Single Stage Press Suggestions

the lee is good rcbs rockchucker and the mec are very good

I would choose the Lee Classic Cast over the RCBS Rockchucker. The Redding Big Boss II over the Lee Classic Cast.

The Lee is a whole lot of press for the money.

I have had a variety of RCBS for years - good presses, no problems. Everything I have read, Forster Coax is the press to buy

The Primer catcher on the RCBS is a draw back to the Lee & Redding BB2. You may choose to deprime with a universal depriming die on your Breech lock. This washes the RCBS issue away.

The Lee Classic Cast has a Breech Lock version. This means you can skip adjusting dies every time you put it in your press.

You can remove the die bushing on the standard LEE Classic Cast, the RCBS & Redding and convert your press to the Hornady system.

The Redding Big Boss 2 is at an angel so you can see your case better. This is a nice feature.

this is my pick https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012990048/forster-co-ax-single-stage-press

If I were looking right now I would consider the Hornady Classic or the Iron if I was doing some heavy duty stuff. But I already have the Lock & Load AP with the quick change die system. I love the quick change system it makes things so simple. Just mho.

The ONLY single stage press I can ever recommend is the Forster Co-ax. I’ve had a bunch of presses over the years, but the Co-ax is really the one to own. Back it up with a 21st Century hydro-seater press and LE Wilson chamber type dies with micrometer heads.

I like a press with an open throat so I can more easily see and access the load. Like my Redding T7 or the Forster CO-AX.

There’s little doubt that No one has the answer for this. There are so many variables, and also, so many choices. Until 2 weeks ago I’d never heard of the Forster Co-Ax. After looking at it - very nice looking press - but no way could I sink that kind of money into a single stage press. It’s a really nice unit, but I can’t justify nearly 3 times the price of my Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic. That said...it’s clear that many can and do justify the higher price...or price is not an issue to them. Enough are sold that no one has them in stock, and MidWay USA won’t even accept back orders.

Most any cast iron "O" type press with compound linkage is the ticket IMHO. The CO AX is a good open style press and I have had a chance to try it out but I can't justify the cost as I already have a RCBS Rock Chucker and their turret press both from the late 70"s production at present on my bench. The Lee cast iron "O" type press is a lot of press for the money but I have not owned one of those. As stated there are as many opinions as there are presses out there and I have owned Lee, Lyman, Pacific/Hornaday, Herters, Redding, and of course RCBS. They all made a decent quality press but had different things that attracted me to them at the time. Good luck with your ultimate purchase. Also I doubt that it will be your last press you purchase if you reload for a few years though.

Best single stage = Forster Co-ax

FROGO207 said:

Most any cast iron "O" type press with compound linkage is the ticket IMHO.

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FROGO207 nailed it in my opinion.

I'll add, get one whose color best matches the decor in your reloading room. It will serve you well.

Most of the name brand presses are high quality. The choice should be features you are looking for.

IMO the Lee Classic Cast press is a good one. If I didn't already have a Rockchucker I would buy it and only because of how the Lee press handles spent primers.

Be aware, the co-ax press is very slow, and a nasty finger biter. Forget priming on it.
The Lee is indeed a lot of press for the money. I would likely buy one if I was looking for a SS O frame, I like the Redding too, but it isn't more press than the Lee. If I was spending money freely I'd get the CH4D Champion as its bullet swaging potential is interesting to me.

I have a Rockchucker, Lee Classic cast, RCBS turret and a Hornady LnL AP set up in my reloading room.

I bought the Lee Classic to reload 50 BMG- it resizes those big cases easily. I also use it for sizing/depriming other rifle brass and low volume pistol brass because of the spent primer system. Higher volume pistol brass is deprimed on the LnL because it is faster with the case feeder.

Before I bought the Lee Classic, I used the Rockchucker for depriming. It is a great press and has served me well for many years. I still use it for load development for some rifle rounds and sizing cast bullets.

I use the RCBS turret for load development when I need to use more than on die (i.e. a flaring die followed by a seater). I prefer to load one round at a time (flare, charge, seat, repeat) to avoid double charges or no charges. I set all the dies once and load as many rounds as I need without changing dies. The turret has a primer seater, but I prefer to prime off the press, so I don't use it often.

I am not a marksman- all of the rounds I load are much more accurate than the shooter, so any advantages offer by the more expensive presses are lost on me. FROGO207 is absolutely correct, and you can't go wrong with either press. If money is an issue, the Lee Classic Cast is a great value and I'm sure you will be happy with it.

Forster CoAx ... Yeah a little higher in price ....

And no it does not bite your fingers anymore than any other press ... Keep your fingers out the way ...

And the primer system is slow ...but really precise .... It does what it is designed to do and does it well.

GT1 said:

Be aware, the co-ax press is very slow, and a nasty finger biter. Forget priming on it.
The Lee is indeed a lot of press for the money. I would likely buy one if I was looking for a SS O frame, I like the Redding too, but it isn't more press than the Lee. If I was spending money freely I'd get the CH4D Champion as its bullet swaging potential is interesting to me.

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I never been bit by my Coax and love the built in primer I went from a Lyman Comet single stage Dad bought in the fate fifty's I used that old
Comet for 35 years then i bought a Coax OMG why did i wait so long Now Ii'm not going to load 9mm on it but I do load 45 acp to 30/06 on it
Now would I save up for it and buy again um yes yes i would

Have my original Rockchucker for over 30 years(man Im getting old) no issues or complaints.

The Co-ax primer system is as slow as you make it, but everything else is as fast or faster than any other single press.

As 'upgrade' is subjective, that leaves us with 'overbuilt' as the only qualifier.

"Beefy" single stages have their place, but you will soon get tired of swinging a sledge if a tack hammer is really all you need.

So,,,, What will you be using it for?
What features do you want that your current press does not have?
Do you have any other presses? If so, which ones?

Gonna go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on a limb here, make a ton of assumptions,,,,,,,,,, and suggest a Lee Classic Turret

I have owned one of everything in singles. I have a classic cast on my bench now and love it. The rockchucker is equally as good but is not as easy to swap from large primer to small primer for priming on the press. The lee feels easier to use as it feels more open. The primer-through-ram is the huge huge huge selling point for the CC.

For the cost of a Co-Ax, one can have 2 Rock Chuckers. Still it has a lot of things going for it that makes up for the price difference. I prefer to prime off the press and found a little piece of foam between the press and the primer catcher solves any issues I have with depriming with my Rock Chucker. While I have never used a Lee press, I have found their products I have used/own as sufficient for their cost. They are what they are.....good value, but not great. SS presses are a pretty basic machine. Warranty, and replacement parts availability, along with customer service and price is what dictates most repeat business. Back when I used to reload a coupla boxes of ammo a year, I got by with an ol' Lee "whack a mole" system. Iffin I was going to load 5000 rounds at a time I'd look at something other than single stage. I've heard very good reviews about the new MEC Marksman, with it's front access. I have a friend that prefers it over his older Redding. He claims the floating shell holder is the cat's meow, but the stock handle is a little long for sitting. He bought the optional shorter handle.

IOWs I doubt if you could go wrong with any of the suggestions. Depending on quantity that you reload, you maybe could realistically get by with what you have. If you have been loading long enough to believe you need an upgrade, odds are you know what things you want, that are different from what you have. You also are a better judge as to how much those differences are worth to you. From what you have, most any higher priced SS press will be an upgrade.