Should I buy a press kit or individual pieces?

[maroonandwhite]

The Forster is the best press made, period.  Now, unless you are looking to eek every bit of accuracy out of your longer rifle rounds, then the RCBS will do everything you need it to and then some.  You can certainly by once and be done with the Forster for a single stage, but as you mention, you will still have quite a few things to buy which will add up quickly.  

 

Personally, I would go with the RCBS set and if you want to get into it more later, then consider the Forster.  You will understand the benefits of it better after you reload some and then you can decide if you want one.  It's never bad to have two presses.

My brain is telling me to get the Forster but my Mrs. is telling me to get the RCBS  :rofl: . Honestly I'm sure I'll be happy with the RCBS but I'm gonna try to get my hands on a few presses and play with them. I just want a quality press that will last.

[mikegideon]

The Forster is the best press made, period.  Now, unless you are looking to eek every bit of accuracy out of your longer rifle rounds, then the RCBS will do everything you need it to and then some.  You can certainly by once and be done with the Forster for a single stage, but as you mention, you will still have quite a few things to buy which will add up quickly.  

 

Personally, I would go with the RCBS set and if you want to get into it more later, then consider the Forster.  You will understand the benefits of it better after you reload some and then you can decide if you want one.  It's never bad to have two presses.

 

Besides, there are a couple of things that the coax won't do because of the design, like run a collet style bullet puller. So, it's always a good idea to keep a standard O press around. I have a Lee Classic Cast for that duty. I'm keeping it too.

[mikegideon]

My brain is telling me to get the Forster but my Mrs. is telling me to get the RCBS  :rofl: . Honestly I'm sure I'll be happy with the RCBS but I'm gonna try to get my hands on a few presses and play with them. I just want a quality press that will last.

 

The RCBS will last longer than you will.

[gregintenn]

RCBS makes good stuff.

[mikegideon]

RCBS makes good stuff.

 

Yep. I have a lot of their stuff. Never been disappointed.

[maroonandwhite]

The RCBS will last longer than you will.

That's a good thing. Hopefully whoever I leave it to after me will use it.....but they'll probably just sell it haha.

[Omega]

Not technically a progressive, because it takes more than one pull to do a round. But, it's way faster than a single stage. I have one of these, and use it for a lot of stuff...
 
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690304/Classic_Turret_Press_Kit_?clicks=box6

True, but once you get a round through all the stages each pull after will be a completed round so close enough for me. But I use it as a single stage anyway as I do all my sizing and depriming prior to tumbling, then I charge and seat rotating stations by hand. I couldn't tell by the pic on your link, that a three hole or four? I have the three but if a four was available when I purchased I would of went that way, the fourth for the Lee FCD on my rifle rounds so I just throw it into the lee single stage. Honestly if their Breech Lock Challenger kit was available it would more suit my needs. The quick caliber change of the turret press is what sold me. But now I have a turret for all my calibers so it would be too expensive to change now.

I load every caliber I own with the turret press, even tweeked a few wildcat loads so I am not sure of the need you guys require an expensive press for. When it comes down to it, its just a matter of marketing with a few little gizmos thrown in. I just use the extra money on expendables.

[mikegideon]

True, but once you get a round through all the stages each pull after will be a completed round so close enough for me. But I use it as a single stage anyway as I do all my sizing and depriming prior to tumbling, then I charge and seat rotating stations by hand. I couldn't tell by the pic on your link, that a three hole or four? I have the three but if a four was available when I purchased I would of went that way, the fourth for the Lee FCD on my rifle rounds so I just throw it into the lee single stage. Honestly if their Breech Lock Challenger kit was available it would more suit my needs. The quick caliber change of the turret press is what sold me. But now I have a turret for all my calibers so it would be too expensive to change now.

I load every caliber I own with the turret press, even tweeked a few wildcat loads so I am not sure of the need you guys require an expensive press for. When it comes down to it, its just a matter of marketing with a few little gizmos thrown in. I just use the extra money on expendables.

 

Mine is a 4 hole. For pistol, I size, decap and prime in the first hole, expand the mouth and drop powder in the second, seat the bullet in the third, and crimp in the fourth. I have a breachlock classic cast. That was my first press. Not near as fast as the turret. With rifle, I size and prime in a separate process. Then do the last 3 stages on the turret if I'm loading blaster stuff. The accurate stuff is single stage, and is a Lee free process. 

 

Expensive presses have their place. I load most stuff on the turret, but my high accuracy stuff gets loaded with better gear. It ain't about bells and whistles. My chargemaster just throws more accurate charges than the autodisk. Same deal with the dies and press. Lots more precision.

Edited December 2, 2014 by mikegideon

[Omega]

Mine is a 4 hole. For pistol, I size, decap and prime in the first hole, expand the mouth and drop powder in the second, seat the bullet in the third, and crimp in the fourth. I have a breachlock classic cast. That was my first press. Not near as fast as the turret. With rifle, I size and prime in a separate process. Then do the last 3 stages on the turret if I'm loading blaster stuff. The accurate stuff is single stage, and is a Lee free process. 

For my pistol I just leave the roll crimp which is done on the seat die. Does the FCD do much better on pistol ammo? On my rifle ammo I use an FCD but with a very light crimp, it comes with the pace setter set so I only have it for a few calibers because I got the two die set way back when. I just picked up a used one for my .270 for $10, but since it already does sub moa I am not sure how much it will help; just couldn't pass up the price.

 

Expensive presses have their place. I load most stuff on the turret, but my high accuracy stuff gets loaded with better gear. It ain't about bells and whistles. My chargemaster just throws more accurate charges than the autodisk. Same deal with the dies and press. Lots more precision.

You shoot long range? I don't shoot further than 400 yards most times and can do quite well at that range but back in the 80s I was on a shooting team at Ft Bragg and reloaded on my Lee single for competition, I must say it did pretty good. Some teams had other brands but even then I didn't see much difference except things like the primer catchers which I must admit I dislike on my lee. I don't knock the other brands, I just can't see that much difference at the target. Especially now that my target has gone to an 8" vitals area, and I rarely shoot more than 100 rounds per session at the range so my Lee keeps up.

[mikegideon]

For my pistol I just leave the roll crimp which is done on the seat die. Does the FCD do much better on pistol ammo? On my rifle ammo I use an FCD but with a very light crimp, it comes with the pace setter set so I only have it for a few calibers because I got the two die set way back when. I just picked up a used one for my .270 for $10, but since it already does sub moa I am not sure how much it will help; just couldn't pass up the price.

 You shoot long range? I don't shoot further than 400 yards most times and can do quite well at that range but back in the 80s I was on a shooting team at Ft Bragg and reloaded on my Lee single for competition, I must say it did pretty good. Some teams had other brands but even then I didn't see much difference except things like the primer catchers which I must admit I dislike on my lee. I don't knock the other brands, I just can't see that much difference at the target. Especially now that my target has gone to an 8" vitals area, and I rarely shoot more than 100 rounds per session at the range so my Lee keeps up.

 

The factory crimp die does great for two reasons. It stresses the brass less, AND has a carbide sizing ring to help resize the round after seating. 

 

I have a couple of guns that will do long range. Haven't even developed loads for them yet. I have shot 600 yards with some stuff that I loaded on a Lee press with Lee dies. The ammo shot OK at that range. The ammo for the new guns will be done with Redding competition dies on the coax press. Just gotta find a range to stretch their legs after I get the loads developed.

[maroonandwhite]

So where do i begin on dies for .223? RCBS has so many different sets I'm lost. I would just want a "standard" die set. I do plan to get the lock and load bushing/conversion kit.

[deafdogdief]

Nope. They are just inexpensive. I've used Lee products for over 20 years now. I actually prefer their dies to others regardless of price.

I agree. This is the kit I have (anniversary edition). I use the priming feeder on here, but will eventually upgrade. For now that money is more usefully spent on components. I never did use the scale. Went digital form the beginning. My friend who walked me through from the beginning after I read the manuals complimented the Lee stuff I had over his RCBS. Nothing wrong with his, just like some of my stuff. Make sure to invest in or get as much load data as you can. I have several books and recently bought the iBooks version of Hornady's manual. Better than the Amazon for index features. The loads in that manual are much lower charges if you want to stretch your powder. Be sure to get a bullet puller as well. I don't recall seeing one in those pics. Edited December 2, 2014 by deafdogdief

[deafdogdief]

So where do i begin on dies for .223? RCBS has so many different sets I'm lost. I would just want a "standard" die set. I do plan to get the lock and load bushing/conversion kit.

Depends on your gun. Is it going into an AR or some type of semi or into a single shot?

[maroonandwhite]

Depends on your gun. Is it going into an AR or some type of semi or into a single shot?

going in an ar.


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[Omega]

So where do i begin on dies for .223? RCBS has so many different sets I'm lost. I would just want a "standard" die set. I do plan to get the lock and load bushing/conversion kit.

I seen where you had to bump up your order so this may not work, do the math, but I would seriously consider the Lee dies. Check them out here then look at midsouth for price.
http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/

[mikegideon]

So where do i begin on dies for .223? RCBS has so many different sets I'm lost. I would just want a "standard" die set. I do plan to get the lock and load bushing/conversion kit.

 

Get Lee dies. I have two sets of their 223 dies. They're great, unless you're gonna be loading high end stuff.

[mikegideon]

going in an ar.


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http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Pacesetter-223-Dies/dp/B002SEZ5PG

[deafdogdief]

going in an ar.


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I have limit knowledge on that because I only a few steps ahead of you here. I started these types of rounds a few months ago. From what I have learned, you don't want to just neck size for an AR. You want to bring the entire case back into factory spec. That will knock out at least one die from your list. There are a lot of helpful people here. One thing I will say that has recently been added to my collection are the much recommended comparator and headspace gauges. Be prepared to eventually pick them up. My .223 die is a Lee with the factory crimp die and I'm pretty happy with it now that I know what I'm doing with it. If you look through Lee's website they have some interesting propaganda (I've bought into it and like it). Don't know what RCBS has to offer, though.

[deafdogdief]

I seen where you had to bump up your order so this may not work, do the math, but I would seriously consider the Lee dies. Check them out here then look at midsouth for price.
http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/

This is what I have as well. Sent a lot of rounds made by it.

[Omega]

I have limit knowledge on that because I only a few steps ahead of you here. I started these types of rounds a few months ago. From what I have learned, you don't want to just neck size for an AR. You want to bring the entire case back into factory spec. That will knock out at least one die from your list. There are a lot of helpful people here. One thing I will say that has recently been added to my collection are the much recommended comparator and headspace gauges. Be prepared to eventually pick them up. My .223 die is a Lee with the factory crimp die and I'm pretty happy with it now that I know what I'm doing with it. If you look through Lee's website they have some interesting propaganda (I've bought into it and like it). Don't know what RCBS has to offer, though.

Not quite accurate, if you are using brass which has already been fired from the same weapon you intend to shoot from then you want to just neck size. You full length size when its either range brass or you have multiple weapons you want to shoot the rounds in. When I shot competition, we would each collect our own brass and just neck size for the next series. The FCD is good for ARs to keep the bullet from being set back, great for tube mags too, and helps with accuracy. My bolt actions dont really need it but I have done it on my .308 since I started and am starting to do it with my .270 now that I got the FCD for it.

[mikegideon]

Not quite accurate, if you are using brass which has already been fired from the same weapon you intend to shoot from then you want to just neck size. You full length size when its either range brass or you have multiple weapons you want to shoot the rounds in. When I shot competition, we would each collect our own brass and just neck size for the next series. The FCD is good for ARs to keep the bullet from being set back, great for tube mags too, and helps with accuracy. My bolt actions dont really need it but I have done it on my .308 since I started and am starting to do it with my .270 now that I got the FCD for it.

 

NOPE. You always want to full length size for a semi auto. You can neck size a bolt gun. My AR stuff gets a few thousanths shoulder bump, as well as resize to spec. You don't want the brass fitting tight in the chamber.

 

10-4 on the FCD. I own one for every caliber I reload.

Edited December 2, 2014 by mikegideon

[Patton]

Honestly I'm sure I'll be happy with the RCBS but I'm gonna try to get my hands on a few presses and play with them. I just want a quality press that will last.

I would be willing to bet the Lee and the RCBS will last you more than a million pulls of the handle. If I were starting over tomorrow I would probably but the RCBS kit, but that is just how I feel today. Most people find out over time the equipment and methods that work best for them. It honestly is trial and headache to best determine your desired ways of reloading. I do not know why they just don't include factory crimp dies with every die set because everyone will find they like them. Also, the last time I checked .223 carbide dies cost big dollars, and unless you buy used, old 9mm dies they will be carbide.

[mikegideon]

The Lee Classic Cast is a heavy press. I can't see it wearing out much faster than a Rock Chucker. The good news... you can't move fast enough on a single stage to wear one out anyway.

[maroonandwhite]

So looking at the Lee dies they have a 4 die set for around $40 and a three die set for around $25. What's the fourth die for? I was looking at getting .223 and 9mm. The 9mm are carbide. The description on their website has me confused though.

[mikegideon]

So looking at the Lee dies they have a 4 die set for around $40 and a three die set for around $25. What's the fourth die for? I was looking at getting .223 and 9mm. The 9mm are carbide. The description on their website has me confused though.

 

Rifle and pistol are different. You need an expander die for pistol.