Another Incipient Reloader

[Mr. Zorg]

Mr Z-

I would have bought an RCBS for that kind of cash. But opinions are why folks bet on horse races.

Thanks for the input. I'm not taking it as contentious.

I honestly didn't find any factory new cast iron RCBS or Lyman press for $139 to-my-door out-of-my-pocket total cost. I wasn't honestly not interested in an aluminum alloy press such as the RCBS Partner or similar models from other manufacturers that

The preowned cast iron presses I saw and watched auctions for on eBay & Gunbroker.com rarely came close to this total including the listed shipping costs (especially RCBS). I looked at warranties and RCBS, Lee, and Lyman warranties only apply to the original purchaser so it wasn't rational to me to purchase a used press or even NOS preowned press at a higher to-my-door out-of-my-pocket total cost. The preowned presses I watched at higher prices didn't have a similar depriming and spent primer collection to this press either.

When I lump in getting 7 one lb containers of smokeless powder for $1 incremental shipping cost + the $11.99 HazMat fee vs $15+ incremental shipping cost + $11.99 HazMat fee it was a cinch. Smokeless powder is in short local supply here in the 7th largest city in the USA.

Just me.

I'll update on how this Lee press works out for me after I have the opportunity to hands-on make use of it.

There are still a bunch of pieces & parts left for me to purchase. For example, the only neck sizing die I've found in 7X64mm Brenneke is manufactured by RCBS.

 

[SuperNaut]

You don't have to justify anything @Mr. Zorg. I think people are forgetting that we are in the midst of a PANic (to differentiate from a normal Banic LOL) and there is neither the selection, or availability that we normally enjoy.

I can't find primers locally to save my life.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Fortunately I've found some primers locally at Bass Pro and Academy Sports and Outdoors along with the only 1 lb container of H4350 this side of the Rio Grande, west of Houston, and south of Dallas - Forth Worth in Academy's system locally.

When the free shipping for the press and $1 incremental shipping cost for the powder I put in my MidwayUSA order, it's effectively like I paid about $100 for this Lee press.

If this RCBS press had been in stock with the RCBS rebate it would have had a similar cost if the powders I ordered would have also incurred an incremental $1 shipping cost. But it's status is Out Of Stock, No Backorders.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013033452?pid=513567

And it still wouldn't have the spent primer collection system the Lee press I purchased has. That RCBS system is a source of poor reviews posted by some at MidwayUSA. That illustrates my disinterest in name cachet I put in my OP this thread. For others that may be their primary interest, to each his own.

I'm eager to see just how well the Lee press I purchased does in my hands for my purposes. There's nothing IMO that outweighs direct first hand experience.

That's just me.

I also found it easy to verify the Lee press I purchased is Made in USA. Some reviews at MidwayUSA indicate the Rock Chucker Supreme press is Made in China even though the product description on MidwayUSA for the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme press. The COO of the Rock Chucker Supreme press is difficult to verify on even the RCBS web site. The COO of the Lee press I purchased was easily verified as USA on the Lee web site.

 

[gifbohane]

You don't have to justify anything @Mr. Zorg. I think people are forgetting that we are in the midst of a PANic (to differentiate from a normal Banic LOL) and there is neither the selection, or availability that we normally enjoy.

I can't find primers locally to save my life.

Ammo, bullets and components are completely unavailable right now. I do believe I could find a single stage press for sale on line.

 

[donut1953]

Your assumption is demonstrably flawed.

Low current and unknowable availability of factory new and Forster Coaxial press was certainly a factor, with only one preowned Forster Coaxial press I was able to find already bid up to 90+% of a factory new Forster Coaxial press was a factor (see auction link)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Forster-Co-Ax-Pistol-Rifle-Ammo-Reloading-Single-Stage-Press-Accessories/313133465734?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908131621&meid=ab6238f6bbca4273b68db2ba158da78d&pid=100678&rk=2&rkt=3&mehot=pp&sd=383607899681&itm=313133465734&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=Forster+Products&_trksid=p2380057.c100678.m3607&_trkparms=pageci:89f703ad-c9e2-11ea-8c94-74dbd1801728|parentrq:680cdcb31730ad4d093dc1c2fff81f88|iid:1

Continuing, some Forster Coaxial press purchasers were quite unhappy WRT loading handgun ammunition in reviews, MidwayUSA free shipping code for the press I purchased somehow allowed several 1 lb powder canisters to piggyback that order with only $1.00 incremental shipping cost plus the inevitable $11.99 HazMat fee was a factor, high reviews from some purchasers of this Lee press regarding finished product concentricity was a factor, and no desire on my part to shoot competitively was a factor from the get-go, no allusion or illusion on that point throughout my posts in this thread, as well as my disinterest in name cachet.

If I wind up unhappy with the finished product from this Lee press I view my odds are high that I can get most of its cost back selling it preowned based on preowned similar presses' recent final bid selling prices on eBay. I can still make good use of the powder and manual in my MidwayUSA order, as well as all dies and other accessories I purchase with a different press if a different press winds up being in my future. And maybe I'd keep this Lee press for depriming and handgun cartridge loading if I decide to purchase another press at some point in the future.

Small potatoes economic risk in the overall picture IMO for me to take some of my time to explore this approach in my combined objective plus subjective analysis.

All these considerations collectively well fit within my definition of seeking value at this point including considering my current some total metallic cartridge reloading experience was with a Lee Loader .38 Special set 35+ years ago.

Price, cost, and value are not synonymous in my perspective. I had a pretty good track record of value analysis of various things (Risk / Reward / Potential Downsides) with costs numerous orders of magnitude greater during my former career and I don't think it's let me down here at this point in time.

Hopefully that's more broadly illuminating.

And as always of course, YMMV.

Again my thanks to everyone who's contributed to this tread.

https://www.tombstonetactical.com/forster-co-ax-press-with-s-jaws
$353.99

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Ammo, bullets and components are completely unavailable right now. I do believe I could find a single stage press for sale on line.

I've purchased bullets, powders, brass, and primers for cartridges I'm interested in loading myself plus a powder scale and a press FWIW. I'll bet I can purchase other accessories like off-press priming device, shell holders, dies, etc. I've been looking at comparisons to narrow down options for these looking at user reviews as actual first-hand experienced helpful posts here seem to have ceased.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

https://www.tombstonetactical.com/forster-co-ax-press-with-s-jaws
$353.99

Yes, as I previously posted I saw these were available on eBay also, factory new. Here's a link as an example.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Forster-Co...386825?hash=item2d12c45c09:g:qhYAAOSwq7JUFefY

There are zero reviews of this model at that Tombstone Tactical link so nothing helpful WRT mixed reviews elsewhere especially WRT handgun ammunition.

Not to mention the fact I've already made a purchase with free shipping for the press as well as $1 incremental shipping cost for the powders I ordered which is included in my post you quoted.

 

[ms6852]

For “hunting” ammunition the round count is going to be quite small depending on your game. I know folks that have deer hunted for 5 years or more on a box of 20.

I fall into this category, I still have boxes of 30-06 listed at $6.99 for a box of 20 as I would only shoot 4 rounds a year, 3 to check my zero at 200 yards and one for the deer or elk.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

I'd say the constructive posts for my help on this thread have ended. Thanks to all who provided constructive input.

Even though it was posted almost 14 years ago, I'm back to this post embedded in a sticky here for a checklist on remaining items I need to get started.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ding-equipment-basics-read-this-first.238214/

A trip to Harbor Freight is in my future this week for calipers and what's called Akro bins in that sticky.

The RCBS hand held off-press priming system looks like a decent choice for my purposes.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012924740?pid=319794

Hornady offers a rifle 7mm neck die they advertise as suitable for a number of 7mm rifle cartridges which also happens to be about half the cost of the RCBS 7X64mm Brenneke neck die. I try this outfor 7mm-08, 7X57mm, and 7X64mm cartridges before purchasing cartridge specific neck sizing dies for those cartridges.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011096636?pid=659407

For an impact bullet puller, that sticky thread recommends RCBS although I'm confident there are others with a similar warranty.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012943666?pid=685703

I'll look at various other items such as for brass trimming, working on primer pockets, etc for how competitively priced the RCBS options are since a minimum of $100 is required to qualify for the lowest level of the current RCBS rebate offer vs cost savings buying preowned items for these various items.

Again, my thanks to those who provided constructive input in this thread. We'll see where I wind up by Christmas 2020.

 

[GW Staar]

Enjoy!

 

[Mr. Zorg]

But did you notice which press had the top score for concentricity? The little ol RCBS Summit Press. I can vouch for that. In my personal testing with loading 7.62 LC brass, the Summit did better than my venerable RCBS Rock Chucker II. But it just ain't quite as comfortable......I think its the fact that being on the short side, I find it easier to strok the Rock Chucker than the top down Summit. I love them both, but the Summit won't replace my old friend the R.C. II.

Yes, if you honestly read my series of posts you would have seen not only the answer to your question, you'd have seen I'm not interested in shooting competitively.

 

[GW Staar]

I read them......honestly? Honestly, I don't remember every word of every post in your tome. Getting old does that. But since my last post rankled you, I fixed it. My post had nothing to do with competition.....I don't compete either. The Lee Classic Cast is not a bad press. You don't have to defend it. You did well enough, it'll last your life time. My "question" wasn't asked of you, but the gentleman who wrote the post I quoted......we are allowed to comment on other peoples posts too.

This time reminds me of when I decided I wanted a progressive.....it was Christmas time and Obama was just elected the first time......so guns, ammo, components, and reloading equipment was nowhere to be found. I found an RCBS Pro 2000 manual version on some back water internet site and ordered it.......I found the auto-advance upgrade at another back water site.......so I got what I wanted......but not for Christmas. It was January 21. This last Christmas I wanted a Lee APP. Finally got it in March. Anyway Merry Christmas in August! And don't blame us for this cruddy time to buy. Just be safe and don't get the stupid virus.

 

[Mr. Zorg]

I honestly didn't see who your post I quoted was addressed to. I still don't see it in what I copied using the "Reply" feature here. If it was in what you erased, both me and the forum software missed it, apologies for my misunderstanding.

I 'm not into "blame games" FWIW. As far as memory goes once the allowed "edit" time span expires, or the "quote" or "reply" tool is used, I find there's a handy record of what's been posted ready at hand for me to review as short or as long a time I choose to review anything, minus any editing the moderators deem necessary no matter how old I am. Just me.

UPS got my press and powder from Lenexa KS to Ft. Worth, TX to San Antonio, TX then decided that package needed more broadening and shipped it back to Ft. Worth, TX. It's "supposed" to be delivered to me today, time will tell.

A second package with a press stand and other accessories, some RCBS brand - just enough to qualify for the $50 rebate ($104 worth of items) is supposed to depart Lenexa, KS some time today. Some other bits here and there from eBay & Gunbroker.com are due to arrive Monday latest. A trip to Harbor Freight is in order sometime in my near future. Then I'll find out what I missed on my own checklist to begin some time next week.

I've signed up for a NRA Metallic Cartridge Reloading course that just opened up here near the end of August. The next course is in October.

As far as this virus goes, I'm like the eternal optimist who fell off the top of a twenty story building. For nineteen floors folks said they kept hearin' him say "So far, so good!" If it's my time, it's my time just a matter of detail as to exactly how & when. I qualify several different ways for membership in the "high risk of complications group" that's been publicly tossed about. I'm honestly most concerned about how handling this by the medical technocrats has put so many people unable to continue their activities that provided their livelihood than anything else, in both the short and long terms.

As always of course, YMMV. Stay healthy yourself, and all y'all.