Preferred Press for Precision Rifle?

[SteelBanger]

Like you, I started with the Lee Classic Turret. Used it for nearly a decade to load 5 different cartridges (3 pistol, 2 rifle). It's a great press considering the price and the speed at which you can make ammo, unless you shoot competitively I can't see the need for a more automated / expensive press. It wasn't until I got into precision shooting a little deeper that I started longing for a better press. As mentioned above, the ultimate reloader did an amazing video showcasing most of the common single stage presses so watch that if you haven't already.

For me it came down to the MEC, Rockchucker Supreme, and the Forster, and I ended up buying the Forster last year. I instantly loved nearly everything about the press, it's so smooth, the universal shell holder works incredibly well, the quick die change is flat out amazing and one of the bigger selling features for me. I thought I would hate the primer seating system and never use it but I have actually come to appreciate how simple and consistent it is - I now use it for my precision loads but still use my RCBS hand primer for volume stuff. The one thing that I didn't like was the shell holder access. Coming from the Lee my motor memory of coming in from the left side was so ground into me but the Co-Ax is more of a center access and I couldn't really get used to it, and it drove me nuts. Luckily I found someone through the Sherman FB group that makes modified camming arms (not sure what they're called), but they open up the sides of the press a LOT better. Once I swapped out those arms it instantly made the press 100% perfect.

 

[MontanaJack]

I've used lots of presses since I started reloading with my dad back in the 50's. He had Herters, C&H (?), Hollywood, and finally settled on an RCBS Type A press that outlived him. After numerous presses, my 4 are: Mec Metalic, Forster Coax, Redding Big Boss, Dillon XL750, and Mec Grabber 9000 for shotgun shells (sorry rifle guys - I like burning powder in anything with a trigger). For precision long range, I use the Mec Metalic for resizing and the Forster Coax for bullet seating. Dillon for rounds using fine powder, mostly pistol and small rifle. Powder measures are anathema for precision reloading so the Dillon is solely for mass production of less precise ammo. The Mec has a floating shell holder socket as does the Forster. Making bananas out of my brass is a thing of the past. All my 1000 yard plus rounds get cycled through Redding Competition Dies. The other calibers get Lee, RCBS, and Mighty Armory. Used a RCBS Junior starting out on my own, then went with a Rockchucker, moved on to the Redding Big Boss.

 

[parshal]

I started with a Rockchucker and then moved to the Coax. I bought a MEC as a second press. Once I bought the Zero I sold the Coax and MEC. I then bought a Dillon 550 for bulk match ammo. I use the Zero for one-off stuff and load testing.

Changing dies and no shellholder make the Coax a phenomenal press. As a single stage the MEC is really tough to beat. The Zero is great but it should be at near 3x+ the cost of the others. The Dillon makes really nice ammo at a fast pace. You just have to pay attention and it will produce the same quality ammo as the Zero (assuming you manually weigh/drop the charges).

 

[koonazz]

M.E.C press, anyone using one?

I'm using the MEC Marksman. Seems very consistent and great leverage. Been using it since February and I'm very pleased with the results.

 

[hangfire]

I love my Forster Coax the priming station and lack of shell holders are great plus factors, however no matter how good the press is it it's only as good as the dies you use.

 

[Pdyson]

GavinTube the ultimate reloader did an interesting shootout on single stage presses and measured the results and made comparisons. What was most interesting to me was the 2 schools of thought around how to improve concentricity and TIR where some presses utilize tight tolerances for ram, shell holder, and die alignment; while others utilize wide tolerances to allow the die or shell holder to move during resizing and or bullet seating to allow the brass to "self-center" itself in the dies. Overall the most expensive highest precision press won…but not by much, there were self centering presses that came very close.
My 45 year old rock chucker is worn and I abused it using it as an automotive press more than once in the 80s. Even Worse is other than spraying WD-40 on it when it got crusty from primer residue, I have never disassembled and cleaned it until I upgraded the primer catcher 3-weeks ago. Even so, it makes very concentric ammo. Just as good as my brand new summit press which has even more wiggle in it. I'm doing great right? Well maybe I have over estimated the importance of concentric ammo.
I just watched a video of Erik Cortina (who reloads on a 750 Blue Press) where he says he NEVER measures the concentricity of his loaded rounds. He says concentric ammo is important, but not that critical. To prove it He went to a friends house after and F-class match and took his dirty competition rifle to the bench. After he measured 4-thou runout on his match ammo he loaded and shot a 5-shot one-hole, half MOA group from a dirty rifle. Same size group it shot during competition. My mind is blown!

 

[muzzletalk]

I have a Co-Ax, Redding T7, 419 Zero. Any of these will suit your needs for precision rifle handloading. I would certainly buy the Co-Ax over the T7. If funds are available, I'd buy the Zero over all of them.

 

[Paulstarr]

RCBS Summit press is a great piece of kit.

 

[xsn10s]

I use single stage RCBS presses, but have also made new ammo shooting 0.5 moa or less off of Dillon presses. As long as you can keep seating and concentricity IMO that's more important. So when I'm making precision ammo the die set up, brass prep, powder charge, concentricity, ete seem more my focus. I've even used my Lee hand held to seat bullets for ammo out to 1230 yards in my 308 win.

 

[xsn10s]

Don't get me wrong though. I'm sure premium presses are a joy to use, if I could afford one I'd get it for a lifetime of use.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I have use a Rock Chucker for a very long time. Load thousand of round with it. I am now looking at getting a arbor press too. Switching over to FL bushing die. I had been a neck sizing die user for a great many years. I can see the error's in my ways. I have gotten most the items upgrades now, and think I got in place. I don't think I need anything more. Ha! Ha!

 

[Taylorbok]

what is the biggest cartridge you shoot? With my RUM on my rock chucker I was having to "scoop" the bullets into the seating die which is annoying. I was going to buy a zero press but it's not tall enough either. I ended up buying a Dillon 750 to do all my brass prep. (decap, resize, prime, expand) Then I bought an RCBS Ammo Master 2 to seat bullets. I'd say the 750 cut my total reloading time in half. I don't have a concentricity gauge but this ammo shoots 1/3 moa so I don't really care.

 

[dan belisle]

I currently run Lee, Dillon, RCBS, Lyman and MEC presses, depending on what I'm reloading. Have used a friend's Forster, I think it is a cut above the others. Not tried an Area 419 yet. - dan

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Hi buddy. RCBS. Rock crusher for. All resize and Deprime steps , the. RCBS Summit. Press With. Forester micrometer. Dies for Bullet. Seating ! Note : two. Calipers one For. C OAL. The other. With the. Hornaday gauge attached. For. OGIVE. Length Hunting . Rifles. Like that And target rifles Need that !!! Works pretty good for me !!! IMHO buddy