With both my teens into shooting with me, I'm looking to get back into reloading. Thinking a solid single stage press, mainly .308, .223 and .350 Legend. I used to have an RCBS Rockchucker, but that was a couple lifetimes ago. Anyone have a recommendation for an inexpensive but durable press? Also, is it an impossible task to reload pistol ammo ( .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .44 Mag) with the same press? I know it'll take a longer time than if I got a progressive, but $$$$$$$$.

Thanks, guys.

You can speed up the process if you use a Turret press. I use a RCBS turret press and I like it a lot. It is a little more expensive than the rockchucker but it does save a bunch of time, not just for pistol ammo, but you can crank out a fair few rifle rounds as well in not too much time.
https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-88901-Turret-Press/dp/B000NOQJ5S

Lee classic cast Turret

this will do everything you are asking

it keeps the dies loaded in turrets cartridge switch is a minute

it will index on the 223 and 350 legend and 308

but if you pull the indexing rod it is a single stage with easy change dies

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013020237?pid=785993

loaded a lot of 223 , 300blk, 308win, 9mm , 40 , 45 on this press even a little 30-30 and 30-06

Thanks for the insight.

Rock chucker is still a good one

Rcbs rock chucker. I just picked one up for under 200$. I'm slowly rebuilding my reloading stuff. It's a tuff pill to swallow. Lost tens of thousands just in reloading equipment in a fire. The price of reloading equipment is outrageous, like everything else. I'm hoping for a depression. Not for myself, I'm already there. but for everyone, so things can get back to normal. My wife has bread for sale if anyone is interested, 20$ a loaf. My truck is for sale too . 250k, no low ballers, I know what I've got.

Yes you can reload rifle and pistol ammo on a single stage press. Tens of thousands of us are doing it just this way.
The rockchucker is a great press, along with others.

I still use a RockChucker but a Lee turret press is a nice press and priced right

I have 2 RCBS Chuckers and an old C/H. When I reload I set them up in a row with the capper. I start at one end and load 1 round all the way to the other, this eliminates any chance of a double charge, and I will weigh every 5th round.

I loaded and still use a Lee . I bought one years ago called the anniversary edition it’s called the challenger kit I would buy the turrent press kit.i actually have 2 Dillion a450 and 550 that I run the Lee auto drum powder measure on 4 different calibers and they stay dead on.

Practice handgun ammo gets loaded on my Dillon 550. Load development and handgun and rifle hunting ammo gets loaded on my Rockchucker (I'm real anal about hunting ammo). Shotgun ammo gets loaded on MEC presses. 12, 20, and 28 are 9000g. The 410 is a MEC 600 jr, don't shoot it much and I don't hunt with it. Besides I haven't seen a 410 9000G that ran as smoothly as the larger gauges. Too many issues with wads entering the case mouth. I don't burn up as much metallic stuff as I used to but I do go thru 8 to 10 thousand shot shells a year. Mostly clay targets with some pigeons and crows mixed in. If I go after waterfowl with my son I buy a couple boxes of steel. I spent some time figuring out my costs on the shotgun ammo, I am saving about $0.70 per box reloading. I can buy good 12 and 20 practice/competition ammo for $88 per flat. So I've been buying more 12 and 20. Surprisingly the 20 is more expensive than the 12 to load, but only because of the powder I use. The 28 and 410 I save quite a bit more, it's a supply and demand thing.

For the rifle I still use the rock chucker. But if you or your boys are going to do much shooting due yourself a favor and buy a Dillon 550. Imo

I am going say opposite to what a couple of the other gentlemen said. Start with a single stage for them boys to learn on. Rock Chucker is a good one. Them boys do not even need to start on a progressive. It's way too easy to make a mistake and then,,,KABOOM. Once they learn the single stage they could move on to a turret or progressive.

Rickey

I do the same, I use Lee Challenger presses

For 9mm, 5.56/223, 30-06,and 3030 I use my lee single stage press and for 12 ga and 20ga I use my old pacific slide bar press.. I only load a few hundred rounds of each a year though.

Thanks, guys. My father in law has several MEC presses and has shown my son (14) how to reload shotgun shells, so it'll be just rifle/handgun reloading here. My daughter (13) has no interest in reloading at this time, she just likes to shoot!

lee has a 150th aniversary set with every thing you need you can reload pistol and rifle. and the dies are pretty easy to change to caliber.