Best reloading press for hunting rounds

[paguy]

Looking for a reloading press and everything that goes with reloading hunting ammo for rifles. What is the best set up.

[h20hunter]

Dillon for progressive.....Forster co ax for single stage.

[carpsniperg2]

Single stage for hunting rounds for me. I like to weight each powder charge. I've been a rcbs guy forever and starting to get some hornady presses.

[Crunchy]

For single stage press it is hard to be a rock chucker.  If you are looking to mass produce for an AR or handgun ammo then a progressive press like a Dillon would be the ticket.

[Stein]

Best setup seems to be Area 419, $1200 for the bare press and backordered for at least a few months like most things.

Next to the press, I would get an automatic electric annealer, some type of automatic powder setup (trickler & scale), probably another $4k or so in those two things.

Maybe $500 in calipers and micrometer, couple hundred in dies and another grand or two in concentricity gauges seating depth gauges, bullet pointers and other random stuff and you are off to the races unless you want to automate the press and then its several grand more.

[Magnum_Willys]

Best setup seems to be Area 419, $1200 for the bare press and backordered for at least a few months like most things.

Next to the press, I would get an automatic electric annealer, some type of automatic powder setup (trickler & scale), probably another $4k or so in those two things.

Maybe $500 in calipers and micrometer, couple hundred in dies and another grand or two in concentricity gauges seating depth gauges, bullet pointers and other random stuff and you are off to the races unless you want to automate the press and then its several grand more.

I’ve got all tha stuff and paid half that.   If I recall.

[paguy]

Thanks for the response, I just want a really good set up for a half dozen different caliber hunting rounds. What about a turret style that a guy could set up a few different calibers and not half to set it up every time.

[JimmyHoffa]

Most of the presses I've played with have all been pretty solid and could recommend any of them.  I think the dies might have a little more correlating with brand, but not really that much.  I'd look for a press that can use dies from a variety of manufacturers.  Where it seems to come down to in my opinion would be your powder scales, micrometers and calipers.  Kind of a mix and match deal for reloading.

[fowl smacker]

Best setup seems to be Area 419, $1200 for the bare press and backordered for at least a few months like most things.

Next to the press, I would get an automatic electric annealer, some type of automatic powder setup (trickler & scale), probably another $4k or so in those two things.

Maybe $500 in calipers and micrometer, couple hundred in dies and another grand or two in concentricity gauges seating depth gauges, bullet pointers and other random stuff and you are off to the races unless you want to automate the press and then its several grand more.

You must have bought your stuff at pandemic prices.

[JimmyHoffa]

Thanks for the response, I just want a really good set up for a half dozen different caliber hunting rounds. What about a turret style that a guy could set up a few different calibers and not half to set it up every time.

some of the presses have bushings that can snap into the press, any you leave your dies set up.  You just have to remove the bushings when switching between cartridges.

[Stein]

I load on the Lee Classic Turret and have a set of dies for each caliber.  You get 4 spots, so I usually have a full length sizer, priming station and bullet seater with one space to spare.  Depending on the load I might have a generic decapper or a factory crimp die in the 4th station.

I have loaded single digit ES 5 shot loads, so it's good enough for me.  I think the dies, brass, components and process are much more important than the press.  That said, I will probably upgrade at some point but it does what I need.  I also use it for pistol rounds which it is really made for.  It's moderate speed, not nearly as fast as a true progressive with case and bullet feeders, but light years above a single stage.

Turret presses are great in that you don't need to mount the die every time and go through all the adjusting as you mentioned.  I just pull the turret off the shelf, lock it in and go to town.

[Platensek-po]

If you just want an inexpensive good enough press for hunting rounds the Lee turret press is just fine for that. Very easy to swap between calibers. It’s def not the best but it certainly works. If you are looking to get into long range shooting and need super exact match grade ammunition I’d go with something nicer/more expensive. All the other accessories are mix and match. Read reviews and think about what you want to do. I tend to go middle of the line from known brands with good reviews. Also look for good deals here and Craigslist, eBay, OfferUp etc. Good luck finding powder, bullets or primers tho.

Another thing I like about the turret press is I can also reload handgun ammo relatively quickly as well. Again I reload for plinking and hunting so keep that in mind.

[Stein]

Best setup seems to be Area 419, $1200 for the bare press and backordered for at least a few months like most things.

Next to the press, I would get an automatic electric annealer, some type of automatic powder setup (trickler & scale), probably another $4k or so in those two things.

Maybe $500 in calipers and micrometer, couple hundred in dies and another grand or two in concentricity gauges seating depth gauges, bullet pointers and other random stuff and you are off to the races unless you want to automate the press and then its several grand more.

You must have bought your stuff at pandemic prices.

Area 419 press is $1,200 on their website or Brownells's.  AMP annealer is $1,400 (not including feeder), FX-120i scale is about $650 plus trickler, automation and accessories.  Mitotoyu calipers and micrometer are maybe $150-200 each.

Sure, I have cheap stuff from Frankford Arsenal and others that works 80% as well, but nobody is buying a 419 press for $600, new, used or run over by a truck.  If you want the best, it's going to cost you.

[Crunchy]

Not sure how much an RCBS Rock Chucker goes for these days but Im shooting 1/2 Moa or better on mine.  I don't think a more expensive press is going to shrink that group at all.  Don't get caught up in the hype of crazy expensive presses.

[wadu1]

I load on the Lee Classic Turret and have a set of dies for each caliber.  You get 4 spots, so I usually have a full length sizer, priming station and bullet seater with one space to spare.  Depending on the load I might have a generic decapper or a factory crimp die in the 4th station.

I have loaded single digit ES 5 shot loads, so it's good enough for me.  I think the dies, brass, components and process are much more important than the press.  That said, I will probably upgrade at some point but it does what I need.  I also use it for pistol rounds which it is really made for.  It's moderate speed, not nearly as fast as a true progressive with case and bullet feeders, but light years above a single stage.

Turret presses are great in that you don't need to mount the die every time and go through all the adjusting as you mentioned.  I just pull the turret off the shelf, lock it in and go to town.

I keep each die set in a screw top plastic container with the shell holder. I don't even use my RCBS junior anymore.