Best Reloading Presses of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Figuring out the very best reloading press is tougher than you may suppose. First off, individuals reload for various causes and have completely different expectations. What fits the informal reloader who needs to craft a pair dozen rounds for a deer rifle annually is worlds aside from the wants of the hardcore handgunner who’s making an attempt to get in hundreds of set off pulls in probably the most economical method attainable. Even within the narrower realm of reloading for precision rifle you could have divergent objectives — and specialised gear to match. The way in which a benchrest shooter reloads is vastly completely different from how somebody like me who shoots ELR and sensible area “sniper” type matches makes precision rifle ammo.

So, you possibly can perceive why the reply to what’s the very best reloading press is: It relies upon. A part of what additionally determines the very best reloading press for somebody is their price range and technical savvy, along with their particular ammunition necessities.

Models within the Finest Reloading Press Check

How I Examined the Finest Reloading Presses

For this check I centered on metallic centerfire reloading for handguns and rifles. We’ll cowl the gamut of the very best reloading presses for shotgunners at one other time. (Although if you wish to take a look at a drool-worthy setup for shotgunning, try this overview of the Dillon SL 900.)

To check these presses I, in fact, did a bunch of reloading with them. The largest line of demarcation on this overview was between these models I’ve years (and generally many years) of expertise with, and people which are new to me.

To maintain the check manageable, I restricted the variety of presses I included. The reality is that there aren’t many reloading presses that flat-out stink. Any press that’s endured for a very long time (hi there, Rock Chucker) you should purchase with a excessive diploma of confidence.

By way of my particular protocol, I put every press by means of a gamut of makes use of. I loaded centerfire rifle cartridges in numerous lessons based mostly on case size. Within the “brief” class that included .223 Rem. and 6mm GT, for medium-length cartridges I did 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win., and within the longer class I did 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, and .300 Norma Magazine. For handgun ammunition I caught with loading 9mm.

I resized and decapped brass; primed the brass; seated bullets; and, in some circumstances, carried out additional processes with neck mandrels, expander dies, and the like.

Single-Stage Versus Progressive Reloading Presses

I’ve included each on this roundup, particularly since I personally gravitate towards progressive reloading presses for his or her capability to crank out plenty of ammo. That stated, in case you’re new to the reloading recreation, a progressive press just isn’t the best way to go. Even for knowledgeable reloaders they’re difficult and infrequently irritating.

Among the many finest recommendation I received once I began reloading was to maintain it easy and simply deal with making good ammunition. Don’t fear about quantity. Don’t deal with superior strategies. Merely persist with the fundamentals and craft good ammo. And for that, a single-stage press is your pal. A terrific useful resource for somebody beginning out is that this overview of the best reloading kits.

Finest Reloading Presses: Critiques & Suggestions

Finest for Excessive-Quantity Precision: Forster Co-Ax

See It

Key Options

• Fast change dies
• Sturdy development
• Quick operation
• Contains spent primer catch system
• Makes use of Forster lock-rings to safe dies
• Ambidextrous operation
• Common shell holder
• Floating shell holder self-centers brass with the die

Execs

• Quick, clean, and straightforward to run
• Exact resizing
• Small footprint
• Dependable

Cons

• Excessive demand means you may have to backorder one

If I attempted to let you know what number of rounds I’ve loaded on my Forster Co-Ax I’d be guessing — however it’s many, many hundreds. I’ve run one for practically 20 years and it’s my go-to press for resizing precision rifle brass.

At first blush you wouldn’t suppose this press able to resizing brass as exactly because it does. There’s a good bit of slop and play within the design. The linkages rattle a bit. The slot that holds the dies induces some wiggle. And in lieu of a conventional shell holder, the press has common jaws that slide in and pinch the bottom of the case because it travels up and into the die — one more shifting half.

However all that slop — although I hesitate to make use of that phrase as a result of it seems like a unfavourable — is intentional and helps the press self-align persistently with every stroke of the deal with. (In truth, the time period Co-Ax refers back to the co-axial design of the press and the connection between how the die is held on one finish and the way the brass is held on the opposite.)

When resizing and bumping the shoulders of my 6 GT brass, as an illustration, about 80 % of the brass measures the identical to the thousandth, whereas 15 % is perhaps .001 inches out, plus or minus. The remaining 5 % isn’t greater than .002 inches out. That’s nice consistency, even for ELR work.

Different single-stage reloading presses are able to comparable consistency, however the place the Forster Co-Ax actually shines is with its pace.

The shell holder’s pinching jaws seize the rim of the case and middle the brass for you which means you don’t should information the case right into a slim slot the best way you need to on different presses. Likewise, while you decrease the press the jaws let go of the brass making it straightforward to seize and swap in a brand new piece. This alone saves many seconds per cycle.

Like many followers of the Forster, I’ve a bin of brass that wants resizing on one aspect of the press and an empty receptacle on the opposite. When you get into the circulation, the decapping and resizing goes shortly.

The mechanical benefit of the press is outstanding too — and this additionally contributes to the system’s pace. The stroke to actuate the press is compact however practically easy. Even when resizing bigger cartridges, just like the .300 Win. Magazine. or 300 PRC, the Co-Ax doesn’t should be muscled.

Swapping dies is one other space the place the Co-Ax is blazing quick. The lock ring on the die — Forster makes their very own — slips into the slot on the entrance of the press and is retained by a easy set screw. With a little bit of follow, you turn dies in seconds.

Establishing the dies for proper shoulder bump takes a little bit of fiddling and expertise to get proper. Not like conventional presses you don’t backside out the Co-Ax on a shell holder to ascertain a baseline.

Spent primers drop by means of a tube into a transparent plastic jar. The jar is a bit fragile, so that you may find yourself changing it sooner or later, and it’s the solely component of the press I’d contemplate weak.

The press additionally primes brass although it’s a little awkward and never a operate I personally use.

However general this fabulous machine is quick, exact, intuitive and straightforward to run, and a fantastic worth as a long-term and dependable funding.

Most Versatile: Redding T-7 Turret

See It

Key Options

• Interchangeable seven-station turret heads
• Rotates between stations shortly
• Forged-iron development
• Greater than 3.8 inches of ram journey
• Will be geared up with an automated priming system
• Shell holders could be rotated to desired orientation

Execs

• Extraordinarily handy
• Resizes exactly
• Will be run shortly
• Quick toggling between stations

Cons

That is one other press that’s been a mainstay of my reloading room for many years. As for a lot of reloaders, the Redding T-7 was the primary premium press I bought. The great thing about this press is its pace and precision. No different mainstream press is its equal on this regard.

The rotating turret on high permits you to mount as much as seven dies — sufficient for 2 or three completely different cartridges, or for including specialised dies to carry out specialised operations in your brass.

As an example, I’ll usually place a resizing die in a single station however take away the expander button from the decapping rod. Within the station subsequent to it I’ll place a neck expander die. I’ll resized and decap the brass with one cycle of the press, then rotate the turret to the following die and measurement the within of the neck with the following cycle. I can carry out each operations in the identical time it takes to learn this sentence.  

(The explanation for doing that’s as a result of I’m typically not a fan of pulling the expander ball up by means of the brass — it may well pull the shoulder up, messing together with your shoulder bump and head house. I’d somewhat use a devoted carbide expander mandrel to measurement the within of the neck on the downstroke, as a result of it provides higher management over neck constriction and yields extra constant outcomes.)

That’s only one instance of how you should utilize the T-7. For reloading handgun ammunition the rotating turret permits you to resize, prime, and bell the case neck shortly, after which after including powder the seating and crimping could be completed in a break up second.

One factor to find out about this press is that with any resizing operation you need stable contact between the shell holder and sizing die. It’s important that you simply get a very good cam-over while you decrease the deal with to the underside of the stroke. That’s as a result of the turret head is designed to tilt ever so barely to get sq. to the shell holder.

What this implies is that to regulate your shoulder bump you don’t wish to again the sizing die off, as is usually really helpful. As a substitute, get the suitable Competiton Shellholder Set from Redding to exactly set the shoulder bump.

I haven’t used the press’s automated priming function in years. I usually prime my brass with both the Primal Right CPS, or the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool that I’ve augmented with Holland’s wonderful Perfect Primer Seater adapter unit. Each these permit for quick priming whereas controlling primer seating depth. That stated, the priming system on the Redding T-7 is greater than enough.

New this yr is a instrument head that may accommodate Redding’s 1-inch dies, which they only launched. I’ve solely run a couple of items of brass by means of my 6.5 PRC die however I just like the outcomes I’ve seen up to now.

The larger-diameter dies present extra help, and are stronger than, conventional 7/8-inch dies and subsequently ought to ship higher outcomes. But one more reason to contemplate this press.

Finest Excessive-Finish Reloading Press: Area 419 Zero

See It

Key Options

• Interchangeable turret heads settle for 7/8- and 1-1/4-inch dies
• Turret can shortly rotate to go from one die to a different
• Turret heads have both eight or 9 stations
• Deal with adjusts for size and could be connected to both aspect of press 
• Press opening is 4.75 inches with 4.4 inches of ram journey
• Inner contained spent primer catch system

Execs

• Simple to make use of
• Holds extraordinarily tight tolerances
• Glorious ergonomics
• Nice workmanship

Cons

• Costly
• Resizing is finest completed with Space 419’s M-Sequence dies

How excited have been precision rifle nerds for the arrival of the Space 419 Zero press? Think about an area stuffed with seventh grade ladies when Taylor Swift walks on stage and also you’ll get the thought.

The Space 419 Zero is a beautiful piece of labor, each to have a look at and to function. It exudes high quality and precision, so it’s little marvel that it produces wonderful outcomes.

I’ve been utilizing one since they have been launched, principally for crafting ELR competition hundreds. Most of my lever pulls have been with the .300 Norma Magazine. and .300 PRC.

With out getting too deep into the weeds, let me say that the Zero Press is the very best press I’ve ever used. It’s so clean, offers such nice suggestions, and is so constant that I can’t think about anybody who will get one not being glad with the outcomes.

There may be one caveat I want to incorporate although. I had points resizing brass with commonplace 7/8-inch dies with the press. Once I ran the ram, it could are inclined to bind up and stick. However for bullet seating, operating neck mandrels and different processes it was good.

Luckily, Space 419 has a repair for this. It’s their M-Sequence sizing die, which is a part of the Zero Press ecosystem, and is a murals. It’s a 1 1/4-inch sizing die that has a micrometer adjustment on high to exactly management shoulder bump. (New Zero Presses ship with the 8-station turret that features 4 1 1/4-inch and 4 7/8-inch die places. You can even get a nine-station turret for simply 7/8-inch dies.)

The primary time I attempted the M-Sequence dies I used to be blown away. They’re really easy to make use of and work so effectively that it nearly seems like dishonest. The lineup of M-Series dies is growing, however nonetheless considerably restricted. Chances are high, nonetheless, if the Zero press appeals to you that the cartridges you shoot are on the listing.

Right here’s the opposite factor: Like tickets to see T-Swift, shopping for a Zero press and M-series dies is a spendy proposition. There’s no getting round the truth that it’s a vital funding. But when creating exact handloads on your rifle is a precedence I doubt you’d remorse it.

Finest for Excessive Quantity Reloading (tie): Dillon XL750

See It

Key Options

• Excessive working pace
• 5-station instrument heads could be swapped
• Can accommodate a variety of calibers
• Improved primer feeding in comparison with Dillon XL650
• Simple to improve and customise with Dillon equipment
• Many aftermarket equipment out there as effectively

Execs

• Easy, dependable operation
• Will be tailored to load precision rifle ammunition
• Glorious buyer help

Cons

Dillon is the foremost producer of progressive presses and has many choices of their lineup. The Dillon XL750 is one in every of their latest presses and changed their well-known XL650. The machines are comparable in lots of respects, however the XL750 was created partially to deal with considerations concerning the XL650’s priming system.

I’ve received each machines and have loaded hundreds of rounds of ammunition on my XL650, principally for precision rifle competitions. At the moment, my XL750 is about up for .223 Rem. to make coaching ammunition for precision rifle.

It does a fantastic job in that capability. The automated case feeder, which I extremely suggest, is mainly bomb proof, and every little thing else on it really works like a allure. Principally, I’m operating new brass by means of mine, hitting the necks with an expander mandrel to clean them out. I’m additionally utilizing the unit to prime the brass, which it does throughout the ahead push on the deal with.

You’ve gotten two routes to comply with by way of shelling out powder. You’ll be able to both use the included volumetric powder measure or go along with a high-speed powder dispenser arrange subsequent to the machine, just like the RCBS Matchmaster.

The Matchmaster is clearly slower, however extra exact, letting you management your powder prices to plus-or-minus a single kernel of powder. The included measure is far sooner, not as correct, however nonetheless does a fantastic job serving to you craft high quality ammunition.

The bottom worth of the XL750 is $739 bucks, however you possibly can trick it out with plenty of add-ons to enhance efficiency. The Casefeeder provides $300 to the unit and might be the most typical (and helpful) improve. The Powdercheck, for an additional $100, could be a sensible choice too, significantly in case you’re cranking out handgun ammo.

Finest for Excessive Quantity Reloading (tie): Mark 7 Apex 10

See It

Key Options

• Ten-stage instrument head
• Excessive-quality machining on one-piece body
• Shell plate indexing, priming system, and volumetric powder measure all capable of be fine-tuned
• Will be upgraded to completely automated ammunition manufacturing
• Comes with case feeder
• Contains {hardware} to transform between massive and small primers

Execs

• Glorious workmanship and design
• Extraordinarily clean and ergonomic to function
• Ten-station instrument head supplies tons of flexibility
• Excellent technical help

Cons

• Costly
• Not very best for inexperienced persons

The Apex 10 is the entry-level mannequin press within the Mark 7 lineup however make no mistake — this isn’t a press for first-time reloaders. This 10-stage progressive press is a strong and well-designed machine that may sustain with no matter quantity of taking pictures you interact in, nevertheless it requires a good bit of reloading expertise to arrange and tune.

The glad place for this press is churning out lots of (and even hundreds) of rounds of pistol ammo an hour, however it may be used (as mine is) to make prime quality rifle ammunition too.

I’ve received mine set as much as make 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, which I shoot by the pallet annually. I’m making rounds with new and once-fired brass and the Apex 10 does a fantastic job with each.

Working the machine is a pleasure. The Apex 10 is machined like a Swiss watch. Every pull of the deal with is clean and offers nice tactile suggestions. It additionally supplies loads of mechanical benefit in order that having the press carry out numerous operations directly isn’t fatiguing.

The included case feeder works flawlessly and feeds brass to the primary station completely every time. From there the brass progress as follows: a sizing and decapping die; neck mandrel; primer station; powder measure; bullet seater; and into the bin on the entrance of the machine the place it lands with a satisfying “plop.” In some unspecified time in the future I’d like so as to add an automated bullet feeder to make it run even sooner. 

When getting mine arrange I managed to get a primer caught below the shell plate. I took the machine aside to clear the mishap, after which contacted their technical help as a result of the shell plate wasn’t indexing fairly proper afterwards.

The tech I spoke with, Jacen Hinkson, was terribly useful and affected person. He not solely helped repair the problem, which was minor, but additionally gave me nice perception into the workings of the machine. Know that a part of what you pay for while you buy a sophisticated press is the corporate’s technical help.

The $2,500 base worth places the Apex 10 out of attain for a lot of reloaders — and relying on how far you wish to go accessorizing it the ultimate determine could be double or triple that quantity — however this unit is only a step beneath a commercial-grade ammunition maker.

For the reloader whose taking pictures necessities, price range, and want for high quality match up with the Apex 10, it’s a terrific selection.  

Finest Reloading Press On a Finances: RCBS Summit

See It

Key Options

• Outsized 2-inch metal ram
• Forged iron body and metal linkage
• Compact footprint
• Open design supplies ample entry

Execs

• Economical
• Simple to make use of
• Dependable

Cons

• Primer catch bin not very rugged
• Doesn’t prime brass

This fundamental single-stage press supplies a ton of high quality for the worth. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles related to progressive- and turret-style presses — nevertheless it doesn’t have their shortcomings both.

This is a perfect press for somebody stepping into reloading. It is going to allow you to construct your abilities and make some rattling superb ammo on your rifle or handgun within the course of. And the reality is that regardless of how skilled and specialised you get together with your reloading, you’ll by no means remorse having a very good single-stage press in your bench.

The Summit is so simple as it will get. The iron body has two cutouts for bolts to mount it to your work floor. The lengthy deal with could be screwed into both aspect of the press for ambidextrous operation. And that’s all there’s to getting the Summit up and operating, apart from attaching the primer catch bin with its two fasteners.

The press works by reducing the die onto the brass. The platform the die screws into slides alongside the 2-inch diameter metal pillar that kinds the spine of the Summit. This leaves the entrance of the press vast open, making for a handy work space.

When totally raised the press has 4.5 inches of clearance so it may well accommodate longer cartridges with ease.

The deal with that comes with the press is lengthy and supplies plenty of leverage when resizing. However its size makes it a contact awkward. RCBS sells a shorter deal with for $18 that can work higher (and be extra handy) when seating bullets, particularly in any quantity.

The press features a Zerk becoming (a grease nipple) that means that you can preserve it correctly lubricated for years of use.

Finest Finances Co-Axial Press: Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial

See It

Key Options

• Floating common shell holder
• Can load every little thing from small pistol to massive magnum cartridges
• Fast change die system
• Contains three floating die blocks
• Doesn’t overhang the bench
• Built-in LED gentle
• Ambidextrous operation
• Sells for $249

Execs

• Glorious worth
• Simple to make use of
• Well designed

Cons

• Doesn’t all the time ship the very best mechanical benefit

I used to be extremely interested in this press earlier than I received it. Given my longstanding and unapologetic affection for the Forster Co-Ax, I questioned whether or not this relative newcomer (it was launched about 5 years in the past) may discover a place in my coronary heart.

The reply is sure. Just like the Forster, the M-Press is a co-axial press, which means it’s designed in order that the floating die and the floating shell holder self-align for repeatable outcomes. However there’s a lot that’s completely different between the presses, together with some components the place the Frankfort M-Press has the sting.

The headline is that it is a stout, easy-to-use, press that includes some intelligent and helpful options. As an example, it has an integral tray that captures spent primers that tucks in out of the best way beneath the shell-holder system. And the shell holder system adjusts simply for various measurement case heads by merely rotating every jaw by means of the 4 choices (massive, small, .223, and .308).

The LED gentle on the high of the press illuminates the workspace and runs off a micro-USB cable, so you possibly can plug it into an exterior battery supply if a wall socket isn’t out there.

The press additionally comes with three floating die blocks and a handy storage field to carry them with dies in place. The floating die blocks, that are secured within the body by a ball-bearing detent, snap into place and out in a flash.

One other fascinating function of this press is the power to vary the motion of the press from cam-over to a optimistic cease. You make the change by flipping the linkages, which takes only a couple minutes to do.

I resized plenty of once-fired 6.5 Creed brass within the press. The press delivered good mechanical benefit on the downstroke, however I discovered when utilizing the ball expander within the full-length sizing die that it caught a bit greater than I’d anticipate. I adjusted my method to “pop” the deal with on the upstroke and that handled the problem.

It didn’t ship the identical dead-nuts consistency because the Forster, nevertheless it was nonetheless good. I wouldn’t hesitate to make use of it to make ammo for my looking rifle, or follow ammo for my competitors rigs. Once I switched to the seater die, the press ran completely clean and was splendidly constant.

One factor you possibly can’t argue about is the worth. At $250 it’s a screaming worth with plenty of nice options.

Notes About Progressive Reloading

There’s a powerful line of demarcation between single-stage and progressive reloading that must be revered. I touched on this above. Progressive presses typically aren’t a fantastic selection for first timers. That stated, in case you’re able to make the leap don’t let the complexity maintain you again. Listed below are some pointers for while you do.

Take It Sluggish

When establishing a progressive press don’t hurry. Give your self loads of time and don’t essentially attempt to do it unexpectedly. I do know this may sound overly cautious however belief me — it should prevent hassles downstream.

All of the bits and items of a progressive press have to work in concord, and in case you overlook one small element throughout the preliminary setup it will chunk you on the tail later. Make it possible for while you carve out time to arrange the press that you’re centered and aren’t contending with different distractions.

Be Methodical

One other factor that may’t be over-emphasized when taking the plunge into the world of progressive presses is to take one step at a time when establishing the dies and stations. So get your sizing/decapping station found out earlier than including a bullet seater, primers, or powder drop.

Plan on sacrificing a very good quantity of brass throughout this section as you are taking measurements and tune every die and station in flip.

Tech Assist Is Your Good friend

Like most guys I really feel that studying directions is an admission of defeat. Once I began fooling with progressive reloaders I wanted to examine that angle on the door. They’re complicated, intricate, and — critically — not intuitive.

So, deal with the directions as if they’re a deal you’re putting with the satan. Take note of each element.

Past that, reap the benefits of the corporate’s technical help companies. I do know from private expertise that the help employees at Mark 7 and Hornady are wonderful on this regard, and I wouldn’t hesitate to lean on them if I’m in any respect confused.

Be Delicate

This recommendation pertains to all reloading however is particularly the case with progressive presses. If one thing doesn’t really feel proper, cease. By no means pressure the press. Respecting that tactile suggestions is important to keep away from making a nasty spherical or probably breaking one thing. If the press instantly feels completely different, take the time to determine it out.

Upkeep Is Necessary

Lastly, take note of the rules regarding lubrication of the press and control the tightness of the completely different bolts and fasteners. You will get away with neglecting many single-stage presses (although you shouldn’t) however you possibly can’t try this with a progressive press.

FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Finest Reloading Presses

Whereas there’s no scarcity of excellent presses on the market, the very best reloading press for you hinges in your expectations, price range, and experience.

In the event you’re new to reloading, persist with the fundamentals. Put money into a very good single-stage press and learn to use it. Or, when you have extra money to spend, begin with a turret press just like the Redding T-7, which is mainly a lifetime funding.

In the event you shoot a excessive quantity of rounds, whether or not pistol or rifle, you then’re going to wish to take a look at progressive presses, that are designed for that goal.

Now if you end up needing to make plenty of very exact ammo, you’ll doubtless find yourself utilizing multiple press to satisfy your objectives whereas investing in plenty of costly (however hopefully time-saving) equipment.

In any case, this listing of the very best reloading presses is an effective place to begin (or proceed) the journey.