| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 02:38 PM |
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RemMan700
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Hey guys,
I am trying to decide on what single stage press to get. This will be my fist press as I am new to reloading and have just been using Lee Loaders so far. I am trying to decide between the Hornady Lock N Load and the RCBS Rock Chucker. If I get the RCBS I will probably end up using the Honady Lock N Load Conversion kit. So I guess the main question I have is... Is either one of these presses that much better then the other, or are they just close in quality? I hear that RCBS has great customer service and warranty, but am not sure about Hornady.
Thanks in advance for your help!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 03:58 PM |
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2nd Post |
Ranch 13
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Take your pick either one should last you the rest of your life. Theres precious little difference between quality orthe customer service from either company, so as long as you don't do something silly, you'll likely never need the service or the warranty either.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 04:20 PM |
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3rd Post |
chickenshit
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dad has one that he has never used.i might get it. Last edited on Wed Feb 25th, 2009 04:58 PM by chickenshit
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 05:04 PM |
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Charley
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Not sure where the Hornady raw materials come from, but RCBS buys raw castings for the Rockchucker from China, if that is an issue with you. It is tough not to buy things from there in today's world, though.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 07:14 PM |
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bea175
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RCBS has the best warranty in the business
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 11:08 PM |
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redirish
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Never used the Hornady, don't think much of the lock n load thing.I have plenty of time to screw the dies in and out. Have a Rock Chucker that is 30 years old, still going strong. Don't think you can wear it out. Also have a Pacific Power C for pistol ammo.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27th, 2009 12:12 AM |
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7th Post |
wheezengeezer
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i have had a rcbs rc,cale,measure,and other stuff since 79.havent needed the warrantee.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27th, 2009 12:50 AM |
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jjb2
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what about the LEE classic cast o-press?? it seems to be good durable press that would last a lifetime..........
LIFE IS SHORT.................
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27th, 2009 03:34 PM |
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Old Fart
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My first real press was the Rock Chucker and I still use it today roughly 35 or 40 years later. I have absolute confidence in it. That being said I also have several other of a similar size and quality and have no problem with them either.
I think if you are serious about this dark evil craft you should buy a decent single stage press to start with. Learn the basics, then once you're comfortable feel free to shop around for upgrades or progressives.
If you are just testing the waters you might look at one of the less expensive versions. Although from what I've seen on the used market even if you get a high end one you can get most of your money back by selling it if you don't like reloading.
If you think you might move up to the LNL I would suggest just getting the Hornady press. Keep it all in the family. Same company, same warrantee. Simplify things there.
But most of the better presses will work for you. By that I mean from any of the companies making them right now.
Hope this helps, OF
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StretchNM
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I have to give another plug for the Lee presses, except for the little Lee single-stage that can be had for $25. I have one of those and it serves sole-duty as a decapper with a universal decap die in it. It's just a little aluminum cast press and it's not very smooth, but it does what it's designed to do.
The Lee Breechlock is a pretty good single-stage press. I have one and it does well for my 30-06 cases. It's plenty strong and can be had in a complete Kit for about $104. If I did it all over again, I would get the Classic Cast "O" frame press that another person mentioned, and then I would add my own accessories (dies, trimmers, scale, hand primer, etc). Not because the Breechlock isn't well-made - it is - but the Classic Cast is a nice little cast iron beast with a beefy ram. I just like it.
I have toyed with Hornady and RCBS single-stage presses and they're nice. They cost twice as much as Lee tools. That's the only thing that steered me to Lee. I haven;t used them in reloading so I can;t speak about their functionality and I wouldn;t argue with the users of these tools anyway - what works for you works for you. I really like the Hornady lock-n-load press.
If a person is new to reloading, a Lee kit seems ideal because of its cost. It gets you started and you can always play with and "upgrade" (not the word I would use) later after you feel some more expensive presses or get to use a buddy's press that maybe you like. Then the Lee could be relegated to a certain caliber or specific duty like decapping, or neck sizing, or whatever.
As far as warranties go, if you submit the same thread topic in other forums, you'll get an earful about how well Lee has treated their customers, long after the "2-year" warranty has expired. I can;t speak by experience to the other maker's warranties, but I hear nothing but good about them too anywhere I read or listen. Guys that own them swear by them, sometimes fiercly, so there must be something there.
Last edited on Sun Mar 1st, 2009 06:37 PM by StretchNM
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Hesenwine
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So far as customer service with Hornady, I've had very good luck with them.
I lost the inner sleeve out of one of my seating dies and e-mailed them to purchase a replacement, admitting in the e-mail that I stupidly lost it.
I got an answer the next day saying they were mailing me a replacement that day & there would be no charge.
Dillon provides the same type of customer as well.
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Charley
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Not any "bad" presses on the market now, mostly a matter of personal taste. I've ended up with a Lee Classic Cast Turret for the bulk of my small batch loading, also use it for case forming and other jobs. Volume is done on a Dillon 550B.
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recoil freak
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Take a hard look at the Lee Breechlock single stag. It is very durable and has the same die changing ability's as the Hornady Lock&Load for about a third of the price.
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