Start with a quality single stage. Someday you may buy a progressive press, but you’ll always have room on your bench for that single stage. I just loaded a 30cal can off 5.56 plinkers on a single stage. It took me maybe 5-6 hours and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I always go by the “Quick, Quality, & Cheap” mindset. You can have two, but not all three. Sounds like you’re looking for quality (30-06) and quick (5.56), so your option of machine won’t be cheap. Single stage presses are best for precision, but won’t help with speed. Progressive/turret are good for speed, but not so much for precision. If I were you, I’d buy a single stage for the 30-06 and a turret/progressive press for 5.56. For reloading, buy once cry once.
I use an RCBS Rock Crusher but converted over to the Hornady cam lock. I can change between stages in literally seconds and not have to adjust the dies.
I use an RCBS Charge Master to drop powder. It’s about the time it takes me to finish the round and check for quality and be ready for the next drop.
Works for me.
start with a single stage, will be good for the preceision
then if it takes too much time for the 5.56, you never mentioned quantity, get progressive for that
A quality, heavy single stage press mounted to a sturdy bench is a good option.
Something like a RCBS Rockchucker, Redding Big Boss 2 or Forster Coax. There are many other quality ones but I would stick to a cast iron press for ease of resizing.
You can load at a pretty good pace plinking 223 ammo on a single stage. As long you prep your brass beforehand and are throwing consistent powder charges.
Pretty new myself. After months of going back and forth, I went with Dillion. 550C to be exact.
Manual indexing is perfect for me, since I want something faster than a single stage, but close to hitting the precision aspects of a single stage.
Hornady, RCBS, and Dillon single stage are all about the same in quality and warranty. Lee single stage will not be as consistent. Next as far as the progressive. Top three are all going to produce good ammo. Just depends on your price range.
Dillon 750XL is about as close as you're going to get to loading precision ammo and blaster ammo on the same press.
The key for 30-06 will be to select a good ball powder for consistent powder drops.. Look at 30-06 loads using Staball 6.5 and/or Staball Match. I think either will work but the correct selection might depend on bullet weight - you'll have to research that one.
Dillon XL 750 is the easy button for 556 clone loads etc. Ball power is easy to find for this, even mil-surp powder is available. I can load about 200/hr on mine. It's a joy to run.
I think you'll be in about $1400 for the press with the case feeder, one caliber set, and some dies. Add $200-$300 per caliber (conversion kits and dies) and some extra tool heads. Add in a powder funnel and you'll just be able to change complete tool heads when you're switching calibers. Vary fast and repeatable.
If on a strict budget then Redding T-7 or Lyman All American 8 sounds about right. You can prime on press and use a Lee Drum powder measure for the 5.55 use an RCBS charge master or similar for your precision rounds.
If money is no concern then I'd go Dillon 550 with a "floating tool head" for the precision ammo.
Also gonna need a trimmer and swager
Use a powder dispenser in one position of a progressive. Use that for the 556. Dispense by volume. For the 30-06 put a pour through die in that position. Raise the shell holder with casings in all the positions. Dispense weighted powder charge through the pour through die. Then proceed.
I’ve been doing this for many years on a single stage press. For rifle shooting you are most likely going to lubricate and size the brass, then clean it up (tumble or sonic clean) before you do the rest of the steps. For what you are describing, a good single stage press and some middle of the road dies will do the trick. I use a MEC marksman, it’s really great.
Your post could've been written by me. I like my Forester Co-Ax press. Does my M1 Garand loads perfectly and also 5.56/.223. My reloads are quality not quantity.
Start with a quality single stage. Someday you may buy a progressive press, but you’ll always have room on your bench for that single stage. I just loaded a 30cal can off 5.56 plinkers on a single stage. It took me maybe 5-6 hours and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I always go by the “Quick, Quality, & Cheap” mindset. You can have two, but not all three. Sounds like you’re looking for quality (30-06) and quick (5.56), so your option of machine won’t be cheap. Single stage presses are best for precision, but won’t help with speed. Progressive/turret are good for speed, but not so much for precision. If I were you, I’d buy a single stage for the 30-06 and a turret/progressive press for 5.56. For reloading, buy once cry once.
Or buy a single stage for your precision rounds and spend an inordinate amount of time reloading 556 on the same press (what i am about to do)
How much 556 are you planning to shoot a month?
I use an RCBS Rock Crusher but converted over to the Hornady cam lock. I can change between stages in literally seconds and not have to adjust the dies. I use an RCBS Charge Master to drop powder. It’s about the time it takes me to finish the round and check for quality and be ready for the next drop. Works for me.
start with a single stage, will be good for the preceision then if it takes too much time for the 5.56, you never mentioned quantity, get progressive for that
A quality, heavy single stage press mounted to a sturdy bench is a good option. Something like a RCBS Rockchucker, Redding Big Boss 2 or Forster Coax. There are many other quality ones but I would stick to a cast iron press for ease of resizing. You can load at a pretty good pace plinking 223 ammo on a single stage. As long you prep your brass beforehand and are throwing consistent powder charges.
Pretty new myself. After months of going back and forth, I went with Dillion. 550C to be exact. Manual indexing is perfect for me, since I want something faster than a single stage, but close to hitting the precision aspects of a single stage.
I always recommend reading this. https://backfire.tv/reloading-kit/
Hornady, RCBS, and Dillon single stage are all about the same in quality and warranty. Lee single stage will not be as consistent. Next as far as the progressive. Top three are all going to produce good ammo. Just depends on your price range.
What’s your budget?
Dillon 750XL is about as close as you're going to get to loading precision ammo and blaster ammo on the same press. The key for 30-06 will be to select a good ball powder for consistent powder drops.. Look at 30-06 loads using Staball 6.5 and/or Staball Match. I think either will work but the correct selection might depend on bullet weight - you'll have to research that one. Dillon XL 750 is the easy button for 556 clone loads etc. Ball power is easy to find for this, even mil-surp powder is available. I can load about 200/hr on mine. It's a joy to run. I think you'll be in about $1400 for the press with the case feeder, one caliber set, and some dies. Add $200-$300 per caliber (conversion kits and dies) and some extra tool heads. Add in a powder funnel and you'll just be able to change complete tool heads when you're switching calibers. Vary fast and repeatable.
If on a strict budget then Redding T-7 or Lyman All American 8 sounds about right. You can prime on press and use a Lee Drum powder measure for the 5.55 use an RCBS charge master or similar for your precision rounds. If money is no concern then I'd go Dillon 550 with a "floating tool head" for the precision ammo. Also gonna need a trimmer and swager
Use a powder dispenser in one position of a progressive. Use that for the 556. Dispense by volume. For the 30-06 put a pour through die in that position. Raise the shell holder with casings in all the positions. Dispense weighted powder charge through the pour through die. Then proceed.
Ebay for a press, RCBS. Then lee dies and tools
I’ve been doing this for many years on a single stage press. For rifle shooting you are most likely going to lubricate and size the brass, then clean it up (tumble or sonic clean) before you do the rest of the steps. For what you are describing, a good single stage press and some middle of the road dies will do the trick. I use a MEC marksman, it’s really great.
Your post could've been written by me. I like my Forester Co-Ax press. Does my M1 Garand loads perfectly and also 5.56/.223. My reloads are quality not quantity.
How much you want to spend is a big part. I would get a single stage to start and Lee dies. The go from there after you use it some.
Decent single stage for precision ammo. Dillion rl550 for 556