Press comparison?

[stealthshooter]

Yeah I know it's me again and I'm still searching for a press to do my swaging and yes I'm trying to find the best deal. I've found a few presses that have basically the same design as the Rock Chucker but I don't know if they are as good? I'm going to list them and I would love it if you would give me some opinions of them.

Thanks much!

RCBS Special-5 http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/731667/rcbs-reloader-special-5-single-stage-press

Lyman crusher http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/585100/lyman-crusher-2-single-stage-press

Lee Classic cast http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press

Redding Boss http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/709373/redding-boss-single-stage-press

Smart reloader http://www.natchezshooterssupply.com/brand.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=UY&prodID=UYVBSR008&prodTitle=SmartReloader%20Mark%20XVI%20Reloading%2 0Press

I also ran onto this one that interested me.

CH H style press http://www.ebay.com/itm/CH-H-STYLE-RELOADING-PRESS-/220880537898?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d81892a#ht_500wt_1287

[a.squibload]

I chose the Lee Classic Cast because, well, somebody said it was OK.
Works fine for the 9 to 40 and 40 to 44 JHPs using annealed cartridge cases.
Reasonable price especially if you get it on sale, mine was $70 from Midway.
Easy to modify the lever arm to make it a little easier to operate while swaging.
Plenty of force / pressure. Works fine for reloading too!
No problems yet.

I don't know about the rest of them, but it's good you research to get the best deal.

[bp38]

I'll second the Lee classic vote. I like the way it handles spent primers and the linkage seems sturdier than some others. I also have the Rock Chucker which I've stopped using, on mine at least it goes over center on the bottom of the stroke seems odd to me.

[Mountain Prepper]

Yeah I know it's me again and I'm still searching for a press to do my swaging and yes I'm trying to find the best deal. I've found a few presses that have basically the same design as the Rock Chucker but I don't know if they are as good? I'm going to list them and I would love it if you would give me some opinions of them.

Thanks much!

RCBS Special-5 http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/731667/rcbs-reloader-special-5-single-stage-press

Lyman crusher http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/585100/lyman-crusher-2-single-stage-press

Lee Classic cast http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press

Redding Boss http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/709373/redding-boss-single-stage-press

Smart reloader http://www.natchezshooterssupply.com/brand.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=UY&prodID=UYVBSR008&prodTitle=SmartReloader%20Mark%20XVI%20Reloading%2 0Press

I also ran onto this one that interested me.

CH H style press http://www.ebay.com/itm/CH-H-STYLE-RELOADING-PRESS-/220880537898?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d81892a#ht_500wt_1287

I have that CH “H” press, got it for 20 bucks at the local gun shop along with a MEC also for 20 both with a touch of rust and basically brand new never used just stored in a barn or someplace and not cared for letting some light rust form.

That CH is a very nice light to mid duty reloading press but would not be able to produce enough leverage to swage. The linkages are in the wrong place and do not produce enough leverage without undue force. The main working part is aluminum and may work OK for light duty swaging, but I would not want to have to work that hard. Compared to the Lee, the CH “H” will wear you out just sizing FL .308 - I know I switched from the CH to the Lee less than mid-process (about 200 in) on a lot of 2600 .308 de-capping because I just did not have the arm to last the entire thing on the CH.

I also have the Lee Classic Cast and that is a very good press.

That “Smart-Reloader” is a direct copy of the Lee made in China, never used one, have no report on that press.

To be honest if you have the money the best may well be that monster from CH4D the "Heavy Duty Champion Press” made for using the CH4D dies.

There was even a group buy from the board here for them, it is a pricy press, but I have three of the Corbin presses so the CH in comparison is not that bad.

http://www.ch4d.com/catalog/?p=59

Lee is made in the USA while RCBS uses castings made in China, not that I am all that concerned with Chinese products, it is too little too late at this point. One reason I support both Lee and CH4D is that Lee is an amazing (if not a little strange) innovative company with lots of neat original ideas and CH4D makes swaging dies and some “alternative” products, I think both companies enrich the reloading community.

All that said UPnorth has a big, big, monster press (I think that is his handle) and BT Sniper are small business to keep an eye on, along with a few others - we will see as things develop.

[nicholst55]

Lee is made in the USA while RCBS uses castings made in China

FWIW, RCBS adamantly insists that their presses are made entirely in the USA. Don't take my word for it - ask them yourself. I did.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

one thing I really like about the Lee classic cast...besides being heavy duty enough some
swaging as a.squibload stated, the handle/lever is reversable and totally adjustable 360º
so one can mount it upside down to simply tasks like sizing boolits with push through dies and not have to modify anything to get the handle into a comfortable position.

also the ease of removing the top half of the Ram to remove the standard shell holder
and adding one of BT_Sniper's threaded Ram inserts to have the abilty to use threaded base punches (I guess it's a top punch in this comfiguration) available from CH or from BT_Sniper...Or easily homemade punches for experimenting as shown in this photo...your are seeing a 1/2 fine thread bolt with 1/4-20 threads to receive the long 1/4 headless bolt used to push the case/Jacket through a sizer die.

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/100_1392-1.jpg

in this photo, I am sizing (cut down and fully annealed) 5.7x28 cases in a modified 280Rem FL die so the cases are sized down to .304 for use as 30 cal jackets.

Jon

[happyfast79]

The only problem ive noticed with my lee classic cast press is when sizing military machine fun fired 50 bmg cases the handle bends as it is hollow, so if you get a poece of bar stock and swap it out it should be good to go.. other than that i though it was a great deal for the price

[stealthshooter]

Thanks guys! The Lee is def in my price range! I just got done building a swaging bench and now it needs a press! The table is rock solid!!

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/shayn8103/IMG_20111030_134305.jpg

[shooterg]

You do know that corner will eventually take over the whole room....

[stealthshooter]

You do know that corner will eventually take over the whole room....


You should see the rest of the room LOL

[stealthshooter]

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab278/shayn8103/IMG_20111031_110637.jpg

[BT Sniper]

Of all those presses you mentioned the only one I would recamend is the Lee Classic cast. You can find it here for $74 http://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/classic.html

Lets see. The RCBS you mentioned there I started with and eventually broke.

The laymen has a strong body but the links are sloppy and the cam over is unpleasent for swaging. the laymen could be very good in my opinion if you swaped out the linkage set up keeping just the press body. I may play a bit with this press in the future.

The redding is OK. I used it for severial thousand bullets but the ram is soft in my opinion and the design of the Rock Chucker or Classic is better

The smart reloader looks like a cheap Lee classic copy. I have not read anything good about them. Better off buying the Lee Classic over this one in my opinon.

Don't know about that CH version. Their champion is much better suited for swaging again in my opinion.

I have ordered the Lee from the link I posted. It was new in the box. Price can't be beat. It will work well for swaging, as good or better then the others you mentioned. They all have their advantages and disadvantages but for $74 it is a good deal. Other option might be a used RCBS Rockchucker.

BT

[BT Sniper]

Look for presses that support both sides of the links like the RCBS, Lee Classic, Ch Champion and laymen chrusher.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020428.jpg







I try to avoid presses that only support one side of the links like the Redding big boss and RCBS sp-5

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020427.jpg




Here is what happened to the RCBS special-5 press
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020415.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020403.jpg

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1020407.jpg







Here is what can be done to the Lee Classic Cast making it a very good swage press.
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/pressupgrade002.jpg

[stealthshooter]

Thanks for the pictures and the comparisons BT! The Lee is looking pretty good!

[a.squibload]

...I also have the Rock Chucker which I've stopped using, on mine at least it goes over center on the bottom of the stroke seems odd to me.

They all do that, I never thought about it 'til I read about it here on CB.
If it bugs you there's a cheap but inexpensive modification:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24665&d=1282282387

Thread about the LCC for swaging:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=57170

If you don't want that old Rockchucker send it over here!

Easier mod for LCC leverage, got the idea from posts here on CB.
BT's mod has more leverage I'm sure.
Mine's easy to change back for normal reloading.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5SuWhAzw-mM/Tcd7hxFprdI/AAAAAAAAAL8/AONiavz2LuM/s640/LCC%252520new%252520link%252520holes.JPG