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**BigTex.308** · 02-04-2013, 06:30 PM

Here's my thoughts on it..........For precision rifle for sure go with a single stage. RCBS Rockchucker is definatley your best bet. It will load every caliber you mentioned. Mine is from the 80s and still works GREAT. Plus RCBS has a lifetime NO BS warranty. Doesn't matter if you originally bought the press or not. Call them and tell them what's wrong or what broke and they will ask you what address to send the replacements too. Customer service is top notch with them.

For high volume pistol, I'd go with a progressive or at least a turret press. They get kinda pricey but for high volume they are a must. With a single stage it will take you forever t load what you can go through in 10mins

Turret presses are a little cheaper than progressive but still faster than single stage. You will save quite a bit of time over a single stage with a turret, but progressive is where you really get the most volume.

Start with a Rockchucker then later add a progressive or turret once you get the hang of it.

I have a RCBS rockchuker and a RCBS partner for my rifle loading and a progressive for my pistol loads and .223 plinking loads. I'm probably about to get a RCBS Pro 2000 progressive to add to the bench as well. I sold my turret a while back but will be adding another one again in the future.

Make sure you get a case trimmer. Electronic scale is nice to have. Digital calipers come in handy, so does a bullelet puller.

I'd invest in a quality powder throw too.

Get a good manual to help with questions and walk you through the steps. I have several.

For reloading data I like to use the manufacturers websites. It's the most up to date info, there's more bullet types listed, and it's free.

Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester has the best reload data setup in my opinion, so I try to stick to their powders.

It may take a bit of $$$ to setup properly. But if you shoot a bunch you can make your money back before too long. Not to mention the increased accuracy you can get.

I started reloading to save money and get better accuracy with my rifle, but now it is a big time hobby of mine and I really really enjoy doing it.

Wait for Cajun Blake to chime in too.........

Good luck with it!

Ike

**trophy8** · 02-04-2013, 06:51 PM

thanks ike!!

my problem with a turret or progressive press is i dont see how it can be precise enough on EVERY rifle round i load for my long range stuff. but this is just based off what i know now. im all ears on this though!!

**BigTex.308** · 02-04-2013, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by trophy8 View Post

thanks ike!!

my problem with a turret or progressive press is i dont see how it can be precise enough on EVERY rifle round i load for my long range stuff. but this is just based off what i know now. im all ears on this though!!

For sure stay away from progressive for your long range (or any rifle except just for fun .223 as far as I'm concerned) Like you said you just can't be precice enough.

Turret presses are just like single stage, in that one stroke of the ram only completes one task. But.......The added benifit of the turret is it is MUCH easier to advance to the next die. On a single stage you have to change dies each time you want to do another step in the process. With a turret, you do the first step. rotate the tool head to the next die and do the next step.

Turrets are kind of the "best of both worlds" press. You get the precison and uniformity of a single stage but also the ease of use of a progressive.

Ike

**trophy8** · 02-04-2013, 07:01 PM

ah!! 10-4 sir.

**BigTex.308** · 02-04-2013, 07:03 PM

This may clear up a bit......

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5KyQzigVLk"]RCBS Turret Press - YouTube[/ame]

Ike

**Osceola** · 02-04-2013, 07:10 PM

Check out the RCBS charge master 1500 dispenser scale combo.

**Tommyh** · 02-04-2013, 09:28 PM

I weigh each powder charge for rifle precision, and every 7th or 10th for pistol. I cant bring myself to trust the thrower for that kind of consistency in my lnl ap. its fun to load fast though!

**tgridley** · 02-04-2013, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Tommyh View Post

I weigh each powder charge for rifle precision, and every 7th or 10th for pistol. I cant bring myself to trust the thrower for that kind of consistency in my lnl ap. its fun to load fast though!

I agree, I have been loading for over 30 years and all my powder charges for rifle loads get weighed one at a time.

**oneforthewall** · 02-05-2013, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Osceola View Post

Check out the RCBS charge master 1500 dispenser scale combo.

I finally used mine this weekend. My daughter and I produced 500 rounds of 45acp on the Rockchucker press

That measurer is awesome!

**SOLID EAGLE** · 02-05-2013, 01:24 PM

I agree on starting out with a single stage press. But that is the easy part.

Spend some time reading books and internet sites on the reloading you will be doing. Get two or three reloading manuals and read them.

Here are a few very good reloading sites.

http://ultimatereloader.com/

http://home.comcast.net/~jesse99/cas...#Casepolishing

http://www.reloadbench.com/

My rifle setup is:

RCBS Rockchucker press
Lee or RCBS Dies
L. E. Wilson case trimmer
RCBS Trim Mate
RCBS 1010 powder scale
RCBS Uniflo powder measure
Redding powder trickler
Dillon case lube
Possum Hollow flash hole debur tool
Frankfort load blocks
RCBS calipers
various other items...

For pistol:

RCBS Pro2000 press
Lee Carbide Dies with factory crimp die

Best advice is to ALWAYS start at the minimum powder charges listed in the manuals. Use a chronograph to check the velocity of your loads, then work your way up and NEVER load past the maximum powder charge listed. Pay attention to your bullet seating depth.

Good luck.

**Jason19** · 02-05-2013, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by BigTex.308 View Post

Here's my thoughts on it..........For precision rifle for sure go with a single stage. RCBS Rockchucker is definatley your best bet. It will load every caliber you mentioned. Mine is from the 80s and still works GREAT. Plus RCBS has a lifetime NO BS warranty. Doesn't matter if you originally bought the press or not. Call them and tell them what's wrong or what broke and they will ask you what address to send the replacements too. Customer service is top notch with them.

For high volume pistol, I'd go with a progressive or at least a turret press. They get kinda pricey but for high volume they are a must. With a single stage it will take you forever t load what you can go through in 10mins

Turret presses are a little cheaper than progressive but still faster than single stage. You will save quite a bit of time over a single stage with a turret, but progressive is where you really get the most volume.

Start with a Rockchucker then later add a progressive or turret once you get the hang of it.

I have a RCBS rockchuker and a RCBS partner for my rifle loading and a progressive for my pistol loads and .223 plinking loads. I'm probably about to get a RCBS Pro 2000 progressive to add to the bench as well. I sold my turret a while back but will be adding another one again in the future.

Make sure you get a case trimmer. Electronic scale is nice to have. Digital calipers come in handy, so does a bullelet puller.

I'd invest in a quality powder throw too.

Get a good manual to help with questions and walk you through the steps. I have several.

For reloading data I like to use the manufacturers websites. It's the most up to date info, there's more bullet types listed, and it's free.

Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester has the best reload data setup in my opinion, so I try to stick to their powders.

It may take a bit of $$$ to setup properly. But if you shoot a bunch you can make your money back before too long. Not to mention the increased accuracy you can get.

I started reloading to save money and get better accuracy with my rifle, but now it is a big time hobby of mine and I really really enjoy doing it.

Wait for Cajun Blake to chime in too.........

Good luck with it!

Ike

Big Tex nailed it. It seems like you will be loading along the same lines as I am. Precision rifle and a boat load of pistol. I would take your time in deciding on equipment and go ahead and start buying components as you come across them. It's better to stockpile components even if you don't shoot them for trade or favors on down the road.

**Cajun Blake** · 02-05-2013, 02:43 PM

my background is benchrest and precision shooting ..... I load most of my rounds at the range using Wilson hand dies and a Neil Jones powder measurer. The NJ is accurate to within .05 ~ .1 grs all the time . I also have a Hood reloading press so I can FL size and seat bullets with the Wilson dies. Extremely precise and very portable

Instead of loading 20-50 rds at home, I can workup loads at the range by loading 5 at a time and testing for group accuracy. After shooting @ 10 rds., I'll clean the barrel , rework brass, and then load another 5+ rds.

a powder measurer will last you forever as I highly recommend buying the best one time .... a Harrells (pictured below) , Neil Jones, or possibly a Bruno measurer.

Hood press on left

Wilson hand dies

**BigTex.308** · 02-05-2013, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by SOLID EAGLE View Post

.............
For pistol:

RCBS Pro2000 press
................
Good luck.

Not to Hijack, but how do you like the Pro 2000? Specifically the priming system? I'm considering upgrading to this one.

Ike

**trophy8** · 02-05-2013, 11:06 PM

im listening and learning fellas. cant see pics on this computer, dang setting at work.... but when i get off ill be back to this thread and making a list

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