Your Favorite Antique Press (pre-1965) to Use

[DonMountain]

Over the many years I have reloaded ammunition, I have purchased many presses new and old to try. But I keep going back to my favorite press my father taught me how to use. Not that its the best, or fastest, or multi-stage, strongest, turret, highest quality or anything else. Its just that when I use it, it reminds me of the time I spent reloading with my father. And that press, of course, is a Blue Pacific Super Deluxe single stage. So now I have two of them mounted on the bench. One set up for seating small primers and one set up for seating large primers. So, what is your favorite antique press to use and the reason for that?

[TNsailorman]

C&H 333 that my mom and dad bought me for Christmas in 63 or 64, I can't remember the exact year. james

[Walks]

Lyman Comet.

First press I ever pulled a handle on. 1957, 3yrs old.
Out of production when it was time to buy my own. So I settled for a Spartan. Wish I'd had the foresight to buy old one at a gun Show in the early 1980's for $10 bucks

[lotech]

Texan turret (I believe from the mid-'60s); not so old I'd call it an antique. It's very simple and continues to work well. Not as fast as four progressives I've had over the years, but much quicker changeover from one cartridge to the next and far more versatile when developing loads.

[Pressman]

1959 rcbs 2a.

[rbuck351]

Not sure when they first made these but the Lyman AA is my favorite older press.

[DonMountain]

I forgot about shotshell reloading. Besides the Pacific Super Deluxe's I use for rifle and pistol reloading, I also have a Pacific DL-260 set up in 12 gauge I use for most of my short runs or special shotgun loads. A high school friend of mine taught me how to reload on one of them. So I "collected" one and have used it ever since for low production loadings.

[wv109323]

I don't know if this fits your criteria but I still use my Star loader for .38 and .45acp. They were made before 1965 and I suspect one of mine is that old.

[gwpercle]

They are like your children , hard to pick just one ! I have different uses for the three listed below and I like them all !

1.) Eagle Cobra 300 . Saw it on Ebay , Pressman advised me to "Buy It , Fun Design " I did and He was right it's just a cool press to use . Cost was $20.00 + $12.00 shipping...$32.00 delivered .

2.) Pacific Super Deluxe . Circa the early 1960"s . My heavy duty work horse . It was given to me by a friend .

3.) Lyman All-American Turret with the wood handle . Rescued from a trash heap , rusted , unloved and neglected . A lot of TLC brought it back from the dead.
I don't know why but I just had to save it ..didn't need another press .
It stays set up to reload 38 specials and the occasional 357 magnum . This has been My only turret press .
Gary

[dverna]

Star...nothing else like it in the day

[oldhenry]

The Lyman Comet was my 1st. press. I bought it in 1960. It was a good press: we loaded pistol, rifle & shot shells on it (I still, have the 20 gauge die set). However my shooting buddy had a Lyman AA & I always wanted one: so, the AA would be my favorite. I acquired one recently from a forum member.

[Green Frog]

Tie between my little TruLine Jr and my All American. Runner up would be my old Star Pogressive.

Froggie

[Kevin Rohrer]

It would have to be one of my Hollywoods.

[tdoor4570]

I've got a savage straight 8 press that I use for decapping about 1962

[jaguarxk120]

Those Hollywood's look great! I have but only one universal setting next to my RCBS A2.

[DonMountain]

It would have to be one of my Hollywoods.

I was wondering when someone might turn up with a collection of Hollywoods. I always wanted one of them because they look spectacular!

[shadowjames]

star progressive reloaders i got 5-6 from a pro in California getting out of the business

[Char-Gar]

According to the OP everything I loaded on was an antique. My presses I load on today will all qualify for pre-65. I like them all and each one has it's place.

Pacific Super C
RCBS A2
Lyman All American Turret

[Wayne Smith]

Don't know when they were made. Bair Brown Bear three position, Bair Grizzley single stage, and a Hollywood steel Sr. Three Lyman TrueLine Jr's also being used. For what I do I'm satisfied.

[Gewehr-Guy]

My favorite is an old STAR for reloading .38 spl, and I still use a Belding&Mull for seating cast bullets in '06 and Krag, old school but fun.