Ok, here's where I am.
I currently have a Lee hand loader and it is great for pistol calibers.  It's a little annoying but if I have all other prep work done at Dad's or somewhere I can use it to seat bullets in the .300WSM.

Anyway, I am finally realizing just how much I should be reloading .223.  I generally shoot Wolf and that's fine, but I am in a situation where I need to find out if there is something wrong with my AR and I need a couple thousand brass-cased plinking rounds, which I really don't want to buy just to zip through them.  This may be moot if I can determine in some other way if there is a chamber issue.

So I figure, I need a press anyway to do the .300WSM, I have several other rifle calibers that I'd like to reload (30-30, 7.62x55), so I might as well get set up to load .223 while I'm at it.

What I'd like is this: a single stage press for a low cost.  I already have a priming tool that I love, I weigh each charge, and I can use the hand tool for some operations.  I don't really like Lee and I'd like something I can use for a good long time for the calibers I generally reload (the biggest being .300WSM, the longest potentially 30-06).

I've pretty much narrowed it down to the RCBS Pardner but I'd like to hear some recommendations from the board.

I'll also need a trimmer I suppose.  Reviews seem to vary on those pretty wildly.

Ben

The Big Boss is an excellent press, though I prefer the RCBS rockchucker supreme.  Either will serve you, your sons, and your grandsons well.  (Girls too, if they so choose )

Both of the above are a touch pricey, yes, but they are a buy it once and be done with it proposition as well.  You'd have to puposelfully abuse and misuse either to wear it out in a lifetime.

I had no idea how much the price of the Redding press had gone up.  It cost as much as the Rockchucker Supreme now.

If you decide you can't spend that much, you might want to check out the Lee Classic Cast.  It is much press for the money.

Hmmm...now the gears are working...

I had originally planned to mount whatever I end up getting on a wooden stool like the setup Dad has.  I've used it and it is really easy and very compact to deal with in as limited a space as I have.

This begs for me to build a decent bench though.

Ben

My first loading bench was only about 2' wide at the top, but was wider at the bottom and had a lower shelf that held 200lbs of lead.  Very stable without taking up too much space.

I do have to say the RCBS "Pardner" press has held up well over the years I've had it, something like 15 years now?
Anyway, I still use it as my universal decapping press, so in a way, it still gets more use than any of my more "fancy" presses.
It's a good buy. If you need case forming or an expandable setup it may not be the way to go, but it is a good starter press.
That being said, I do have one of the inexpensive "C" frame Lee Presses (30 bucks) with their powder-through-die setup on it, and it's been trucking for a long, long time, too.
I've head good thing about the "store brand" Graf and Sons "Smartreloader" brand press http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/69
But I don't have any first hand knowledge of that one.

The Smartreloader is a ChiCom rip off of the Lee.  I can't speak to it's quality, but I don't like violating Lee's IP rights for $40.

I wasn't aware of that, but it figures.

I have the RCBS Rockchucker and for the most part I like it but it has a few things wrong with it.  First and foremost is the primer catcher, it basically sucks.  If you grind off one of the tabs it works better, but it is still pretty craptastic. 

Bmitchell-

Keep in mind this is coming from a very pleased rock chucker supreme owner, but where this is purchase time and a one shot deal, I'd steer you toward the redding press for one simple reason: The spent primer catching system is better on that press than the RCBS press.  It just flat is.

edit-spelling, 'cause apparently, I can't.

Ok, guys... school me, here.
Is the primer ejection system of the Redding Big Boss II worth the extra cash?
I'm used to depriming with a Lee hand loader and it's really annoying because you have to dump it out every 20 or so hits.

Ben

I'm sorry - I meant, is it worth the slightly extra cost over a Big Boss.
I realize I was not clear.

Ben

I'm sorry - I meant, is it worth the slightly extra cost over a Big Boss.
I realize I was not clear.

Ben

I totally misunderstood.  Congrats on the Redding.  It is a great press and should serve well.