[Brutz]

hey all,
I was looking at my grandfather's reloading press, it's quite old, Herter's or some such name. I noticed that the shell holder is quite long and that it is locked into place with a screw on the side. I am just starting to get into reloading because of my grandfather and was curious if his press is too out of date to use say lee shell holders or some other brand? :scrutiny: I've been to my local gun store and it seems that the new shell holders are all to short to use with my grandads press. Thanks for any info that you may have.

[nicholst55]

Some of the older presses will not accept the current style 'universal' type shellholder sold by RCBS, Lee, Hornady, Redding, etc. Not sure about the Herter's press.

Most of the previously mentioned companies (except for Lee) offer extended shell holders in some (not all) flavors, primarily intended for loading handgun cartridges. You'll doubtless have to order them online from Midway or somewhere, because I've never seen them in a local gun shop.

[Chawbaccer]

RCBS makes the adaptor to use modern snap in shell holders. Just Google for Herters Shell Holder and a list of companys selling them will pop up.

[rfwobbly]

Chawbaccer told you right. There's a converter part available to adapt the newer style shell holders to the old Herter's ram. I have a friend that's newer to reloading than you are and he's turning out excellent ammo on a Herters. So I would not call it "out dated".... simply different.

These days it pays to use what you got.

[fguffey]

When you install the Herters shell holder and or adapter do not over tighten the two screws that hold the shell holder in, the screws prevent the holder from coming out when the ram is lowered, the screws do nothing for the shell holder when the ram is raised when sizing, if the screws are tightened against the ram, the ram will spread at the top, this will make it difficult to lower the ram or lock it up.


The Herters ram has a unique primer catcher, primers fall into a long milled slot when the ram is raised, the primers are not seen again until the ram is lowered, the primers can be raked off on the floor or the reloader can properly disposed of them, a slight slope in the slot 'sorts' hands them to the reloader, because of different designs, the Herters shell holder works better than RCBS, and Lee is not in the running.

http://www.huntingtonsports.com/

http://www.ch4d.com/

F. Guffey

[lordgroom]

I bought my adapter from CH4d. I needed to grind some off so the retaining screww would clear the one of the edges. Otherwise no complaints.

[Encoreman]

Hey Gents, I have an old Echo Champ and the ram has male threads and the 1 and only shellholder has female threads. Was thinking of giving this to a newbie for a starter press, any ideas where shellholders could be found or do you think an adapter could be made to use todays shellholders. Thanks Mac

[Chawbaccer]

Encoreman, get in touch with CH4D (http://www.ch4d.com/) They may be able to help you. They have a few adaptors and rams that may be just what you need.