunch of other stuff. I still use that kit today, over 30 years later. The only real upgrades were an electronic scale and a chronograph. I sorta miss the 700, since it was the first gun I bought, but in a way, I’ve still got it. Many dozens of rifles have come and gone since then. I think I should have just kept the 280. MOA with Hornady 139 grain bullets and max load if IMR 4831. You never forget your first.😄

Ha ha! Lee Loader 300 Sav circa 1976 for me. I was 10, and my dad taught me how on a cork mat that he would put on the wood kitchen table. That was over 44 years, 35 +/- cartridges, at least 6 presses, countless accessories ago :-). While I haven't used one in 30+ years, I have a collection of over 20 of the Lee Loaders in various cartridges. Reminds me of dad. -Tom T

I bought a Lyman kit with a 'C' type press at a local gunshop owned by a neighbor. We worked out a deal, he wanted some 9mm dies and I needed 270 dies. So he ordered the kit in 9mm and a set of 270 RCBS dies.

That was about 43 years ago when I was 18, said press and other gear is in my parents basement and I still use it for certain cartridges. I have a second set up at my house for most of my reloading with a Lyman O press. The 270 dies are still in use.

Dale

A Lee Loader in 1965 in 32 Special. Still have it and the 1894 Rifle, still use both.

Lyman T-Mag Turret press Kit from Gander Mountain and .270 Win and .38/.357 Lyman dies

Does it still count if my first press was actually a Texan shotshell reloader? I bought it when I was 17 from a friend who owned a gun shop! Paid $50 and loaded many 100’s of shells with it. Kept me in trap loads all through high school and college.

My first cartridge press was an old “C” style press given to me by a family friend and he threw in a set of old RCBS 30-06 dies. I bought a lb. of IMR-4831 from the same store owner I got the shot shell press from and a box of Hornady 180gr bullets! I had a 12ga. Browning BPS and a used Rem 700 BDL ‘06 and thought I was set for life! Didn’t take long for the “bug” to bite me and now it’s a way of life!

Elk Country

First press was a Lyman Spartan and dies were Lyman All-American .38/.357. The press is still going, though I use it very little. The dies are long gone.

Hollywood press that I ordered direct and I’m fairly sure my first dies were Pacific .270 Win.

Lee Loaders
Lyman Spartan
RCBS Rock Chucker
Lyman & RCBS dies.

Lee Loader for .38/357 in 1968, then a Lyman 310 tool with dies for .38/357 and .30-30. Got a Lyman C press when I got out of the Army but a friend sprung it out of alignment trying to resize a batch of .300 Win Mag brass fired in a grossly oversized chamber.

Got an RCBS RS - Reloader Special - press when I graduated college in 1978 and that's the one I still use today.

RCBS JR press and RCBS 30.06 dies. That was in 1979.

Since then, I have also owned a Lee turret press and a Dillon 550. Gave the Lee to a youngster getting started and sold the Dillon when I realized I was no longer interested in reloading handgun ammo. I am primarily interested in rifles, and the JR has loaded thousands of rounds over the years in many calibers. I think I'm up to about 35-40 sets of dies.I occasionally consider adding a T7 or similar high quality turret press, but that old JR seems to keep perking along (slowly) turning out excellent ammo...

I bought my Rockchucker press in a kit with powder measure,lube/pad scale,powder funnel and the choice of dies.

This was back in the 70's and i still have it all.

The press has a lot of wear in the ram but it still makes some good ammo.

Forgot about the dies,they were for the 270 Win,still use them as well.