Best single stage press for under $200

[Wildman]

My old lady has a little money left to spend on me for Xmas. Looking for recommendations on the best single stage press to get started reloading with.

Probably the only calibers I'm gonna do right now are 223 and 308. Eventually I'll expand to 30 carbine, 357 mag/38 special and 45lc. I plan on buying guns in those calibers once I can reload

[Cgrutt]

Take a look at Redding Big Boss II. Solid press and big enough for 308s. Not sure what they run but I think you can get press by itself for under $200.

[Wildman]

Take a look at Redding Big Boss II. Solid press and big enough for 308s. Not sure what they run but I think you can get press by itself for under $200.

I saw that one while looking at the rock chucker. I've always heard the rock chucker was a great press but the reviews lately are saying otherwise. Sounds like they are starting to cut corners and cheapen up. People in the reviews were recommending the redding over the rock chucker.

Anyone have expire nice with the Hornady lock n load?

[thughes]

I was going to suggest lock-n-load. I've got a Lee rig I am happy with, but for the money it seems Hornady is a better value than Dillon.

[Wildman]

Anyone have any expirence with the lee classic turret press??? Been looking at that and seems like a good press. I like the fact I can set it up for a caliber and in 4 pulls have a complete round ready to go. If I want to switch calibers I can just get a new turret cheap and set it up then easily change between calibers.

[Meketrefe]

Widman I do have the lee. I also have an RCBS single, a RCBS piggyback progressive, 2 hornady progressive and a redding big boss II. The redding is a bad ass press but I have it because I load a couple of super magnums and I also form brass for new wildcats so with the huge frame and massive links is like nothing. But I suggest you start simple with something smaller that you can take to the range if you want to work on reloads.
you can go with a kit and then use some of the things and the others put aside or you can start barebones and get exclusively what you are going to actually use.
If some pistol is on the menu no problem with the single but also consider the turret that actually works both like a turret and like a single.
The primer and powder measure is so so like any lee but one can actually make them work with a decent degree of sucess. One will have to be careful with powder choices that's all.
Or find a turret barebones and then alternative system for preparing and priming.
Keep in mind that there is more work in brass preparation than in the press itself. Something often overlooked so making this easier is a good thing both for accuracy and anything
that helps to avoid making the brass preparation a PITA including potential carpel tunnel from tired finger and hands. LOL.

The lee works great for beginners and for much more regardless of what others say. The press goes up and down and will do the same for a lifetime of reloads. The dies are far
more important. Later on one can invest on a progressive or something else.

So there is no better press or worse press there is a goal and options to get to that goal, sometimes withing a budget and something simple for forks to start learning.

What if one finds out reloading is not for them after all? Better start with modest sensible investments.

[Meketrefe]

I was going to suggest lock-n-load. I've got a Lee rig I am happy with, but for the money it seems Hornady is a better value than Dillon.

Lee is a no branier for starting. one can produce the same quality reloads than any other press it is a matter of more time and the dies that have more to do with the quality than anything else.
Brass preparation, priming can be done outside etc...things where the press doesn't anything to do with.

the hornday lock n load is a good system. the bushings float a little but in the end I think that is a good thing vs. the whole turret heads both in turret and progressive presses.
the reason is they seem consistent and the dies who self centering get a better chance at self centering. In other words there is a bit of x movement at teh base but once the case
is in to your desidred the y axis is dead on. So loads are always consistent. Same thing with the lee bushing of the breech lock. they float a little but they are actually pretty
accurate and make preset dies a breeze to swap.

The dillon is amazing. I think in pistol progressive reloading is hard to beat. In the rest the hornady progressive produces rifle match ammo consistency w/o much effort.
In then end Dillon, hornady and also rcbs have priming and powder throw systems that are super reliable. Even the rcbs piggy back is great for that and also run 2 cycles
one for preparation and the other for relaoding. ... I guess unless one is in a hurry and doesn't care about cleaning primer pockets to run training ammo.

For the single press the horandy has a great deal but lee will satisfy many people, specially the turret wiht that price. one can acutally make the primer system work to
certain degree of success and then one can always prime using a hand priming tool too that is easy enough.

For speed in pistol and consistency dillon and hornady progressive are great alternatives. But again many times one has to do two cycles so one might want to learn on
a turret an dthink about what one needs.

IMO a good prass preparation system is far more important to start. I do clean my primer pockets and do reload for extreme accuracy so preparation and brass
consistency is important to me. Others might not care.

[Wildman]

So you think the lee turret classic is a great start then? You can use it like a turret press or a single.

[Meketrefe]

So you think the lee turret classic is a great start then? You can use it like a turret press or a single.

The kits are good value but there is no kit out there that one is going to be using permanently. The reason is when you get into it seriously you will find out
things that you want that do not come with any kit. sometimes things one buys that have not real use, sometimes expensive schit and ends up catching dust
in one corner. The thing is the kits are cheap enough so one can get started and don't feel bad about not using some of the stuff.
Another approach is to find the turret alone very cheap and then just get the things that one would use from the kit.
I think after you are done with the first few reloads that one should do manually you are going to want a motorized unit for the brass preparation.
The good news is one can use a drill or two with great success.

Initially the turret works as advertised. one can resize just like any other then take the brass out and trim and/or clean pockets or trim crimps is needed
and then wash the brass again and come back to finish the cycle.

What are you going to start with? Also check the thread usmc starte don the reloading. I am updating some important info there. The press might be
the best investment and a lee breechlock or the turret will do the job. the turret will make the reloading a bit better when you get a handle. One starts in
single mode and then one can move to a semi -automated and do a 2nd cycle pretty easily.

I think one can find the barebones turret well priced. if that is the case it might be better to go for the hornady powder dispenser to work with the turret
vs. the lee one. but the lee will work with a decent degree of success it is just the hornday will serve you better for anything and for years to come and
easier to manage and adjust.

[Meketrefe]

follow this one... we can add to the post here and add pictures...
this way others can use the same ideas for advice later on...

USMC made this thread a sticky already.
http://www.nyshenaniguns.com/forum/s...ng-for-dummies

[Wildman]

I'll take a look. Thanks

[SPIKER]

I love my Lock n Load progressive. You can pick them up for a little over 400 bucks these days. I say spend the money now, and you will be much happier down the road. JMHO

[Wildman]

Well I don't have that much left. This is a Xmas present from my old lady to me with the left over Xmas money. She asked me what I wanted. I think I'll do ok starting out on the turret

[Meketrefe]

Well I don't have that much left. This is a Xmas present from my old lady to me with the left over Xmas money. She asked me what I wanted. I think I'll do ok starting out on the turret

Yes you will be fine with the turret but for the rifle plan a gauge tool to easy the pain of prepping the brass. A few simple things you can add to the list until you get a powered brass
prepping station. I will add a list of suggestions in the sticker thread we have above. You could go barebones and add exclusively what you are going to use and use efficiently...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEE-90932-4-...item3395569410

Or get the press plus one of the dies to get started this puts the press alone in a better value...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Precisio...item2c86e87b23

Or get a kit that includes everything. This one for eample includes a scale and a few items but not priming system that is a big problem..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Precisio...item541306b20e

So one with the primer dispensers ends up like this...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Classic-...item35dbcf81fc

The primer dispenser system works fine but not sure I would choose the entire kit over a barebones 4 hole press and then I customize what I really want.
It might be similar cost or a bit more but it would be a lot better and I can explain why. Then you can decide.

[Wildman]

I think I'm gonna customize and just get what I need. Get the press separate and add the primer system and powder system to it. I have a set of digital calipers already and I'll buy a decent digital scale. That should get me started minus brass prep stuff like a tumbler etc