Luke Cuenco 06.01.21
Due to the way the world is, ammunition and reloading components have been hard to come by but that hasn’t stopped a lot of the hardcore reloaders from rolling their own ammunition to keep their ammunition stockpile at a comfortable level. I started reloading a number of years ago and I can personally say that despite the up front intimidation factor, it’s one of the best hobbies I’ve ever picked up and I find myself reloading more now just for the joy of it rather than any savings I might gain out of it. Whether you reload your own ammo currently, or are looking into starting, let’s go over the best reloading presses currently on the market.
Table of Contents
1. RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Reloading Press – Editor’s Pick
There is a reason that they call the Rock Chucker the Supreme reloading press. Everything I have experienced, seen and heard about the RCBS Rock Chucker is that it is extremely durable, will last a lifetime and is made to work with some of the most precise reloading dies on the market. One really great feature I like is the integration of the primer seater into the press, so it doesn’t need to be disconnected and reconnected when switching actions.
The Rock Chucker is a single stage reloading press and it’s great for guys who really want to get the most out of their boutique rifle calibers. Not only does RCBS offer an extensive line of both common and uncommon calibers, but aftermarket companies have also made dies to work with RCBS reloading presses so the variety of calibers you can handle with the Rock Chucker is nearly endless.
Pros/Will last a lifetime, solid construction, and great die availability
Cons/ Still a single stage press – won’t be good for high volume loading
Bottom Line/ A higher quality single stage press for a seasoned reloader who is sure they’re into the hobby
2. Lee Precision – Breech Lock Challenger Kit – Budget Pick
One from my early reloading career, the Lee is a great press. In fact, this was my very first ever reloading press that was gifted to me by a good friend of mine – curses to him for getting me addicted to reloading. The Lee Precision Challenger kit is the perfect kit to get started in reloading. The advantage of a single stage press is that it helps familiarize you with each step of the reloading process before complicating things with multiple stages and multiple actions happening at the same time.
The Challenger kit comes with nearly everything you’ll need to start reloading your own cartridges. It comes with one caliber conversion kit and all you need to do is supply the brass, bullets, powder and primers and you’ll be good to go. The Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit is available for $199.99
Pros/Simple and compatible with almost any rifle or pistol caliber available
Cons/You can expect very low volume out of this press due to the nature of single-stage reloadin
Bottom Line/ Great for beginners or for loading low volume wildcat cartridges
3. RCBS Turret Press
A turret press is a logical next step for a slightly experienced reloader who has gotten their feet wet. The RCBS Turret press isn’t quite as expensive as a progressive press or as fast but it is still much faster at producing rounds than a single stage press. The RCBS turret press is great as you can operate it as a pseudo-progressive press, or just a single stage press depending on what you’re trying to do.
With six stages, the RCBS turret press can take a spent casing from zero to completely loaded. It’s a great option if you want the least amount of complexity paired with the most amount of flexibility. The RCBS Turret Press is available for $299.99.
Pros/Increased production rate while maintaining consistency without the huge price tag of a progressive press
Cons/Not as fast as a progressive press, not as cheap as a single stage and die changes are a huge ordeal
Bottom Line/Great if you want a lot of flexibility and don’t mind spending a bit of extra time setting up for each individual caliber
4. Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Press
The ultimate in both production and flexibility, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic press is an auto-indexing 5 station press that can help you pump out round after round of either pistol or rifle ammunition. The press features an integrated priming system, powder measure, bushing system, case activated powder dropper and comes out of the box with everything you need to start cranking out rounds.
While the Hornady press doesn’t feature a quick-change die system, people at this stage of reloading experience shouldn’t have trouble swapping out dies, all that is needed is to run a round or two through the press to re-check your dimensions to see if they fall within your own personal tolerances. The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic press is available for $529.99.
Pros/Great for high-volume rifle or pistol reloading
Cons/Die changes are not quick and will require some fine tuning to keep consistent
Bottom Line/If you’re here to keep your stockpile up and can afford components – this is the reloading press for you
The economics of reloading
This is entirely dependent on what your focus is, but you may be able to save money reloading your own ammo. I have found that I don’t actually save a lot of money reloading but that is mostly because I end up shooting more. The cost per round will go down but this usually results in you shooting a lot more because of the increased availability and reduced cost.
So while it is cheaper than buying ammo, you’ll be making up the difference in cost with your own personal time spent reloading. So if your time is worthless like mine is, it’s a great way to shoot more and save money.
Reloading safety
Reloading your own ammo is perfectly safe as long as you know what you’re doing. Overloading a case or putting the wrong type or primer or powders in a reloaded cartridge can lead to serious harm or death. Since you’re dealing with highly flammable materials there is always a risk of fire so it’s always a good idea to consult an experienced reloader and reference reloading manuals as often as possible. It’s probably also a good idea to keep around a fire extinguisher.
Starting out
Realistically you can start almost anywhere in the reloading hobby. However, my personal journey led me to start with a single stage reloading press. A single stage reloading press is a great way to learn the ropes before you graduate to presses that do 4 or 5 things with each pull of the lever. Even after you’ve learned the ropes and learned how to use a turret or progressive press, you’ll still find that your single stage press comes in handy for low-volume loading when dialing in a new load.
Will I need a different press for each type of ammunition?
There are some presses that only work with pistol, or rifle ammunition, but for the most part, no you’ll only need one press. You will need different die sets for each cartridge you load, though.
Is reloading my own ammo cheaper?
Yes and no. The up front costs are going to be higher to reload, and the components aren’t much cheaper to reload versus buying pre-loaded ammo. The cost savings truely come in when you start loading in bigger and bigger quantities.
About the Author
Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently pursuing his commercial pilot’s license in the hopes of becoming a professional pilot. Some of Luke’s other interests include anything to do with aviation, aerospace and military technology, and American Conservancy efforts.
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