One of the first requirements for a press is the ability to fit the massive round. At 3.6 inches and some change long, you’ll need to right press for the job. On top of that, you want a strong press that durable and provides you enough room to work and reload. Luckily, we’ve found the right presses for you.
These are our recommendations for the 4 best reloading presses for .338 Lapua Magnum on the market.
Lyman Brass Smith Victory Reloading Press
When it comes to reloading any caliber, you can go simple, or you can go big. If you want to go simple, then the Lyman Brass Smith Victory Press is a great place to start. Other presses and reloading rigs emphasize quantity. The simple design of the Lyman allows you to reload one round at a time. This isn’t a big deal with the .338 Lapua Magnum because most people are not loading hundreds of rounds at a time anyway.
This simple single stage press gives shooters an affordable option for .338 Lapua shooters. Most affordable single-stage presses have limited room to work, and often it’s 3.5 inches, which makes them too short to reload .338 Lapua Magnum. The good news is the Lyman Brass Smith Idea Press allows you load rounds that are up to 5 inches long, which is, needless to say, plenty long enough to fit cartridges like the .338 Lapua Magnum.
While it’s slow, a single-stage press does often emphasize precision over speed. The .338 Lapua Magnum is a precision cartridge, so going slow can help you maximize your round’s accuracy and consistency (you’re not shooting hundreds of rounds like you would a 9mm or .223).
This press can get you in the door but does require a bit of patience between each round. You won’t be loading 1,000 rounds in a night, but you can load 200 precision, match-grade cartridges for long-range target ringing. This is a surgeon’s knife for your rounds, which makes it one of the best reloading presses for .338 Lapua Magnum period.
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Reloading Press
If you want to load .338 Lapua Magnum and possibly other cartridges as well, then the Rock Chucker Supreme is for you. The Rock Chucker Supreme by RCBS starts life is a single-stage press designed for precision shooters who are loading those powerful .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges. It gives you four inches of space for reloading, which is more than enough for the .338 Lapua Magnum.
Unlike the Lyman above, however, the Rock Chucker Supreme (see full specs) can also be outfitted as a progressive press that allows for quicker reloading of cartridges like the 9mm and 5.56mm. The Rock Chucker is also built to be a brick. It’s incredibly well-made and designed for those big magnum level cartridges like the .338 Lapua Magnum. It has no issues with case forming and bullet swaging. The heavy-duty design does it all and allows you to choose exactly what kind of reloading press you need.
The design accommodates excellent ergonomics and incorporates a large handle to provide more power and strength to your reloading. It removes most of your physical effort and gives you the leeway to focus more on the precision part of reloading than on the physical aspects of reloading. You’ll also avoid reloader’s elbow and be able to reload more and for longer periods of time.
Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press
If you want a big boy press designed for big boy rounds, then Frankford Arsenal has you covered with the mighty M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press. This press gives you 4 inches of space to reload cartridges, and that’s almost half an inch more than you need for the .338 Lapua Magnum. The Frankford Arsenal M-Press reloading press is built to last, and the handle design also takes a lot of the force off of you and makes it easy to press bullets into cartridges.
The design is versatile and easy to use for cartridges, both small and large. You won’t be locked into just the big cartridges, and you can load pistol and small rifle rounds as well. To switch between massive magnum rounds to your average pistol round all you have to do is turn a dial and bam, you’re good to go. The press has two parallel guide rods for accuracy and precision while reloading, and this ensures clean and consistent loading round after round.
The M-Press is made for die-cast steel and is incredibly durable and quite heavy at 21 pounds. It’s a system designed to get beat up, abused, and used hard and rough. It will last near forever. The M-Press is a system designed for reloaders looking for a semi-professional setup for their reloading needs. Without a doubt, this is one of the best reloading presses for .338 Lapua Magnum around.
Hornady Lock and Load Reloading Press
We’ve saved the most interesting rig for last. As just a press, the Hornady Lock and Load press are designed to be simple but robust. You get enough room to load the mighty .338 Lapua Magnum without issue. The Classic Reloader kit is designed for beginners, but it’s still a great rig for all reloaders. The Classic Reloader Kit gives you excellent access to the cartridge and allows you to view exactly what you are doing. The Lock and Load, quick-change bushing system, allows you to quickly get down to business.
The press is robust and durable (see full specs). The design is simple and reliable. Hornady is, by its nature, an ammunition company that loads millions of rounds a day. They know what they are doing, and on top of that, they know what reloaders need. The Lock and Load comes as just a press but also as a kit. Actually, they offer two kits with their press. The classic deluxe kit and the classic kit. Both are complete with several different options at different price ranges.
These kits allow you to just buy it all at once, and that’s pretty convenient. Overall the Hornady Lock and Load press are well made and robust. It’s a design that lasts while minimizing its size on your bench and gives you more space to work.
Best Reloading Press for .338 Lapua Magnum – Locked on
Reloading the .338 Lapua Magnum is a very economical way to enjoy shooting this powerful cartridge. Buying .338 ammunition is an expensive route to take and one that will likely cost more over time than a reloading press. Reloading your own ammo also ensures precision custom loaded rounds to squeeze the most out of your accuracy. Get one and maximize the ability of your mighty .338 Lapua. Good luck!