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

My first one was a Pacific C type press in 1962.. I was 15. My first dies were .222, follow by .30-06. Still have the press, and both sets of dies. Press is retired, but the dies are still in use. I bought the press and dies used from a friend who ran a hole in the wall gunshop. One of the best friends and best shots I have ever seen. Sadly passed more than 50 years ago.

My first one I bought was a RCBS Jr. in the Army PX at Ft. Richardson Alaska in 1975. I owned it for a year before I got back home and broke it out. I bought a RCBS 5/10 scale, powder measure and 38 special and 7x57 dies at the same time. I still use the press almost daily.

kwg

How did you manage to wear out the Herter's press so quickly?

I bought mine in the mid-60s and still use it. It works fine, and I have a bunch of shell holders. I keep it clean and lubed and never use it to deprime, so it doesn't get all the grit.

Lee Loader and hammer also.

C&H press and a set of Lyman.308 dies

RCBS 30-06 dies to load for my only centerfire rifle, a 1917 Eddystone. RCBS JR press, military brass and a 1lb can of Dupont IMR-4895. I still have the powder can, some 45 years later. If I recall correctly the price on the can is $4.35. Graduated to a Rockchucker at some point and still use it occasionally. In all my years of reloading for dozens of different chamberings, nothing has surpassed the feeling of accomplishment I experienced from loading those first 40 30-06 cartridges.

First dies were Lyman in .243. First press was the RCBS Partner Press kit. However, I found it hard to full length size .243 cases. It just didn't seem to have the leverage to slide the case up into the die. I bought a Lyman Orange Crusher (when they were orange in colour) and that's been my main press for 25 years. I use the RCBS Partner Press for loading the .222.

I started loading for my father when i was around 10 years old. He handed me a Lyman 310 tool. After using that tool till my teens, I could crush a Cadillac with my bare hands, LOL

I was lucky and my uncle helped my mom.pick out a Lyman orange crusher kit from Midsouth shooters supply and .45 colt dies from rcbs for my 15th birthday. Went to a garage sale and picked up an Ohaus scale to replace the plastic one that came with the kit. I still stick to RCBS for most of my dies, just cause. Still run the same press and have a Dillon 550 for my bulk stuff. Load for 58 cartridges and 4 gauges. My first shotgun press was a Lee load all for 12 gauge. I have them in 16 and 20 gauge now. Added a 28 gauge mec Jr and life changed so I have mecs in 16 and 12 too.

My one and only press , a Rockchucker in 1986 . It was $95 bucks. They were out of the kits so I went and got a Hornady scale and powder measure. My only caliber was .270 Win. Still have it all but dont use it much. Now days I shoot my bow and my muzzleloader . I make my own patches and cast my own roundballs.

Rockchucker
RCBS dies
22-250

Old Lyman press
RCBS 30-06 dies.

I was 11 and tall and skinny and that 06 kicked the HECK out of me!
I shot old pre interlock 150’s and 4064 I bought from the hardware store.

Ben

First was a Lee loader for 30.06 in 1975. Used that setup for several years. Now I use a Rockchucker

Prices, 1974. Lee Loader, $9.95. 1 lb 4064, I think about $6. 100 CCI 200s, $0.69. 100 Hornady 150 grain .308 spire points, $4.99. 4 years later in 1978, Rockchucker II press with one set of dies, on sale for $54.99. All purchased at a Buttreys grocery sporting goods counter in Glendive MT.

My first dies was RCBS 30-30. FIL reloaded, so I bought dies for my rifle and he worked me up a load using his equipment. Bought my only press, a Herters Super Model 0, at a garage sale in the early 90's.

1980. Rockchucker kit, press, 1010 scales, lube pad, 357 dies, powder trickler.

Loaded for my first centrefire which was a S&W Mod 28. When I moved interstate sold it to a mate except the scales, he still has the press etc.

NAGW, but my first was a RockChucker by RCBS, and dies were 243 and 270 Winchester, also by RCBS. I used it for years, and it remained in great shape until I finally gave it to a friend when I got my current press, a Redding T7. I still have and use the original dies and have added many, many more in both RCBS, Lyman, and Redding. My favorites are Redding and RCBS.

Hornady press and a set of RCBS 444 dies

I started with a Lee Challenger set up as we were extremely fiscally challenged at the time. Replaced the scale right off the hop with a Hornady/Pacific beamer that I still use and trust. Everything else has been replaced or upgraded over the years. Current press is a Lyman Orange Crusher.

1st two sets of dies were RCBS 22-250 and 7mm Mag. Moved from RCBS to Lee Collets and Forster Seaters.

Lee Loader then went to the present Rock Chucker about 1970.