So in my hoard of used reloading equipment are quite a few single stage presses, all the way back to a Pacific Multi-Power C-press. Amazingly (well, not if you were of the same vintage as that press) it still functions perfectly, never has a broken part, and does not seem to wear any. Which got me thinking as (for some ungawdly reason) I was perusing single-stage presses on eBay:
- Is or was there ever a truly "bad" single-stage press? I mean how hard is it to do some stress calcs, bolst/beef up the cast iron so even a C-press can perform where the industry has moved to O-presses?
- Is there anything truly new in single-stage press design, anything "must-have" beyond changeable shell holders instead of the old caliber-specific rams that Pacific used to use?
- What were considered the top-dawgs in single stage presses? I have an RCBS Rock Chucker, but there are several "versions". I'm kinda partial to the Pacific 00-7 press, just let go of a basic Lyman press, and even have a Lee Reloader (non-breech lock) that I got for $1 and used to use as a straight generic depriming station.
- So for the serious compulsive hoarder, which presses are must-have?
Thanks all for the discussion!