At a Glance: The 6 best single stage reloading press kits
- OUR TOP PICK: RCBS 9354 RC Supreme Master Kit
- Lee Precision Anniversary Challenger Kit II
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: RCBS ATK 9286 Explorer Reloading Kit
Comparison of The 6 best single stage reloading press kits
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Our Top Pick | RCBS 9354 RC Supreme Master Kit |
| View Latest Price |
 Our Top Pick | Lee Precision Anniversary Challenger Kit II |
| View Latest Price |
 | RCBS ATK 9286 Explorer Reloading Kit |
| View Latest Price |
If you are a frequent shooter, you will have noticed that the price of high-performance ammunition is quite high. The solution for the avid shooter who wants to shoot more for less money is reloading, and for that, you need a reloading press. Presses are not cheap, but you’ll earn it back if you do a lot of shooting.
If you are a reloading newbie, we would recommend starting with a single stage reloading press and go for one included in a kit. We checked the market and reviewed the following six single stage reloading press kits, the best kits on the market today. The top reloading kits are all durable, easy to use, include most of the components you’ll need to start reloading, and will not break the bank.
RCBS 9354 RC Supreme Master Kit
This kit is known for its durability and solid construction. So if you are one of those people who handle their equipment more roughly this might be your kit. What is included:
- A Rock Chucker supreme press
- An M500 mechanical scale
- A hand priming tool
- A uniflow powder measure
- A powder funnel
- A caseload block for storing your cartridges
- One .17-.60 deburr tool
- A hex key set
- A case lube kit
- A Nosler reloading manual
This is a good entry-level kit. All pieces work well together. Among case prepping tools, the kit includes only a deburring tool. All the others (de-primer, bullet seater, and expander) need to be bought separately. Dies and shell holders are not included either. The manual scale can be very tedious to work with but it performs better than its digital counterparts once you learn how to work it. The hand priming tool can be hard to set up and quite tedious but when you get it right it will work like a charm. On the other hand, you could just use a priming arm on the press.
Pros
- Produces outstanding accuracy
- Very durable and sturdy O-frame press
- The priming arm on the press works well
Cons
- No dies, shell holder, or some case prepping tools
- Price is on the high-end
Lee Precision Anniversary Challenger Kit II
This is the most affordable entry-level reloading kit. It includes:
- A single O-frame press with hand clearance
- Built-in primer catcher on the press
- Case preparation tools including a cutter and lock stud for trimming, a chamfer tool, a primer pocket cleaner, and a tube of sizing lube
- Lee Safety primer feeds in both small and large sizes for pistols to large magnum cases
- One Lee safety powder scale
- One perfect powder measure
- One Breech lock quick change bushing
This press is nice and it does what it is supposed to do. The breech lock quick change bushing reduces the amount of time necessary to adjust your dies. Instead of turning, all you need to do is literally snap the die in place. That means you do not have to reset your dies every time you change them. The perfect powder measure is not that perfect, unfortunately. Its accuracy will depend on which powder you are using. I would recommend cycling a few hoppers of powder through before you start using it for reloading. The powder scale seems to be slow but when it starts working it is accurate. A reloading tray for holding your rounds, a shell holder, and dies are not included. Also, a neck brush might be handy to have. You will have to buy these separately.
Pros
- Includes a breech lock quick change bushing
- The primer feeder works well for both primer sizes
- Affordable
Cons
- The powder scale takes a long time to start
- Reloading tray, dies, neck brush and shell holder are not included
RCBS ATK 9286 Explorer Reloading Kit
This is a younger brother of the Supreme Master Kit. It includes:
- A Special-5 single stage reloading press
- A Uniflow powder measure
- A Digital pocket scale
- A Nosler manual
- A hand priming tool
- A universal case loading block
- A deburring tool
- A powder funnel
- Case slick spray lube
- A powder trickler
This reloading press has hand clearance, 30-degree opening offset, and the ability to be converted to a progressive press in the future. The powder measure is very accurate. The hopper does not need to be emptied when changing charges. The digital scale is fast and seems accurate. It automatically turns off after 5 minutes of inactivity. The hand priming tool is easy to use and can hold 100 primers. The powder funnel fits cases from 22 to 45 caliber and has a special drop tube which prevents powder spillage. The powder trickler is a great tool to make a perfect weight charge. The deburring tool seems handy. It quickly and easily deburrs case mouths. The pointed end goes into the case mouth. With a few twists of the wrist, you can create a nice chamfer. You can use the same process to detach any exterior burrs from the case mouth.
Pros
- The single-stage press can be converted into a progressive press
- A powder funnel for multiple calibers
- A special drop tube prevents the powder spill
- The hand primer is easy to use
- Powder trickler included
- Medium price range
Cons
- Dies and shell holder not included
RCBS ATK 9287 Explorer Plus Reloading Kit
As the name suggests, the Explorer Plus is an upgraded version of the Explorer reloading kit. It includes the same components as the Explorer, plus some extra useful accessories:
- A Special-5 single stage reloading press
- A Uniflow powder measure
- A digital pocket scale
- A Nosler manual
- A hand priming tool
- A universal case loading block
- A deburring tool
- A powder funnel
- Case Slick spray lube
- A powder trickler
- An advanced powder measure stand
- A Pow’r Pull bullet puller
- Stainless steel dial calipers
- A small uniflow measuring cylinder
- Six die lock rings
- Five sizes of shellholders
Everything mentioned above about the Explorer applies to this model as well. On top of it, some of the extra accessories are worth mentioning. The advanced powder measure stand provides a better view of the powder dispensing process by elevating the powder measure. The dial calipers provide for more accuracy and the small uniflow cylinder helps you with reloading small charges (0-50 grains). The die lock rings allow the reloader to set up dies and lock their settings in place so the dies do not need to be recalibrated after removal and reinstallation. Five sizes of shell holders are included to fit the most popular reloading calibers.
Pros
- Convertible single stage press
- Powder funnel for multiple calibers
- Special drop tube prevents the powder spill
- Hand primer is easy to use
- Powder trickler included
- Good bang for the buck
- Five sizes of shell holders included
- Die lock rings included
Cons
- Dies not included
Lee Precision Value 4 hole turret kit 90928
A turret press is a more advanced version of a single stage press. It won’t pump out a complete round every time you pull the lever like a progressive press. The benefit is that instead of screwing dies on and off each stage, all you have to do is rotate them into place with a flick of the wirst. This kit includes:
- A turret press with auto indexing
- An auto drum powder measure
- Large and small safety priming system
- A safety powder scale
- A case conditioning kit which includes a cutter and a lock stud for trimming, a chamfer tool, a primer pocket cleaner and a tube of sizing lube
- A revised Lee reloading manual
When you use this press you will appreciate the ease and quickness of changing calibers due to the fact that the dies are locked into a solid steel ring. You can buy extras and have a complete set up ready for each caliber. You just swap out the sets as needed and are ready to reload. Another great thing is the generous hand clearance on the press and the comfortable wooden grip. The press is suitable for any size of caliber and is big enough to handle even magnum rifle cases. The auto indexing on the press is capable of loading cartridges with an overall length of 2.3125″ or less.
Pros
- Very good price
- Fast reloading if owning multiple turrets
- Includes a reloading manual
- Turret press saves time
Cons
- Powder scale is hard to balance
- Dies and shellholder not included
RCBS Partner press reloading kit
This is an inexpensive single stage reloading kit that is easy to use. The kit includes:
- A Partner single stage press
- An RC-130 scale
- A universal case loading block (holds 40 cases and fits most rifle and pistol cases)
- A case lube pad
- A 2 oz bottle of RCBS Case Lube
- 2 case neck brushes for .22 to .30 caliber
- An RCBS primer tray
- Chamfer and deburring tools
- A powder funnel for .22 to .45 caliber, including the Winchester Short Magnum calibers
- The latest edition of the speed reloading manual
The press feels durable and it reloads most standard calibers. It is smaller so it takes up less space which could be a big plus for people with small workshops. Dies and a shellholder are not included in the kit. There is no handheld primer in the kit, as the priming arm does the job. However, priming with the priming arm can be difficult at times. If you are after precise loads, a powder trickler might come handy. This kit is very reasonably priced for all the components it comes with. All the items included in the kit are adequate for a beginner but as you progress you might want to move up. The press works great for case sizing, bullet seating, and crimping.
Pros
- Very good price
- Includes a case loading block
- A durable and reliable press
- The mechanical scale is accurate
- Suitable for all standard calibers
Cons
- Dies and shellholder not included
- No powder trickler
What is a single stage reloading press?
A single stage reloading press is a device with a mechanical lever arm that performs a single reloading operation with each pull. By pulling the handle, a cartridge sitting in a case holder is pushed up into a reloading die. Unlike with a progressive press, there is always one cartridge and one reloading die in playat a time. A new die has to be installed on the single stage press to perform the next task. Choosing dies that can be set and locked, then removed and reinstalled without needing further adjustment is crucial. A turret press is a subset of single stage press that lets you easily rotate different dies into place.
Single stage presses are sturdy, cheap, and great for reloading rifle or pistol ammunition. With some experience, you can reload about 100 rounds in an hour.
Classic single stage presses vs. turret presses
The main difference between the two is that the turret press includes a rotating disk (the “turret”) which has four to five holes for mounting the dies. There is no need to screw the dies on and off for each stage as with a classic single stage press.
Usually, the dies are referred to as the “stations” since each of them is used in one stage of reloading. After fitting the reloading dies, the turret is rotated over the case holder so that all the necessary reloading operations can be performed consecutively on one single case. With every pull of the handle, the turret rotates to the next station. This rotation can be manual or automatic. Stations in turret press include:
- Decapping die
- Resizing die
- Powder funnel
- Seating die
- Crimping die
The average reloading rate can be up to 200 rounds an hour with a turret press. They are especially suitable for reloading a single caliber of ammunition. Turret presses might not always be faster than single stage presses but they are more expensive.
Single stage presses vs. progressive presses
Progressive presses are an upgrade to classic single stage and turret presses. They have holder disks with multiple stations like a turret, but the disk does not rotate. Instead, there is a rotating case holder disk that holds the same number of cases as there are dies on the upper disk. Every time the handle is pulled the progressive press performs multiple tasks simultaneously. That increases the speed of reloading immensely compared to a single stage press. Some progressive presses can reload up to 1000 rounds in an hour. They are also the most expensive of all and the process of using them will be harder for a beginner.
Why a single stage press is best for beginners
There are multiple reasons why single stage press is suitable for beginners:
- It requires fewer adjustments than a turret or progressive press.
- It is the least expensive.
- It is easiest for learning the reloading process.
- Although its production rate is the slowest, it is ideal for reloading smaller amounts of ammunition which beginners tend to start out with.
- It will last for many years if it is of good quality.
- Even if you switch to turret or progressive later on, you will always find a use for the single stage press when reloading smaller amounts of rounds.
What a single stage press kit usually includes
If you are a beginner to reloading, you might have noticed that there are a lot of things you need to get to start reloading your own bullets. A great thing about buying a kit over separate accessories is the peace of mind that all the components will work with each other. A single stage press kit usually include some or all of the following:
- A press
- A digital/mechanical scale
- A powder measure
- A powder funnel
- A priming arm
- A hand priming tool
- A load block
- Lube for sizing
- A trimmer cutter
- A lock stud
- A chamfer tool
- Large and small primer pocket cleaners
- Bushings for dies
- Various dies for different calibers
- Sometimes even a hex key set
How to choose a single stage reloading press kit
If you are a beginner to reloading, you might have noticed that there are a lot of things you need to get to start reloading your own bullets. A great thing about buying a kit over separate accessories is the peace of mind that all the components will work with each other. A single stage press kit usually include some or all of the following:
- A press
- A digital/mechanical scale
- A powder measure
- A powder funnel
- A priming arm
- A hand priming tool
- A load block
- Lube for sizing
- A trimmer cutter
- A lock stud
- A chamfer tool
- Large and small primer pocket cleaners
- Bushings for dies
- Various dies for different calibers
- Sometimes even a hex key set
What is included | When choosing your first single stage reloading press kit you will have to check what is included in the kit. You want to make sure that you are not buying a cheap kit that is missing half of the items needed to start reloading. |
Brand and warranty | A good brand guarantees outstanding quality. Concerning warranty, all single stage reloading press kits here offer a similar limited lifetime warranty. |
Accessories and features | Useful accessories and features can be handy. A powder trickler is one of those useful accessories as it will allow you to reload your rounds with amazing accuracy. |
Priming on the press | Having priming directly on the press will save you time as you won’t have to use handheld primers. However, some people prefer a handheld device. If possible, choose a single stage reloading press kit that has them both and try them for yourself. |
Quick change dies | Using quick change die bushings will make your reloading life much easier as it reduces the amount of time spent on adjusting the dies after exchanging them. Instead of turning, you just literally snap the dies in place. |
How to reload with a single stage press
Case prep and re-sizing |
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Case cleaning and primer seating |
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Powder Charging and Bullet Seating |
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Crimping |
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For more info check this video.
Conclusion
In this article, we have been looking for a durable, easy to use single stage reloading press kit that comes with most of the components needed to start reloading instantly included and won’t be overly expensive.
The Lee Anniversary challenger kit is the cheapest one here. It is durable and easy to use but it does not include some useful components. On the other side, the RCBS ATK 9287 Explorer Plus reloading kit is durable, easy to use, and includes a lot of accessories. The only thing you will need to buy separately is the dies and you are ready to start reloading. On the other hand, this kit will cost you a little bit more but is still a great bang for the buck.
The middle ground and my winner, however, is the RCBS Partner press reloading kit. It is sturdy, easy to use, includes most of the required components, and the price is more than awesome.