Want A Single Stage To Backup 550b

[Nebraskan]

Now that I have jumped into this reloading thing, I want to load for more calibers. I love my 550B, but the cost to add additional calibers is too high if I go quick change or still kinda high and time consuming if I want to just do conversion kit and die holder for shells that I would load a few hundred round a few times a year, so looking for a single stage.

I will be loading

454 casull

45 colt

.270 win

.223 (This will most likely go in the 550)

.32 - wife's gun (Cheap to buy loaded but really cheap to load with lead)

9mm (will go on 550)

It appears the Redding single stage is well respected. How about the RCBS? I don't know, maybe just buy the caliber conversions and tear down the 550 when I need to. If I do a couple of loads a couple of times a year, it's really only tearing the 550 down once a month. The cost of caliber conversions would be eaten up with the purchase of the single stage and shell holders for it.

What do the rest of you do? Still use a single stage? How does the 550 do on rifle calibers, especially .223 and .270 win?

[Matt Cheely]

We have a very, very old RCBS Rockchucker. It's a good press for little $$.

[JD45]

A single-stage is perfect for switching around to load a few boxes for different guns. I wouldn't be caught dead without one.

Redding presses are about as good as it gets.

Edit:

But if you don't need benchrest championship consistentcy, and want to come out cheap, get the small C-type press that Lee sells. You would never believe what mine has done, and it is still mounted near a Rockchucker.

The Square Deal B got it's own private bench.

Edited April 12, 2006 by JD45

[NoTenX]

take a look at forester/bonanza coax single stage press. It does not need seperate shell holders. The dies snap in place and the die rings once adjusted stay adjusted on each die just like hormady lock and load do. The Army amu team uses it. and when you want to load on dillon you can get a conversion. I have owned one for 10 years and a dillon since 1982. the coax press goes to range with me for load development and it does have the problem of asingle stage of having to adjust the dies once set. remember you can use the dillon powder measure on a single stage press.

Edited April 20, 2006 by NoTenX

[rod m1]

I here very good things about the Forster Co-Ax Single Stage Press.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...leitemid=265719

[unclebob]

I have a RCBS Rock Chucker press. I use the Hornady Lock N Load bushings on it. Once the dies are set up it is just a matter of turning the die about 1/8 turn pull the die out, put the other die in and turn it 1/8 of a turn and you are ready to go.

[anomad]

A single stage is a great accessory to the 550. I am up to 2 single stage presses and a lee turret.

The 550 is perfect for churning out rounds for a match. But I have a few calibers I shoot about once a year. My little rcbs partner is perfect for that and only cost 45 bucks, the lee turret was about 45 too.

My biggest gripe with the progressive is switching out primers. So I save swapping for bulk sessions. Having an extra press reduces the chance I need to swap.

The lee lockrings with the rubber o-ring, believe it or not, allow changing by hand without losing adjustment. Double nutting will also save the adjustmetn but probably require snugging with a wrench.

[SA Friday]

Hey Dale, you could always jut get a RCBS Pro 2000, and not have the need for anything else!

......Get the Rock Chucker or the Lee. The Lee is easier to switch out the dies. The RCBS is almost unbreakable.

[JFD]

Skip the single stage and get a turret press. The only single stage I'd bother with is the Hornady LnL.

[Rover]

Sounds like a good idea. I have a single station along with the Dilleon 650. Several come to mind. Lee just came out with a new cast iron press:

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/br...og/classic.html

Perhaps the ultimate is

http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/ultramag.html

but to be honest for what you are reloading this one will work, too

http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/bosspress.html

Lyman has the Crusher press:

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts...es/Crusher2.jpg

RCBS has the Rock Chucker

http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=2&s3=6

and Reloader 5

http://www.rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=2&s3=7

Here is the Forster Co-ax

http://www.forsterproducts.com/Pages/press.htm

[George]

If you are loading in bulk, the 550 and a caliber conversion is the ONLY way to go. If you are just cranking out a few hundred rounds max, maybe once a year for that specific caliber, then single staging it will not be cheaper unless you already have dies and the priming and charging tools

I run a 550 for over 10 different loadings in 4 different calibers but do several more on my RCBS RockChucker single stage because they are low volume and involve a primer size change. I already have the accessories because I started re-loading single stage, but if you don't have them, a priming tool and powder measure are not that cheap compared to another 550 tool head setup even with the Dillon measure.

Edited July 4, 2006 by George

[Sc0]

What he said... If you only plan on reloading a few hundred rounds per year it would be cheaper just to reconfig the press... Probly quicker to reconfig and load then to just load using a single stage.

The RCBS Rockchucker Supreme can be converted over to the Lock-N-Load bushings so this can save you some time if you prefer green over red. The CoAx is a bit smaller and probly lighter than comparable presses but also costs a bit more and is not stubby finger friendly when loading a FAT case. The advantage of the CoAx is that it has a universal automatic adjusting shellplate and the die lock rings are CHEAP and KISS... I use my CoAx for prototype or precision type loads then a 650 for production. YES, a Single stage is GOOD to have so GO GET ONE!