Is Collecting Presses A Hobby

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hrm. I never thought of using the 80/20 stuff to mount presses. I've got all kinds of ideas flying through my head now.
 
It's a disease, I confess that I have it. I take presses on and off the bench after use so it doesnt look so bad, then I look in the corners of the basement and garage..... Then I realize its really bad. Got a few single stages, couple of turrets, a few progressives, you get the idea. Favorites are Bonanza COAx, Star, RCBS, Hollywood...... One of these days I have to get organized...
 
Mike Kerr, I was in Garland, TX. last weekend, a shooter/reloader off Centerfield Rd. needed help with bullet casting and bullet sizing, he wanted to know what was involved before he spent the money. He purchased 100 SWC 38 bullets (to test in his 357) that were .360 in diameter, seems the bullets were leading his barrel. I took enough equipment with me to give him a choice, he decided on .358. He wishes he had started casting his own years ago.

Counting presses? I have one that is foot operated, another that looks like a spider doing push ups, a reloader in Arlington has a hydraulically operated press, I suggest bullet/lube sizer presses be exempt.

F. Guffey
 
best press

ALL of you guys are perfectly qualified to give the definitive answer to the No.1 new-to-reloading question:

"Which is the best single stage press?"

So have at it... If you have reasons why, advantages/disadvantages or special tasks in mind, details are welcome.

edit: I have one single stage, a Lee Classic Cast.
And one shotshell loader, a Pacific 155.
 
We are probably less qualified. I never say which press is best because I don't know the person useing it.

A man with one watch always knows what time it is but the many nevers knows which one to trust.
 
Oh boy... I have 6 lee 1000 frames alone.. thee older/better Rock chuckers, a pacific /hornady 366,lee load all 12 ga ... I have a dillon 550,650 and a sl900 and am looking for a deal on a 1050 and likely get hornady LnL to try out :eek:
 
twofifty said:
"Which is the best single stage press?"
Click to expand...

Any of the current manufacture "O" frame presses plus the Co-ax press will serve you well. It mostly depends on which color fits with your reloading room decor.

The larger presses such as the RCBS Rock Chucker or the Redding Big Boss II will do larger rifle cartridges.

Smaller presses will load hand gun cartridges more efficiently due to the presses smaller size, but may not load the larger rifle cartridges.

I have an RCBS Junior and a Redding.
 
^ "It mostly depends on which color fits with your reloading room decor."

That answer probably boils it right down to the very core.
 
twofifty said:
ALL of you guys are perfectly qualified to give the definitive answer to the No.1 new-to-reloading question:

"Which is the best single stage press?"

So have at it... If you have reasons why, advantages/disadvantages or special tasks in mind, details are welcome.

edit: I have one single stage, a Lee Classic Cast.
And one shotshell loader, a Pacific 155.
Click to expand...
THE RCBS A2, hands down.
 
I only have one, an old RCBS RockChucker. But I have the strongest right arm in town.
 
A friend purchase a RCBS kit for reloading BMG 50 Cal, he claimed his A2 was not tall enough, I explained to him height was not the problem, the problem was with the ram travel, adapting the press to accommodate the height was the easy part. I had bundled up a few dies to help him with some sizing issues, his Dillon lube in a spray can and or bottle gave his A2 a work out, then he went for the sizing wax, same results, I suggested using new unfired cases or I could return with some stuff not on the list of approved lubes.

The A2 is a cam over press, when adjusting the die to the ram with the handle down and the ram past the first bump, lowering the ram is a work out for the press and reloaders operating it, we do not have a problem modifying a press.

Wil Terry, I will agree, the A2 is a magnificent press, I am not stuck with one press over another, I have two Piggy Back presses that use Rock Chuckers, I have a few Herters, a turret, two ram, 2 ‘U’ types and C types, I do not treat them like second class presses, shell holders can not be tightened with the set screws without spreading the top of the ram, not a problem the screws are required when lowering the ram, when a case gets stuck in the die the reloader is required to think, and that normally rendered something scrap, removing the two set set screws allowed the shell holder to be removed from the ram, after lowering the ram the shell holder is removed from the case by sliding it off the case head, , after that, the die with the stuck case can be removed out the top. I have turned the die upside down with the case up and screwed the die in from the bottom, this method allows the press to serve as a vise.

And with the Herters, never turn your back on one with the handle up unless it has been modified with a detent.

F. Guffey
 
I think I need help!

2 Mec 9000's (12 & 20ga)
2 Hornady LNL's
1 Dillon SDB
1 RCBS Rock Chucker
1 RCBS A2
1 RCBS B
 
Hi I am Coz.. And I am a Press-A-Holic. Dint know I was until I sold one.... to ahhh Mike Kerr. hehehe

Felt like I gave a kid away... Been trying to fill the void ever since.

I am now up too.

LEE Classic cast press
LEE Deluxe turret press
RCBS Rock Chucker
RCBS Piggy Back 2
and two Lyman True Line jr turrets
Ohh and a MEC 600 jr 12ga

But I found I also have the same affliction with Powder Measures..
 
Last edited:
" Hi I am Coz.. And I am a Press-A-Holic. Dint know I was until I sold one.... to ahhh Mike Kerr. hehehe "

Hi Kelly. :):) How is everything? I see you have added a few items to your collection.

I sure wish more guys would sell packages of stuff at reasonable prices. Seems like a lot of new guys buy a package or "kit" deal decide reloading is not for them and then want to sell at full retail minus $5 - then HAVE THE BUYER paying shipping. Ya know I am an addict for reloading equipment but I am not that addicted.

I am secretly coveting a MEC Steelmaster or a Ponsness Warren 375 and I don't know why because I don't shoot enough Shotgun to justify self loading or reloading. Anyhow, I am safe because I am trying to find one for dirt cheap. I know I'll sell it after a short while so I have to buy it cheap.

So far this month I have avoided one incredible deal on a Dillon 550 package because I have enough of them that I need to get going and sell. I also am avoiding a semi good deal on dillon stuff in the Reloading sale forums because it would require tying up a ton of cash.

What powder measures have you accumliated (sp) ? I think they are fun but actually My Lee PPM's do just about as well as the Uniflows I sold - and the Ideal/Lyman 55's are cool enough but not that much better. Have you tried a Harrell or Belding & Mull?

Well I guess that is enough of a thread hijack - but maybe it will revive it - got to feed the addiction.

regards,

:):):)
 
Leave it to Clark to come up with an interesting, funny, and original view.
I guess its that engineers mind - ya know intuitive but maybe dangerous like some reloading data he sets forth.

I would like to try a few of Clark's reloads (like 25 ACP) but I don't have the guts or an extra hand.

regards,


:):):)
 
I have three. But I picked up a RCBS JR3 and a Lyman Spartan in a Craigslist buy that had other things I wanted. They don't get used much because my Lee Classic Turret does everything well. I'm still waiting for the day I find a Lee Classic Cast O frame on the cheap.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.
 
Mike Kerr

Leave it to Clark to come up with an.... original view.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words, but if you look through the US patents on reloading, you will see others with a press over a press.

I was making a quiet load and the gas was getting around the Lead ball. If i squish the bullet to seal the chamber, the cartridge will not chamber. So I needed to squish the bullet when the case was already in a chamber shaped die. So I made a die [from 7/8-14 threaded rod] like a chamber for the lower press and a ram for the upper press.
 
Dragon813gt wrote:
"I'm still waiting for the day I find a Lee Classic Cast O frame on the cheap. "

They come along about once or twice a year for cheap. Thing is they don't come along very often no matter the price. I paid retail for mine because I figured I would keep it for a long time and I sensed there were not that many on the USED market. I don't know if people just hold on to them or if sales have been slower than anticipated or a combination of the two.


Good luck in your search.

regards,

:):):)
 
Let's see...my mainstay LnL-AP, a Lee turret, a little RCBS "O" rig, and soon to be a pair of CH4D Auto Champs.

I'm one of those weird tinker types, and reloading stuff is just the excuse I love to tinker on something. Eventually I could see myself collecting all manner of ancient, esoteric, and just plain weird presses and other loading equipment.
 
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