Old Bonanza press shell holders?

[Gatehouse]

A few years ago an older gentleman was moving and gave me an old Bonanza single stage press. I have a number of other presses so didn't figure out a use for it. Was cleaning up the shop today and stumbled onto it. Tried an RCBS shellholder in it but it didn't fit so I assume that it uses proprietary ones?

I'm sure someone on here has one that they have been using for the last 50 years and can answer this!

 

[Potashminer]

I can not help you about the Bonanza brand, but for sure an elderly Herter's "C" press that I bought a few years ago used proprietary shell holders that would not interchange, at all, to my RCBS stuff. My brother has that outfit now - it does work fine, once we found shell holders to go with it, for the cartridges that he loads!!!

I always wondered if adapters were ever made - that would go into the press ram, and then accept a "standard" shell holder. I never found any to buy.

 

[Snider shooter]

Bonanza does use a different shell holder. Herters also had their own shell holders The only adapter I have is the one I made from the top of an old ram. The chucked it in my lathe and duplicated the bottom of a Herters shell holder.

 

[Gatehouse]

The RCBS holder almost fit. I wonder if opening up the slot a little with a dremel would work. Although I probably will never get to it anyway.

 

[Potashminer]

Gatehouse - not sure what you are considering, but besides width of the slot, also need to get a shell holder more or less to centre of the ram - to be kind of lined up with the die?? If the slot is a bit too narrow, it is probably also a bit too short to fit properly??

 

[Gatehouse]

I'm sure it's not as easy as just going in and grinding away....But like I said I prob will never get to it anyway. I don't need another project, especially one that has low rewards like this would be

 

[snooker]

I have an old Bonanza "O" type press, I bought used 42 years ago. My first press!
Still use it occasionally. It takes standard shell holders, no problem.....
Strange that yours won't.

 

[Craig0ry]

I have an old Bonanza "O" type press, I bought used 42 years ago. My first press!
Still use it occasionally. It takes standard shell holders, no problem.....
Strange that yours won't.View attachment 666215

I have this exact press, was my great grandfathers, it's still my main single stage press to this day, and also takes Lee and RCBS shell holders

 

[snooker]

Now I feel really old!!

 

[Gatehouse]

I have an old Bonanza "O" type press, I bought used 42 years ago. My first press!
Still use it occasionally. It takes standard shell holders, no problem.....
Strange that yours won't.View attachment 666215

After reading this I went back and tried again. Turned out I just had to push it in a little harder. It was just a little gummed up, needs a bit of a cleaning. Thanks!

Still not sure what I'm going to do with it but good to know it works with the standard holders.

 

[fingers284]

I can not help you about the Bonanza brand, but for sure an elderly Herter's "C" press that I bought a few years ago used proprietary shell holders that would not interchange, at all, to my RCBS stuff. My brother has that outfit now - it does work fine, once we found shell holders to go with it, for the cartridges that he loads!!!

I always wondered if adapters were ever made - that would go into the press ram, and then accept a "standard" shell holder. I never found any to buy.

I have an old Herters press from the 60's and do make new shell holders work in it . weld an appropriate dia piece of pipe to the holder base, drilla hole for the set screw to enter and your done.