What was the first press, that you owned, that you reloaded on????

[abunaitoo]

Probably been asked before, but I missed it.
What was the first press, that you owned, that you reloaded on?????

My first was the cheap Lee single. Promo that came with the Lee book.
I always seem to be low on money, so cheap or free with me.
I still have and use it. Have an RCBS strip primer on it.
Still going strong.

[country gent]

This was back in the 80s. My first reloading press was made from an old bottle capper press. I used lees loader dies sets with it. Later I used some Wilson straight line dies with it. In all honesty that press and Lee dies sets loaded way more accurate ammo for me than it should have. It was a solid ahrbor style press that was adjustable for height and solid.

[jetinteriorguy]

Lyman Orange Crusher. It still works 30 years later.

[DerekP Houston]

Lee value turret. Gift from my folks with a set of dies too. Worked so good I gave it to a buddy to get started and got myself the classic cast version.

[kmw1954]

1979 Bonanza "68" red press, Lost it in a divorce and sold all my guns. Loaded a lot of 38/357 on that press with just RCBS dies, RCBS 505 scale and Lee powder dippers.

[lead-1]

LEE Challenger back in the mid 90's, a friend set me up with everything needed to load .308 Win but a set of dies. I bought the dies and he taught me to load my own, I still have that press and all.

[Juan Jose]

RCBS Reloader Special, came with .38/357 dies and still have it.

[CraigOK]

Lee aluminum O frame with the bushings. Great investment, and if I can get it back from my bil I'll get to figuring out how to mount it upside down

[M-Tecs]

RCBS Junior in 68

[roysha]

A used Schissel H-type press in 1963 that I still use as my main single station press today. Along with it I got a set of 30-06 dies, also Schissel, brass, 1/2 or so, box of Hornady 180 grain 30 caliber bullets, 1/2 can of IMR 4350, 150 or so CCI primers, Lyman 55 measure, Redding oil dampened scale, Lyman wooden handled inside neck deburring tool, Lyman #42 loading manual, 3/4 full bottle of C-H case lube, a Herters lube pad (Model Perfect I'm sure :grin:) and a homemade box to hold all the stuff except the press, all for $35.00. I bought it from my boss. who at the time, was going through a rather bitter divorice and needed money. I was working for something like a buck and a half an hour so that was a pretty big purchase for me.

The gunsmith at Loveland guided me through the process and although I loaded up a good share of the brass just to learn the basic process, I didn't own a 30-06 until 25 years later when I bought my 1st Garand.

[FlyfishermanMike]

I was newly married and living in our first apartment so Lee hand press!

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[tranders]

I started out on an old Rock Chucker. Have since had a Lee Classic Cast turret and now using a Lyman T Mag II turret. I load a few rifle rounds,but mostly pistol(38 Special, 9mm,and 45ACP). I still think the old Rock Chucker loaded better rounds than the turrets,but was painfully slow. I still have the RC and might put it back into the rotation.

[WFO2]

Lee Classic Cast single stage . Still have it and use it for sizing and decapping . I now have green , orange , and other red presses as well .

[Kevin Rohrer]

RCBS Rockchucker. It is in the barn, somewhere.

[HATCH]

Dillon 550 back in the 90s
I didn't mess with single stage presses until I needed to size some 300 BO boolits

[Bent Ramrod]

Mine was a Pacific Super Deluxe. It was in 1976, before ammo shortages, when factory ammo was plentiful and relatively cheap, most people didn’t shoot a lot, and you could wave a sawski or so in front of a Gun Show table holder and give him the option of taking a nice light Federal Reserve Note or thirty pounds of unsold cast iron back home with him.

Ah, the Good Old Days! A total buyers’ market! :cry: (*Sniff!*)

[Hickory]

RCBS junior, never liked it because the handle would not stay up.

[GhostHawk]

Lee Breechlock hand press. I have 2 others but it remains my favorite for most tasks.

I do have a lee classic C press mounted inverted for sizing/gas check duties.

But I prefer the hand press for everything else.

[jmorris]

A Lachmiller is what I started with.

[Reddirt62]

Dillon 550, that was 20 years ago. Proof that you do NOT have to start with a single stage!

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[Reddirt62]

Dillon 550 back in the 90s
I didn't mess with single stage presses until I needed to size some 300 BO boolitsMe too!

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[Shepherd2]

My first press was a Herters that I "ordered out" in the 60s. I don't recall what model it was now but it was BIG. Probably weighed about 2 1/2 times what my Rockchucker weighs.

[Skunk1]

Rock chucker, still use it. Kids will probably use it someday.


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[Kraschenbirn]

Early 1960s: Pacific C-frame single-stage. Today, that same press is on its third-generation of reloader. Sometime in the 80s, I gave it to a friend who was just beginning to reload and, a couple years ago, he gave it to his youngest son who had recently graduated from college and taken a job out of state (couldn't use his dad's reloading bench, anymore).

Bill

[Minerat]

A 20ga Bair (honey) from 1971 still have. First metallic RCBS RL Special 1 1984

[therealhitman]

The ubiquitous Rock Chucker. Never did use it to chuck rocks though.

[skeet1]

My first press was an Texan "C" frame press that was made out of aluminum and took standard shell holders. It was actually a fairly good press and I sold it to a friend and then purchased an RCBS Jr.

Ken

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Pacific C-frame (blue) 1964, lasted to 1971 when casting cracked, cast iron Pacific O-frame with compound leverage replaced it (still using it)

[str8wal]

Lee 3-hole turret, and still do.

[BlackIce05]

Started with a RCBS Jr 2 that I grew up reloading on, then was passed to me by my dad. Handle doesn't stay up on it's own anymore. But it still gets some limited use.

[MOA]

RCBS Special Reloader, 1981. Since then two Rockchuckers, and a Hornady AP witb all the bells and whistles. Mec 600 Jr's for 10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge. Can't wait to get a new reloading bench made up. Something in the 32 feet by 2, set up in the corner, 16 feet each way, that way I won't feel so cramped with all the presses and lubers and such set up. :-P

[TheDoctor]

Dillon square deal in 45 Colt. Haven't used it in at least 10 years, probably never will again. Shortly afterward, got an old RCBS Rockchucker, still use it to this day.

[sparkyv]

Lee hand press. Still have it, still use it for depriming sometimes.

[Wayne Smith]

1968 - Lee Wack - a -Mole dies in 30-30 and 16 gauge - 30-30 for my Dad's rifle and 16 for my Stevens single barrel shotgun. 1977 or so graduated to an RCBS Jr3. now in the hands of Arisaka99.

[Pressman]

1967, Lyman 310 tool and dies for a Ruger Super Blackhawk. The following year I "upgraded" to a Tru Line Jr. Sadly the Super Blackhawk is gone but the reloading tools are safely in the basement.
Ken

[Loudy13]

20 years ago then girlfriend now wife bought me the RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit. I unboxed it and it was rusty and parts were missing, brought it back to the store and asked for one that hadn't been on display for years and received a new kit. The one I brought home was the first one I ever reloaded on and I used it yesterday still a great press.

[skeettx]

FIRST: Lee Loader for 12 gauge shotshells

SECOND: C-H "H-press"
What a wonderful little press for handgun ammo.
Mine is black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b-8ahUj9eI
https://www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/fs-ch-333-reloading-press.179057/

Mike

[jeepguy242]

lee pro 1000

back in 1997

[JMax]

Ideal C press a long time ago.

[KenT7021]

I started reloading with a Lyman 310 tool.The first actual press I had was a Lyman TruLine Jr.That back in the 50's.

[buckwheatpaul]

I graduated from a Lee hand loader (38 sp.) to a RCBS......way back in 1968

[Geezer in NH]

Redding "C" press given to me in 1969 by my wife to be. Still use both.

[duckear]

RCBS Partner press.

Still have it and use it occasionally, as it is dedicated to a RCBS Strip Primer tool

[ulav8r]

First press was a new Rockchucker in 73 or 74. It replaced a Lee Loader and a 310 tong tool.

[gwpercle]

After paying my dues for a few months with the Lee Loader ( whack-a-mole) Classic , I realized this was going to be my hobby for a while. And I wanted an easier way to do it . I saved every nickel I could earn, beg , borrow or find ( sofa mining) or was given as gifts (visiting my grandmother was always good for a dollar.) and in no time ,
a 1967 Lyman Spartan single stage "C" Press and dies were promptly purchased . That was press #1.
Gary

[gwpercle]

Redding "C" press given to me in 1969 by my wife to be. Still use both.

Now that is impressive ! ATTABOY !!!

[AZ Pete]

Pacific “Super Tool”. Dad bought it used in about 1960, I was the only one that used it, so he gave it to me in 1968, I used it until I bought a used Co-ax in about 1990. It loaded some of the most accurate hunting ammo I have loaded, frame flex and all.


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[PaulG67]

A Lee pro 1000 in 45 ACP.

[bosterr]

I started with a Lee Wack-Em .30-06 for about 2 years. I graduated to a Lyman Spartan and moved on to a Rock Chucker 10 years after that. I still use the RC and wouldn't trade it for anything!

[keyhole]

Herter's Model 3, C-type press, purchased 1972. Very stout but required proprietary Herter's shellholders, which was OK until they went out of the reloading business. There were some adapters available for awhile so RCBS shellholders could be used. Graduated to a Bonanza Co-Ax in 1978, which I still use often. Herter press was sold to a fellow member here who collects Herter memorabilia.

[hendere]

I started with a Lee Loader in 7.62x54R in 1986. I lived with my brother and he went out and bought a Lyman T-Mag press. At the time it seemed like it would be a weak design to me so I bought a RCBS RS-5. I still have both presses and used them today. Along the way I picked up a Rockchucker and a Lyman Spartan, both of which I love and use. I think my brother made the best call way back then but I'm never going to admit that to him.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Following the Lee Loader I purchased a used Lyman Spartan from a S.O. Deputy. Still have it, along with other presses, and still use it primarily for .38 Spec.

[Ozark Howler]

In 1965 reloaded my first (222 Rem. Mag.) rounds on a newly purchased Herter's Super 3 press. Still have the press sitting on the shelf with some others from the past.

[scattershot]

My first "press" was the old Lee Loader. The kind that you had to use a hammer with. I eventually graduated to a Lyman 310 tool, but my first actual press was a Lyman Spartan which I still have and use occasionally. We're talking mid to late 70's here.

[bob208]

started with a lyman 310 tool then went to a used liberty. still have the liberty have replaced the pins a few times. loaded a lot of hand dipped 358429's both light and skeeter skelton loads in .38 cases. because .357 cases were hard to come by.

[Crash_Corrigan]

I jumped in and went whole hog. My 1st was a Lee Loadmaster along with a Lee 4-20 Furnace, dies for my .38's, Lee 6 banger molds in .38 cal of the wadcutter and SWC design, Lee scale, micrometer, calipers, Lee hand primer (hand grenade), Lee primer dies, shellholder in .38/357 variety, case gauge in .38 and 357 Mag, a kinectic hammer (for the mistakes), a small paint brush (spilled powder), some case preparation tools including a large Lyman Vibratory Tumbler, flux and other assorted goodies to get me started on the right foot. I also bought my first copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook which I still have and use.

The Loadmaster was a beast of a machine and required constant adjustments and do overs. The main issue was the priming system. It was never able to run thru a box of 100 primers without having to dissemble it and reassemble it after fixing the stoppage. I learned to clean and deprime my brass after I bought a Lee Universal DePriming die before I primed my brass by hand using the Lee Hand Grenade. If I removed the decapping pin from the sizing die and ran primed brass thru the Loadmaster it ran like gangbusters. It had an automatic case feeder system and an automatic device that would place a projectile on the mouth of the case in the seater die. It was fiddily and fussy buy I could make it sing.

With this clackety clack Lee Red monstrocity I assembled thousands and thousands of accurate and inexpensive .38 and 357 rounds for about two years.

Then I went to my first gun show held here in Las Vegas @ Cashman field. There I discovered that I had been severely handicapping myself when casting all those 6,000 boolits over the last two years. See :http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?41217-Can-you-top-this-NOPE Here I explain how I finally really learned something that I should have been doing all along. Basic Stuff. However I did not know about this site at that time and I did not have a clue. I did not even have a computer.

Today YouTube will be an excellent source of current information on anything about reloading or casting boolits. Yes there is a lot of **** on there but there are enough serious people who put out excellent information and show a noob what to do. After I bought a set of handles for my Lee six banger I was inspired to obtain a Dillon 550B press and a Dillon Swager for those nasty military cases I kept on finding at the local range.

I was very happy with the Dillon and I had such a distaste for the Lee Loadmaster that I dissembled it completely and scrapped the metal at a local scrap yard and forgot about it. Then I obtained the first of my three Dillon Square Deal presses. One is dedicated to .45 ACP, 45 Colt/454 Casull and ..44 Special. Along the way I obtained about 23 more firearms over the years along with a Dillon XL 650 for my 9 MM's & .41 Magnums, a Rockchucker, a Lee Classic Iron Turret press, a Lyman Spar T turret press, a Lee challenger single stage, a Frankford Arms single stage and a Lee hand press.

I originally got into reloading and casting boolits to save money and allow me to shoot more. I am still awaiting the saving part. I have given up golf totally as it takes too much time and money to achieve any decent score and guitar playing since I seem to lack the dedication to practicing and learning how to read music. I must also say that I have a total lack of rhythm at all. I can't dance nor sing worth a lick. So I sold the Golf clubs and two excellent Guild Guitars and bought more gun related stuff.

I recently relented and bought a very nice Martin guitar at a very discount and maybe I will do better as I age gracefully.

I had bought a Thumbler Tumbler for cleaning my brass with SS pins dawn, lemi shine and water and it does a wonderful job. Then I had to buy a magnet to save the pins. Recently I got into powder coating my boolits and it shows great promise. Also I got into lubing and sizing my home cast boolits and I first bought a Saeco lubersizer. Then I added air to push the lube along with a Lyman heater base. All went well for a few years and I obtained a Winchester 50-90 Sharps BPCR rifle. This got me into paperpatching and dip lubing. Then I discovered a Star lubersizer and that caused me to have to buy a buncha sizing dies from Lathesmith, one of our vendor members. I have relegated the Saeco to a back drawer and I still use the Star just to size down my PC boolits some but without lube.

The more I try to save money the more I spend on tools to help me save money. I am still awaiting the saving part but it has been a wonderful road and I have met some very decent people along the way who have helped me along and I also have recruited some people into the shooting sports and reloading world. There is more to learn.....anybody know a decent loading for a 327 Fed Mag using a 50 GR solid copper boolit?

[RenoDave]

In 1983 I purchased a Rockchucker that is still bolted to my bench and used as needed.

[Bzcraig]

Mec 600 jr....1980

[Three44s]

RCBS Jr.


Three44s

[jimkim]

1982 Lee turret press. I bought it and some other equipment from a friend. I gave it, and a Lyman 500 scale, back to him in 2012. He wanted to start loading again. I still have the Lyman mould handles, autodisk measure, autoprime, and Lee carbide 357 mag dies that I got with it. It is probably the best purchase that I ever made.

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[Chev. William]

First Reloading Press = RCBS JR-3. Before that, various hand tools.
Chev. William

[woodbutcher]

:grin: First press was RCBS Jr in mid 60`s.Loaded tons of 38 spl,45acp,7x57,30-06.At one time,I was going through appx 800 to 1000 rds a week.Right arm looked like Popeyes,and left looked like Olive Oyls:shock:
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[robg]

Wamadet to load 357 mag .still use it today 35 years later.

[pworley1]

I got a Lyman Spartan about 1972. It still works as good as it did when it was new.

[MEC]

Herters Model 3, early 60's. Loaded quite a few thousand rounds on that old girl.

Just gave it away last week to a young fellow who hopes to start reloading.

Hope he appreciates it.

MEC

[Bookworm]

About 1988, Lee hand press.

At times I wish I still had it.

[15meter]

Lee C press. About $10.00.

[Rick Hodges]

I started with a Lee hand loader and a plastic mallet. My first press was a Lyman Spar Turret....I still have it and it still works just fine.

[gwpercle]

About 1988, Lee hand press.

At times I wish I still had it.

They are easy to get....still made , $40.00 new and saw used one on ebay for $18.00 .
I bought one , found it so handy I bought another.....I use them all the time inside the house or at the office even at the shooting range working up different loads . Get another , they are handy !
Gary

[prestonj12]

I went from the Lee whack em version for .357, 9mm and 6mm Rem back in the 70s. Graduated to a Lee C press and then a Lee Turret for the next 20 years. Went Dillon blue in the late 90s, but still have a Lee Classic and the old C press for the occasional single stage duties.


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[tmc-okc]

Lyman 310 tool for 22-250 Rem (1969), RCBS Rockchucker (1970).. Still have and use them.

Ron

[1_Ogre]

First Press? RCBS Rock Chucker, tink I still have it too

[ReloaderFred]

Used Hollywood Senior in 1963, which I still have and use. It's since been joined by several other presses, both single stage and progressive.

Fred

[aap2]

RCBS Rockchucker in 1971 for $39.95 including a set of dies. Still have and use it.

[aspangler]

Lyman Sparta "C" press. Bought in early '70's and still use it today.

[Big Wes]

Dillon 550b mid 90's 45 acp, 9 mm, 38/357, 380 acp, few years later added 357 sig.

[shdwlkr]

first press was a Redding "C" press still around someplace it has to be 53 years old now as I got it in '64 when you could drive up to the Redding plant and walk into a small room they had for retail sales

[brass410]

rcbs big max, love it will not consider replacing it, had it for years. it will either size or crush it no effort required.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

1966 Texan DP-II with dies to load both 12 and 20 ga.
1974 RCBS Rockchucker Jr
I still have both, but will be giving the Rockchucker Jr to one of my sons or a nephew as I bought a Rockchucker Supreme last summer. Sure has a lot more mechanical advantage.

[The Lord Flashheart]

My first press was a Lee hand press that loaded many hundreds of 3006 rounds until I broke it by leaning on it against the tailgate of my friend's truck.

We were reloading on a makeshift range on his hunting lease and the brass had become work hardened to the extent where even neck sizing needed serious effort.

Admittedly these were the days before I discovered Imperial case wax...

I replaced it with a RCBS Rockchucker II bought from a fellow British member of AccurateReloading who was only selling it as he was emigrating to Canada. Once bitten, twice smitten as they say as it became my only press for a decade. I have recently bought another Lee hand press for messing about with OAL at the firing point as well as a couple of second hand Lee turret presses for things like decapping but the Rockchucker is a quality piece of kit and if I had my time again the thing I would have gone for straight off the bat.

[Grmps]

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit, still on the bench today (with friends :) )

[3Gunnah]

Like many others here I started on a Lyman Spartan Press.............That my dad bought new in 1968 or so!

[Plainsman]

RCBS Rock Chucker

[Forty Rod Ray]

My first press was the one owned by the chap who taught me how. It was a heavy C. I don't recall the #. This was sometime in late 55 or 56. He sold my Dad the press, a Redding scale (the brown one with the crackle finish), a Bond measure, and I think, Pacific dies in 270 WCF. I still have and use everything but the big Herters. I want to tell you about my loading manual, my first manual.
It has long since joined the sands of time but the fact that it was a sheet of lined notebook paper has stuck with me. A few scribbled lines of numbers and I was off to the races. My teacher was my neighbor too.

I was only going to load 270 in 130 gr and 100gr. , so my little manual was brief. There was nothing about primers, cases or bullet manufacturers. I had three powders listed, 4895, 3031, and 4064. My first published loading manual was a 39 Lyman...

[lightman]

Our first equipment was from Herters. The press was a "C" frame press with pretty simple linkage. If I remember correctly, the shell holders did not interchange with any other equipment. We made lots of good ammo on that press but I consider the Rockchucker that I replaced it with to be a much better press.

[Shumkles]

I was lucky and had friend that had stuff and wanted me to be happy. Sold me a Star set up for 38 and 45 for $100. came with the case feeder and primer tubes. I spent hours making a table with just the right holes in it to drop the primers and loaded rounds into their own buckets. I remember that the case funnel was the coolest thing I had ever seen at the time.

[alg3205]

RCBS Junior, 1971

[bleukahuna]

First generation Lee turret press with the handy storage box. I hauled that thing around and loaded thousands of rounds with it. It became someone else's first press a l long time ago.

[john.k]

A Super Simplex.Bought half share with my brother,with all the money we had.Ive still got it,and they are still being made.Its made of the best of materials,all hardened steel or cast iron..........unfortunately its design was to flimsy,but they just last and last. I still use it with homemade dies for loading 44-40 and 32-20..............its good with the thin brass.never lost a case.

[WJP]

Dillon 550 set up in 9mm loading lead given to me by a buddy. I wanted to load for years and then out of the blue he gave it to me. Soon picked up a RC and it all went down hill from there. Was up to over 50 presses and finally started selling them off.

[sigep1764]

First was a Dillon SDB 4 years ago. Stumbled on this site looking to save even more money since loading components were hard to come by then. Its been an awesome press. Finally broke it last week. Got the parts in the mail yesterday.

[1browski]

My first was a Herters super model 3. I processed close to 25000 9mm's, 10000 223s, and another 5000 of misc on it. When I ruined my 223 shell holder I had to get the adapter for it. It also has the primer arm for large and small which I used very little.

[Lloyd Smale]

1974 and it was on a lyman turrent press my uncle gave me. Started out with two sets of dies. 357mag and 6mm rem.
Probably been asked before, but I missed it.
What was the first press, that you owned, that you reloaded on?????

My first was the cheap Lee single. Promo that came with the Lee book.
I always seem to be low on money, so cheap or free with me.
I still have and use it. Have an RCBS strip primer on it.
Still going strong.

[Lloyd Smale]

that was my second press and mine is 42 years old now and as good as new other then paint wear.
Lyman Orange Crusher. It still works 30 years later.

[Hickory]

I, too, have a Lyman Orange Crusher.
35+ years and going strong.

[Gunslinger1911]

Pacific, single stage, "O" press I guess you would call it.
Maybe 1973 vintage.
Couldn't even hazard a guess how many 10's of thousands of 357, 9mm and 45 Colt it had loaded before I got a Dillon.
Still use it for some bigger rifle loading and for punching out gas checks

[jem102]

I was 14 and it was a Lyman Tru-Line Jr. given to me by my dad along with his M94 in .32 Spec. He had just received a new .270 Win. model 70 Featherlite with a scope as a gift from my grandfather. The M94 and M70 were passed on to my younger brothers as the years went by.
I still have the Tru-Line. That was 52 years ago and I remember it better than I remember yesterday now...

[keyhole]

That was 52 years ago and I remember it better than I remember yesterday now...

I relate exactly. I get up from the couch to get something in the other end of the house and by the time I get there I forgot what I wanted.

My memory is clear on the 1st press I had. It was a Herter's Super Model 3. It was used for many years before I upgraded to a Bonanza Co-Ax.

[BlackRat]

I started with a Dillon 550 back in the 90s. Needless to say, that press is still going strong

[Jack Stanley]

A Lyman Spar-T was my first , sold it after I got a Bonanza CO-AX press around 1978 .

Jack

[2011redrider]

Mine was a Lyman Turret that I got in a kit in the late 70's. Soon thereafter upgraded to a Rock Chucker.

[robg]

Wamadet ,still use it 35 years later.

[Walks]

LYMAN Comet, bought at gun show 1967-8. $8 BUCKS I think. Replaced it with a LYMAN Spartan and then a RCBS RockChucker. Gave the Comet to a friend to get him started.

[Valley-Shooter]

I started with a Lee Challenger press in the early 90's. Sold it a couple years later when I upgraded to a Hornady Projector. Still have the Hornady in storage.

[texassako]

Lee Challenger, it is my dedicated depriming press now.

[oldsman]

lee load all 12ga

[Green Frog]

Within a couple of years of each other I learned shotshell loading on a MEC 600 Jr (20 ga) at the home of a friend and metallic on a TruLine Jr (38 Spl) given to my dad and me by his brother in law. I still have the TL Jr and inherited the MEC on the passing of my friend. I still load 20 ga on the MEC, and the TL Jr still gets used for a variety of calibers for which I have those special little dies. I own about a dozen plus other presses, but neither of those is likely to be going anywhere else any time soon. :-)

Froggie

[stubshaft]

RCBS Rockchucker circa 1972 and still going strong.

[rca]

Lyman Spar T 1968 or there abouts ,(can't remember exact year)

[Ranger 7]

Hornady 5 Station Progressive and I still use Hornady.
I agree with Reddirt62, better off starting at the top. Saves money & time.

[Hootmix]

Pacfic "C",blue one,early 60's.


Later,,,,Hootmix.

[nagantguy]

RCBS partner press, the package deal with manual, 505 scale and a few tools.

[copdills]

back in the 80's it was a RCBS Rock chucker or crusher one of the two LOL , I'm too old to remember

[Blanket]

Redding #7 c frame bought new in the 60's for under $15 new. Still my favorite press. One stroke of the handle either up or down completes the stroke of the ram.

[Eddie Southgate]

Early 60's on a Tru Line Jr . Still using it and 4 more like it .

Eddie

[mtgrs737]

RCBS Rockchucker bought in 1974 I still use it today, it is as good now as it was then.

[hornet112]

Rockchucker 1977 and just up graded to a Redding T-7

[fstreed]

A Lee Loader in .30-30. It was bought by my Dad for my younger brother and me when we were around 12 and 13 years old, around 1965 or so.

Then about 1969 I walked out of a gun store with a new Remington 700ADL in .270, a Leupold 4X scope, a couple boxes of ammo, a new RCBS Jr. press, a Redding powder scale, RCBS dies in .270, a few extras like lube pads and a shell holder, a pound of DuPont IMR 4831, some primers, a box of bullets (disremember the brand), and a lighter wallet. My older brother was with me, he might have had to sign for the 700ADL, I don't remember, since I was only about 17 then. He walked out with a Remington 700BDL in 7MM Rem. Magnum, a Redfield 3-9X scope, RCBS dies for 7MM Magnum, a pound of powder and some bullets in case I got bored with loading for that "whimpy little .270".

I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning but I can remember that day in '69, summer's worth of hay-hauling wages burning a hole in my pocket and all those articles in gun magazines tumbling around in my head.

[2Tite]

Lyman Spartan, 50 years ago and still my primary. 2 Lyman turrets of the same vintage and a Rockchucker are secondaries. My older brother started a year or so before me with a Lyman 310 tool in 30-30. I bought the Spartan, 2 primer pocket reamers and a couple of other small items for 25 bucks. I haven't bought a factory CF rifle round since then that I can remember other than a can of 30 carbine ammo that I bought from the DCM.

[fstreed]

Lyman Spartan, 50 years ago and still my primary. 2 Lyman turrets of the same vintage and a Rockchucker are secondaries. My older brother started a year or so before me with a Lyman 310 tool in 30-30. I bought the Spartan, 2 primer pocket reamers and a couple of other small items for 25 bucks. I haven't bought a factory CF rifle round since then that I can remember other than a can of 30 carbine ammo that I bought from the DCM.

It's amazing how simply some of us started. My little Lee Loader loaded quite a bit of ammo during my high school years. Another kid and I in wood shop class made us a couple of wooden hammers for thumping on our Lee Loaders. I still have mine, it got converted to a mold whacker somewhere along the line and is still used for that.

After I got a real press, the RCBS Jr., I loaded a lot of ammo by weighing every charge, using a tea spoon and shallow bowl to dispense powder. I didn't even have a trickler for several years. Now I look around at all the gear I've accumulated over the years and wonder where it all came from.

[JBinMN]

First used - MEC 650 for shotgun ( 12ga) around '77
First owned - RCBS RS3 for handgun/rifle around '87

[MOA]

A Lee Loader in .30-30. It was bought by my Dad for my younger brother and me when we were around 12 and 13 years old, around 1965 or so.

Then about 1969 I walked out of a gun store with a new Remington 700ADL in .270, a Leupold 4X scope, a couple boxes of ammo, a new RCBS Jr. press, a Redding powder scale, RCBS dies in .270, a few extras like lube pads and a shell holder, a pound of DuPont IMR 4831, some primers, a box of bullets (disremember the brand), and a lighter wallet. My older brother was with me, he might have had to sign for the 700ADL, I don't remember, since I was only about 17 then. He walked out with a Remington 700BDL in 7MM Rem. Magnum, a Redfield 3-9X scope, RCBS dies for 7MM Magnum, a pound of powder and some bullets in case I got bored with loading for that "whimpy little .270".

I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning but I can remember that day in '69, summer's worth of hay-hauling wages burning a hole in my pocket and all those articles in gun magazines tumbling around in my head.


Truly the best of the days.
:bigsmyl2:

[Thin Man]

My first press was an RCBS Junior. It served me well until a Rock Chucker became available from an estate. Following that, another Junior found me. Our older son-in-law is expressing interest in learning how to handload, and cast boolits, to feed his interest in affordable ammo. He will wind up with one of the Juniors and a bot of other gear that is surplus to my needs.

[Binky]

Lyman Spartan, Lyman "All American" 06 dies, Redding powder scale & measure. All bought in about 1965. I have used all of the above in the last week. Although the Spartan is not my everyday press it still gets used to deprime rifle cases and process pistol cases and occasional small batch reloading.

[SHIPCHIEF]

I started out with a Lee Loader (Whacker?) in 44mag/spl. Years later I mentioned hand loading 30-30 to my brother, and he gave me a box 'o' stuff.
It was two Lyman Spartan presses, hand made case gauges for 30-30 and 300 savage and a pound of 3031 powder.
Great Times! I soon got a Lee Classic Turret press and bunches of accessories to take advantage of capping and charging etc.
Then a Hornady Progressive which is set up for .357
Still I bought Lee Loaders in many calibers, Lee Hand press, Turrets, Dies, and more dies, bullets, powders, primers, bullet molds, furnace, more molds...

[flashhole]

A Forster CoAx for 300 Win Mag and I hated it. Press ergonomics were not for me. Not saying it wasn't a good product but I learned a lot about blood blisters when seating bullets.

Switched to an Ultramag and have been smiling ever since.

[oldhenry]

My 1st. was a Lyman Comet. I liked the large opening, but the shell holders were a problem. Finances were tight then ('60 or '61) & I always wanted to have the ram converted to "RCBS type S/H" but never did.

I loaded rifle, pistol & shot shells (yes, shot shells) on that press. I have the 20 gauge die set now.

Henry

[Artful]

First loaded on a 3 station H press - CH I think - it's been awhile - First one I bought was an RCBS "kit" Jr press which when I moved to Arizona I gave to my hunting buddy back in Oregon.

[btr-cj]

Herter's Model 3 - with shell holder adapter.
Still use for different tasks.

[beltfed]

converted orange juice squeezer and home made dies to load 30-06. Then lyman 310 tool for 38spl
beltfed/arnie

[Cherokee]

Lyman #310 tool, then a TruLine Junior press when I got serious 50+ years ago. They did not have Dillon 650's back then.

[Motor]

RCBS Rockchucker II. Started with it in 1985, it's still my primary press today.

Motor

[retread]

CH "C" press and a CH "Magnum" H press, both bought in 1960.

[DCM]

Lyman Orange crusher.

[jeffs4wheeler]

I started with a Lyman turret and now have a Bonanza Coax.

[Moosegooser]

Christmas present 1966...

210320

Christmas present a couple years later:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lyman+easy+shot+shot+shell+reloader&qpvt=lyman+easy+shot+shot+shell+reloader&view=detail&mid=116D293CF87EEC910562116D293CF87EEC910562&FORM=VRDGAR

I still have the "Lyman Easy" I still use it occasionally. It has loaded hundreds and hundreds of shells. Its the press I used when I was a young guy, and shot in a trap league.. Imagine how busy that kept me.. :) the LYMAN First Complete Edition Handbook. Funny when many consider the latest edition the "Bible" when it comes to shotshell loads.. :) Some of the old loads, Primers, powder.wad combinations are fun to look through..


210321

Front cover
210323

Rear Cover
210324

Full instruction section for Lyman "Easy Press
210325

[bobby]

lee hand loader then worked my way up to a lee pro. now I use a dillon 650. still use my lee to test loads

[pwc]

The first one is still the one I use. When I got the press I read everything I could about reloading in the library; at that time, they even had a copy of Sharps Complete Guide To Handloading. Online continues to be an unending source of information. Thirty years ago I got a Pacific C press, older than me (73), complete with the primer attch and tubes for large and small primers, a Lyman 55 powder measure and a Lyman 45th edition Reloading Handbook. It came with 2 dedicated rams one for 30-06 and one for 38spl. Later, I bought a RCBS ram so I could use shell holders for other calibers. I prime right on the press and never had a crushed primer, or primer failure to go bang. I've never had a short / empty round, double charge, or upside down primer. When the powder goes in, the case doesn't leave my hand until the bullet is seated. I also have an old Herter's press that will accept the standard dies, but I don't have room in my reloading closet for 2 presses.

From this site, I got a primer catcher from another member that 3D prints them; no more spent primers on the floor. I don't shoot thousands of rounds a year so my single stage works great.

Reloading for me is relaxing and fun. Used to come home from work and could chew nails; then go to my closet, turn on the radio and work on case prep, priming or reloading 50 to 100 rounds and I became a mellow fellow. Now retired, just mellow.....

[Honcho]

My first press was bought way back in 1958, it was a Herters "C" press, single stage, a real cast iron boat anchor! It was stolen, along with all my guns, when I was called up to serve in the Army, and was stationed in Germany--
When I got home, I bought two discontinued Lyman turret presses, which I still have and use, then got into Lee Pro 1000 progressives. Since then I have bought 4 Lee Reloaders, one Lee "O" single stage, a Lee turret 4 hole, and an old Herters turret, which will anchor a BIGGER boat than my original Herters single stage!

[Remmy4477]

Started reloading with my Dad back in the early to mid 1970's on his then new Rock chucker.
Today, I still use his RC and I've added 2 more RC's and a piggyback system on one of them.

Tried a lee and a lyman several years ago but always come back to the RC.

[georgerkahn]

I bought, mail-order, a RCBS kit from Gander Mountain when it first started up as a catalogue/mail-order only venture. The press was a single stage; don't recall the model, but it was quite inexpensive in cost. (After my first infection with the disease called reloading I bought a Lyman All-American, and now? Way too many!)

[Olut]

Like several others, my first press was a Herter's model 3 in the early 1960's. Previously, I was using a boy scout leader's equipment for my cheap Springfield 1903 "sporter". However, I started reloading "with my own equipment" on 12 gauge black powder shells for my $8 black powder double barreled shotgun with a LEE Loader when they first came out about 1960. As this stuff had little intrinsic resale value, they did not get sold off with much of my shooting gear to help finance two daughters through college. ... during Thursday's storm, I used the HERTER press to reload a bunch of 9X57; this old work horse continues to function well.



Herter's Model 3 - with shell holder adapter.
Still use for different tasks.

[OS OK]

I remember seeing a Rock Chucker at the gunshop in the late 70's and marveled at the idea of making my own ammo...bought it, learned the art on it & still use the very same press though now it's just one of several. I suppose it'll out-live my sons too.

[CastingFool]

Back in 1980 a buddy bought a RCBS Jr2 off a newspaper ad. $85 for the press, Redding scale, and #3 measure,(love that powder measure) plus 38 spl, 44 Mag dies a bunch of brass, and bullets. He told me to take it home and play with it. He didn't have time to reload. I was astounded. I only reloaded like 2 or 3 boxes of 38 spcl for him, then he moved to AZ. Left the stuff with me. Couple of years later, he calls me and offers the whole shebang for $50. Didn't have a whole lot of play money then, but I sent him a check. I'm still using it. Later, I picked up a Lee press to play with. Actually took the lee press to work with me, in a back pack and I was resizing brass during my lunch hours. The lee press will see more action now, since I picked up a Lee universal decapping die.

[rintinglen]

At a yard sale in Fallbrook, CA, I bought a pacific "c" press, a Lachmiller 38 WC mold and a 3 cavity Cramer 140 grain WC mold at an estate sale. IIRC, I paid 25 bucks. The press was missing parts, but I was able to write to Pacific and order the parts from a vendor back east. I don't suppose I have spent more than 200 or 300 times that since then "saving money" reloading.

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

RCBS 4x4

serial no. 3636.

[Cheeto303]

1978. I bought an RCBS Rock Chuck kit. Still have it all and use it regularly.

[w5pv]

Herters,I had both one for shotgun and one for rifle both were good presses.

[Tazman1602]

Lee nutcracker for 44 mag. Still have that little bugger, works great!

Art

[Walter Laich]

in late 50's Dad got a Herters C-press.

I kept breaking off the handle as it would come loose and break at the threads.

Had a classmate whose dad was a machinist so got it rethreaded at least 3 times.

[DirtyJack]

Lee hand loader in .357. First press was a rockchucker.

[BOSCHLOPER]

RCBS #3 JR that I purchased new in 1974 for around $60. My records of primer purchases say I load around 1000 rounds per year. 2018 - 1974 X 1000 = 44,000 rounds loaded. Still going strong.

[wolf3006]

Rcbs Rock chucker Sometime in or around 1975

[photomicftn]

My father's Pacific C press ~1970

[John D]

RCBS Junior in 1971 along with a set of RCBS 6mm Rem dies for my newly purchased Rem 788.

Still have 'em all..

[cb shooter]

Mine was a C-H c press in early 60's. It used a different ram for each case head size.

[william l evans]

Lee hand (hammer) 308 press- 1966. RCBS Jr 1967, still using the Jr.

[bruce drake]

Lee Handpress that I gave to my oldest son this year. I told him that I bought it before he was born 20 years ago and he would be able to pass it along to his own son or daughter in a couple of decades also.

[C-dubb]

RCBS Rockchucker that my dad bought for me 42 years ago. Dad is gone but that ****ed Rockchucker is still going strong.

[15meter]

MEC 650 about 1985, had been using a Lee whack-a-mole for 12 gauge before that.

Now:
4 650's
1 9000g
1 Lyman T-mag
2 Rockchuckers
1 SDB
1 Dillon 550
And the original Lee whack-a-mole.

Plus probably 30 or 40 dead guy presses over the years. Craigslist is my friend.

[Panman213]

Lee Challenger press and 44 mag dies back in the mid 90's

[Plate plinker]

Rl 1050

[marlin39a]

RCBS Reloader Special bought new in 1977. Still on my bench, although the Redding T-7 gets more use.

[Arkansas Paul]

When we started we purchased the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit.
About 3 years later our shop got broken into and they cleaned us out.

Now we have a RL Special, 2 Lee Breechlock Challengers and 1 Lee turret press.

[Honcho]

My first press was the old Herters lightweight single stage, back when I was earning $45. a week, as a plumber apprentice, $18. was a lot of money! Not long after I bought the "boat anchor" cast iron single stage Herter's press. Unfortunately all my reloading stuff was stolen when I went into the Army, in Nov. 1960--
Fred

[mpkunz]

RCBS Rock Chucker, back in 1981. I still use it. I have the top end Hornady progressive press too with all the trimmings that I bought 5 years ago, and I have only used it once. My go-to press is still my 37 year old Rock Chucker.

[Pavogrande]

I started in about 1956 with a lyman nut cracker in 25-20 -- In about 1960 got a CH alum "C" press for about $12 new and about $3 for the shellholder rams -
Still have and occasionally use both the nutcracker and the CH ----

[15meter]

Rl 1050

Nice beginner press.

[Taterhead]

Rock Chucker

Then added a Pro 2000 auto-index that handles most of the volume.

Got a Summit Press this week. Nifty press.

If I had to live with just one, the RC since it can do jobs that the other two can't.

[Plate plinker]

Nice beginner press.

Worked for me and still does.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

The ubiquitous Rock Chucker and the equally ubiquitous Square Deal B. Only need the chucker these days as I got better things to do on Sunday than watch other people shoot:bigsmyl2:

[bgw45]

I had a mentor. Lee Pro1000. Wore the thing out and moved on.

[Steppapajon]

Mine was a MEC 600 Jr.
Loaded about 250 rounds a week with it for a long time. Then changed jobs and haven't used it in 25 years.

[Steve E]

I believe mine was a Lee hand press back in about 1977, still have it too but haven't loaded anything on it in almost 40 years.

Steve..............

[Green Frog]

Rereading this thread I remembered that the acquisition of the "free" TruLine Jr from Dad's B-i-L (see post #107) led me down the path to 310 tools (of which I now have a bunch!) and got Dad going first with a little green RCBS Jr then one of the early Dillon progressives. As I said previously, the first shotshell press I loaded on was a MEC 600 Jr that I inherited a couple of years ago, but I really started seriously loading shotshells on a Glacier Bair in 12 gauge. Nowadays I don't reload as much as I once did, but presses and other gear keep following me home, and the basement is starting to really fill up! ;)

Froggie

[tinsnips]

Lyman Spartan

[Thin Man]

RCBS Junior, bought new in 1970 when I started handloading. First die set was RCBS (steel) in .38 Special, bought it with the press. Added on a few more die sets. Decided to venture into casting so in 1973 I bought (all used) a Lyman furnace, Lachmiller lubesizer with dies and top punches, and about a dozen sets of mold blocks as a group buy (my first!) from a guy who was transitioning into swaging. Now the die sets fill up a complete shelf in the shop and the molds are crowded into plastic storage tubs (to aide keeping similar diameters together) under the bench. Still adding on, I need more stuff....

[GT1]

I started on the Lee hand press, loading 45 acp. Set of Lee dies, powder dippers, a scale, manual, set of calipers. Didn't need anything else. Pretty slow though. Had success at the range right off. Shot what I loaded in 2 hours in about 15 minutes.
Ordered a LCT the next day after the range trip.
Still have it, right next to my 650, a winning combo.

[RedlegEd]

Lyman Spartan back in 1971 with RCBS .45 ACP amd .30-06 dies. Been using it off and on until I gave it to my oldest son earlier this year. Ed

[Bazoo]

I too started on a Lyman spartan. I bought it 6 years back or so for 25.00 off the local gunsmith. Lost it in a housefire. I have another one currently.

[40sand9s]

I started with a lee classic turret then later upgraded to a loadmaster. After frustration I'm back to the turret

[AndFereira]

I started on a RL550B

[Boogedy_Man]

The first press I learned on was a rockchucker. First I owned a Lee aluminum single stage.

[sdb321]

My first press was a Dillon Square B.

[LAKEMASTER]

I researched for a couple years before I bought a press.

I bought a loadmaster from a member here.

I use it mostly automatic for pistol.

And do everything manually on it for rifle.

I came to the conclusion that I don't like having several things happening at once, so my loadmaster can be compared to a turret system majority of the time.

The only time Im forced to use a single stage is sizing or checking lead.

[Blindshooter]

My first post here and gives away my age somewhat, I started with a RCBS jr in 1977.
I gave it to a coworker a couple years ago. He was telling me about setting off primers while hammering on one of the Lee hand kits. The next day at work I gave him that press and you would have thought I had give him a new truck. I have since given him a cast off RCBS Ammomaster that he has running perfect.
Its good to get others addicted.

[Outer Rondacker]

Blindshooter welcome to the forum. Let me be the first to tell you bravo on helping out another in need and in this hobby. I think you will fit in well here.

[NHGrumpyGramps]

My dad bought a Lyman Spartan 50 years ago that I learned reloading on. I still have it mounted on my bench and it is still going strong.

[Beagle333]

Lee hand press. I have 1 Lee single, 2 Lee classic O's, and one Rock Chucker, but all of my reloading still ends up being done with my hand press. The big ones really just hold powder measures or push thru sizer dies.

[Elkins45]

RCBS Reloader Special 1, the original without a compound linkage. I had it for about three years and traded it for a Reloader Special 3, which I still have and use today.

[old cobra]

Mid 50s Lyman tong tool

[lightload]

Lyman Spartan bought new in 1971 and used and maintained well since then. I have bought various others since then. Soon I will gift it to a young man as I did two Lachmillers, two RCBS Jr's and a Lyman Turret press. Still I have several more presses. I confess that I can't pass up a good deal on a used press.

[Rug480]

Lee 50th anniversary kit. Like everything save for the “perfect” powder measure. Upgraded to their metal drum deluxe model which is leagues better. Been thinking about upgrading to rcbs rock chucked but honestly don’t see a practical need to

[flashhole]

RCBS Reloader Special 1, the original without a compound linkage. I had it for about three years and traded it for a Reloader Special 3, which I still have and use today.

I picked up my first RS press. I like it because it has two handle positions and can be mounted upside down.

[Herb in Pa]

Rock Chucker was first, then added a Dillon 550. then an additional RCBS A2

[RogerDat]

Lee Loader whack a mole kit and a decent plastic/rubber faced hammer. Made decent ammo but the dog went ballistic when a primer went off so eventually.... My first real press was a Lee Classic Cast turret. No regrets about that purchase. Handles every job I put to it. Second press was a CH "C" style press which I also still use. Only one more press on my wish list and that is the Lee Classic "O" press, not the breech lock version but the regular threaded for dies bushing. But that is just because it was my second choice when I bought the turret and I still want (not need) one.

I expect if I ever get that second Lee I'll find a new home for the CH press.

[engineer401]

I bought a Rock Chucker RC II kit in the early 90s.

[472x1B/A]

My first reloading press was a Texan Mod M. It is set up for Winchester AA (old style) cases. Thank goodness I have a 55gal drum of hulls.

[skeettx]

He he he
I have a LOT of "M" Texans and use them to load 12, 16, 20, 28 and 410
may modify some for 24 and 32 gauges
Mike

[rockrat]

Mine was also an RCBS Jr press

[dverna]

First press I loaded on was a Star with a Brewster indexer.

First press I owned was a Co-Ax that I still use. I have owned over a dozen presses and that Co-Ax will always be with me.

[desiko]

RCBS Jr 3 2nd hand in 1980. Still use it.

[Ozark Howler]

None other than the famous Herter's Super 3, ordered one while in the Army (1965). Still have the press along with some other Herter's stuff. Today it's retired, originally loaded .308 Win, .221 Rem FB, and .222 Rem. I think the catalog price back then was about 12 or 13 bucks plus shipping.

[flashhole]

Hooray, another 221 Fireball fan. I absolutely love mine.

[crappie-hunter]

My dad purchased a Herters turret back in the late 50"s, forget the model#, I have added two more Herters #3's ,use them
all regularly along with a RCBS rock chucker.

[SyberShooter]

In 1964... a Pacific C press- used IIRC, loading 6.5 Jap for a war bringback

[eric123]

RCBS JR2...Only press I have ever owned...