If No Warranty on Presses which one would you buy?

[LUBEDUDE]

Just about anything that doesn't have "Lee" on it is just fine by me. Almost all my presses were bought used and many are as old or older than me. They will outlast me and their next two owners.

No fair, he copied my answer!

[Kraschenbirn]

Single-stage? Forster Co-Ax or (old style) Rockchucker. I used a Bonanza/Forster '68' for ALL my single-stage work (including case forming) for almost 40 years before the ram developed a stress crack in the shellholder slot. Replaced it with an older Rockchucker - built like an anvil - and expect that it will probably be sold on my estate sale.

Progressive? Dillon 550B. I've had one of my Dillons (a DL450) since the early '80s without a single 'major' failure. Yeah, I've worn out a few small bits, here and there, which were replaced 'no questions asked' but the all the major components are 'original equipment' after four or five hundred-thousand rounds. I must admit, though, that since I got my DL550B, the ol' 450 stays set up for .44s because of the ease of caliber change on the new(er) press.

Bill

[km101]

Single stage..............RCBS Rock Chucker (old style if you can find it.)

Progressive..............Hornady LNL, or Dillon 650 id you hust have too much money!

This is what works for me. Someone else may have different needs/preferences. That's why there are so many different manufacturers out there. One size does NOT fit all!

[jimkim]

Mental note to self: do not lube press with sand.

[1hole]

No 'reloading' press is made for swaging bullets, that requires more pressure than reloading presses are built for but I understand that a lot of very knowledgable people are using Lee's Classic Cast to do it.

[Char-Gar]

Here is a circa 1935 Pacific C press that cost me $15.00 plus $2.00 for the steel to make a new handle. The press is all original and as tight and smooth as when new about 80 years ago. It has at least another 80 to go and no need for a warantee.

[joec]

It would be the Lee Classic Turret or Lee Classic cast bar none. Oh and I own them now as well as two other Lee presses, the Reloader and hand press. Based on value/quality they function great for a ridiculously low price compared to other makers.

[canyon-ghost]

I use a couple of RockChuckers, after learning to reload with a Lyman Turret press. My reason is that the mechanical advantage makes it easy. I love those big, strong RCBS presses.

Sold the Dillon too.

[pergoman]

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Lots of good single stage presses are available if you have the time and/or don't shoot that many rounds. Take your pick of whatever brand you like. I have rockchuckers and spartans.
If, on the other hand, you shoot several hunderd rounds or more per week you need a progressive. Maybe more than one. Yes, I like my Dillons and have loaded thousands of rounds on each of them. I am able to invest in a high quality, high production volume press because I can't afford the time necessary to load on a single stage press for many of the calibers I shoot. A Dillon 650 with casefeed costs about 2 months worth of car payments (for most cars) and it will last more than a lifetime. How long are you planning to stay involved in this game?

[quasi]

I had a 550 Dillon for a few years, and broke and wore out quite a few parts. If it didn't have the 100% warranty, I would have been soured on it. Come to think of it, the last couple of times I had parts shipped they charged me shipping. (Canada)

[rasto]

Dragon have you ever swaged a .223 bullet?
It is less stressful than full sizing .308 brass!
The quality of material caused the problem.
I know I use it a lot in a short period of time but that is the reason why I bought it!
No excuse.

[1hole]

"I use a couple of RockChuckers, after learning to reload with a Lyman Turret press. My reason is that the mechanical advantage makes it easy. I love those big, strong RCBS presses."

Canyon, I went the same way, Spar-T to RC and then added a couple of Lee's. Thing is, NO ONE still makes the old single toggle link lever system so they ALL have the compound mechanical advantage that makes it easy. My younger friend's Lee's Clsssic Cast is bigger, stronger and more precisely machined than my old RC 2 and his actually catches spent primers rather than tossing them all over the floor; I like that!

[Wal']

Dragon have you ever swaged a .223 bullet?
It is less stressful than full sizing .308 brass!
The quality of material caused the problem.
I know I use it a lot in a short period of time but that is the reason why I bought it!
No excuse.

If you're going to try for a warranty claim I would not be mentioning swaging or this post.

As Dragon said, they're sold as a reloading press, not a swage machine.

[Char-Gar]

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Lots of good single stage presses are available if you have the time and/or don't shoot that many rounds. Take your pick of whatever brand you like. I have rockchuckers and spartans.
If, on the other hand, you shoot several hunderd rounds or more per week you need a progressive. Maybe more than one. Yes, I like my Dillons and have loaded thousands of rounds on each of them. I am able to invest in a high quality, high production volume press because I can't afford the time necessary to load on a single stage press for many of the calibers I shoot. A Dillon 650 with casefeed costs about 2 months worth of car payments (for most cars) and it will last more than a lifetime. How long are you planning to stay involved in this game?

In the 10 year period from 1958 to 1968 I was deep into Bullseye pistol shooting as well as four postion high power rifle shooting. I loaded 250,000 rounds of 45 ACP and 38 Special ammo, plus enough 30-06 ammo to shoot out 2 Springfield 03 barrels and 1 Garand barrel. I also loaded thousands of rounds for other calibers.

I did it all with a Pacific Super C press and a Lyman Tru-Line Jr. turret Press. The Lyman lasted about two years before the pin holes in the linkage wore oval and the press had to be sidelined. It could only load handgun ammo though.

Therefore, I get a little amused when guys tell me that NEED a Dillion high production machine. It is OK to have them and OK to want them, but need..I don't think so. A person's perspective on what is needful and what is desireable is shaped by the times in when they live.

When you get organized and learn how to do it, a production rate of 200 to 300 rounds an hour of 45 ACP or 38 Special ammo is easy with a single stage press.

They did have progress presses back in those days. They were the Star and the Phelps, but I only knew of a couple of guys out of the scores of shooter I knew that had enough money to buy one. They didn't seem to shoot any better than the rest of us who pumped press handles.

[rasto]

DO not worry wal probably I am the only one in the state who is swaging
As I said I pull the handle approx 70 000 times and it doesn't withstand and swarf started to came out

[jmort]

^ You are joking right?

[Jack Stanley]

If I had to pay for repairs and such I'd buy something like a Bonanza CO-AX , a Dillon 550 and a Pacific 007 press . Since Hornady doesn't make the 007 any more I'd substitute a Rock Chucker or a Redding press and be happy with that .

As a side note I have a LEE hand press and a Lyman "C" that were a good buy and as little as I use them they will last a long time .

So far the only parts I would have had to pay for are the connecting arms on the Bonanza and a powder measure and some other small parts for the Dillon .

Jack

[r1kk1]

Another champion and their bullet swaging dies or a solid ram Rock Chuck Bullet Swage, you know rock chucker. I still love the old non production presses.

Take care

r1kk1

[KohlerK91]

Thats simple, Star presses and 1050's ,, we don't need no stinking warranty

They look great on my bench

I agree with the Star presses because they are all brass and steal. I think the claim was 1,000,000 rounds it care for properly. Absolutely no warranty needed.

And yes I am a RL 1050 fan too. There are some plastic pieces that might need replaced but are pretty cheap. No warranty needed.

Single stage would be a RCBS "2A" rockchucker. No warranty needed.

Turret Press T-7 Redding No warranty needed.

[jmorris]

The best one. The Dillon 1050 is only one year warranty and I haven't had any press not last that long.