Press Upgrade....

M

Meroh

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Hi everyone,

I decided to upgrade my "Rifle" press. For most of my life I have been using an old Lyman Turret press, but for quite a number of years I have been unable to find a the replacement part that holds the primer tubes, and have been limping through with the broken, worn out one that it came with back in about 1976 when I bought it.

I looked at a lot of alternatives, and have ordered a Frankford Arsenel "M" single stage, a Lee auto prime Bench primer, and I have already upgraded. I got a great deal, it is in original packaging, but the packaging is damaged for $270.00, and comes with all the accessories; primer catcher, light, die blocks.

Reviews all looked good; has anyone here been using the M Press?

FRANK-1097879.jpg
 
chuck nelson said:
It’s a poor copy of Forsters press.
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It's almost a copy of the Forster press. Doesn't have as many functions but it works well.

OP, I don't believe your upgrade from the Lyman to the "M" press was really an upgrade of any magnitude, simply because it won't do anything your old Lyman press did better.

Still, it's new to you and that's what counts, if you're happy.

The real upgrade you made, was the stand alone bench mounted priming device.
 
bearhunter said:
It's almost a copy of the Forster press. Doesn't have as many functions but it works well.

OP, I don't believe your upgrade from the Lyman to the "M" press was really an upgrade of any magnitude, simply because it won't do anything your old Lyman press did better.

Still, it's new to you and that's what counts, if you're happy.

The real upgrade you made, was the stand alone bench mounted priming device.
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Well, considering the old Lyman is worn out and lose in both the ram and the turret (not as well designed as their newer ones); and apart from being able to prime like the coax, the on-line reviews claim it is on par, or better. At the price I got it for, it is much less expensive as well. I will post back once I run it a bit. The premise of this thread was not unsolicited opinions, but to hopefully hear from some who have actually used it. Opinions are like arse-holes, everyone has one. It is actual experience that carries credibility.
 
Meroh said:
Well, considering the old Lyman is worn out and lose in both the ram and the turret (not as well designed as their newer ones); and apart from being able to prime like the coax, the on-line reviews claim it is on par, or better. At the price I got it for, it is much less expensive as well. I will post back once I run it a bit. The premise of this thread was not unsolicited opinions, but to hopefully hear from some who have actually used it. Opinions are like arse-holes, everyone has one. It is actual experience that carries credibility.
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It might have helped if you hadn't witheld most of that information and in case you didn't notice, I did give you some info on how well the M press functions, from actual experience.
 
I apologize for my misunderstanding, I was under the impression that your experience was with the Forester.

I have been around the block a few times (my one powder measure and my scale are older than I am), and like any sport there are a whole lot of arm-chair experts. I also realize that many of the reviews that are on line can be either directly or indirectly sponsored by the items being reviewed, or consist of "first impressions" only.

Again, sorry.
 
Meroh said:
I apologize for my misunderstanding, I was under the impression that your experience was with the Forester.

I have been around the block a few times (my one powder measure and my scale are older than I am), and like any sport there are a whole lot of arm-chair experts. I also realize that many of the reviews that are on line can be either directly or indirectly sponsored by the items being reviewed, or consist of "first impressions" only.

Again, sorry.
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No apology required or needed. We all have those moments.

I've used both the Forster and the M press.

I wouldn't feel hard done by with either.

The Forster press has a priming station at the top of the press, which the M press doesn't have.

I don't use the priming station on my Forster and prefer the bench mounted (large piece of aluminum for the base) primer press, because there is a better "feel" of the seating and it doesn't aggravate the arthritis in my thumb, like a handheld primer does.

You may find that you will have to fiddle with or replace the primer feed tray on your unit.

I replaced mine with the tray from a handheld Lyman unit and it works flawlessly, without hang ups. Not only that but I can see how they're feeding and when a judicious tap to move them along is needed.
 
I'm in good shape for Lee primer trays as I am running two Pro 1000s, and have both round and square trays for them.

It arrived today, and it appears to be impressive... Now I need to get it set up. LOL
 
One thing to watch out for on the M Press is damage to dies and brass while depriming. I have bent tips on more than a few pins while depriming. You have to wiggle the die holder some to have it align with primer.

Am I the only one that has experienced this?
 
I had the opportunity to load a few rounds on an "M" press. It is actually not bad.
This is coming from a guy who has 2 - CO-AX presses on his bench [plus a Rockchucker]

One of my CO-AX presses is old enough to be marked "Bonanza" not "Forster"
I have loaded literally thousands of rounds on the CO-AX presses, and I still feel
they are a superior single-stage press.

That being said, the world would not come to an end if I had to use an "M" press,
or even the Rockchucker. Personal preference is just that: personal, lol Dave.
 
After seeing some info from a vendor and some stuff on You Tube on the M press, I'll pass on it. I have a Rockchucker, bought in 1980. Got a Co-ax in 2012 or 13, just picked up a MEC a few mos ago. Only reason I bothered with the MEC was it floats the shellholders, which the RCBS Rebel doesn't, primer handling is the same on both. Co-ax is an excellent press, worth the money, so is the MEC, I'd heard a lot of good stuff on it, they weren't kidding, I'd actually recommend it over the Rockchucker or Rebel now that I've used it. RC deprimes now (or pulls bullets), Coax sizes and expands, MEC seats, works great. Still have to use the RC or MEC for my 218Bee, Co-ax doesn't like the rim thickness on them, didn't like the 450-400NE when I had that either, rim was too big.
 
GimpyGolden said:
One thing to watch out for on the M Press is damage to dies and brass while depriming. I have bent tips on more than a few pins while depriming. You have to wiggle the die holder some to have it align with primer.

Am I the only one that has experienced this?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up; I will watch for this!
 
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