Ball vs Handle

[dh1633pm]

I use a pool ball on my Co-Ax. Made the handle myself.

 

[Chuck R.]

Both of my Dillon's (550 & 650) wear roller handles. I find it helps with the higher volume sessions.

My two Ponsness Warrens, Redding Ultra-Mag, wear balls, and my old RCBS Rockchucker has the old bicycle handle. None of them ever bothered me, so I guess I just adapt.

 

[EricBu]

I have been using my Dillon press for about 40 years with no problems. Mine have the black ball as the grip. I continue to see more and more pictures of Dillons with the handle as the grip. My question is what is the advantage of the handle vs the ball. This doesn’t apply only to Dillon presses.

Well, I used the ball handle on my 450 since the 80s, and was happy with it. Then I got the roller handle......holy crap. No going back now. All my dillons now have the roller handle. Definite improvement...especially on those old elbow and shoulder joints.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

Well, I used the ball handle on my 450 since the 80s, and was happy with it. Then I got the roller handle......holy crap. No going back now. All my dillons now have the roller handle. Definite improvement...especially on those old elbow and shoulder joints.

The Dillon handle or the Inline Fab? I'm a baller today but open to learn

 

[EricBu]

The Dillon handle or the Inline Fab? I'm a baller today but open to learn

I've got all dillon roller handles, but only because I didn't know about the inline fab one when I bought the dillon roller handles. I'll probably be adding a super 1050 or 2 this year, and I think I'll get the inline for that one as I've heard good stuff about them, and I've got a few of their mounts and really like them.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

You are pulling a handle, over and over...once you debate Duran Duran over David Bowie, then we have issues.

Cobain did "Man Who Sold the World" better than Bowie...

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I use a roller handle on my Lee APP press's. On the rest a ball.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

I have all 3 styles. I have 5 presses. 1 has the old bicycle handle type of grip because it is an old, old press that I only use for applying a factory crimp, my progressive has the roller style which is nice. I put a ball on my RCBS single stage and that goes well because I find that I generally let the ball glide in my somewhat open palm and it is as comfortable as the roller. Since I am not gripping the ball firmly I do not experience fatigue from it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Dillon handle or the Inline Fab? I'm a baller today but open to learn

The difference is mainly in the shaft of the handle, or more specifically the angle(s) the shaft is bent.

The Dillon handle is offset to the side away from the press.

The Inline Fabrication Ergo handle is bent so that you don't have to bend, at the waist, at the bottom of the stroke. That same angle means you don't have to push as far forward when priming

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

The Inline Fabrication Ergo handle is bent so that you don't have to bend, at the waist, at the bottom of the stroke. That same angle means you don't have to push as far forward when priming

Is that a good thing? A shorter stroke would have less feel and less precision? I worked for many years on a winning semi-pro road race team and we always used longer-than-cool gear selector lever because in having longer throw it is easier to use with precision? When we are the folks building the transmissions vs bottomless budget guys

 

[nettlle]

I would think it would depend on how your reloader is mounted. A tall bench, desktop, with or without a Dillon StrongMount or Inline Ultramount.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Is that a good thing? A shorter stroke would have less feel and less precision?

The stroke isn't shorter. it just doesn't go as far down on the downstroke so you don't have to bend over.

 

[jmorris]

It's been a number of years ago now but I just set up two otherwise identical presses up except one had a roller handle and "strong mount" the other a ball mounted to the bench.

Used them both for a few years before selling the sheet metal mounts and handle...but others might have chosen differently. The only way to find out if you like them or not, is to try them yourself.

FWIW you don't need precision in a stroke, just complete strokes. Stop to stop.

 

[jmorris]

Some presses even allow the user to adjust the leverage/amount of needed movement, so one can reduce wasted motion.



Its inches but over 1000's of cycles, it adds up.

 

[Bobaloo22]

Cut a section of old cloth something and rubber band it over the ball. No more friction.

I use an old baby sock, works great

 

[dartor]

Some presses even allow the user to adjust the leverage/amount of needed movement, so one can reduce wasted motion.

View attachment 1187211

Its inches but over 1000's of cycles, it adds up.

I cut about 6" off the handle of one of my Lee classic turret presses. I only use it for handgun loading and I didn't need the leverage and excess swing.

 

[Charlie98]

I've got the ball, still, on my Hornady ProJector progressive; the way I pivot my hand, a grip would be awkward.

My brother's RCBS RS3 press had a ball on it, which I used for years. Last year, I had to give it back to him... and picked up a newer RS5 press. It has a grip on it, and it took me a while to realize why I was having problems being smooth on it... then I noticed the difference. I may wind up tapping it for a ball, eventually.

 

[GravelRider]

I love the roller handle on my Dillon XL650. On the progressive I'm always doing the exact same motion without any need to readjust my hands. However, on my turret press, I have a ball because I'm doing eech station individually, and do adjust my hands frequently.

 

[cfullgraf]

The ball handles work fine for me but I’ve never tried a roller handle.

I would think it would depend on how your reloader is mounted. A tall bench, desktop, with or without a Dillon StrongMount or Inline Ultramount.

Yes press position probably has alot to do with it.

 

[scotty]

This is a matter of personal preference. When I moved my reloading equipment into the house from the garage, the bench height changed considerably. I have an RCBS RC2 press and a Dillon 550 that I was using their roller handle on. I was using the 550 on the Dillon strong mount and the RCBS was mounted directly onto the bench. After the move, I bought the Inline Fabrication quick change mounts for both presses. I tried their roller handles, but changed back to the original ball handle on the RCBS because it was more comfortable for me. The Inline roller handle works excellently on the 550.

 

[Bazoo]

I like a ball handle over a bicycle handle. I haven't ever tried a roller handle so cant say there.

 

[FROGO207]

Two RCBS and one Lee press currently. All three have ball handles and work well for me. Had an old Lyman Spar-T turret with the bicycle handle and nevet liked it. One of the RCBS presses I have actually worn the ball out of round from use and it fits my hand perfectly. Dont see how a roller handle would help me unless it was on a progressive..

 

[Bartojc]

I remember when I went from ball handle to the Inline handle on my LCT I'd never go back now. WHen I bought my Lee Six-Pack Pro it came with a ball handle and at the time Inline did not have a roller handle. There has been one available for a while now, and I'll probably switch eventually.

-Jeff

 

[bigpower491]

I'd love to have a Mopar pistol grip on both mine(think '69 Roadrunner) but it wouldn't work out as good as it would look. Ball on both, don't think anything else would work as good

 

[Frulk]

I put roller handles on the LEE APP's but still have ball handles on the other presses. With the roller handle the APP's FLY through brass while depriming and sizing.