Reloaders quality vs affordability?

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Good afternoon gentleman, I have a question which I'm sure has been answered many times but I'm going to ask it anyways.

I am looking to purchase a reloading press , their is only one store that sells reloading equipment in the area so my options are limited. The gentleman who owns the store deals with two different brands of reloaders one being magtech the other being lee.

The magtech press and dies is about half the money of the lee press and dies.

I only am looking to reload one caliber. So additional dies is not a concern. Is the quality of the lee press superior enough to that of the magtech press to justify the additional expense?

Could a magtech press be relied apon to reload aprox. 100 rounds of 45-70 a year. Year after year?

any advice you gentleman could provide would be greatly appreciated. To this point I've always used factory ammunition and would of continued to do so if not for the cost. A box of hornedy 325 grain is closeing in on 75$ a box.

 

[Standard Velocity]

The Lee will work but the RCBS Rockchucker comes as a kit with most of what you’d need. The RCBS is a much more solid platform. Cast iron (or maybe steel) rather than aluminum. The kits can be ordered and go on sale a couple times a year.

It is admirable to buy locally and you may need some advice from your local shop but the “advice tax” will be paid in power and primers. I would also be wary of gun shop advice. I’ve received some bo-bo advice from gun shops as well as golden advice. Maybe cross reference with reloading forums and actual books before dropping powder on Jimbos pet load.

Good luck!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Ask your store owner if he can get an RCBS press. The lee will do but the RCBS is better.

 

[Shootist43]

Yarmouth where? If in Maine, than order your stuff from a large dealer like Midway. They often have sales on "Kits" as mentioned they have everything you need to get started. I've never heard of a Magtech press. I that a new offering? I think you would be better off sticking with a known manufacturer of reloading equipment. What caliber are you wanting to reload?

 

[Newboomer]

I have a Lee single stage O type press and reload everything from 6.5 CR to 404 Jeffery with no problems at all. Stick with a known brand in a single stage. Turrets and progressives are OK if you are loading hundreds of rounds at a time. Otherwise they are not worth the hassle of setup and regulating. For heavier calibers an O type is much better than a C type. C types have a tendency to bend under heavy load at times. Just my 2 cents.

 

[TTundra]

Nothing wrong with the Lee, and they work quite well in a turret press. Out of the two its the more solid choice.

 

[PARA45]

Many, many years I started with a Lee press. I upgraded to a used RCBS, and then to a Reddings press and dies. Purchase the best press and dies you can afford, those two items will last you a life time.

For 45-70 you have to make sure the press you are getting has enough clearance for this cartridge. I would recommend getting a reloading manual, there is a section on reloading, and some of them tell you what you need to get started. Kits are cheaper than buying them separately, and used equipment is very cheap also.

Reach out for guidance.

 

[JimP]

I agree to get one online if you are here in the US or even Canada. With your location just saying Yarmouth leaves a lot to be guessed at.

I started with a Lyman and put thousands of loads through it and now have a RCBS. The Rock Chucker press kit will have everything that you need to start reloading except for a few things. Also don't forget Hornady, they also make a quality press and kit that has 99% of what you need.

In the end you can reload the same shells that you are buying for $75 for less than $30 depending on components. My most expensive round is a .340 Weatherby where factory rounds are around $120 and I can reload the same round for around $25.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I am located in Yarmouth Nova Scotia Canada not Yarmouth Maine so suppliers north of the border are limited.
Also used equipment for reloading a rarer then hens teeth up here. To my knowledge their are few reloaders and those who do don't part with their equipment easily.
I prefer to purchase from a store as it allows me to pay for an item with cash. Also the store I mentioned is also the only one which will order components to make shells.

Both presses I was quoted on are single stage as well.

Thank you all for taking the time to comment.

 

[perttime]

Couldn't find anything about Magtech reloading presses with a quick googling. Seems to be an unknown brand in reloading, so that would make me wary.

Lee is an old brand, and generally seen as an inxpensive brand. Nothing fancy, but will get the job done. They too sell kits: https://leeprecision.com/reloading-kits/single-stage-reloading-kits/

Hornady and RCBS are a little "higher end" than Lee.

Definitely stick with a table mounted single stage press for smallish amounts of rifle ammunition.

I've produced some hundreds of rounds of 223 and 308 ammunition with the Lee Loader: No leverages, you pound the case into the die with a rubber mallet or something similar.....

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

The aforementioned store is located two hundred miles from me. its one of only three stores in the province that deals in quility arms an optics. The other too beind further again.

( this is excludeing Canadian tire a large box store which does sell some basic synthetic rifles and shotguns but nothing on the quility level. )

I envy you gentleman, your country has not allowed itself to condem a regulate gun ownership to the point ours has.

 

[james in TX]

Good afternoon, Skinnersblade, and welcome to the best all around hunting site on the Web.

You have gotten good advice here already but I will add my 2 cents, if I may. By way of credentials, I have been reloading for over 40 years, use multiple brands of equipment, and load several calibers. That said, keep in mind that my opinion is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Good advice about buying a kit, whatever brand you select. Also good advice to buy an O type press rather than a C type, and to make certain there is clearance enough for the .45-70, including room to start the bullet prior to seating.

RCBS is extremely good equipment and their customer service is the best. You can't go wrong there. That said, I have direct experience with a Lee cast iron O press loading 470 Nitro Express. (No experience with their dies, however.) .470 NE is as demanding on the press as the .45 - 70, perhaps more so. After many hundreds of rounds, I have found the press to be accurate, consistent and durable so far. Remember, too, that good quality modern presses are designed to handle large volumes for years. A hundred rounds a year is nothing. Your grandchildren will be out of law school before the press is even broken in.

So, if you are the kind who always buys the best, you will be happy with RCBS. If budget is an issue, or if you just want the most bang for the buck for your specific application, you won't go wrong with the LEE.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Thank you all , the collective knowledge you all have taken the time to share is greatly appreciated.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Been reloading since 1962. You'll be fine with the Lee, either the cast aluminum or more expensive cast iron model.

I own and use the aluminum model and seat with a Redding turret press.

https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-challenger-press.html

https://leeprecision.com/classic-cast-press.html

 

[sestoppelman]

Only heard of Mag Tech ammo, not reloading equipment. LEE usually makes pretty good stuff, but as others mention if possible go with Redding or RCBS. But LEE would be fine for what sounds like your usage.

 

[Shawn.54]

When I started reloading 30 years ago I got a used lee O press kit used for $50 figured I replace it with a better press down the line. I see no need to replace it at this point I resize 30-06 to 35 Whelen and load for 375R and 404 Jeffery no trouble Lee did have a starter kit for 129.00 for a while. Their plastic powder thrower feels like crap compared to Lyman I have but the Lyman lives in a drawer while the Lee keeps being used it stays within 1/10 grain with the longest extruded powders I use I’m actually going to buy a couple more of them so I can set them for each cartridge.
Shawn

 

[JimP]

You might want to ask the shop that you are planning on doing business with if they will order a higher end kit from RCBS, Hornady, or Redding in for you. Then shop for what you like and then let them know so that they can order it for you.

https://www.midwayusa.com/ has a good selection of kits where you can see what you are getting in the kit itself if the shop you are dealing with will order from their distributor for you.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Thank you all you have given much to think about. I was unaware hornedy made presses. Is their any advantage in using a hornedy press to replacate hornedy loads?
My rifle is a brass model single shot Henry and will cloverleaf hornady 325 ftx ammunition. Interesting the best I can do with hornady monoflex 250 grain is about a six inch grouping.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Is their any advantage in using a hornedy press to replacate hornedy loads?

None

 

[meigsbucks]

First, welcome to AH. IMO.., Between the two presses you mentioned, I believe the Lee would be a far superior choice. That said, I think the RCBS would an even better choice.