What was the first press, that you owned, that you reloaded on????

[Panman213]

Lee Challenger press and 44 mag dies back in the mid 90's

[Plate plinker]

Rl 1050

[marlin39a]

RCBS Reloader Special bought new in 1977. Still on my bench, although the Redding T-7 gets more use.

[Arkansas Paul]

When we started we purchased the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit.
About 3 years later our shop got broken into and they cleaned us out.

Now we have a RL Special, 2 Lee Breechlock Challengers and 1 Lee turret press.

[Honcho]

My first press was the old Herters lightweight single stage, back when I was earning $45. a week, as a plumber apprentice, $18. was a lot of money! Not long after I bought the "boat anchor" cast iron single stage Herter's press. Unfortunately all my reloading stuff was stolen when I went into the Army, in Nov. 1960--
Fred

[mpkunz]

RCBS Rock Chucker, back in 1981. I still use it. I have the top end Hornady progressive press too with all the trimmings that I bought 5 years ago, and I have only used it once. My go-to press is still my 37 year old Rock Chucker.

[Pavogrande]

I started in about 1956 with a lyman nut cracker in 25-20 -- In about 1960 got a CH alum "C" press for about $12 new and about $3 for the shellholder rams -
Still have and occasionally use both the nutcracker and the CH ----

[15meter]

Rl 1050

Nice beginner press.

[Taterhead]

Rock Chucker

Then added a Pro 2000 auto-index that handles most of the volume.

Got a Summit Press this week. Nifty press.

If I had to live with just one, the RC since it can do jobs that the other two can't.

[Plate plinker]

Nice beginner press.

Worked for me and still does.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

The ubiquitous Rock Chucker and the equally ubiquitous Square Deal B. Only need the chucker these days as I got better things to do on Sunday than watch other people shoot

[bgw45]

I had a mentor. Lee Pro1000. Wore the thing out and moved on.

[Steppapajon]

Mine was a MEC 600 Jr.
Loaded about 250 rounds a week with it for a long time. Then changed jobs and haven't used it in 25 years.

[Steve E]

I believe mine was a Lee hand press back in about 1977, still have it too but haven't loaded anything on it in almost 40 years.

Steve..............

[Green Frog]

Rereading this thread I remembered that the acquisition of the "free" TruLine Jr from Dad's B-i-L (see post #107) led me down the path to 310 tools (of which I now have a bunch!) and got Dad going first with a little green RCBS Jr then one of the early Dillon progressives. As I said previously, the first shotshell press I loaded on was a MEC 600 Jr that I inherited a couple of years ago, but I really started seriously loading shotshells on a Glacier Bair in 12 gauge. Nowadays I don't reload as much as I once did, but presses and other gear keep following me home, and the basement is starting to really fill up!

Froggie

[tinsnips]

Lyman Spartan

[Thin Man]

RCBS Junior, bought new in 1970 when I started handloading. First die set was RCBS (steel) in .38 Special, bought it with the press. Added on a few more die sets. Decided to venture into casting so in 1973 I bought (all used) a Lyman furnace, Lachmiller lubesizer with dies and top punches, and about a dozen sets of mold blocks as a group buy (my first!) from a guy who was transitioning into swaging. Now the die sets fill up a complete shelf in the shop and the molds are crowded into plastic storage tubs (to aide keeping similar diameters together) under the bench. Still adding on, I need more stuff....

[GT1]

I started on the Lee hand press, loading 45 acp. Set of Lee dies, powder dippers, a scale, manual, set of calipers. Didn't need anything else. Pretty slow though. Had success at the range right off. Shot what I loaded in 2 hours in about 15 minutes.
Ordered a LCT the next day after the range trip.
Still have it, right next to my 650, a winning combo.

[RedlegEd]

Lyman Spartan back in 1971 with RCBS .45 ACP amd .30-06 dies. Been using it off and on until I gave it to my oldest son earlier this year. Ed

[Bazoo]

I too started on a Lyman spartan. I bought it 6 years back or so for 25.00 off the local gunsmith. Lost it in a housefire. I have another one currently.