Large presses...which one?

[Matt304]

I'm looking for a 50BMG-capable press. How many manufacturers are making these, and which is a better deal? Does it really matter?

I have seen the Lee go for a decently cheap amount, and the RCBS Ammomaster go for around $225, a little more. But the Ammomaster looks really beefy.

Is there any big enough differences in the presses to merit the price difference?

I'd like to hear of the large press you recommend for me.

Thanks

 

[buckbrush]

On the Lee, when seating a .50 bmg bullet, you must push the bullet up into the seating die while inserting the case in the shellholder. It is a bit of a lash up for .50 use.

The Ammomaster has a much bigger frame opening and stoke, it takes much less fumbling around . The Ammomaster also gives you the option of 1 1/4-12 or 1 1/2-12 top plates for different die use. RCBS and Hornady and Hollywood dies are 1 1/2-12, the Lee's are 1 1/4 -12.

Warranty's are very different for Lee's products than they are for RCBS and Hornady.

 

[rg1]

I have the RCBS AmmoMaster 50 bmg press kit. The press is adequate for sizing the big 50 cases but it could be better. The housing is aluminum and does have some flex. It's got a large opening, good leverage, and will properly adjusted turn out good ammo. RCBS soaks you on the press kit as you buy their expensive die set which includes a file trim die which makes a good heavy expensive paperweight in my opinion. You'll need a good case trimmer designed for trimming .50bmg cases. The Hornady and RCBS presses are the exact same press but Hornady has a feature that gets good reviews called a Lock-n-Load which is a ram feature that uses a bushing that lets you change from ram-prime back to dies quickly and retain your settings. Several loaders give good reviews on the Lee 50bmg press kit, and the price is well below the RCBS or Hornady. If money isn't an option then there are better much heavier duty 50 bmg presses on the market but cost is double or more from the RCBS-Hornady presses. I deprime military crimped primers with a special punch and hammer before sizing but the 50 dies will deprime crimped primers. One problem with the RCBS is that primers drop down thru the center of the ram and out an opening in the side of the ram and into a plastic cup. The opening out the side of the ram is too squared and primers tend to hang at the opening and stack up inside the ram. Several people have used grinding tools to round and smooth this opening to prevent primers from hanging up in the discharge opening. My RCBS dies are 1st rate and exactly machined and overall I'm satisfied with the RCBS but as said, it could be better.