Best Reloading Presses: Top Options for Beginners and Hardcore Enthusiasts
Reloading as a Hobby
Shooting is an amazing hobby. It’s also an expensive one. A day at the range with something like an AR, you can visualize, literally, throwing quarters down the range every time you press the trigger. With ammo costs being what they are, a lot of folks in the hobby turn to reloading for more bangs for their buck. Commercial ammunition is often expensive to the point that, if you do a lot of shooting, it can seem like you’re throwing money away by not re-using the brass. With that in mind, one way to recoup a lot of your costs is to start making your own in order to save money. While presses are often expensive, if you do a little number crunching, you’ll see that, over a year or so, a good press will more than pay for itself. And you may well find yourself becoming a go-to person among range buddies when they want to use your tools! Reloading is another aspect of the shooting sports world that more and more folks are getting into and with good reason.
Aside from price, a lot of people get into reloading for another reason. Manufactured ammo is made by machines. Machines, sometimes, make mistakes. A lot of us have had a squib load, a dud, or a bad box of ammo to prove this. If you’re looking for accuracy and consistency of ammunition tuned to your specific firearm, the only way to really do that is to make it yourself. It’s also therapeutic, setting up in the garage and making a few boxes of ammo.
Contents
What all is Involved?
At the heart of the reloading process is a press: presses seat the bullet in the already primed and powdered case: getting a press that will work for you will make, or break, your reloading process. Today we’ll be looking at eight presses that should get you making precision, and affordable, ammo in no time flat. There’s a lot to learn about reloading. Just go slowly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and soon you’ll be collecting brass at the range and saving tons of cash, which means more shooting!
Keep in mind that a press is only part of the reloading process. You’ll also need bullets, powder, and brass. The latter, you can often source from your own shooting, but matching powder and bullets to your needs will take a little digging on your own time. Additionally, I recommend having a surplus of ammo boxes around, with labels, to store and track the rounds that you make. With that said, a good press is a major help in getting good results. A decent press will help you get your brass straight, seat primers properly, and make sure that bullets are seated squarely and solidly. For the brass itself, a tumbler, either premade or homemade, will save you a lot of time cleaning up spent brass from the range.
RCBS 9356 Rock Chucker
Product
RCBS 9356 Rock Chucker Supreme Press
Top Overall Pick
- Made of the highest quality materials
- Hunting reloading presses
- Another quality Bushnell product
- Rock Chucker press frame provides a full four inches of...
- Handle is made of solid steel and features a comfortable...
- Outstanding strength and versatility, the Rock Chucker Supreme is...
Our rating 
Details
- Made of the highest quality materials
- Hunting reloading presses
- Another quality Bushnell product
- Rock Chucker press frame provides a full four inches of...
- Handle is made of solid steel and features a comfortable...
- Outstanding strength and versatility, the Rock Chucker Supreme is...
Kicking things off, we have the RCBS 9356 Rock Chucker Supreme Press. This press is a single stage press: that means that it accommodates one die at a time. This design is a simple one, and that makes it a great press to learn on, or if you need a press that will last you for the rest of your shooting career. The press is made of cast iron, meaning it’s heavy-duty and will mount securely to a bench. The large loading window makes this press suited to larger rifle calibers, and the generous handle is well-suited for consistent application of pressure. This one also comes with a manual, which will help you get things set up properly.
Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Press
Product
Lee Precision 90588: Breech Lock Challenger
Top Pick
- Has an all steel linkage with adjustable length lever
- One Breech Lock quick change bushing also included
- It's durable and will last for a long time
- Country of Origin:United States
Our rating
Details
- Has an all steel linkage with adjustable length lever
- One Breech Lock quick change bushing also included
- It's durable and will last for a long time
- Country of Origin:United States
Another popular option for people looking for a beginner press that will stand the test of time is the LEE PRECISION Breech Lock Challenger Press (Red). This press, another single-stage, is built to last out of solid steel. Additionally, this press comes in multiple sizes that will fit basically any reloading needs. To assist in that reloading, the large window will fit most brass and bullet combinations. A feature of this one that helps it stand out is the quick-change die feature: this means you can switch between calibers quickly if you’re devoting an evening to reload for your various firearms. The primer catcher is well designed and is extremely positive in its action. Overall, the Lee Breach Challenger is a great first press that should last you for years to come and allow you to get a feel for reloading without breaking the bank.
Hornady 095100
Product
Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Press Loader – Ammunition Reloading...
Top Pick
- Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Reloading Press – Reload up to 500...
- Fast Reloading – Lock-N-Load technology allows you to stop...
- Quick and Reliable Ammunition Press – The Lock-N-Load powder...
- Smooth and Precise – With a single pull of the handle, you’ll...
- What's Included – Hornady AP Press Item 095100. Includes 5...
Our rating
Details
- Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Reloading Press – Reload up to 500...
- Fast Reloading – Lock-N-Load technology allows you to stop...
- Quick and Reliable Ammunition Press – The Lock-N-Load powder...
- Smooth and Precise – With a single pull of the handle, you’ll...
- What's Included – Hornady AP Press Item 095100. Includes 5...
If you’re willing to invest a little more into reloading or know more specifically what you want, the Hornady 095100 is an excellent choice. This is an example of a progressive press: you can rotate between dies to go through the whole process, from straightening brass to seating the bullet in no time flat. This particular one features a few things that are of note. First, there’s powder storage right on top of the press to keep things self-contained. There’s also a built-in primer system: this is an all in one press that really does do it all. Indexing is automatic, as is an ejection. A press of this quality will help you make really consistent ammo and save you time when compared to buying each piece of equipment separately. Finally, there’s a quick-change die system for those of us who plan on reloading multiple calibers.
Lyman All American 8 Turret Press
Our rating
Details
Next up on our list is the Lyman All American 8 Turret Press for Reloading. This one is a turret press with eight die slots, meaning that you can have eight different dies for either different steps in the reloading process, or different calibers, on the press without having to stop and change out dies. The Layman All American is a seriously well-built press. The controls for swapping the station, adding primers, and operating the press itself are built super solid and should last you a lifetime. The frame is large, allowing for the use of even the longest, full-power rifle cartridges. This is one of the largest presses that Layman offers, and the deft and build quality make this a lifetime tool. They even sell it in multiples in case you’re setting up a serious reloading shop!
Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press
Product
Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Md:...
Top Pick
- Turret Press W/Auto Index
- Cast Aluminum
- 4-Hole
Our rating
Details
- Turret Press W/Auto Index
- Cast Aluminum
- 4-Hole
If you’re not setting up a professional shop, but are instead simply an interested hobbyist, you may want to consider another turret press, such as the Lee Cast Aluminum 4 hole turret press. This press, as the name indicates, has four positions for dies, meaning you can do most steps of the reloading process without having to change a die. There’s a large and clearance, making reloading of larger round possible. While this isn’t the biggest of the bunch on this list, this press, made in the USA with a solid wood handle, should last you a lifetime. Additionally, you can buy separate turrets, allowing you to change out whole die sets to switch calibers instead of fiddling with individual dies to accomplish the same thing.
Mayville Engineering Marksman Reloader
Product
MAYVILLE ENGINEERING 0820431 CO Marksman Metallic Reloader,...
Top Pick
- 1311080 marksman
- Series metallic reloaded
- Type reloading press
Our rating
Details
- 1311080 marksman
- Series metallic reloaded
- Type reloading press
Going back to single stage presses for a moment, we have the Mayville Engineering 0820431CO Marksman Metallic Reloader. This is a no-frills, extremely high-quality press. Basically, if you’re looking for a press to be the heart of a quality reloading setup, this one is a great start. This company and others make accessories to go with this press, allowing you to add anything you might need, such as accessory trays, storage, etc. to make your reloading process go more and more smoothly. This kit is made of steel, with a quality handle and consistent pressure for consistent seating of the bullets.
Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press
Product
Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press and Die...
Top Pick
- DIMENSIONS: 20" L x 9" W x 6. 5" D and weighs 21 lbs
- EASE OF USE: Integral floating shell-holder plate
- VERSATILITY: Does a lot
- RELIABLE: Features 2 parallel guide rods for stability, spent...
- DURABLE: Heavy-duty, robust die-cast construction
- GUARANTEED: This product is covered by a limited lifetime...
Our rating
Details
- DIMENSIONS: 20" L x 9" W x 6. 5" D and weighs 21 lbs
- EASE OF USE: Integral floating shell-holder plate
- VERSATILITY: Does a lot
- RELIABLE: Features 2 parallel guide rods for stability, spent...
- DURABLE: Heavy-duty, robust die-cast construction
- GUARANTEED: This product is covered by a limited lifetime...
Back to a little more practical choice, we have the Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press with Heavy-Duty Design, Adjustable Alignment, and Primer Catcher for Reloading and Gunsmithing. This single-stage press, coming in at 21 pounds, is a bench mounted press that will take care of most of your reloading needs. The press boasts a floating shell holder, making alignment easier without a separate shell holder. Additionally, the size is large enough for almost any caliber you might need to reload. There are also two guide rods to keep things consistent, and it takes standard dies in quick-change setup.
Parting Shots
A press, really, is at the heart of the reloading process. Whether it’s a single-stage, a turret, or a rotating type press, a good one will help you achieve consistency and quality reloads. With that said, you should be able to get something that fits your needs from our list. But, it’s important to keep in mind that a press is not a silver bullet. If you want to get serious about reloading, you’re going to need a few more things that we’ll close out with detailing here.
First and foremost, a good setup is important for speed. While it might sound like a good idea to you (the wife, less so) to reload ammunition at the kitchen table, a dedicated bench, with a spot for each step along the way, from raw materials to finished rounds, will speed things up. That way you can put on some music or turn on the TV, and just make ammo: some people find this really relaxing.
Once you get the organization down, you can consult our list to get some of the quality tools you need. From there, you’ll need to do a little homework and experimentation to find out what kind of bullet weights, powder loads, and brass work best for you, in your firearms, for your applications. With commercial ammo, you generally don’t get to pick with such fine detail. Now, you’ll have the chance to do so.
Quality powder and the correct bullets can help you achieve really impressive performance results, and brass can often be recycled several times before it needs to be finally scrapped. With one of the presses from our list, you should be able to get the ammunition you want at much more reasonable prices than can be found if you were to stay with commercial ammo. There’s a ton to learn here, and we hope that our list helps you pick a press that will work for you.
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