Durability of a press

powdergun

powdergun

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I have been using a Lyman Turret press for many years. Along the way the main turret pin snapped. ( Fixed it and went on) Now definitely noticing some wear in the linkage etc.. Can't say the old press owes me anything considering how much i have used it.

My question is do other designs hold up as well or maybe better. For example will the Co-ax style hold up as well ?


Thanks in advance for all info and advice.
 
Is kind of hard to answer that question without understanding how that press of yours has failed - was it ever cleaned and lubed? What happened to cause the main turret pin to snap? Wear on moving parts could be from age / normal usage, or could be from dirt and lack of lube. Maybe you had a manufacture mis-alignment from the get-go - that put stress onto parts that were not meant to get stressed?

As you probably know, there are tools and machinery made in the 1800's (or earlier) that still perform their intended function today - and garbage disposal areas full of stuff made a few years ago that quit functioning. Some might be by design - some might be due to lack of maintenance - is hard to say without knowing more than you posted. My general viewpoint is that most products that are made today are made as cheaply as possible with "know-nothing" labour, to be purchased by "know nothing" consumers - even if it is the same brand of thing that you bought 40 or 50 years ago, generally, the older one is better made, or at least lasts longer - clothes washers, stoves, refrigerators, etc. There are some exceptions - like CNC machining versus hard fitting - but one needs a monkey to operate (in production) and the other needs a craftsman and some time to do the task; or vehicles - I assume this "new-to-us" 2022 Honda SRV is going to last much longer (way more miles) than the Honda Civic that we bought new in 1978, and undoubtably much longer (more miles) than my Dad's 1959 Dodge Regent.
 
The Turret snapped while loading 9mm of all things. There was just a wee bit of flex and the main pin snapped after decades of use. I fixed it by recutting the threads and using a 1/2 inch bolt. The turret is solid now and i have been using it that way for few years. The old press has been maintained but looks like the pins are wearing a bit in the holes. I can't even guess how many rounds it has cranked out and most likely it will outlive me but it would be nice to retire it and use something new.

I have a new Forster Co-ax waiting but was curious as to how durable those types of presses were.
 
I'm loading single stage on a vintage Rock Chucker and don't think I will be able to wear it out in my lifetime, probably need a few lifetimes to even start to see wear.

Hard to break or bend a cast iron O-frame :)
 
Your question about "durability" is an interesting thing - in 20 years, you will be able to give an opinion about how well it lasted - a press that you bought 20 years previously. So, a reader, then, might presume that a new one of that brand that he buys then, will also give him similar service. I think it happens with a lot of stuff today - people form opinions (good and not so good) about products that were made some years ago, as if that has much to do with the durability or usefulness of that product made today - for example, Weaver brand scopes are not made in El Paso any more; the formula for Hoppe's No. 9 was completely revised in the 1990's - but is the same brand name sold today. So someone who has been using a Forster brand Co-Ax press for 20 years likely has formed an opinion about it - which I am not sure has much to do with the product that you have recently acquired.
 
bertn said:
I'm loading single stage on a vintage Rock Chucker and don't think I will be able to wear it out in my lifetime, probably need a few lifetimes to even start to see wear.

Hard to break or bend a cast iron O-frame :)
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I use the same thing here - to your point above, though - not sure that they "die" by breaking - I suspect that ram gets wobbly in the casting, or the pins get loose in the linkage - so I am told that the result is the ram shell holder is no longer concentric with the die. Might not matter to some; might be a "really big thing" to others.
 
My Rockchucker is over 40 years old, has loaded many thousands of rounds, and has formed many cases, and the tolerances are still likely closer than a new one today.Keep the ram clean, lube the press, and it should outlast the operator.
 
powdergun said:
I have been using a Lyman Turret press for many years. Along the way the main turret pin snapped. ( Fixed it and went on) Now definitely noticing some wear in the linkage etc.. Can't say the old press owes me anything considering how much i have used it.

My question is do other designs hold up as well or maybe better. For example will the Co-ax style hold up as well ?


Thanks in advance for all info and advice.
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More moving parts, the faster something will wear or break, is the general machinery rule. Having said that, I still have a running (albeit loose) Lee 3 hole turret press from the early 80's. A rcbs Jr that is at least that old. My Lyman stuff is from the late 80's, and my Dillon is at least 20 years old. Keep them lubed and the adjustments set right and they will last a long time. I think single stage presses last about the longest. Just an opinion loosely based observation, fwiw. - Dan
 
I currently own three presses.

Have a Lyman turret that's probably the same as yours. Really haven't used it that much. A bit offlex, fine though although it's strictly pistol caliber.

Redding O frame. Nice little, indestructible press.

Redding T7. IMO, the standard by which turrets are measured.

For years my RCBS rockchucker, first Gen was my principal press. I probably loaded more on it than all others combined. Precise, strong, ridgid, but slow.

Doubt I would ever go back to single stage now that I have the T7. Cast iron presses are indestructible. Can't really speak to cast aluminum, doubt the average volume handloader would notice the difference.
 
I would say that for the majority of reloaders a decent quality press is a lifetime investment. I have seen a number of mostly Lee presses break in the casting, but cast iron presses are pretty much indestructible. That being said 40 odd years back I purchased a RCBS Ammomaster press. Over the years it has sized and processed several million rounds. Although still usable the ram now has about .025" slop in every direction when the ram is extended which needless to say makes concentric case prep and reloading near impossible. IF RCBS had built the press to have a replaceable ram bushing the press would still be 100% usable, sadly they never did so the press is pretty much done as it is not worth the cost to bore out the hole the ram runs in and install a bushing.

This is a major reason when we designed our own press that every moving part is either in oil impregnated bronze bushings or roller bearings.
 
stubblejumper said:
My Rockchucker is over 40 years old, has loaded many thousands of rounds, and has formed many cases, and the tolerances are still likely closer than a new one today.Keep the ram clean, lube the press, and it should outlast the operator.
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Me too. My first and only press Ive ever owned. Still going strong from when I purchased it from SIR mailorder in 1977. I normally load small batches at a time so a single stage press is fine for me. I'll be ten toes up to the skyline before it is worn out I think.
 
I have a very old Rockchucker on my bench, plus an older yet "Bonanza" Co-Ax [Now Forster]
How many cases the Co-Ax has loaded I have no idea, but definitely in the tens of thousands.
It still works as well as the new Co-Ax I bought about 6 years ago. [It has the taller yoke]
I have not replaced a solitary part on any of my presses. Maintained, they will outlive us. EE
 
JBD said:
Run enough rounds through any press and something will break.
Rcbs dillion have good warranty support lee not so much.
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I want to say, "BULL####" but the truth is I haven't had to use the Lee warranty in decades. Back about 25 years ago, the linkage on my 3-hole Lee Turret Press broke. I contacted them and they sent me out a new one gratis, no hassles.

I did recently use the Dillon warranty and once I provided them w pics of the problem, I was sent out a replacement part, no issues.
 
I have run Redding and RCBS presses for making jacketed bullets for over a decade and put more use on them than most reloaders making ammo. The only thing I have run into for wear are the linkage pins which I have to replace on a regular basis.
 
I think it depends on how solid you have it mounted and angle that you pull down the handle.

Most will load from and angle, so they put some side force when operating the handle. I broke some cast iron parts on my Lee press loading ammo that way.
 
I have to speak up for Lyman Orange Crusher, over 40 years old and I'm sure nothing will break or wear out on it. Done some stupid things like take the decapping pin out of the dye and turn a 3006 into a 243 just to see if it could be done, No I didn't use it! But done hundreds of 3006 into 8x57 and 308 into 243.
 
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