I am looking to get back into reloading after many years of being out of it. I am struggling to decide what type of press to buy. I will leave brand out of it as that opens up a whole different can of worms / opinions.

I have zero desire or need to reload pistol calibers. Off the shelf FMJ ammo is cheap enough for plinking, I prefer factory ammo for defensive purposes, and I just don't shoot enough of it for it to matter much.

I have about a dozen calibers of rifle ammo that I want to reload. None of them I shoot insanely high volumes of. I don't shoot competitively but I do enjoy long range shooting and accuracy is far more important to me than how many rounds I can crank out per hour.

Aside from hunting I go shooting 2-3 times a month and I shoot about 100 rounds (total - 20 of each) each time of about 5 different calibers. The next time I go shooting I may take five completely different calibers hence a dozen total.

I certainly don't think I need a full blown progressive but the Dillon 550 is highly recommended. I like it from what videos I have watched but buying a ton of conversion kits doesn't;t seem like fun.

A single stage like a rock chucker or Co-ax seems great but it does seem like it would be nice not to have to constantly be changing dies.

Lastly a turret like a Redding T7 or Area 419 zero seems like it would greatly increase efficiency over a single stage.

The cost of any of the above options is a non issue. I already have a case trimmer, measurement tools, an electronic powder dispenser, a tumbler, etc. I am just torn on what type of press to get.

If you load up a lot for each cartridge at a time go Dillion. loading 20 a week for 5 different cartridges I would go CO-AX with rings set for each one so changing dies is as simple as sliding it out and sliding another in

I own the T-7 and 419 zero. The 419 is dang sure a better unit but in no way does that reflect the added cost over the T-7. The the 419 will hold 9 dies to the the T-7s 7. You can also order additional heads and keep your dies set up. Doing so on the 419 is very repeatable, the T-7 may be repeatable.

If you wasn’t a billion miles away I’d let you come use them.

I also have a rockchucker, Hornady lock and load, and a couple of lees.

For a standard single stage the rockchucker is the best thing I’ve touched by a fair margin.

I changed to a CO-AX years ago and the ease of the process and quality of the rounds produced improved significantly...

Redding T-7. I have two (got them on sale), and they are beasts.

I think they are the best combination of production and precision.

The Area 419 press looks like a super tough piece of machinery, but man they are proud of them.

Co-Ax

I have dies for over 60 cartridges, and counting. Swapping dies happens very frequently, and the Co-Ax is a major time saver. Add Hornady lock rings to all dies, and the dies always stay exactly where you set them from the first time you set them. And decapping, the Co-Ax catches your primers in a jar. Unscrew it, dump it, and screw it back on. Not that I've measured run-out, but seating a bullet, I rotate 90° or more, and seat again. I've made .111 to .250 MOA ammo on the Co-Ax. And that's 200 yard MOA.

Any turret press out there, in order to not address unscrewing dies, you'll have to buy more turrets. I didn't have a Redding, but I did have an RCBS, and the turret rocked ever so slightly.

The Redding T-7 has about half the play that a buddy's RCBS Turret Press has.

Not as precise as a single stage, but I have loaded .308 ammo that shoots .3 MOA on the T-7.

I’m a single stage person.

I had a T7, liked it pretty well and ultimately sold it. I now have a co-ax and it’s not going anywhere. I’ve also got the Hornady LNL progressive, a Lee classic cast, and a small Redding press. Progressives are touchy and demand a real attention to detail. In my opinion they make a lousy first press and a very useful second press.

I'm in the camp of any play is bad.

The benefit/speed of a turret press and the precision of a single stage press is a double win. That is in a Co-Ax.

A Redding turret with the Creedmoor sports head has gotten my attention and will probably be my next press.


https://www.creedmoorsports.com/pro...de-for-redding-t7/creedmoor_sports_brand

I won't tolerate ANY unnecessary play and that's why O use a Co-Ax. With Forster die lick rings, by the way. They're designed specifically for the press and I suspect Forster k ows a thing or two about the press they make.

Being a mediocre shooter I need all the help I can get. Mine is a Coax. And, like J.G. said, Hornady lock rings.

I like my turret press for the ease of use and ease of changing dies, but, I know that I'm losing accuracy. That said, I'm still loading much better than factory ammo with the turret press. But if I were to start over knowing what I know now, it'd be a co-ax press. All the benefits of a turret, with none of the drawbacks. One of these days, I'll plunk down the cash and convert over to a co-ax.

Thanks guys. I just ordered a co-ax and a dozen locking rings. I built my bench earlier this week and moved what material I had into it. As best as I can recall that last time I reloaded rifle/pistol ammo was 1991 and the last time I reloaded shotgun ammo was 2004. This is going to be a fun relearning experience.

Well congratulations on getting back in the game. That’s the same case trimmer that I have. I hate that sob. It works great though. My hands are just older now than when I bought it.

The play in any turret doesn't change the process much but does outweigh (negatively) the time savings of switching dies (positively) for YOUR situation. Several companies have quick change bushings for their single stage.

That is what YOU need. A single stage with a modern system to swap dies.

Guess I am a little late in response.

Hornady and Lee both have systems that allow repeatable quick change die set-ups. Going with a co-ax like you did will never be a bad decision though.

Which co-ax did you chose? I don’t think there is a bad one. The Frankfort Arsenal is a good buy for anyone paying attention. The Forster is the gold standard.

Has anyone tried the Hornady Lock and Load die conversion on their RCPS single stage? I haven’t run the numbers on cost if you load for 10-20 calibers vs buying a CoAx

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012999418

Congrats. Single stage is what you need and the one you have chosen is top shelf. You will like the Co-ax. I think their die changing system is the fastest available. Loading 100/week in 5 batches of twenty you will get some good out of the quick die change system. My prediction is you will evolve into loading in 50-100 batches to further cut down on set up time.

That's what I use on my Rockchucker press. Works great, quick, easy. Makes good straight ammo as well.

My T7 is only used for seating but all ammo has little to no runout just like my arbor press seated rounds.

Thanks. I didn’t realize I had that trimmer until after I already ordered a Wilson so. Now I guess I will have two. The Lyman was my Dad’s. I ordered the Forster and an inline mount.

Giraud power trimmer is worth every penny.