Best / most precise reloading press ?

pilot2001

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Im thinking of up grading most of my reloading equipment and im wondering if the old RCBS Rockchucker's days might be numbered. Im loading for precision LR rigs ... 7rem mag and a 300 wsm. Ive noticed there is some slop in the RCBS and ive been doing some reading online and cant really make any solid decision on a rout I might want to take. Ive always tried to get my cases to match quality but I feel like I pretty much need a whole new kit to do it right. I pretty much have all my gear picked out ... I just feel like if I try and run my new dyes and shell holders in the old RCBS ... Ill still be bucking head wind.

Ive looked at some of Sinclairs presses and the Reddings such as the Big Boss 2 ... any info from LR competition guys or bench rest guy would be much appreciated.

Cheers


Oh ... not interested in progressive presses at this time
 
Don't make assumptions, measure your results. Do you have a concentricity gauge to measure runout? If not, get one - you might be looking for a solution to a problem you don't have. I use a rockchucker and have no issues making loaded rounds with .002" of runout or less on average. I use a forster coax tool to measure concentricity of necks and loaded rounds - works great. Zero issues with redding type-s dies here.

Proper case prep and proper die setup will go a lot further to making concentric ammo. A little bit of slop or play isn't bad - it allows cases and bullets to self center. Find your case necks that aren't concentric enough and either fix them or cull them (for use as sighters.) Make sure your dies are setup correctly with the right neck bushing for your brass - this can make a major difference. Only you can decide what concentric enough means, but searching for perfect ammo with zero runout will drive you mad.

Lots of good info on making concentric ammo online, http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/how-to-load-more-concentric-ammo/
 
Don't make assumptions, measure your results. Do you have a concentricity gauge to measure runout? If not, get one - you might be looking for a solution to a problem you don't have. I use a rockchucker and have no issues making loaded rounds with .002" of runout or less on average. I use a forster coax tool to measure concentricity of necks and loaded rounds - works great. Zero issues with redding type-s dies here.

Proper case prep and proper die setup will go a lot further to making concentric ammo. A little bit of slop or play isn't bad - it allows cases and bullets to self center. Find your case necks that aren't concentric enough and either fix them or cull them (for use as sighters.) Make sure your dies are setup correctly with the right neck bushing for your brass - this can make a major difference. Only you can decide what concentric enough means, but searching for perfect ammo with zero runout will drive you mad.

Lots of good info on making concentric ammo online, http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/reloading/how-to-load-more-concentric-ammo/

Am looking for advice on a Single stage press ... not on how to control run out or how to case prep but thanks. Im a regular on Accurate Shooter , if you could send me a link on the best press for Heavy Recoil Class that might help , As I cannot find it myself. Maybe it dosnt matter ... If that's a legitimate answer I will settle for that.

a Forster co-ax press did not made my amo more accurate, but dies change lot faster and easyer
I did not nead a second press so I sold the rock chucker

Got a little further online and im starting to see some of the competitive LR shooters still using Rockcrushers with there Redding dyes and match shell holders. Makes you wonder if the press makes a difference. I was looking at the forester C0-AX press amongst others. Thanks for the input on your experience.

Will add ... I was talked into Forester comp dies when I was shopping for Redding S ... this is a change im looking to make in my kit. Also looking to dump my RCBS neck turner ... its the one that attaches onto your case neck trimmer ... the whole ram wobbles when you turn it ... It is going FOR SURE. Replacing it with a K&M outside neck turner and getting a Wilson case trimmer. These are the reasons why im thinking of a new press ... thinking im putting all this effort into straitening everything out ... Is my Rockcrusher going to hold me back ?

Actually rebuilding my whole bench
 
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Keep it simple. Get an arbor press and Wilson hand dies. Much more precise than any single stage press. Drop by a bench rest match as talk to those guys about how to build accurate ammunition. I bet every single one will tell you what I just did
 
Keep it simple. Get an arbor press and Wilson hand dies. Much more precise than any single stage press. Drop by a bench rest match as talk to those guys about how to build accurate ammunition. I bet every single one will tell you what I just did

I know a lot of bench rest guys actually ... There is only a couple of them that are a wealth of knowledge, I am all ears when they are talking and that's not very often. I find a lot of the guys in that group are running high end rifles that they have bought second hand and trying to get them shoot on a budget because they are retired and on a pension.

Ill look into the arbor press ...
 
When my old Lee press worn out I was looking at buying a new Rockchucker. The Rockchucker and the Redding Big Boss were side by side on the shelf. The regular price on the Big Boss was about $30 more than the Rockchucker, but it was on sale for $20 less. I would have been just as happy with the Rockchucker but decided to save the $20 and bought the Big Boss. With Redding competition dies and seater I have no problems with runout.
 
I run a rockchucker that my best pals dad bought in 1967. It has loaded tens of thousands of rounds and still makes ammo with little run out as long as you use good dies. Same pal has 2 redding presses and they are great to load on. I have been toying with a sinclair press and Wilson dies just for giggles. Not necessary (in my mind) but neat for sure.
 
Co-Ax is my favourite although I have others. It is so powerful that I made a short handle for it when I don't need full power and very seldom do I need to change universal shell holders. A most excellent press for single stage work.
 
Keep it simple. Get an arbor press and Wilson hand dies. Much more precise than any single stage press. Drop by a bench rest match as talk to those guys about how to build accurate ammunition. I bet every single one will tell you what I just did

+1 on the arbor press. 21St century shooting makes a very good arbor press and it wont brake your bank.

This is exactly the input I was looking for ... K&M has an arbor press with a force indicator on it. Just watched a video on you tube where the guy was doing some seating on a .204 Ruger with Wilson dyes ... Thank you for putting me on the right track , this is likely the equipment I will be upgrading to. I will look at other models including the Sinclair beofor I make an order. I will likely be going too Wilson dye's with a little more research as well... Other bench rest shooters have tried to push me towards them in the past. Looks like I will make the plunge.

Love the portability of the press , I like loading with my dad so its great to be able to grab your press and take it where you need to go with that kind of precision.

Thanks again ... awesome stuff
 
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IMO I would be more concerned with the dies and effects they have on the brass.Personally I would look at getting consistent results from the dies as this is where your rubber meets the road so to speak.Neck bushings/tension and proper sizes, neck thickness, stuff like that.Competition dies may be the way to go.

I do like my Rockchucker.

Many guys are using so called economy presses and competing and are competitive.

If the press feels good to you, use it.
 
IMO I would be more concerned with the dies and effects they have on the brass.Personally I would look at getting consistent results from the dies as this is where your rubber meets the road so to speak.Neck bushings/tension and proper sizes, neck thickness, stuff like that.Competition dies may be the way to go.

I do like my Rockchucker.

Many guys are using so called economy presses and competing and are competitive.

If the press feels good to you, use it.

Again ... as I posted to other members , was more looking for input on "specifically a press " as the thread indicates rather than other loading info ... But thanks
 
Are you looking for precision in repeatability? The machining of matting surfaces? Press with tightest tolerances/clearances between moving parts? etc...................




Again ... as I posted to other members , was more looking for input on "specifically a press " as the thread indicates rather than other loading info ... But thanks
 
If you consider only presses, I measured the results I was getting and found my Redding T-7 gave me better results than my old Rockchucker for seating bullets. I don't do any full length sizing on the T-7 though only neck sizing and seating. I use a new Rockchucker for full length sizing and then seat on the T-7. However, dies make a huge difference and don't be mislead into believing that only neck bushing dies will give low bullet runouts. Test and make sure on all dies. In resizing my 300 SAUM for match use, my plain jane cheap RCBS full length sizer gives the best and lowest runouts which are far better than my Redding bushing dies.

Steve
 
Are you looking for precision in repeatability? The machining of matting surfaces? Press with tightest tolerances/clearances between moving parts? etc...................

yep ... and any input on if this matters , some say a little slop is ok because on high end dyes the dye will match the surfaces to tight tolerance's anyway once the case and bullet start to mate in the dye or once the case enters the dye for resizing.


If you consider only presses, I measured the results I was getting and found my Redding T-7 gave me better results than my old Rockchucker for seating bullets. I don't do any full length sizing on the T-7 though only neck sizing and seating. I use a new Rockchucker for full length sizing and then seat on the T-7. However, dies make a huge difference and don't be mislead into believing that only neck bushing dies will give low bullet runouts. Test and make sure on all dies. In resizing my 300 SAUM for match use, my plain jane cheap RCBS full length sizer gives the best and lowest runouts which are far better than my Redding bushing dies.

Steve

Excellent info ... absolutely struck that your RCBS FL is producing resized brass that is so strait. Something I will take into consideration when im trying new dies. Im honestly struggling with run out when seating with my RCBS standard dye's ... I have couple sets of Forester Ultra seater dyes , I also have foresters bushing bump dyes and they're FL dies and although I can commonly get run out inside three thou , sometimes a thou ... Im producing to many rounds with 5 thou which im not happy with. I would prefer to be constantly producing ammo
with run out less than 2 thou

Ive been reading that even with high end dyes your expander ball can warp your neck when you pull your case back out even while neck sizing with a bushing dye. Thus causing you to have run out problems. I know for a fact my RCBS case trimmer/ outside neck turner is not cutting straight, It will be one of my starting points.


Off the topic of run out and onto pressure and back to presses ... I like the idea of the force dial indicator on this press , it will give you a idea of the consistence of the hardness of you brass. I believe this will definitely give you an idea ... or help you determine how consistent your pressure will be before you go to the range . Especially when you know your brass has been prepped consistently and weighed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PteQGi-LTdM

Another clip of some high end case prepping done on Lapua brass I had dug up on AS

http://www.accurateshooter.com/featured/complete-precision-case-prep/

Thread is a little side tracked now ... but all good

I will also add , although im shooting pretty good at 1000 yards ... I want to be a lot better, and more consistent " specifically " I will say that I commonly can get velocity spreads between 40-60 fps ... inside 300 yards it dosnt seem to matter, but at 600 is where im really starting to notice it , although some guys seem to think im shooting very good at 600 , a more experienced shooter will notice there are issues. What im reading is a velocity spread as big as 25fps at 1000 yards is going to make you completely uncompetitive... Im looking for virtually no run out and single digit velocity spreads ... I wont be happy until it happens

I again I remind members ... im looking for info from guys that have experience with 1000 yard shooting and guys that Bench and are getting extremely consistent velocities more than anything.

Thanks you guys have been very helpful
 
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