Shooting can get expensive. Ammunition is an ongoing cost that adds up. Reloading ammunition, if done properly can result in significant benefits from a financial perspective. Cutting your ongoing costs by even a little can add up a lot over time.
To make it all work and realize the type of savings you can take to the bank, you need to make good economic decisions and buy good products. That’s the reason we wrote this article about the best reloading press options because you need to know which ones are actually a good investment in the long term viability of your shooting and reloading plans.
The top choices in the reloading press market will be those who can handle multiple calibers with precision tolerances and do it in a way that is advantageous to the effort and time you will put into their operation. The equation has to make sense for the shooter – they have to benefit financially or be able to produce ammunition that they cannot get elsewhere or both.
7 Best Reloading Presses
1. Hornady 095100 Lock-N-Load
Hornady 095100
$599.99 in stock
Features
- Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Reloading Press – Reload up to 500 rounds per hour with this professional grade, auto indexing, 5 station progressive press that features the patented Lock-N-Load bushing system. This must-have Hornady reloading equipment is intuitive and well equipped for all your reloading needs
- Fast Reloading – Lock-N-Load technology allows you to stop loading, change dies and start loading another caliber in a matter of seconds thanks to the 5 station bushing system. Switch from 223 to 45 in less than 5 minutes
- Quick and Reliable Ammunition Press – The Lock-N-Load powder measure uses quick change metering inserts that allow you to switch from one powder to another with a push of a button. The EZ-JECT system ensures a reliable ejection of cartridges, every time without adjustments
- Smooth and Precise – With a single pull of the handle, you’ll feel the smooth responsiveness, the rugged construction, and most of all, the power on this single stage reloading press! And since the AP features automatic indexing, priming and ejection, every pull of the handle give you a precisely loaded round
- What's Included – Hornady AP Press Item 095100. Includes 5 Lock-N-Load Die Bushings, 1 large cartridge bin, primer pickup tubes, metering inserts and rotors, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, and case activated powder drop. All you need are dies and shell plates to start loading with your AP
The Hornady 095100 is a high-quality press that offers progressive capabilities with a trusted name brand behind cartridge production in Hornady.
It has a 5-station bushing system that allows fairly quick changeover from one set of dies to another for caliber changes.
The powder hopper is big and the perks and delivery of reloading operations are pretty smooth per hand pull.
Simple things like the powder that is only actuated when a cartridge underneath it seems obvious but allow you to be a little less hawkish with the oversight. Irritatingly, some presses don’t offer this feature.
Pros
- The case retention spring is excellent
- The collet type system with Hornady’s “bushings” is novel and performs well
Cons
- Starting to get pricey
Why It’s Recommended
Top-quality materials and build. This is a great name to be associated with for reloading. The name, Hornady, is legendary, and the durability is second to none. For the price it represents great value for this list, all things considered.
2. LEE PRECISION II Shotshell
LEE PRECISION II Shotshell
Features
- Package length: 9.4 cm
- Package width: 21.8 cm
- Package height: 49.0 cm
- Product Type: SPORTING GOODS
The Lee precision 2 is a great reloading press for 12 gauge shotshells. The simple build and sturdy build quality and good materials make this a machine that can last many years for a small investment.
The cost savings can add up quickly if you shoot a lot and save your shotshells. You can reduce your cost of consumables to less than one-half of its original cost with this reloader, loading boxes of ammunition for a third to one-half of the costs of new ammunition generally. This press has famous name recognition for shotshell work.
Pros
- Super simple operation
- Doesn’t require a massive bench or reinforcement to load with
Cons
- Doesn’t include a primer holder in the setup
- Really, it’s made for 12 gauge only, even if you can buy conversion kits for some other calibers
- Best for reloading crimping, instead of making new crimps, though it certainly can be done
Why It’s Recommended
It’s dead simple, and shotgun shells can be reloaded very economically if you provide the labor for the unit and can buy in bulk for components. The process is simple and straightforward. Lee Precision 2 is very reasonably priced.
3. Dillon RL550C
Features
- Choose caliber conversion kit to be included
- Dies Sold Seperately
- Capable of loading 120+ Calibers
- Will Load Rifle and Pistol
- *Shown with optional accessories.
For very serious reloaders, this is a great setup for those who want the fastest reloading experience, whether it’s to save time and have convenience, or whether it is to do more ammo with your time, the Dillon RL550C is a great setup.
The dies, powder check & sensor; case feeder, and adjustment tools are all included. This is a prosumer model if ever there was one. It combines all the necessary equipment and upgrades for the actual reloading part of the process.
You’ll still need some prep tools like a tumbler and calipers, etc. For the money though, if you are on the high side of the reloading spectrum, this is an obvious choice for an upgrade to a top-quality consumer reloading machine out of the factory/box.
Pros
- Very fast operation with lots of add-on functionality that is welcomed in the process
- Recognized as one of the best presses in the consumer market segment
- Includes dies and other necessary components in the box
Cons
- Price is not for the faint of heart – you need to be dedicated to reloading to make this one a justifiable expense
Why It’s Recommended
Dillon quality is top-notch. The speed improvements alone will help to pay for the price if you shoot a lot of ammunition. It’s an all-in solution for the .223 Remington round out of the box. Buy components and get to work.
4. Hornady 85003
Hornady 85003
Features
- Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit – Ammunition Reloading Press Kit, Includes Classic Press, Powder Measure, Digital Scale and More – Everything Needed For Fast and Reliable Reloading – Item 085003
- A Must Have Kit – If you are a new reloader you will love the ease of use the Lock-N-Load Classic provides and all of the accessories that are packaged with the kit so you can start turning out accurate, consistent ammunition. If you are a seasoned reloader you will love the fact that this press kit is built to last a lifetime and is backed with Hornady's Lifetime Warranty
- Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Reloading Press – The Classic Press is packed full of features, including an angled frame, easy grip handle, positive priming system, primer catcher, and Lock-N-Load Bushings for quick die changing
- Additional Items – The additional items that make up this complete reloading kit are vital for accurate, high-quality handloads. Benefit from the digital scale, tools and devices to get the best from your reload efforts
- Kit Includes – Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure (with rifle rotor), Digital Scale, Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, 3 Lock-N-Load Bushings, Primer Catcher, Positive Priming System, Handheld Priming Tool, Universal Reloading Block, Chamfering and Deburring Tool, Powder Funnel and Trickler, 5.5 oz One Shot Case Lube
The Hornady 85003 is a great first setup for the precision reloader that is more focused on creating hand loads that perform, instead of bulk reloading to save some cash.
The slower single-stage press will offer great accuracy and precision capabilities but is lacking on the bulk production reloading side of things.
Pros
- Decent price for the kit
- Lots of extras
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Slower than other options
- Requires a lot of focus to get the best out of the machine – like with other single stage presses
Why It’s Recommended
For those who plan on doing high precision rifle cartridge reloading this price point is hard to beat. While it is a bit slower than other options, this is a legitimate precision reloader that can keep up with the best as far as capabilities for precision and accuracy of loads.
5. Pro Chucker 5
RCBS 88910 Pro Chucker 5
Features
- Five-station auto indexing
- 4.625” operating window
- Quick-change die plate
- Quick Change powder measure metering components
- Die cast aluminum frame
Very smooth and well built generally, but not without problems. The Pro Chucker 5 is a good mid-range reloading press for those who want a progressive and are already invested in RCBS equipment. The extras will cost you, but the machine is generally quite well built.
Pros
- Great for bulk reloading – can be 600+ rounds an hour reloading speed
- Smooth action
Cons
- Primer feed is finicky
- It’s getting pricey for a system that isn’t without flaws
- Requires an additional spend for tool plates and dies (most progressives do also)
Why It’s Recommended
Those who want fast speeds for bulk reloading and can commit to a couple of calibers will like the Pro Chucker 5 for the money. It’s got some small hiccups which makes it a mid-range progressive, but the price reflects this, and the handle pull action and the system integration are spectacular.
6. RCBS 9354 RC
RCBS 9354 RC Supreme Master Kit
Features
- Includes nosler 7 reloading manual
Quality materials, a great powder dropper, and very smooth action, the RC Supreme Master Kit is a premium build for a single-stage press.
It lacks some options that bigger more expensive presses come standard with, but out of the box, this is an excellent machine to get started with.
It includes most of what you will need and will retain its value because of the history of the company and the build quality.
Pros
- Simple operation and well outfitted for beginners
- High-quality build
- The price point is well-positioned for what you get – offering uncommon value for precision single stage reloading
Cons
- No real CONS to speak of given the specific use case
Why It’s Recommended
RC Supreme Master Kit is just one of the better-built presses available at the price point. For a beginner, it is a very solid choice.
7. Lyman T-Mag
Lyman T-Mag
Features
- Heavy duty cast iron "o" Frame
- 1" Diameter Ram
- Comes with Straight line primer feed with large and small primer tubes
The Lyman T-Mag is a great combination setup because it has all the stuff you need to get started immediately, except the components for the reloading.
All the main tools and information; the easy setup build and the extra hand tools are all included. Fast setup for beginners and leaves you needing nothing else out of the factory except dies/plate.
Pros
- Integrated fully equipped setup (needs dies and a plate)
Cons
- You can assemble the kit to a higher specification for just barely over what this costs as an all-inclusive setup
Why It’s Recommended
It’s not perfect but it has all the things you need to reload except the components. For a plug-and-play option for a newcomer, the Lyman T-Mag is a very good option. Few packages are as easy to get to a first reloaded cartridge as this one is.
Is it safe to reload ammunition?
Commercially available reloads have been on the market for decades. Hand loaders have been pushing the limits of ammunition, since the days of the old west. Routinely, it’s through reloading and boundary exploration that the best innovations in commercial cartridges are made.
We aren’t saying you should throw caution to the wind and start recklessly exploring with crazy powder charges and ridiculous brass reformations, but reloading is safe if you follow agreed-upon load calculations. With a reloading book, you can rest assured, with a proper visual inspection, that you are likely to be in safe shooting territory.
You can find a great reloading handbook here: The Lyman 50th Edition Reloading handbook.
Some of the reloading press kits here are inclusive of a high-quality reloading handbook.
Types of Reloading presses
Each press will be slightly different, but for the most part, there are three kinds of reloading presses you will encounter. Single-stage; turret presses and Progressive presses. Each serves a distinctly different purpose and you’ll see the nuanced (or pronounced) differences in a second here.
Single Stage Presses
Single-stage presses are great for introductions to reloading, but they will soon get annoying for most people unless you are handloading very expensive, exceptionally precise ammunition that requires absolute attention to the specific components.
The main reason is that the bulk of your time after you learn how to operate the press (which is exceptionally straightforward and easy), will be spent changing dies, rather than actually loading rounds of ammunition.
A single-stage press performs a single step in the reloading process at each “pull of the handle”. That is 1 primer set (though many of the single-stage presses don’t even use the press to set primers – they use handheld tools to do that); or 1 bullet inserted into the throat of the cartridge or, etc., etc.
The most effective use of single-stage presses is to do a bulk run of ammunition for the particular component – for instance, decapping/resizing to get the cartridge ready. One would then place the decapped/resized cartridge casing into a holder tray until all cartridges were finished with that operation.
You would repeat this process throughout the prep and into the component reloading too. Unfortunately, you lose a lot of time in placing and taking cartridges out of a holding tray/tub instead of just using the technology to benefit time savings. Again. For precision reloading, this may be a first-rate choice depending on what you want to accomplish.
The major benefit of using a single-stage reloading press is that you learn the process very well, and you are intimately involved with the process from an oversight perspective.
Single-stage reloading presses are typically the least expensive option and offer great sturdiness.
Turret Presses
Turret presses are an evolution of speed over the single-stage press, though it still only treats a single round of ammunition at a time. The benefits of turret presses are less changing of equipment and less time to handle the cartridge in general because of the reduced changeover time.
The turret head rotates to provide a single cartridge with each of the treatment steps with separate dies in separate placements on a single rotating head. The round generally stays in a single spot while the head rotates with each hand pull to perform a different step. Then, you are only handling the cartridge a single time in your hands.
Turret presses can triple your output compared to single-stage presses – they are an excellent way to get bulk reloading done with less attention to detail, but they are still not the premium solution for bulk reloading speed.
Progressive Presses
It’s almost a foregone conclusion that you will exponentially increase your reloading speed, with little effect on your accuracy in reloading, with a progressive press versus a single stage press. The progressive reloading press performs multiple operations at once with a single pull of the handle.
The progressive reloading press will offer two plates that hold two separate types of items – one for the dies and one for the cartridges. The one platen (brass cartridges) turns while the other (dies) remains stationary.
The same amount of spaces exists on both platens which means that with each hand pull/rotation, you are effectively performing one operation on one of a number of cartridges. So, if you have a six-position progressive reloading press, one round per pull will be finished after your initial 6 pulls. Each subsequent pull will finish another round. As you can see, it increases your efficiency per hand pull.
Progressive presses are now even adding automation that can really ratchet up your production. For many, the progressive is something they progressively graduate to, for a couple of reasons.
- Progressive reloading presses are generally much more expensive than single-stage presses and can be substantially more expensive than turret presses too
- They have a lot of moving parts and require some level of understanding about ammunition
- The average shooter may not be able to keep up with the volume needed to justify the setup and economics of the system
- They require better oversight and complete focus if you want absolute precision
- They require a lot of prep to run at optimum speeds typically
Things Needed to Reload Ammunition
Reloading components
- Brass; whether used, new or pre-primed
- Primers
- Powder
- Projectile
- Lacquer (optional)
- Case lubricant
Next, we will look at the step-by-step parts of reloading ammunition.
The process step by step
- Choose your brass and make a visual inspection to ensure the brass is suitable for reloading without any cracks or major dents that could cause a safety concern.
- Flash hole deburring is next, which will trim any hanging brass from the hole which feeds the primer ignition flame to the powder during the primer hit in the act of shooting. You will use a flash hole deburring tool for this.
- Primer pocket uniform sizing work will make sure the primer pocket is square to help with the proper feeding and seating of cartridges once loaded, and primers while reloading.
- Case trimming to ensure the overall length is consistent and within specification.
- Resizing the case and lubricating it for the press work – resizing and lubrication is not a single operation and can be complicated depending on a lot of variables.
- After cases are fully prepped, it’s time to move to the actual reloading part.
- Primer seating can be done by hand with handheld tools or on a press.
- Dropping powder into the cartridge.
- Adding the bullet and seating/crimping.
Each of these steps should be followed up by a visual check confirming that the process was completed properly and that the cartridge has not changed in suitability for finishing the reloading process or moving into a shooting condition.
Furthermore, many of the preparatory stages of reloading are done by hand, leading up to the actual component reloading. That isn’t a 100% accurate statement all the time, but in general, it’s a two-separate-step process. First, you prep cases; second, you reload them on a press.
Some presses offer some of the prep stations into the press operation, but generally, this is the case: handwork for prep followed by press work for reloading component parts.
Bottom Line
Reloading undoubtedly saves you some money over time. It will also allow you to create some innovative or highly accurate specialty rounds. For those who have never reloaded before, these presses all have their redeeming qualities.
For those that want the best in class, you can pay for it, but the lower tier offerings on this list are still great candidates for the “best reloading press” moniker. The kits and presses listed above will each satisfy a different type of reloader, and hopefully, we have given you enough information to determine at least at the outset, what type of reloading you want to accomplish.
The cost savings, hobby aspect, and handled capability of these presses will make you a shooter that has more options and can do more. Inevitably bringing you up a level in your shooting prowess and understanding of how things work together in the shooting industry and as a mechanical function to help you get more done on your list of to-dos in shooting sports.
Check out the other ammunition related articles put together by the expert team here at Guns & Safety Reviews;
The Review
Best Reloading Presses
Shooting can get expensive. Ammunition is an ongoing cost that adds up – through the use of a reloader you can significantly reduce money spent.
Review Breakdown
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Hornady 095100
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LEE PRECISION II Shotshell
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Dillon Precision RL550C
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Hornady 85003
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Pro Chucker 5
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RCBS 9354 RC
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Lyman T-Mag
Best Reloading Presses DEALS
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