The best reloading press
Quick answer: the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit 90304 (around $270) is the best reloading press for most people and the best starter kit. It is a four-hole turret that auto-indexes, rated by Lee at 250+ rounds per hour, and the kit adds a powder measure, on-press priming, a scale and case prep tools; dies are extra. Reviewers on OpticsPlanet rate it 4.6 out of 5 from 28 reviews; its weak points are auto-index set-up and plastic parts. On a budget, the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit (around $180) is a complete single stage kit. For volume, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP (around $670) is a five-station progressive. For precision rifle loading, the Forster Co-Ax. The Lyman Brass Smith All-American 8 is an eight-station turret, and the RCBS Summit is a single stage with the die moving down to the case.
A reloading press sizes the case, seats the primer and bullet, and works with a powder measure to fill the case. The right press depends on how much you load and what: a handful of precise rifle rounds, or hundreds of pistol rounds a week. Every card names the exact model we checked, lists what a kit includes and what it does not, and uses the maker's own page for specifications (Lee, Hornady, Forster, Lyman and RCBS). This page publishes no load data or powder charges.
Which type of reloading press do you need?
- Single stage (Lee Challenger, Forster Co-Ax, RCBS Summit): one die, one step, one case per stroke. The simplest to learn and the slowest; one Lee turret reviewer calls a single stage too slow for volume pistol loading.
- Turret (Lee Classic Turret, Lyman All-American 8): the turret holds a whole die set, so you change steps by turning it instead of unscrewing dies. The Lee turns itself on each stroke; Lyman lists no auto-index. A good middle ground for handgun ammunition.
- Progressive (Hornady Lock-N-Load AP): several cases at different steps with every stroke, and a finished round per stroke once it is running. The fastest and the most expensive, with the steepest set-up.
If you are new, start with a turret you can run as a single stage, or a single stage kit. Reviewers of the Hornady describe a learning curve, including one 1-star reviewer with years on another brand's progressive.
Reloading presses compared
| Press | Best for | Type | Stations | Kit extras included | Dies included | OpticsPlanet rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Classic Turret Kit | Overall, starter kit | Turret, auto-index | 4 | Powder measure, Safety Prime, scale, case prep | No | 4.6 (28) | around $270 |
| Lee Challenger Kit | Budget kit | Single stage | 1 | Powder measure, scale, case prep, hand primer | No | 4.4 (9) | around $180 |
| Hornady Lock-N-Load AP | Progressive | Progressive, auto-index | 5 | None listed beyond the press | No | 4.4 (27) | around $670 |
| Forster Co-Ax | Precision | Single stage | 1 | S jaws | No | 4.7 (26) | around $390 |
| Lyman All-American 8 | Two calibers | Turret, manual | 8 | Primer feed on the press | No | 4.8 (24) | around $300 |
| RCBS Summit | Open front access | Single stage | 1 | None listed beyond the press | No | 3.9 (8) | around $310 |
Types, stations and kit contents are from each maker's own page; for the Hornady, the retailer's own package-contents line lists only the press. None of these includes dies. Ratings are OpticsPlanet's, shown with the number of reviews. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best reloading press overall and best starter kit: Lee Classic Turret Press Kit 90304
Four-hole turret with auto-index · cast iron frame, steel linkage · kit with powder measure, on-press priming and scale (Lee) · card: 90304
around $270exact price on OpticsPlanet
The press most new reloaders should start on, and the kit that saves the most shopping. It is a four-hole turret: set up a full die set in one turret, and the press turns to the next die on every stroke, so each case gets one step per stroke and comes off finished after a full turn. Lee rates it at 250+ rounds per hour. Switch the auto-index off and it works like a single stage, which one reviewer recommends while you learn. Lee builds it on a rigid cast iron frame with steel linkage and a ram drilled completely through, so spent primers drop into a clear tube. The kit adds the Deluxe Auto Drum powder measure, Safety Prime for priming on the press, a Safety Scale, a Case Conditioning Combo, sizing lube and a die wrench. It has the most reviews on this page, 21 of 28 at five stars, and the theme is value for a first press. The trade-offs are set-up and plastic parts: one owner's press never auto-indexed correctly, another owner's arrived slightly out of time and was set up from Lee's videos, and one reviewer had a leaking powder measure.
Pros
- Turret with auto-index: the press turns to the next die on each stroke, rated at 250+ rounds per hour by Lee
- Auto-index switches off to run it as a single stage while you learn, or for cases over 4 in (Lee)
- Kit includes the Deluxe Auto Drum powder measure, Safety Prime, Safety Scale and case prep tools
- Lee guarantees its reloading products for two full years, and reconditions them later for half the current retail price
Cons
- No dies in the kit, and rifle loading needs a Long or Short Charging Die for the powder measure (Lee)
- Auto-index timing: one owner says it "has not auto indexed correctly since day one"; another owner's press arrived slightly out of time, and one reviewer notes it will not index if the turret is turned backwards with the ram down
- Plastic parts: one owner lists the "Plastic auto index ratchet" as a con, another the "Flimsy primer feeder"
- One reviewer's powder measure "leaks from around the drum"; another uses a different brand of measure instead
Best for: a first press for handgun cartridges, or anyone loading a few hundred rounds a session who wants more speed than a single stage without the set-up of a progressive.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Lee Precision |
|---|---|
| Press type | Four-hole turret, auto-index (can be switched off) |
| Frame | Cast iron, solid steel linkage |
| Ram | Drilled through to drop spent primers into a clear PVC tube; over 12 sq in of bearing area |
| Cartridge length | Rifle cases over 3 in with auto-index on; over 4 in with it off |
| Clearance | Nearly 4 in |
| Rated output | 250+ rounds per hour (Lee) |
| Kit includes | Classic Turret Press, Safety Prime, Deluxe Auto Drum Powder Measure, Safety Scale, Case Conditioning Combo, Lee Resizing Lubricant, die wrench |
| Not included | Reloading dies; Long or Short Charging Die (needed for the powder measure on rifle cartridges); bench plate or stand |
| Warranty | Two full years against wear or breakage from normal use (Lee) |
| Spec source | Lee's Classic Turret Press Kit and guarantee pages |
| Model on this card | 90304 kit (UPC 734307903046); the bare press is a different Lee SKU |
“Pistol loading is a breeze with this setup.”
Lumpy, owner (AR) via OpticsPlanet
Best budget reloading kit: Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit 90030
Single stage "O" frame · Breech Lock quick-change bushing · kit with powder measure, scale, case prep and a hand priming tool (Lee) · card: 90030
around $180exact price on OpticsPlanet
The cheapest way into reloading on this page, and the most complete kit for the money. Lee builds the kit around its Challenger III, a single stage "O" frame press with a 4 inch opening, all steel linkage, spent primers that fall through the ram into a tube, and a Breech Lock bushing so a die twists in and out without losing its setting. The kit adds a Perfect Powder Measure, Safety Scale, powder funnel, Value Trim case trimmer, cutter and lock stud, chamfer tool, sizing lube and primer pocket cleaners. This version primes off the press: it comes with a hand priming tool (Lee's kit description names the Auto Bench Prime, the retailer listing the Auto-Prime XR) and three shell holders for it. Reviewers call it a starter kit, and all 9 reviews are four or five stars. The limits show in those four-star reviews: one owner finds the beam scale slow and another finds it and the hand primer finicky, and a 2019 owner warned that the listing photo then showed a box of shell holders the kit did not include.
Pros
- The lowest price on this page for a complete starter kit
- Breech Lock bushing: dies change with a twist and keep their setting (Lee)
- Kit includes powder measure, scale, funnel, trimmer, chamfer tool, lube and primer pocket cleaners (Lee)
- All 9 reviews on OpticsPlanet are four or five stars
Cons
- Single stage: every case goes through every step one at a time, the slowest press type here
- The beam scale "consumes quite a bit of time", one owner writes; another calls the hand primer "a little finicky"
- No dies, and no shell holder for the press (Lee's die sets include one); a 2019 owner warned the listing photo then showed shell holders the kit did not include
- A small review record, 9 reviews, and one owner lists "lots of plastic" as the con
Best for: a beginner on a tight budget, or a small bench, who is happy to load one step at a time and prime by hand. For more speed from the same brand, the Classic Turret kit costs more.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Lee Precision |
|---|---|
| Press type | Single stage, Challenger III "O" frame with Breech Lock quick-change bushing (1 included) |
| Frame | "O" frame, all steel linkage (Lee); the retailer lists cast aluminum, 6.05 lb |
| Opening | 4 in |
| Priming | Off the press: hand priming tool with shell holders 2, 4 and 19 |
| Kit includes | Challenger III press, Smart Lock bushing, Perfect Powder Measure, Safety Scale, powder funnel, Value Trim case trimmer, cutter and lock stud, Power Grip Shell Holder (a hand grip for trimming and chamfering), chamfer tool, sizing lube, primer pocket cleaners, hand priming tool with 3 shell holders |
| Not included | Reloading dies, a shell holder for the press (Lee's Breech Lock 3-die sets include a Universal Shell Holder), Quick Trim Die for the trimmer, Case Length Gauge for the cutter, bench plate |
| Warranty | Two full years against wear or breakage from normal use (Lee) |
| Spec source | Lee's Breech Lock Challenger Kit and guarantee pages, and the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 90030 kit (UPC 734307900304) |
“Perfect for the entry level reloader that doesn't have a ton of room to work with.”
Lost in the woods, owner (IA) via OpticsPlanet
Best progressive reloading press: Hornady Lock-N-Load AP 095100
Progressive · 5 stations · automatic indexing · Lock-N-Load quick change bushings (Hornady) · card: 095100
around $670exact price on OpticsPlanet
The press for volume. On a progressive, every pull of the handle works on five cases at once and indexes the shell plate, so a finished round comes off each stroke once it is running. Hornady lists five stations with its Lock-N-Load bushings, so dies lift out without losing their setting, plus a powder drop that only throws a charge when a case is present, automatic indexing and an EZject system. Owners report the speed: one loaded 200 rounds of 9 mm in 45 minutes. 21 of 27 reviews are five stars. It is also the most expensive press here and the most demanding: reviewers describe a learning curve, one owner and one reviewer got boxes missing parts, and two of the three 1-star reviews describe a shell plate and indexing pawls that kept needing adjustment. Budget for extras too. The retailer calls it a package, but its own package-contents line lists only the press, and Hornady says the case feeder is not included.
Pros
- A finished round per stroke once running; one owner loaded 200 rounds of 9 mm in 45 minutes
- Lock-N-Load bushings: dies lift out and go back in without re-adjusting (Hornady)
- Case activated powder drop only throws a charge when a case is present (Hornady)
- 27 reviews, 21 of them five stars, including a 2026 review
Cons
- The most expensive press here, and the case feeder is extra: one owner says it is "nearly as expensive as the press kit"
- A learning curve: "Takes a bit of prep to get everything set up and fine tuned", one reviewer writes
- Two 1-star reviewers describe a shell plate coming loose, pawls out of adjustment and priming trouble
- Missing parts: one owner's "Sealed carton came missing three parts"; a reviewer was missing a spring, which Hornady sent
Best for: a reloader who already knows the process and shoots enough pistol ammo to justify the cost and the set-up time. As a first press, a turret is far easier to learn on.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
|---|---|
| Press type | Progressive, 5 stations, automatic indexing |
| Die system | Lock-N-Load quick change bushings |
| Powder | Case activated powder drop with quick change metering inserts |
| Other | EZject system, universal case retainer spring, priming system |
| Weight | 30.85 lb (retailer listing) |
| Not included | Dies, shell plates, case feeder and bullet feeder (Hornady: "All you need are dies and shell plates to start loading") |
| Package note | The retailer's package-contents line lists only the press; Hornady's Ammo Plant 095160 is the bundle with a case feeder |
| Spec source | Hornady's Lock-N-Load AP product page and the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 095100 (UPC 090255951004) |
“Once I got that ironed out, and the press set up, this thing is really spectacular!”
Flatsrunner, owner (TX) via OpticsPlanet
Best precision single stage press: Forster Co-Ax Press with S Jaws 028271
Single stage · snap-in dies · floating shell holder jaws · 3x the mechanical advantage of a C press (Forster) · card: 028271
around $390exact price on OpticsPlanet
The single stage for precision rifle loading. Instead of threading each die into the press for every change, the Co-Ax holds set-up dies in a slot: Forster says a die snaps in and out, and you can change from sizer to seater in two seconds. The shell holder jaws float with the die so the case centers itself, dual floating guide rods keep things aligned, and Forster claims three times the mechanical advantage of an ordinary C press. It takes standard 7/8 x 14 dies and comes with the S jaws. Owners buy it for straight ammunition: one owner measured concentricity drop from .005 inch on their old press to .001 inch or less, and 23 of 26 reviews are five stars. A 75-year-old owner with arthritis in both wrists says its leverage makes it easy to use. The trade-offs are price, the Forster lock rings it needs, and priming: one reviewer calls it a little slow, and a 2-star reviewer could not get the case centered for priming.
Pros
- Snap-in, snap-out dies: sizer to seater in two seconds, per Forster
- Floating jaws and dual guide rods for alignment; one owner measured concentricity at .001 in or less
- Leverage: Forster claims three times a C press, and an owner with arthritis finds it easy on the wrists
- 23 of 26 reviews at five stars, with reviews into 2026
Cons
- Costs more than the other single stage presses here
- Lock rings: Forster recommends its own Cross Bolt rings, and one owner expects other brands' lock nuts would let the die move
- On-press priming: "Priming is alittle slow", one reviewer writes; a 2-star reviewer had primers shaved
- One owner's press arrived with a die ring slot too small and was returned
Best for: rifle reloaders chasing concentricity and fast die swaps, especially anyone who finds a standard press hard on the wrists. It is not a volume press.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Forster |
|---|---|
| Press type | Single stage, sliding die holder (Co-Ax) |
| Dies | Standard 7/8 x 14; snap-in, snap-out die change |
| Case holding | Floating shell holder jaws, S jaws supplied |
| Alignment | Dual floating guide rods |
| Leverage | Three times the mechanical advantage of an ordinary C press (Forster) |
| Priming | Top priming device on the press |
| Spent primers | Caught and passed through a tube into a container |
| Handedness | Room for right- or left-handed operators (Forster) |
| Origin | USA (retailer spec table) |
| Lock rings | Forster recommends its Cross Bolt Locking Rings; one owner says Forster rings are needed to fit the die slot properly |
| Spec source | Forster's Co-Ax Reloading Press with S Jaws page and the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 028271, red, supplied with S jaws (UPC 757253002687) |
“When I want really accurately loaded cartridges, one after the other, I use this press.”
GaryG, owner (IN) via OpticsPlanet
Best 8-station turret press: Lyman Brass Smith All-American 8 Turret Press 7040750
Manual turret · 8 stations · cast iron frame and turret · 1 in ram · 23 lb (Lyman) · card: 7040750, orange
around $300exact price on OpticsPlanet
The turret for loading two calibers without swapping heads. Lyman gives it an eight-station cast iron turret that holds two complete four-die sets or up to four two-die sets, on a heavy cast iron frame with a 1 inch ram, a press opening Lyman says handles even the longest rifle cartridges, and a total weight of 23 lb. It takes standard 7/8 x 14 dies and shell holders, and the handle can be set for right or left hand. It has the highest rating on this page, 4.8 from 24 reviews with none below three stars, and the praise is for rigidity: reviewers call it built like a tank, and one owner says the turret has less play than their progressive presses. Lyman does not list auto-indexing, so you turn the turret by hand. The weak point is priming, by a wide margin: at least four reviewers complain about the on-press priming or spent primer catcher, and several prime by hand instead.
Pros
- Eight stations: two complete four-die sets on one turret (Lyman)
- Heavy: 23 lb, cast iron frame and turret, 1 in ram (Lyman); reviewers call it rigid
- The highest OpticsPlanet rating on this page, 4.8 from 24 reviews
- Standard 7/8 x 14 dies and shell holders; handle for right or left hand (Lyman)
Cons
- On-press priming: "primers get jammed", one owner writes; another owner stopped using the priming system
- Spent primers miss the catcher and end up on the floor, several reviewers say
- No auto-index listed by Lyman, so it is slower than the Lee turret for a single caliber
- Heavy enough that one owner stresses a solid base to mount it on
Best for: a reloader with two or more calibers, or a rifle and a pistol load, who wants both die sets on one turret and is willing to prime by hand if the press primer frustrates them.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Lyman |
|---|---|
| Press type | Turret, 8 stations, turned by hand (no auto-index listed) |
| Turret | Cast iron, removable; holds two 4-die sets or four 2-die sets |
| Frame and ram | Cast iron frame, 1 in ram, compound linkage |
| Weight | 23 lb (Lyman; the retailer spec table's 4 lb conflicts with its own feature list) |
| Priming | Straight line primer feed with large and small primer tubes and a steel shield |
| Dies | Standard 7/8 x 14 dies, standard shell holders |
| Handle | Right or left hand |
| Finish | Powder coat |
| Package contents | The press (retailer listing); no dies or shell holders listed |
| Spec source | Lyman's product page and the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 7040750, orange (UPC 011516507501) |
“This press is rock solid and built like a tank.”
Cris, reviewer (OK) via OpticsPlanet
Best open-front single stage press: RCBS Summit Single Stage Press 9290
Single stage, die moves down to the case · 2 in steel ram · 4.5 in opening · cast iron frame, steel linkage (RCBS) · card: 9290
around $310exact price on OpticsPlanet
The RCBS on this page, and the most unusual design. On the Summit the case does not move: RCBS says the die is lowered onto the case, on a 2 inch solid steel ram, with a cast iron frame and steel linkage in a bench-top design. That leaves a 4.5 inch opening with open front access, the largest opening figure a maker publishes on this page. It takes standard 7/8-14 dies, or 1-1/4-12 dies with the reducing bushing removed, works for either hand and is made in the USA. The good reviews are about straight cases: one owner, after several hundred loading sessions, calls its sized .308 cases the straightest they have made. But this is the smallest and weakest review record here, 8 reviews averaging 3.9, and it includes two 1-star reports of a broken press within weeks; a Forster owner also writes that their Summit broke while sizing .308 brass. Eight reviews cannot separate bad luck from a pattern, so weigh that yourself.
Pros
- Die moves down to a fixed case, on a 2 in solid steel ram (RCBS)
- 4.5 in opening with open front access, the largest opening figure published on this page
- Takes 7/8-14 dies, or 1-1/4-12 with the bushing removed; ambidextrous; made in the USA (RCBS)
- Owners praise straight sized cases and the fit and finish
Cons
- Two of 8 reviews are 1-star reports of a broken press; one says the handle bracket "is broken in two"
- A Forster owner writes that their Summit broke while sizing .308 brass
- A 2014 owner found "Every nut, bolt, and set screw was loose" out of the box; RCBS later contacted them
- The lowest rating and the fewest reviews on this page, none newer than 2023
Best for: a single stage buyer who wants RCBS and the open-front, die-moves design. If you want the most confidence from reviews, the Forster Co-Ax has a far stronger record for more money.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | RCBS |
|---|---|
| Press type | Single stage, bench-top; the die is lowered onto the case |
| Ram | 2 in solid steel, mirror polished |
| Frame | Cast iron frame, steel linkage |
| Opening | 4.5 in, unlimited frontal access |
| Dies | 7/8-14, or 1-1/4-12 with the reducing bushing removed |
| Handedness | Ambidextrous |
| Origin | Made in the USA |
| Package contents | The press (retailer listing); no dies or shell holders listed |
| Spec source | RCBS's Summit Single Stage Reloading Press page and the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | 9290 (UPC 076683092908) |
“After using the press for several hundred more loading sessions I've found this press to produce the STRAIGHTEST sized .308 cases.”
Mcguyver Mike, owner (WA) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose a reloading press
- Be honest about volume. A single stage handles one step per stroke, a turret saves the die swaps, and a progressive finishes a round per stroke. Lee rates its Classic Turret at 250+ rounds per hour; one Hornady owner loaded 200 rounds of 9 mm in 45 minutes.
- Check what the kit really includes. Both Lee kits include a powder measure, a scale and case prep tools; the Classic Turret primes on the press, and the Challenger kit primes by hand. The Hornady listing is called a package, but the retailer's contents line lists only the press. No press here comes with dies.
- Count your calibers. On the Lee turret, each caliber lives in its own four-hole turret. The Lyman turret holds two complete four-die sets at once. The Hornady uses quick change bushings, and the Forster snaps dies in and out.
- Priming on or off the press. Priming is where owners complain most: the Lyman's on-press primer draws the most complaints on this page, and a Forster reviewer found its priming slow. Several Lyman and Forster reviewers prime with a hand tool instead, which is how the Challenger kit is set up.
- Mount it solidly. Owners of the Lee turret and the Lyman both stress a sturdy base; one Lee owner says movement on a weak bench gives varying powder charges. No bench plate or stand is included with any of these.
- Precision needs. For concentricity on rifle ammunition, one Forster owner measured .001 in or less, down from .005 in on their old press. The RCBS Summit also has an owner praising its straight cases, but its review record is small and includes two broken presses.
A note on safety
Reloading combines primers and powder under pressure, and a mistake can damage a gun or injure the shooter. This page reviews equipment only and publishes no load data or powder charges. Use a current manual and the published data from the powder or bullet maker, start where that data tells you to, and wear eye protection at the bench.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's reloading press category sorted by most reviews. For each press we opened the full model list to find the new, orderable model each card links to (used and demo units set aside) and read every review on the listing, including every low-star one. We checked specifications and kit contents against the maker's own page for Lee, Hornady, Forster, Lyman and RCBS, and Lee's guarantee page for both Lee kits. Where the retailer listing and the maker disagree (the Lyman's weight, the Challenger kit's frame material) the card says so. Claims we found only in secondary research and could not confirm at the maker were left out, including service-life figures and powder measure accuracy figures. The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, which Google's AI Overview named as its overall pick when we checked, is not sold by our retailer, so it is not carded here; the RCBS press on this page is the Summit. Our scores are our opinion; retailer ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best reloading press for a beginner?
For most beginners, the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit 90304. It is a four-hole turret that auto-indexes for speed and can be switched to work like a single stage while you learn, and the kit adds a powder measure, on-press priming, a scale and case prep tools. On a tighter budget, the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit is a single stage kit with a powder measure, scale, case prep tools and a hand priming tool. Neither kit includes dies.
Single stage, turret or progressive: which reloading press do I need?
A single stage press holds one die and does one step to one case per stroke; it is the simplest and slowest. A turret holds a full die set, so you change steps by turning the turret instead of swapping dies; the Lee Classic Turret turns itself on each stroke. A progressive works on several cases at once and produces a finished round per stroke once running, but it takes the most set-up and costs the most.
Do reloading kits come with dies?
Not the kits on this page. Lee sells dies separately for both the Classic Turret Press Kit and the Breech Lock Challenger Kit, and rifle loading on the Classic Turret also needs a Long or Short Charging Die for the powder measure. Hornady does not include dies, shell plates or the case feeder with the Lock-N-Load AP; its own page says all you need are dies and shell plates to start loading.
What else do I need to start reloading besides a press?
Dies for each cartridge, a shell holder if your die set does not include one, a way to mount the press solidly, a current reloading manual from a published source, and components: cases, primers, powder and bullets. Reviewers of these kits also recommend calipers to check finished length and a way to clean used brass. OpticVerdict publishes no load data; use the data from the powder or bullet maker.
Is a turret press worth it over a single stage?
For handgun ammunition, usually yes. Lee rates its Classic Turret at 250+ rounds per hour with auto-index on, and if each die set stays in its own turret (extra turrets are sold separately), you do not re-adjust dies when you change caliber. For a few precise rifle rounds at a time, a single stage like the Forster Co-Ax, which owners buy for concentricity, can make more sense.
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