[Fatelvis]

Does anyone other than Benchreaters use arbor style presses? Ive never used one, I understand they load more accurate ammo than a regular press, but they seem painfully slow. Are they alot slower than a single stage press, and is the accuracy gain noticable to most people? Thanks-

[swifter]

Well...:D

I use one on a regular basis. I had a "mildcat" built, and the only dies I have for it are the Wilson hand dies that my 'smith cut with the chamber reamer.
So, I load on the arbor press.

The ammo is usually more accurate because the dies -- especially the seater -- are dead straight.
They are a bit slower than a single stage, but not significantly slower.
There IS a learning curve to using the dies & press together, once you develop a few "knacks" its amazingly fast.

I have two single stages and a 550 mounted on the bench. I almost never use the 550 anymore...:neener:

Tom

[Gewehr98]

But you have to remember, the difference between a bad day at the range and a good day at the range for a benchrester is measured in the 1/100th or 1/1000th of an inch. Those arbor presses and dies remove that final variable in the ammo assembly part of the accuracy equation. ;)

[bogie]

Hi. I shoot benchrest.

I use 'em. But I know a very accomplished BR shooter who seats with a redding die on an RCBS partner press that he turned the ram down sloppy (so it self-centers).

I know they're right.

In 15-20 minutes, I can clean a rifle to benchrest standards, and load 10-15 rounds, also to benchrest standards. Arbor presses aren't slow - they're just different. I use a regular press to bump-size (not quite FL resize) my brass, wipe it off, clean the primer pocket (Skip Otto carbide adjustable uniformer), hand prime it (K&M), charge it (Harrell), and seat the bullets (Carstensen seater and a Sinclair arbor press. Dang, I think it takes longer per round to type about it.

I wouldn't use one these days to size, or even just neck size.

[The Tourist]

We're discussing making the cartridge concentric (the bullet and the case have the same center-line) and the completed cartridge has minimum/no 'run out,' (the bullet and the case can be spun on this center-line without deviation).

This does not require an arbor press, although it makes alignment for smaller amounts of 'premium' ammunition of better quality with easier manipulations.

I cast my own lino bullets, I buy many commercial bullets, fire them in remarkable stock firearms (except for the IPSC and varmint guns), and with carefully made ammo, most of my firearms cut cloverleaves.

Is it easy? It is now after three decades of securing good equipment and learning my craft. But is any singular piece of reloading equipment essential for superior accuracy? Certainly not.

I find that perfectly cast bullets, rifle barrel cleanliness and dropping bullet speed to provide better performance without complicated or additional equipment.