Finding the best reloading press might be a challenge. But if you know what they are and how to use it, then the search process won’t be much of a challenge. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or someone who is looking for a reliable and much better reloading press, it is important to find one that will give you the best results so you can reload your firearms with the greatest of ease.
To help you on the path to finding your next (or first) reloading press, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of eleven reloading presses that are currently the best on the market.
Before we get to the list itself, we’ll be talking about what a reloading press is and what aspects you need to consider before purchasing one for your own use.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Reloading Press
- OUR TOP PICK: RCBS AmmoMaster 2 Single Stage Press
- Redding - T-7 Turret Press
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Lee Precision - Classic Cast Press
Comparison of the Best Reloading Presses
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What is a Reloading Press?
A reloading press is used by those who prefer to manually load their firearms. It’s kind of like handloading your own bullets, but what you’ll be doing is similar to that. You’ll handload the ammo using your favorite powder and cases. A reloading press will be used for loading and reloading a high-volume of ammo.
When you look at these, you’ll notice that they are some complex and intimidating contraptions. But once you understand what they are, how they work, and how you can use them then you’ll feel less intimidated by it.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Finding the right reloading press will be key. Especially if you’re looking for one that will be used for years to come. You’ll need to consider some of the aspects that will need to be factored into your final purchasing decision.
Remember, not every reloading press will be created equal and not every single one will be right for you for some reason or another. Here are some aspects to mull over before you buy your own reloading press:
What Type of Reloading Press Will You Buy?
Keep in mind, there are different reloading presses that are available. If you don’t have a clue of which types of reloading presses are available, you can consult the list below this article. You’ll know how each type functions and how it can work to your advantage.
Price
Yes, there are reloading presses that are high in quality but also really affordable. It’s important to pay attention to the other functions and characteristics other than the price tag so you can make the determination of whether or not it’s worth the investment of your hard-earned money. As a rule, invest in the best quality. Don’t settle for cheap because of a low price tag.
Ease of Use
On paper, reloading presses look quite intimidating to use. The question is: is it complicated to use? There are reloading presses where the uses are less challenging than others. But it’s important to learn how to use one. Especially if you plan on reloading a large number of your favorite rounds. To learn how to use one of these reloading presses, there is a brief guide on how to do that towards the end of this article.
What Kind of Rounds Will You Be Reloading?
There will be reloading presses that will be compatible with specific caliber rounds. Keep in mind while it might be able to load one caliber, it doesn’t mean it will do the same with others. For example, you can have a reloading press that will reload 9mm rounds, but it might not be able to reload .22 or .38 pistol rounds.
Review of the Best Reloading Press
The following is a list of the eleven best reloading presses that are currently popular on the market. It is important that you take note of the characteristics and features of each one. This way, if you have a good idea of how they work, you might be thinking about what your ideal reloading press should look like.
Since this is a long list, it will be a while before you get through it all. So get yourself a cup of coffee (or whatever else), sit back, and read through this list carefully. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s begin with our “best overall” reloading press:
Best Overall:
RCBS AmmoMaster 2 Single Stage Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were experienced in loading their own large-caliber rounds. However, some others were first time users. The latter said that once they got the hang of how to use it, they were able to easily use the levels and controls to their advantage. One user said that it was smooth and didn’t feel any grittiness to it.
Why it Stands Out To Us
The construction on this press is quite solid and does a good job handling all kinds of large caliber rounds. Other than that, it makes the reloading process a lot easier. Especially when you need something with smooth levers to ensure that you’re quickly and properly reloading each round.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely be used by those who will be firing heavy-hitting rifles that will accept .25 or .50 caliber rounds. These are your AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles that will pack a punch and make you a force to be reckoned with at the range.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the things that could warrant a possible improvement is tightening the retaining ring and making sure the ram pin and other small parts stay in place before its even used. This way, it may not feel like it’s of flimsy quality as some people claim.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a reloading press that might be considered one of the best in the business, the RCBS AmmoMaster 2 is something that you’ll want to give a further look into. Especially if you’re looking for a press that will work with larger caliber rounds.
Runner-up:
Redding - T-7 Turret Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers were satisfied with the ease of use. Even better, they were able to use the storage compartments for their extra dies. They were able to easily feed their rounds with their gunpowder of choice. Most of them used rounds for rifles while others used it for reloading their pistol rounds.
Why it Stands Out To Us
This reloading press is quite awesome to have on your workbench. Especially when it looks like some kind of vise that you would use to add on any accessories to your rifle or pistol. This is also an excellent reloading press that’s not just for rifle rounds, but also pistol rounds as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used by those who might be looking for the closest thing to a versatile press. It might not be specific for any type of rounds, but you have enough dies and feeding tubes to ensure that they all fit properly and allow for effortless and mess-free feeding. Other than that, it’s also for those who have some extra dies laying around and need a good press that will accept them.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One thing that might be improved is double-checking the feeding tubes. If the measurements seem a little off, they can be resized. This way, it will make fitting the tube with the rounds you’re loading a lot easier. It will also make loading less of a mess.
Bottom Line
The Redding T-7 is one of your best choices if you’re looking for a reloading press that will work with so many rounds or caliber threads. The construction is quite solid and you can make reloading your rounds a breeze.
Best for the Money:
Lee Precision - Classic Cast Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers were satisfied with this easy to use reloading press. In fact, it’s probably one of the best quality reloading presses on the market. They’re able to load most of their rifle and pistol rounds. Overall, they consider this not only the most affordable for most budget shoppers but also for those who want something that’s close to a versatile reloading press.
Why it Stands Out To Us
This is a simple to use reloading press, and it happens to be one of the most affordable. That’s more bang for your buck and you get a lot more than you pay for. It stands out as yet another reloading press that isn’t just for certain caliber casings.
Who Will Use This Most
This reloading press will be used by a wide variety of shooters. Whether you’re using an AR-15 with .50 cal rounds or a 9mm pistol you’ll be able to easily reload your rounds so you can fire them off at the range or for whatever purpose you see fit. It’s also a reloading press for those who want something that’s solid in construction and easy to use.
What Could Be Improved and Why
With no major cons to point out, we can suggest what could be included so it won't be just a standalone reloading press. Since you're planning on reloading your ammo of choice, a powder funnel could be included. This way, you can reload your rounds with no spillage and get a perfect amount of powder into every single bullet. It saves you more time and money rather than trying to track one down.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a really awesome reloading press without having to break the bank, you’ll be crazy to pass up on the opportunity to give the Lee Precision Classic Cast Press a closer look. You’ll have a solid reloading press that will work with all kinds of calibers, and for most shooters, that’s a definite plus.
Best Progressive Reloading Press:
RCBS Pro2000 Auto Index Progressive Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers report that the reloading press was easy to use. It’s perfect for those who want to crank out hundreds of their favorite rifle and pistol rounds. It’s easy to operate and the learning curve isn’t really steep according to one user.
Why it Stands Out To Us
What got our attention is that this has the potential to crank out hundreds of bullets rather quickly. If speed matters most to you, then you’re definitely going to want to use this reloading press to your advantage. It’s compatible with most calibers and does a good job making the process as quick and mess-free as possible.
Who Will Use This Most
This reloading press will be mostly used by a lot of users that want to load and reload a lot of rounds. This has the ability to work with most calibers, so it’s as close to versatile as possible. Plus, it will also be used by those who want quick reloading times.
What Could Be Improved and Why
A possible improvement that could be warranted is quite obvious: include the five plates that are needed to use this. It will be an added convenience rather than a boon for most potential users. Especially for those who are on a budget and don’t want to track down something that is sold separately.
Bottom Line
If you’re a fan of the progressive reloading presses, odds are the RCBS Pro200 Auto Index Progressive Reloading Press could be what you’re looking for. This will definitely be your best friend in the workshop if you’re the kind of shooter that’s looking to load as many rounds as possible and do so in a quick manner.
Best Single Stage Reloading Press:
Redding - Ultramag Reloading Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were mostly semi-automatic rifle owners. They typically fire off longer caliber rounds like .50 cal rounds. They were satisfied with the ability to load and reload these rounds with little to no trouble. One user said it was the only reloading press that never gave him any issues as far as reloading went.
What Recent Buyers Report
This reloading press is probably the best in the business when it comes to your longer bullets. It’s heavy-duty just like the rifles that fire those types of bullets. It’s heavy, but it’s solid and durable. So it will handle reloading duties as well as stay durable without having to get scuffed up or scratched.
Why it Stands Out To Us
Obviously, this reloading press will be used mostly by those who have semi-automatic rifles in their arsenal. Specifically those that fire larger calibers. It will also be used by those who will want to load their rounds as easy and quickly as possible. Once they’re loaded and ready to go, they can have a ball at the range or use them for hunting varmint or big game.
What Could Be Improved and Why
It would be a good idea to investigate why some of the brass casings are getting stuck in some dies. It may not be the dies themselves as it could be the measurement of the rounds themselves. But if the dies are responsible for this issue, then it might be better to give them a slight resize.
Bottom Line
If single stage reloading presses are more of your thing, you’ll definitely want the Redding Ultramag Reloading Press for your workshop. It’s one of the best reloading presses that will work with your longer and more heavy-hitting rounds.
Best Reloading Press for Beginners:
Hornady - LOCK-N-LOAD Auto Progressive Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers were able to easily load their rounds with this reloading press. A lot of them were starting out with using a reloading press, so they were looking for something that was easy to use. Sure enough, the levers and functions were smooth and fluid according to one user.
Why it Stands Out To Us
This is the closest thing to a starter reloading press, and it’s the only one we could find that would be easy to use and doesn’t use all kinds of levers and controls. The design itself is solid, simple, and doesn’t look too intimidating to the newbie user. Ease of use was definitely a priority in choosing a reloading press for beginners.
Who Will Use This Most
This will obviously be used by newbies. Especially when they’re loading and reloading a wide variety of rounds. Since it’s a beginner-friendly press, it will definitely be used by those who are seasoned vets who don’t want to spill all kinds of gun powder during the entire process. Nonetheless, it will fit most users who want to crank out almost a hundred rounds in a single hour.
What Could Be Improved and Why
A possible improvement suggestion might be to make it so the dies and the bushings are easy to take off. This way, it will make it less of a struggle for the new users. The last thing they want is dealing with something that might be a real pain in the neck.
Bottom Line
The Hornady Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Press is your best bet if you’re a beginner that wants to try their hand at manually reloading a bunch of your favorite bullets. Whether you’re using it for a pistol or a rifle, you’ll be able to reload these quickly and more efficiently than most reloading presses on the market.
Best 50 BMG Reloading Press:
LOCK-N-LOAD 50 BMG Single Stage Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers were semi-auto rifle owners. They were looking for a reloading press that would work easily with .50 BMG rounds. They found this to be easy to use and reported no spillage of powder while quickly loading the rounds themselves.
Why it Stands Out To Us
This reloading press is another one that is simple in design and is tough all over. Aside from that, the controls are smooth enough that you're able to load your rounds quickly and with great efficiency. It will fit perfectly with most large caliber casings without the jamming issues.
Who Will Use This Most
This reloading press is reserved mostly for those who have the heavy-hitting bullets in their arsenal. It will be an excellent thing to have on hand when the time comes to load up more rounds for the purpose of target shooting or competitive shooting. These are the two applications where these large caliber rifles shine the brightest.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One possible improvement that could be considered is making sure that the mounting bolts are much tighter than they’re supposed to be. This way, it will get rid of the centering issues that some users have complained about while using the reloading press. Centering is all that matters when it comes to reloading. Even the slightest offset can cause some powder spillage.
Bottom Line
If you like larger caliber rounds and want a reloading press that will handle .50 BMG rounds, this Hornady Lock-N-Load reloading press will be more your speed. Don’t be surprised if you’re able to crank out a lot of longer rounds for your semi-auto rifles in a quick amount of time.
Best Shotshell Reloading Press:
MEC Reloading - MEC 600 JR MARK V Shot Shell Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many recent buyers were hunters looking for something that would save them money rather than continuously spending money on a new box of shotgun shells. One user said that he needed something that would be an affordable and viable alternative for his .410 shells. He found the reloading press to be easy to use and his shells were easy to load without any issue. Most of the users were able to load up a single box of shells in a matter of a half-hour.
Why it Stands Out To Us
The design of this reloading press is outstanding. It definitely accommodates some of the most popular shotgun calibers out there. It’s indeed the kind of thing that hunters and target shooters need so they can save money rather than spend it on expensive boxes of shells. Plus, you can control it with such smoothness, it will be a matter of time when you can quickly get a box of shells just by loading them yourself rather than ordering them online and waiting.
Who Will Use This Most
Mostly hunters, target shooters, and competitive shooters will likely use this reloading press to their advantage. Don’t count out the shotgun users who tend to use theirs for tactical and self-defense applications. This press will definitely give you a financial advantage as well as a time advantage. You’ll never have to spend money on pricey shells ever again.
What Could Be Improved and Why
Aside from no obvious cons, one thing that might be an added convenience would be to include some boxes that will go nicely with your newly loaded shells. This way, you can load them and package them yourself. That improvement alone can give you your own loading and packaging facility just for your own shotgun shells.
Bottom Line
If you own a shotgun or two (or even more), then you’ll need a lot of shells for each of them. Why settle for expensive boxes of shells when you can make them yourself with the MEC Reloading Press? No matter which caliber is your favorite, you’ll be able to load them easily and have enough to fill an entire box or more.
Best Reloading Press for 9mm:
RCBS - Rockchucker Supreme Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the users were loading pistol rounds with this reloading press. Some have also used it to load some rifle rounds. One user said he will solely use it for the 9mm pistol rounds that he fires using his Glock 17. The loading process was quick and easy. It will usually take about an hour to load about 100 rounds or so.
Why it Stands Out To Us
This reloading press focuses more on pistol rounds than anything else. Aside from that, it’s a simple design that you can attach to the edge of your workbench and be able to keep it centered for as long as you're loading your shots. Even better, it’s easy to use for even left-handed users.
Who Will Use This Most
Of course, it will mostly be used by those who own 9mm pistols. Their specific applications include but are not limited to competitive pistol shooting, concealed carry practitioners, and casual target shooters. These will be your shooters who will also be the type to save money rather than spend it on an expensive box of 9mm bullets.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the possible improvements can be to make the primer catch a little better. This way, it can keep the round in place so you’ll be able to reload the round easily without dealing with issues of the primer getting stuck.
Bottom Line
If you own a pistol and find reloading your pistol shots will be better than purchasing a new box of bullets, the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme might be right up your alley. This is built to last and will give your wallet the opportunity to take a break from shelling out money for new bullets.
Best Reloading Press for .223:
Redding - Big Boss II Reloading Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This was a great reloading press for most users. Most of them were able to load .223 rounds and surprisingly other calibers as well. Half of the users were pistol owners while the other half were AR-15 rifle owners. All of them came to the general consensus that it was easy to use and allowed for really easy loading.
Why it Stands Out To Us
By the looks of it, it looks like it can be easy to use by just about anyone. The design makes it look simple enough. Plus, it’s made from tough cast iron. The material itself makes it almost indestructible and will give you many years of service if taken care of properly.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used mostly by AR-15 owners that have their rifles chambered to fire .223 shots. They will be able to use their bullets for a wide variety of applications. More specifically, hunters and casual target shooters will be your likely users.
What Could Be Improved and Why
A possible improvement idea would be to make the press action smooth right out of the box rather than stiff. It might smooth out over time, but making the action smooth from the start will make an even better first impression rather than a not so good one.
Bottom Line
The Redding Big Boss II is the top dog when it comes to reloading your .223 rounds. Be sure to give this a whirl if you’re an AR-15 user that would want nothing more than to crank out as many bullets as possible.
Best Reloading Press for Precision Rifles:
MEC Reloading - Marksman Single Stage Reloading Press
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were long-range shooters who wanted to reload their rounds for long-range hunting, target shooting, and competitive shooting. So far, they were satisfied with how easy they were able to reload their rounds. This also has the ability to have them reload multiple rounds in a quick amount of time. One user even said that he reloaded so many rounds, it will probably last him a few months.
Why it Stands Out To Us
The design of this reloading press is simple. Speaking of simple, the operation of the reloading press is smooth and easy to use. Aside from that, it’s very solid and made from durable materials. Since it’s made in the USA, you can expect this to be a long-lasting unit since they have strict standards on quality and performance.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used by a lot of long-range shooters. Specifically, you’re probably using long-range rounds like 6.5 Creedmoor rounds or other related long-range calibers. The purposes will be endless when it comes to long-range shooting. Hunting, competitive shooting, and even casual target shooting applications are among the most popular with most sharpshooting marksmen.
What Could Be Improved and Why
A good idea that we have for improving this reloading press would be to resize some of the dies so they won’t get stuck in some of the primers. Of course, the primers on some of these rounds may also be at fault. Still, it would be worth investigating to see what might be the issue.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a reloading press that will be a sniper’s best friend, the MEC Reloading Marksman Single Stage Reloading Press might be exactly what you’re looking for. Use this and you’ll have your long-range rounds loaded in no time so you can reach out and touch a lot of targets from far distances.
Types of Reloading Presses
There are three types of reloading presses that exist. Each one is different from the other and has its own unique way of being used. Here are the following types that you can choose from:
Single Stage
This is by far the simplest and most easy to use type. It will be allowed to hold only one die. Typically, the frame of these single-stage reloading presses is quite solid. If you’re reloading rounds that typically go in rifle magazines, this will be the type to use.
How it works is the die is placed at the top of the press. The shell holder will be attached to the ram. The holder will hold the rim of the cartridge case. The ram will go up if you pull down the lever and the die will do its job. As far as completed rounds per hour, this method is by far the slowest.
Turret Press
The turret press works similarly to the single-stage reloading press. The only major difference is that it can hold multiple dies at once. You can index multiple dies manually and switch from one to the other if need be. This will be a reloading press that will be mostly used by those who have experience in using a reloading press.
Progressive Reloading Press
This type will complete a round load with one pull of the lever. A shellplate will be needed in order to accomplish this since it has the ability to handle multiple shell cases. After it goes through a cycle, the shellplate will turn.
A new round will be ready for loading while the previous round will leave the shellplate and enter into a bin. As far as indexing goes, it depends on which press you use. Some will have an auto-indexing feature while others will need to be indexed manually.
How to Use a Reloading Press
The following are instructions on how you can use a single-stage reloading press. It may seem like a challenge at first, but follow these instructions so you’ll be able to do this. Here’s what you need to do:
- Screw on the die on top of the reloading press. Double-check to see if it’s secure. Pull the action lever to see if the press is in working order.
- Take a cartridge, lightly lubricate it and gently place it in the press. Pull the lever up to remove the bullet from the cartridge. Once complete, set it aside.
- Unscrew the primer from the cartridge.
- Clean the neck of each cartridge using a cleaning tool.
- Drop each case into a tumbler. Run it through for a few minutes. Once complete, remove each cartridge and place them in the tray.
- Seat a primer on each of the cartridges.
Conclusion
Finding the best reloading press will take some time and a little bit of detective work. It’s important to know which rounds you plan on reloading so you can easily choose a reloading press from one of the eleven listed above. Remember, these have the potential to last you almost a lifetime. Be sure to choose the right one wisely by knowing which firearm you plan on using and what rounds you intend to reload on your own.
People Also Ask
The following are a couple of questions that are asked by new buyers. This will give you a good idea of what else you should know before purchasing a reloading press of your own. Here are are the questions:
What is the Best Type of Reloading Press?
The answer depends on two factors: your experience level with reloading presses and the type of rounds you plan on reloading. For example, if you’re more of a beginner who wants to reload rifle shots, then your best bet will be using a single-stage press.
Can I Use a Casing That is Damaged?
It would be wise not to use a casing that is damaged. That would also spell disaster for your firearm as well. Using a damaged casing can lead to jamming or other reliability issues for the firearm that you’re using.
