CH4D 444-X Pistol Champ Press

[jrumsey]

I am looking into getting one in the near future, and would like to know if any of you have had any experience with this press. So if you can pass along what you liked or disliked about the Pistol Champ, or what spare parts you found good to have it will be appreciated.

Joe

Link to CH4D 444-X Pistol Champ Press.

http://www.ch4d.com/

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

I designed that Press

In the 1970's the C-H company had a 3 position press. My business was providing beginning and expert Competitive bullseye and Police marksmen with the Star and AutoChamp presses which was also 3 positions. I wanted less espensive presses for men who could not afford the Star the most accurate and expensive press made.

So as a C-H distributor I asked the owner to make the Auto Champ Progressive and the H press Pistol Champ into 4 positions to have a Taper Crimp die like the Star and I then sold many hundreds of them to beginning competitors. The owner retired and sold to the 4D company who became CH4D.

I still have parts and caliber change kits for the 3 and 4 position Auto Champ and Pistol Champ Presses I brought into production.

 

[jrumsey]

Paul :
Thanks for your response, I am getting ready to order a Pistol Champ set up for the .30 carbine. The presses I have so far are the RCBS Rock Chucker, Redding Big Boss, T7 Turret and a Hornady LNL AP. I think a H style press will fit my needs most of the time, and the other ends of speed are already covered.

Joe

 

[LHB1]

Joe,
I had one of the CH 3 station H presses, bought in 1964. After selling it to a friend, I bought another one and still have it along with several other presses, including two Hornady LNL-AP progressives. I still like and use the H press for small quantities of pistol rounds. I don't like the current CH powder measure because it appears to use inserts for specific powder charges. This forces you to buy a different insert for each different powder weight you want and you are limited to only the sizes/weights they sell. My experience with such inserts is that they NEVER throw the exact charge as advertised. I prefer a continuously adjustable powder measure like the Redding Competition Model 10X pistol measure (for 1-15 gr) or Competition Model BR-30 powder measure (for 15-35 gr).

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Joe,

I gotta ask; with all those other presses, what is it you are hoping the 444x will do that one of your others will/does not? It seems to not be nearly as convenient as a conventional progressive (moving 4 cartridges around the 4 shell holders), and you already have a conventional progressive. I must admit, it does not seem to suffer from some of the theoretical shortcomings of other turret/progressive presses.

Unless you just want something different (which is OK too)... OTOH, I noticed you don't have a co-ax. Now there's a fine press, different from anything else. I sure like mine...

Paul,

Thanks for sharing that with us. It is pretty cool hearing from one of the movers and shakers in the reloading industry!

Andy

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Mentioning Co/ax brings back a memory that I was asked to carry that line which I considered especially for competitive rifle shooters and bought and sold a selection of them but have a brand new Co/ax unusual primer seater left and is there anyone who would give it a caring home?. She is a really pretty Red color and has three adjustable rings that adjust to any size of cartridge cases instead of many standard shell holders which is quite an idea.

On the C-H push button powder measure it was designed for speed and to set on top of the hollow pistol expander die and with the 3 position press it was the best choice. I invented the 4th position expressly for the taper crimp die but for a reloader using a standard set of pistol dies the 4th position became a position for a standard micrometer type powder measure that most reloaders have. I still have as a memory a new C-H powder measure of that type and lots of extra C-H PM Micrometers rifle and pistol. I have many dozen standard C-H standard reloading die sets that I will list on ebay when I get around to checking them over when it cools off outside here to list them for sale.

I am a source for information on C-H now CH4D tools, Original Saeco Co of California Bullet Casting and Reloading tools, Star Reloaders and Lubers and was a Reconditioning and Parts Center for Star and C-H progressive reloaders and am available for questions and assistance for owners of those tools. I have a source for Saeco Lead Melting Pot Thermostats. Anyone who owns one leave the temperature switch set at the temperature desired and leave it alone as it is not an on and off switch and using it as such wears it out!!

Paul

 

[jrumsey]

I find a lot of my reloading lately has been for load development anywhere from 10 to 100 rounds. I never seem to take the time to set up the L-N-L AP plus I like to take my time a little more with load development. With L-N-L bushings in the single presses it is still too slow for this type of reloading. The T7 is set up with two turret heads for most of my rifle loading and I tend to run things in batch steps with this. I think the Pistol champ will give me a little faster load times and I can still take my time to look at each step of the loading process for these smaller batches.

Thought I would go with their powder measure to start off with, if this does not hold charge weight well will move on to some of my other options. Have a redding 3BR measure to try with the Lyman powder through the expander die, also have a extra Hornady case activated powder measure set up with the new powder through the expander. These should cover any powder issues.

I have been loading my own for over 35 years now and having thought about this some and I can see that the Pistol champ will fill a gap in my style of reloading.

Joe

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Paul,

I like the old H-style press designs; they handle alignment and lateral forces very well. I wonder why they fell out of fashion?

Come to think of it, the co-ax is just an inverted sort of H-style press...

Joe,

Sounds like you've got it figured out; thanks for sharing your ideas.

Andy

 

[jrumsey]

Press is here

Got the Pistol Champ press Tuesday, and have it set up my bench. Ordered it set up for 30 carbine and loaded a few rounds with the stock set up. I see what was said about the powder bushings an weights but it still held the weights good enough for plinking loads.

Moved on to some of the other options and set the press up for 9x19mm. In the center rear put a RCBS carbide die, front left set the Lyman powder through the expander die with the Redding 3BR powder measure, front center Hornady seater die, front right a Redding taper crimp die. This set up worked well but would get a couple of pellets of ball powder from time to time that end up on the primer punch and leave little ball powder marks on the primer.

Next went with the same setup but with the Hornady L-N-L case activated powder drop with the new expander, this solved the powder marks on the primers. Then tried the Lee factory crimp die think I like this a little better for the 9mm. This is probably the best set up for now but have not given up on the Lyman powder die yet, like the way it flares the case better.

Ran out 100 rounds in 50 min. just getting use to the press and the loading steps involved. So far no real surprises and it will be seeing a lot of use in the future. I think this press still has a place today, even with a turret press setup being just a little slower it then gets overshadowed by the progressive presses speed. The really nice part is walking the case through each step to a complete round and being able to inspect it anywhere along the way.

Joe

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a CH 3-station press, and the pushbutton powder measure, and their micrometer adjust powder measure. I bought it all used as a "package deal" on eBay a few years ago.

I usually have 2 or 3 dies setup in the press (not necessarily the same caliber sometimes.) It is very fast for a single stage press. I'm thinking about getting a Hornady AP press to go with it (there's a good rebate going on, plus I have lots of Cabelas bucks, and a Cabelas coupon that's about to expire), and if I do I'll probably put the Hornady powder measure on the CH press for loading rifle cartridges and the CH powder measure on the Hornady press for loading pistol rounds because it is so accurate with small powder charges.

The pushbutton powder measure is actually pretty handy once you find a bushing that throws a charge that you like.

Bob

 

[jrumsey]

Bob :
You can get micrometer rifle and pistol inserts for the Hornady L-N-L measure also. Will work with the CH4D measure some more when I change back to 30 carbine, polishing up about 500 cases tonight. I like my Hornady L-N-L AP, and it will make a good press for you if you need to crank out a lot of rounds. Be ready to buy a lots of die bushings. If you have a Rock Chucker or Big Boss press you can convert it to take the L-N-L bushings it makes die changes fast on the single stage presses.

Joe

 

[jrumsey]

After trying a lot of different powder setups for the Pistol Champ my current one works the best for me so far. Here is what I ended up with.

1. Dillon powder measure adapter
2. Dillon RL450 powder die
3. Dillon powder funnels (powder thru expander) for each pistol cartridge I reload
4. Redding 10X powder measure, set with handle on left side.

The Dillon adapter is made to fit the Redding measures plastic funnel, and saves having to remove it for powder dies like the Lyman powder die. I really enjoy reloading on this press it gives me pretty good speed and can still take the time to look at each reloading step. I am not sure if the CH4D #502 Micrometer Powder Measure will work with this setup also, but the price is right so may order one in the near future to try out.

Thanks for all the help everyone, it gave me some things to think about and help me put together a nice reloading press.

Joe