Which Reloading Presses Are You Using?

rgv said:
The solution is any quality cast iron press like a Rock Chucker combined with the Redding Competition shellholders which come in sets of -0.002 to -0.010 inch increments.

This way you always cam-over hard against the bottom of the die and can select the shellholder which gives you the correct shoulder bump.

Simply backing off the die with the 14 TPI thread to try and control shoulder bump is not only imprecise, but you are subject to varying press stretch.
Click to expand...


I have been working with my Redding Comp Shellholders, however they should have been made in 0.001" increments, and mine are not 0.002" jump per shell holder, so it still takes messing with the die.
 
Lee breech lock challenger for me. Maybe not the nicest but it works. Reloading equipment is not an area I splurge on.
 
I see a lot of you guys using two presses, one for precision rifle and one for handgun. Is there a decent option I could look at for doing both 9mm and .308? More 9mm than .308.... Or is it just better results overall using two separate presses? I'm already pushing the limits of how much space the wife will give me for gun stuff.
 
Wal-Mart Greeter said:
I see a lot of you guys using two presses, one for precision rifle and one for handgun. Is there a decent option I could look at for doing both 9mm and .308? More 9mm than .308.... Or is it just better results overall using two separate presses? I'm already pushing the limits of how much space the wife will give me for gun stuff.
Click to expand...

This or similar is what I'd like to have.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/presses-kits/brass-smith-all-american-8-turret-press
 
Whatever the press, quick change is a must. I hate setting up the seating die again.

The Forster CoAx looks interesting. How would I set headspace with that? There’s no shell holders obviously. Does it produce minimum headspace when maxed out?
 
I have been running a RCBS Summit press for the past couple years and really like. makes very consistent ammo and is fast to use being it is very open. check out this review of 14 different single stages presses. he goes into a ton of detail and should give you an idea of what ones to stay away from. Most presses are going to run tight enough tolerances to make good ammo when combined with good dies. Good dies are worth every penny because you can depend of them being consist every time.

https://ultimatereloader.com/2019/04/08/fourteen-reloading-presses-compared-single-stage-shootout/

Cheers
Ryan
 
Have a RCBS ‘Big Max’ which has worked ok for years ... I still use the universal shell holder which is convenient ... I think Forster ‘Benchrest’ bonanza dies produce good ammunition as do the Lee Collet dies for not a lot of money
 
dan belisle said:
3 Lee turret presses, a Dillon 550, Lyman orange crush and turret press, a Lee Loadall. Used to also have a RCBS rockchucker, but passed it on to a young reloader. - dan
Click to expand...
I have an Orange Crusher as well at the farm... some online reviews are not great for this press BUT I think it is excellent! And convenient to use. Whats with the grudge some folks have against them?
 
AP said:
I have an Orange Crusher as well at the farm... some online reviews are not great for this press BUT I think it is excellent! And convenient to use. Whats with the grudge some folks have against them?
Click to expand...

No idea. I see little difference between the orange crush and the rockchucker, though you can load to a little longer col, which is one of the reasons I bought it. - dan
 
coleman1495 said:
I haven’t checked runout. The issue I am having is obtaining consistent headspace. The Lee press is a Wobbly loose cheapie. The flex and wobble make it impossible to produce cartridges with the same headspace. They vary by a few thousandths.

I can’t turn lead into gold. A more solid press would produce more repeatable results.
Click to expand...

Before you invest in a new press are you able to measure your headspace and the amt of bump you are sizing your brass

Do you have a headspace gauge to measure the amt of sizing. The gauge allows you to measure your headspace to give you an idea of how much you are bumping the shoulder.
2f0c6ci.jpg



-2ndly do you know if you are bumping your shoulder enough...here is (one) method to determine headspace


As for what the PROs use... subjective based on discipline

F class guys prefer Forester co-ax press. a large press with two rams and a floating die holder to give you better alignment and less run out. One of the largest selling feature is the quick change set up. The forester will allow you to go from a FL to neck to depriming die or using it as a priming station in short order.

- Top shooters are most likely using custom FL sizing dies to give better body tolerances. factory dies size to min spec which reduces the entire case (shoulder taper and base). with custom dies you can match your chamber size for more consistent ammo

- they don't use big presses for seating operations. More and more shooters are moving to arbour presses or smaller press like the RCBS partner press. The thinking is they can feel neck variations easier with the smaller press then with the big heavy leverage presses (rock chucker or co-ax).
If you are looking for the nth degree is seating consistency an arbour press with a measuring pad or the Hydro seating press can measure variations and help shrink group size.

Trevor
 
Trevor60 said:
Before you invest in a new press are you able to measure your headspace and the amt of bump you are sizing your brass

Do you have a headspace gauge to measure the amt of sizing. The gauge allows you to measure your headspace to give you an idea of how much you are bumping the shoulder.



-2ndly do you know if you are bumping your shoulder enough...here is (one) method to determine headspace

As for what the PROs use... subjective based on discipline

F class guys prefer Forester co-ax press. a large press with two rams and a floating die holder to give you better alignment and less run out. One of the largest selling feature is the quick change set up. The forester will allow you to go from a FL to neck to depriming die or using it as a priming station in short order.

- Top shooters are most likely using custom FL sizing dies to give better body tolerances. factory dies size to min spec which reduces the entire case (shoulder taper and base). with custom dies you can match your chamber size for more consistent ammo

- they don't use big presses for seating operations. More and more shooters are moving to arbour presses or smaller press like the RCBS partner press. The thinking is they can feel neck variations easier with the smaller press then with the big heavy leverage presses (rock chucker or co-ax).
If you are looking for the nth degree is seating consistency an arbour press with a measuring pad or the Hydro seating press can measure variations and help shrink group size.

Trevor
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.

I have Lyman headspace gauges. They indicate that the headspace is just below minimum. This is the result I get from bottoming out my sizing die against the shellholder. This was never an issue as I simply had the barrel on my Savage screwed in slightly more.

Should I be able to obtain consistent headspace without bottoming out the die and shellholder?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom