Best / most precise reloading press ?
- Thread starter pilot2001
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
for the orig question - the first and most important tool is a good runout gauge. EVERYTHING else is based off your measurements. The tool price is of no relevance unless they work as desired. I have used both cheap and expensive gear that have both succeeded and failed. Check the tool - forget about the price.
For a press, used a bunch and as long as the ram is not bent or goes way off line, it does not matter. I use a Lee challenger Breech lock press to make all my ammo and I do compete at 1000yds.
For me, this is what I focus on:
Annealling - do it properly and do it often. Every 2 to 3 firings as I am just a bit too lasy to do it each time....although it can help
Case neck prep - measure and maintain dimensions. It likely changes with each firing. If using a bushing neck die, be prepared to outside turn EVERY firing. Time for a quality ball micrometer and a good outside neck turning tool.
Better neck sizing die - Lee collet neck die. Tried many for a range of chambers I have shot. No measureable runout and very nice neck tension. Watch the amount of sizing as this will affect runout.
If using bushing neck dies, see neck prep. Check your die as some WILL create runout.
Better seating die - Forster for me. Others love Redding. If runout is low, inline seaters do no better. Check your tools and change what needs to be.
Primers - confirm each lot and type. There are BAD lots out there. Good time to invest in a quality chronie. Confirm with target at distance cause that is the ultimate goal.
Powders - modern extruded powders from a quality brand. Sorry, haven't found a ball type powder to work well.
Weigh every charge - I hold my loads to the same 0.1gr and it shows on target at LR.
Runout - to be honest, I spend little to no time checking my gear after I confirm that my tools work initially. I have tested ammo with some very high runouts and groups didn't show much/ any difference. Test, test, test.
Powder charges matter. Runout, not so much.
But the only way to convince yourself is to do a blind test on the ammo.
Let the target tell you what you need to adjust not your perception on what is important.
YMMV.
Jerry
For a press, used a bunch and as long as the ram is not bent or goes way off line, it does not matter. I use a Lee challenger Breech lock press to make all my ammo and I do compete at 1000yds.
For me, this is what I focus on:
Annealling - do it properly and do it often. Every 2 to 3 firings as I am just a bit too lasy to do it each time....although it can help
Case neck prep - measure and maintain dimensions. It likely changes with each firing. If using a bushing neck die, be prepared to outside turn EVERY firing. Time for a quality ball micrometer and a good outside neck turning tool.
Better neck sizing die - Lee collet neck die. Tried many for a range of chambers I have shot. No measureable runout and very nice neck tension. Watch the amount of sizing as this will affect runout.
If using bushing neck dies, see neck prep. Check your die as some WILL create runout.
Better seating die - Forster for me. Others love Redding. If runout is low, inline seaters do no better. Check your tools and change what needs to be.
Primers - confirm each lot and type. There are BAD lots out there. Good time to invest in a quality chronie. Confirm with target at distance cause that is the ultimate goal.
Powders - modern extruded powders from a quality brand. Sorry, haven't found a ball type powder to work well.
Weigh every charge - I hold my loads to the same 0.1gr and it shows on target at LR.
Runout - to be honest, I spend little to no time checking my gear after I confirm that my tools work initially. I have tested ammo with some very high runouts and groups didn't show much/ any difference. Test, test, test.
Powder charges matter. Runout, not so much.
But the only way to convince yourself is to do a blind test on the ammo.
Let the target tell you what you need to adjust not your perception on what is important.
YMMV.
Jerry
We put this to the test a few years ago. The Co-Ax with Redding match dies was as good as the Wilson.
Swissins hillybilly book of reloading!
1. insert half a bag of chew in your mouth!
2. Scratch your nuts for good measure
3. Use a lil nut jam to lube your cases
4. Spit into spittoon and use a lil on the inside of you case neck
5. Loose patience prime, toss some powder in the case + or -5gr of powder.
6. Shove some bullets in the case and crimp by using big hilly billy hands.
7. Scratch nuts again smell your fingers and call it a day! Lol! Gotta sniff the fingers or your ### Lmao!
Go out and nail 1200 m gong while drinking moonshine! Yeeeeehawwww!
in short range br full length sizing die with neck bushings are common, we don't seem to have a problem with dimensions moving around. I have never seen anyone re outside neck turn after the initial prep that must be a long range thing that I am not familiar with, not to many guys anneal but I think it is a good idea, dies are critical ,it is common to make a seater die with our chamber reamer and to make a sizing die with a matched sizing reamer. no matter how straight the press is, if you have a poor fitting die, accuracy and case life will suffer. Again this is all relative to the type of shooting you do.in our game 0-300 yrds. these days it is not uncommon to see teen aggs ,meaning five groups of five shots under .2", the last competition I was in in Sept a .150" agg won the day .
good luck with the press
good luck with the press
