What's the best set up to get? New or used?

[Jeff L]

What is the best set up to get? Better to buy new or used?

I'm currently only 30-06, but will probably reload other rifle and pistol rounds in the future.

I'm just looking to avoid pit falls of getting the wrong set up. Please advise. TIA.

[joem]

I bought several really nice RCBS presses on Ebay. Look for the newer versions that have the black removable bushing on top so you can convert it to Loc&Load. It makes reloading much easier. There are other reloading items put there on auction sites. Get the price of new before you bid on stuff so you don't over pay. Factor in shipping in your cost.

[Tuna]

Joe, I have to disagree with you about the newer RCBS vs the older ones. The older ones are 100% made in the USA and the newer ones the castings are made in China. RCBS has had a lot of problems with the newer presses as they sometimes have voids in the casting and the press breaks. I have many thousands of rounds through my 42 year old RCBS Rock Crusher and it's still going strong.

[Jeff L]

So RCBS over Hornady?

[tmark]

I have the inexpensive Lee Turret Press I mounted on treated 2 by sixes. I think I paid $79 for the complete press circa 1980. I have reloaded thousands of rounds of 06 with it. Lee will stand by their equipment and replace damaged or broken parts (even it it is your fault) free of charge.

I'd prefer a press not made in China. RCBS is another great outfit.

I'd call Lee to make sure their products are still made in USA and buy new rather than used.

[Litt'le Lee]

get a rockcrusher II or older that will never wear out--the smaller the press the harder to resize 06-I've sent stuff back to RCBS for repair and they never charge-Lee
stuff doesn't hold out-except their dies

[Matt Anthony]

Redding, Hornady, and RCBS offer medium duty presses that will never wear out. RCBS is still the strongest and any propblems with Chinese air pockets have been corrected. Sinclair has a pricy one, and it is quite nice.
New is the best in response to your question, warranty and newer designs and upgrades always give you an edge.
Matt

[Major Tom]

I will buy used RCBS Rock Chucker presses. I will not buy used scales or dies.

[joem]

Joe, I have to disagree with you about the newer RCBS vs the older ones. The older ones are 100% made in the USA and the newer ones the castings are made in China. RCBS has had a lot of problems with the newer presses as they sometimes have voids in the casting and the press breaks. I have many thousands of rounds through my 42 year old RCBS Rock Crusher and it's still going strong.

The RCBS presses I bought off Ebay were the older ones I guess. They are solid and I doubt they will ever break. I also have a older Hornady Loc&^Load press that gets a real workout, so much so that the toggle wore out. Hornady replaced it N/C. I have a Lee "O" frame press that is cast pot metal. The links broke pretty quick. It's now used for bullet sizing.

[dave]

I have an older Rock Chucker (new at the time and a Lee progressive which I turn by hand as the auto index was for sh*t). Use the Lee for pistol and the RCBS for rifle. No problems with either. Lee is also an older one, new at the time.

[Hefights]

The Rock Chucker is the gold standard for a heavy duty, long lasting basic, beginners or mainstay single stage. Mine has been going strong for years, and I still load several calibers on it.

Another press I have for high accuracy ammo is the Bonanza COAX, which has an advantage of excellent alignment of cases into the die, and some nice features.

[Sunray]

RCBS' warrantee covers used RCBS kit. Other manufacturers warrantees do not.
Do not buy ANYTHING on E-Bay. They fund the people who want to take your firearms away from you.

[Parashooter]

RCBS' warrantee covers used RCBS kit.

Not any more, unless you're the original purchaser. Here's the current info from RCBS -

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Reloading Press, Die, Manual Case Trimmer or Bullet Mould

Your reloading press, reloading die, manual case trimmer or bullet mould is warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for as long as the original owner owns it. This warranty is extended only to the original consumer purchaser. This warranty excludes any electrical components or products. All RCBS products are intended for non-commercial use by hobbyists. Any other use of these products will void the warranty. Should you believe that your reloading press, die, manual case trimmer or bullet mould is defective in material or workmanship, you must return the reloading press, reloading die, manual case trimmer or bullet mould to Ammunition Accessories Inc. through its Oroville operation (hereinafter "Oroville Operations") postage paid for evaluation. If defective, the product will be repaired or replaced at Oroville Operations' option, at no charge.

Send a dated proof of purchase to Oroville Operations along with the product information and reason for return to:

Ammunition Accessories Inc., Oroville Operations
605 Oro Dam Blvd
Oroville, California 95965

Warranty services cannot be provided without meeting the above requirements.

[Allen]

What can go wrong with a press, especially one that will not get a lot of use? If money is an object go with a used RCBS Rockchucker or even the Junior for 50-$100 and don't look back. It wouldn't be worth the postage to send back to the manufacturer if it did break at these prices. I have a Lee Anniversary and a larger Lee 50BMG press. They do the job but are made of aluminum and have a thin (steel) handle the flexes when used so I don't recommend these. There are other good presses on the market such as Lyman, Pacific, Hornady and etc.. but the RCBS seems to be the most plentiful to find if buying used. If you go with the Lee (which I wouldn't) buy only new. "O" frame is better than "C" frame for strength. If you don't want to buy off of ebay check Gun Broker.

If buying new Widener's and Midway have good prices.

[PhillipM]

Dillon, Dillon, Dillon. Lifetime no BS warranty no matter if you are the original owner or not. A 550B will suit all your needs and load great ammo. US Army Marksmanship unit uses Dillon, they found better consistency with it than the single stage.

I decided to load 50 45 ACP rounds on my old Rockchucker because I didn't want to break down one of my tool heads on the Dillon. It was torture!

Steps with single stage

1. deprime and size
2. prime the cases with my hand primer
3. flare the mouth
4. carefully charge cases with lee dipper and funnel on a loading block
5. seat the cast bullet
6. crimp the bullet

That was 200 pulls of the handle plus all the time fooling with a loading block and hand priming!

Steps with Dillon

1. Load primer tube
2. Set up powder measure
3. pull the handle 50 times

For rifle ammo, it's used semi progressively most of the time.

1. I size and deprime,
2. trim off press
3. tumble
4. Back on the Dillon, prime, charge, and seat!

I invested in some RCBS X-Dies for my 3006 and 223. After the initial trim, I do run rifle ammo fully progressive and then just tumble the live ammo a few minutes to get the lube off.

Some say it's a rewarding pastime to do it single stage and don't care how much time it takes. I would rather be shooting or spending time on CSP