.50 BMG Press?

[50calshooter]

Hello I'm looking at getting the RCBS Ammomaster .50 BMG Press Kit. I was wondering if anyone knows if the press will also work for 7mm, 308, and 338 ? Or do you have to buy another press? Also I was wondering if anyone can tell me what else I'm guna need on top of the kit to get going on .50 BMG.... Let me know thank-you

 

[SandRoad]

Why not look at the Lee Classic Cast 50 BMG kit? In Canada it should be about $250 WITH dies (they are about $170 in the US vs $550 for the RCBS kit). The only thing is the Lee 50 cal dies are 1 1/4" thread and RCBS dies are 1 1/2" thread.

You will need to see if you can either get the bushing and shellholder for standard size dies and shellholders from RCBS. They do have a 50 cal conversion kit to go from the standard Ammomaster to lenghten it for loading 50 BMG

The Lee Cast press will take all standard dies with a bushing and is a pretty good press. I have found Lee dies to be pretty good, but often the Full Length sizer dies need a quick polish with Flitz on a bore mop chucked in a drill. If you are not reloading for Benchrest competition, you won't notice the difference between Lee dies and other brands.

(OK, now let the Lee bashing begin)

 

[CanAm]

I have the Lee and it is great value. Paid $160 plus freight for it.

 

[50calshooter]

Ok so the Lee Setup is cheaper, but is it guna last like the RCBS (ie Why is there such a price differ)

 

[CanAm]

Ok so the Lee Setup is cheaper, but is it guna last like the RCBS (ie Why is there such a price differ) Can you use the lee 50 BMG press for smaller calibers then?

I think the lee press is excellent quality. I have other RCBS gear. The Lee will do all smaller calibres.

 

[50calshooter]

I think the lee press is excellent quality. I have other RCBS gear. The Lee will do all smaller calibres.

Where can you buy these Lee Kits?

 

[CanAm]

Where can you buy these Lee Kits?

Midsouth. Ebay, Higginson Powders (Canada)

 

[50calshooter]

Midsouth. Ebay, Higginson Powders (Canada)

So if I get that Lee 50 BMG Press Kit, Do you know what else on top of that I'll have to buy?

 

[CanAm]

So if I get that Lee 50 BMG Press Kit, Do you know what else on top of that I'll have to buy?

Powder measure, scale, components.

 

[svt-40]

You can't get 50 BMG dies from the US anymore.

 

[Dmay]

I have no experience with the Lee press, but have used the RCBS with 50 kit for years, and it has worked fine.....and yes, you can load other cartridges with it.
If you're not already a member of FCSA, may be worth joining....check out their forum....lots of valuable info there....you can read reviews of the Lee press from guys who reload LOTS of 50 ammo...

 

[Kevan]

I've loaded quite a bit of 50 BMG on my Lee and it works very well for me.
I admit to being apprehensive about the Lee because my main press was an old dependable Rockchucker, but the Lee has a much larger opening and is a cleaner press to use with the spent primers going straight down the shaft.

 

[TRG-42]

No problem with other calibers. There is just lots of handle movement ( since its so long ) to provide the necessary leverage for 50BMG

You need the shellholder and ram priming unit

Make certain if you buy a used press that you buy a Ammomaster II not the older Ammomaster I

Obviously you need the Dies. RCBS,Hornady and Lee all make dies

You might want a dedicated 50Cal Powder drop since a standard Uniflow or Hornady unit won't come close to dropping the 250+ Gr in one drop

Don't underestimate the force it takes to resize once fired mil surplus ( generally fired in a M2 ). I ripped my press off the first table it was mounted on

 

[Kevan]

I believe that Lee dies for the 50 BMG only work with a Lee press because the threads are a different size than the RCBS 50 BMG dies which are made for the big RCBS press.
As for any other 50 BMG dies I would have no idea what the thread size is or what they are made to fit.
And yes, if you size any amount of brass you will not need to go to a gym for exercise.....