Do you have a favorite press?

[Grasslander]

These are some of my favorite presses....


152875

Dunbar
CH 111
Brown Bair III
Herters Super Model 9
Hollywood Senior

[seagiant]

Hi,
Good thread!

How about an RCBS "Cast Steel" A2!

[avogunner]

Pacific Multi-Power 152879

[Green Frog]

My favorite press tends to be the one that is already set up for the caliber I want to load at the moment! ;)

As far as a single press design I favor above all others, I can't even decide on single stage, turret, semi-progressive or fully progressive. Isn't it great to live in America where a guy can accumulate all the presses his tastes require and his pocketbook allows? :cool:

Froggie

[beeser]

My favorite is the one I don't yet have, a Schell.

[seagiant]

Hi,
It's not your "favorite" press if you don't even own it?

Thats like sayin Nicole Kidman is your favorite wife!

[bgw45]

I'm keeping my 550!

[M-Tecs]

Dillon Super 1050

[CommsNBombs]

Started on a Lee Classic single stage

Have 2 Dillon Square Deals now.

Hunting down a 650 so I can do 5.56 and .357SIG *sigh*

Excuse the mess lol...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/08/ed40a9096fe7ce2d5893e3835603c0f5.jpg

[imashooter2]

I like the Dillon SDB for the vast majority of my reloading. Fast, auto index and the short stroke is less wear and tear on arthritic joints.

[dragonrider]

Probably my Lyman AA,

[dragon813gt]

Lee Classic Turret. By far the best value for the money at the moment. I like my 550B but it takes to long to switch primer sizes and it's quirky. Caliber conversions are also a good bit of money. But when set up it really cranks out the ammo.

[lightman]

After starting with a Herters "C" frame press and moving up to a RCBS Rockchucker, the RC will always be my favorite.

[jeff423]

Progressive: Dillon 650
Single Stage: Forster Co-Ax

Jeff

[USMC87]

I like the Dillon 550B for most handgun and some rifle loads but the RCBS Supreme sees a lot of action also.

[salpal48]

A lot of favorites

[country gent]

I to have to say my Co-Ax is my favorite press but the new RCBS summit is gaining.

[Lead Fred]

I have two RCBS Jrs & a 1952 Lyman. (no shell holders, only rams)

The Lyman is dedicated to 45/70 rounds, and it gets a work out, more than the other, modern ones.

[skeettx]

Well have both 1050s and A-2s, what fun, what fun

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/MVC-020S15.JPG

[labradigger1]

2A, coax,ch111,2dillon 550's and a tmag

[beeser]

A lot of favorites
Is that a Texan metallic on the almost far right? If so, that one needs a close up.

[Bayou52]

Classic RCBS RC. 4 decades old and feels like new.....

Still crankin' strong & steady...

Bayou52

[L Erie Caster]

Whatever one I hapen to be using at the time.

[Hick]

I like my RCBS RC IV. It's strong enough for what I load (32 WS, 30-30, and M1 Garand) and I have very limited space (a little 30 inch wide desk in the corner of my den)

[sghart3578]

Lee Classic Turret and my late brother's Rockchucker.

All I need and nuthin' I don't.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

Star Universal

[dudel]

Dillon 550b and Rockchucker. Both heavily used. Rockchucker is almost 30 years old, and still works like new.

[paul h]

Forster co-ax and now that I have my Dillon 550B set up, I understand it's popularity and wonder why it took me so long to get one.

[ez4545]

What a timely post for me. I am dragging out my reloading gear to decide what to keep and what to sell and where to set it up again

My lyman all American would be # 1

I would say my rock chucker and classic presses are right on in there but I also had a Lee O frame press set up with a rcbs universal de cap die for years. That little press has popped out thousands and thousands of spent primers and will continue

So I would give it the 2nd place award

[Love Life]

Dillon RL550B. Can be used for load development, precision ammo, and mass production.

[rbuck351]

I have 2 Lee pro 1000s, Rockchucker, Lyman Spar T, Dillon 550, Herters#3, Lyman AA, CH c press and a Star Universal. The Lyman AA is my favorite. It is such an easy press to use.

[slohunter]

A 1984 Lee Turret and a 1985 Lee Challenger. 50 bucks total investment and still like new after 30 years and thousands of rounds.

[bandsmoyer]

Lee classic cast

[Grasslander]

I see a lot of mention of the Lyman All-American, but none on the Spar-T turret. I have never owned or used either one.

It seems like the Spar-T would be more popular, because of more stations on the turret head...is it just not as strongly built?

[LUBEDUDE]

Hey Grasslander, very nice presses you have there! :)

One advantage of the All American is that it is a Bench Top mount, i.e., not a knee knocker or drawer blocker.

[Grasslander]

Hey Grasslander, very nice presses you have there! :)

One advantage of the All American is that it is a Bench Top mount, i.e., not a knee knocker or drawer blocker.

Well good grief, that should have been obvious lol. :oops:

Thanks for the compliment LubeDude. There's no shortage of some real beauties here. Love seeing everyone's photos.

[wvmanchu]

153104

My Lyman All-American.

[AbitNutz]

I seem to be collecting them. I have 11 now. I really like my Co-Ax and Redding T-7. I also like my Dillon 650. However, my Ponsness Warren Metalmatic 2 is a sweety. One day I'll fall madly in love with a RCE Walnut Hill.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

153111
my Dads old Lyman Comet

[Budzilla 19]

2 Square Deal B Dillons, RCBS RCII, RL 450 Dillon, RL 550B, Bonanza I just bought, about all I can ever use! And an OLD Pacific press I started with in 1972, along with my dad in this reloading business! Good looking presses, guys!

[Clark]

153125153126

I dunno how many presses I have, but the favorites are the twin co-ax presses and the twin RCBS partner presses.

[shoot-n-lead]

Got 4 presses mounted now...favorite is the 550. I use it for almost all of my loading...use it as single stage, turret and progressive.

[rbuck351]

I load primers one at a time on my Lyman AA, the factory tube set up sucks, and everything is right out in the open. Also I frequently load one completed round at a time and there are no extra stations to bypass. This probably sound a little strange but it's a system I got used to because I can reload for three minutes or 17 minutes or four hours and have what ever loaded ammo I can finish in between the hunny do's. If I deprimed a hundred cases then primed then powdered like most folks do I wouldn't have any loaded ammo until it was all loaded. I now have some progressives that load the same way except a lot faster.The Lyman AA is the easiest to use for load developement that I have. There is nothing in the way of access to placing a case in the shell holder or a primer in the primer punch. You don't have to move any part of the primer punch for alignment. If you want the primer punch out you just lift it out then just set it back in its hole when you need it. The Star once properly set up is a thing of joy unless you run the last case out of the press. The Dillon 550 is a work horse that just keeps plugging along forever making row after row of loaded ammo flawlessly. Although it can be used as a single stage, turret or manual progressive, it's a little cumbersome for pulling and replacing rounds at the different stages for load work up and loading primers one at a time would not be fun. The Lyman AA for me stands apart as the easiest press to use. To me the 6 station head of the Lyman Spar T is more in the way than help and the primer system is more bother than the AA. I have had this one for over 40 years and it would be that last one I would ever get rid of.

[ioon44]

Green or Blue both are great.

[Ranger 7]

Hornady Progressive 5 station Lock & Load, E-z Ject. Been using Hornady for 30 years now, great!
Lee Breach Lock Challenger. Been using for odds & ends, 6 years now, great!

[georgerkahn]

I have: 3 Lyman All-Americans; 1 Dillon 550B; an RCBS JR3; an RCBS Supreme; and one each "Spartan", Lyman, and Pacific presses. Bion, If I had to ditch all, keeping but one, it would probably be the JR3. The C-presses flex; the All-Americans are tedious to change dies; for no real reason I can't warm up to the Supreme; and, I rely on the Dillon for hand-gun and 30 carbine loading, only. (I use an RCBS bench priming tool, so the priming parts of a press are not germane to my wants). The RCBS JR3 has no measurable flex, is easy to operate, and provides consistency of loaded rounds at and above my specs. This would be the keeper.
g

[singleshot]

Based on what I'm seeing here, I have to laugh again...hard...that I, like many of you got into this to save $$$

[singleshot]

In addition to my 4 presses (my favorite is the Redding) I have and still like/use multiple hand tools.

[paul h]

I don't think I was deluded to think I'd save money. What I did know was that I'd never shoot as much as I wanted to with the price of factory ammo. What I happily found out is that not only was I shooting as much as I thought I would with reasonably priced handloads, I was shooting much more due to tinkering with loads and buying guns I never would have bought if I didn't handload.

Yeah, a couple of guns and factory ammo would be cheaper, but what fun would that be?

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/3/4/4/344100033/8961075121_E2353690A1DF38E7BF166BDAC1B6505E.JPG

My old loading bench, can't wait to get the new one set up!

[Grasslander]

paul H,

When you decide how big you want it, double it! I know you know that already...Haha

I am going to build another myself. I think I will just copy the one I have already. It's a good size for the room I have available.

It will be like the cool island set up Salpal has though. I will dedicate one end to my modest Bair collection.

Here's an old pic of mine. I have since taken the Rock Chucker and bench primer off and put my Hollywood Senior and Brown Bair III on it.

153290

[1bluehorse]

I've had a lot of different presses over the years. Always looking for something "better", "different". What I've found out for me is, there just isn't much difference other than "ergonomics". They've all made about the same quality of ammo, some are quicker than others, some require a bit more "finesse", but they all do the same job. Make ammo. My favorite, Dillon 450RL. Best press Dillon ever made.

[rbuck351]

How do you guys work around all that clean, neat organization. First thing I'd have to do is pile a bunch of stuff on those awful empty spaces on those benches.:shock:

[M-Tecs]

paul H,

When you decide how big you want it, double it! I know you know that already...Haha

I am going to build another myself. I think I will just copy the one I have already. It's a good size for the room I have available.

It will be like the cool island set up Salpal has though. I will dedicate one end to my modest Bair collection.

Here's an old pic of mine. I have since taken the Rock Chucker and bench primer off and put my Hollywood Senior and Brown Bair III on it.

153290


Very nice!!!!!!!!!!

[Char-Gar]

Another A2 man here....

[LUBEDUDE]

paul H,

When you decide how big you want it, double it! I know you know that already...Haha

I am going to build another myself. I think I will just copy the one I have already. It's a good size for the room I have available.

It will be like the cool island set up Salpal has though. I will dedicate one end to my modest Bair collection.

Here's an old pic of mine. I have since taken the Rock Chucker and bench primer off and put my Hollywood Senior and Brown Bair III on it.

153290


That's one good looking bench!

[Grasslander]

Thanks for the compliments! This is right after we moved, and I just built it in the basement. I unloaded all my moving boxes and had just put everything up.
I will admit I do keep things pretty neat on the bench. I hate wasting time looking for stuff. The rest of my basement looks like a teenagers bedroom though..lol

I took the Brown Bair off and put my new Dunbar in it's place, yesterday..Lucked out and was able to hide the old holes...

[Kent Fowler]

How do you guys work around all that clean, neat organization. First thing I'd have to do is pile a bunch of stuff on those awful empty spaces on those benches.:shock:

Aren't there laws against having a clean reloading bench? The sad thing about these pictures is a newbie is gonna think that's how it's supposed to look and will forget the 4th Law of Reloading: A messy bench will produce more accurate ammo than a clean one.

[paul h]

How do you guys work around all that clean, neat organization. First thing I'd have to do is pile a bunch of stuff on those awful empty spaces on those benches.:shock:

I took that picture right after organizing the bench, that organized look didn't last long!

[paul h]

paul H,

When you decide how big you want it, double it! I know you know that already...Haha

I am going to build another myself. I think I will just copy the one I have already. It's a good size for the room I have available.

It will be like the cool island set up Salpal has though. I will dedicate one end to my modest Bair collection.

Here's an old pic of mine. I have since taken the Rock Chucker and bench primer off and put my Hollywood Senior and Brown Bair III on it.

153290

The area I have for my new work bench is 22 1/2' long. I plan on using kitchen cabinets for the base and part way along the wall for storage. It won't be entirely for reloading, but I'll definitely have a larger area dedicated to reloading than the old bench.

[ukrifleman]

I have 2 presses, a Lyman Spartan which I have had forever and a Lee Classic turret.

The Lee has to be the best value on the market, it is solidly built and it only takes seconds to swap between calibres plus, you have the option of single stage or indexing mode.

ukrifleman.

[slohunter]

These are some of my favorite press

152875

Dunbar
CH 111
Brown Bair III
Herters Super Model 9
Hollywood Senior
Fantastic!!! That's what I call a Royal Flush.

[tonyjones]

Redding Ultra Mag
Forster Co-Ax
Ross & Webb
PW 375 C: 1 ea. in 12 ga, 20 ga, 28 ga. & .410" bore

I have other presses but those are the ones I use.

[BDJ]

An old RCBS JR 2 is the favorite. 153639

Bought new in the summer of 1969.

[jmorris]

This one, because all I have to do is keep it full.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrFhnDQ-eUU

[Shawlerbrook]

I like my old RCBS Rock Chucker , but the reloader special also works pretty good. Can't beat their customer service .

[Kevin Rohrer]

My favorite press is the one I am currently using. I have eight to choose from; all favorites at one time or another.

[Ole Joe Clarke]

My favorite is the only one I have, a Hornady Multi Power, that I bought sometime in the early 70's. The only problem I've had is the primer catcher, I busted it years ago, and it's glued together. Would like to find one, but haven't tried very hard to look for one.

[offroader69]

Dillon 650

[kd185]

All of my presses are my favorites
Hollywood cast iron single stage
Hollywood Senior turret
Redding T7
P/W 800C
Autochamp
Walnut Hill

i think thats all of them

[hollywood63]

I like my pro 1000 and Lee single stage

[Grasslander]

All of my presses are my favorites
Hollywood cast iron single stage
Hollywood Senior turret
Redding T7
P/W 800C
Autochamp
Walnut Hill

i think thats all of them

Would you post a pic of your presses? I would really enjoy seeing them. Thanks!

[rockrat]

By the 4th law of reloading, I should have the most accurate ammo in existence!!!

[kd185]

By the 4th law of reloading, I should have the most accurate ammo in existence!!!

i second that lol

[Grasslander]

I googled "The Laws of Reloading", but came up dry. What are these laws of which you speak? lol

[kd185]

Would you post a pic of your presses? I would really enjoy seeing them. Thanks!

heres a few of them

https://goo.gl/photos/gixPRrK3YxtPHwFk8


https://goo.gl/photos/Pk5bvPejYC2Kzu4C6


https://goo.gl/photos/si1UpMd8wueR2MD1A


https://goo.gl/photos/XCMUTTTyWt8SyoV88


https://goo.gl/photos/m8m7UBLDbpeMjpkS7


https://goo.gl/photos/1meZEZUhyFGUnWrx7

not sure how to make these actual pics and not links

[Grasslander]

Thank you Sir! Very nice.

[Motard]

Mine is a small bench. I started with a Classic Cast Breechlock, then bought a second no breechlock. For shure there are better press on the market but the CC is all I need, at a fair price153953

[three50seven]

These are some of my favorite presses....


152875

Dunbar
CH 111
Brown Bair III
Herters Super Model 9
Hollywood Senior

Your Dunbar, Brown Bair III, and Herters Super Model 9 presses really caught my eye. I don't think I have ever seen a press of that configuration....where you can put two dies in side by side...is there a name for presses of this style? They look like they would be really convenient!

[LeftyDon]

Started on a Lee Classic single stage

Have 2 Dillon Square Deals now.

Hunting down a 650 so I can do 5.56 and .357SIG *sigh*

Excuse the mess lol...
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/08/ed40a9096fe7ce2d5893e3835603c0f5.jpg

I see you have an early Lee Challenger press too. Not my favorite, but mine's the same early type without the steel thread insert.

[LeftyDon]

Lee Classic Turret. By far the best value for the money at the moment. I like my 550B but it takes to long to switch primer sizes and it's quirky. Caliber conversions are also a good bit of money. But when set up it really cranks out the ammo.


Me too. The Classic Turret except for the Mickey Mouse primer feed setup is my favorite or maybe my MEC Sizemaster for shotgun shells.

[CommsNBombs]

I see you have an early Lee Challenger press too. Not my favorite, but mine's the same early type without the steel thread insert.
I usually use it to work up specific loads as of late, Itll be getting moved when I grab my 650 in the next few weeks or so.

[Grasslander]

Your Dunbar, Brown Bair III, and Herters Super Model 9 presses really caught my eye. I don't think I have ever seen a press of that configuration....where you can put two dies in side by side...is there a name for presses of this style? They look like they would be really convenient!

Sorry it took so long to reply! I didn't read your post thoroughly.

Presses of this type are known as "H" style. There are single station and I up to 4 station. I have never seen more than 4 stations. Someone may correct me on this.

[three50seven]

Sorry it took so long to reply! I didn't read your post thoroughly.

Presses of this type are known as "H" style. There are single station and I up to 4 station. I have never seen more than 4 stations. Someone may correct me on this.
Ahh, that makes sense. They look like they would be super strong, and in some ways more convenient than a turret press. Thanks!

[Lars-K]

My favourite at this time is a Skinner Press.
Makes even the 460Wby look small.

http://www.weatherbyrifler.com/Download/Pics/sk05.jpg