I am thinking off getting a new press for my birthday in march, my little lee has served me well. i should send the lee in, it's frame is not quite inline like it should be. i am asking what use guys thing would be the best press for me. i reload mostly rifle, some pistol like 357 and 44 mag.
ya you got it about right, i maybe load over 1000 44 mags and about 500 357s a year. i don't mind the single for that, i like a heavy press. my dad when i was growing up used the crap out of some presses and have broken a few. i am like him i do lots of forming and sizing that many would not do. i would like to get the stuff for making jacked bullets down the road. even the short mags i reload need some good force to resize.When you say "some" pistol, I take it you are not an action pistol shooter, and therefore have no need for 1500 rounds of pistol ammo each month. It's those volumes that typically drive the "need" for a progressive press. So if you don't need one round produced with every op lever pull, then you'd only be wasting money to consider such.
The Lee Classic Turret is probably not your cup of tea either. Those presses are great for people who need moderate volumes. They work by advancing the dies, which cuts out all the extra material handling, but you still pull the op lever 3 times to produce one round just like a single-stage.
Since your work is mainly rifle with some pistol, you'll want a super strong, well made single-stage. The top 3 are: MEC Marksman, Redding Big Boss II, and the Redding T7 turret. All three of these presses route spent primers and all their smut away from the operator and into a canister below the bench. They are all super stout and precision made presses. The T7 has the added advantage of allowing you to keep your most needed dies (like a Universal Decapping Die) in the press so that they are always ready to use.
Just my 2 cents.
hope they have them in march when i will be getting one for my birthday. what press do you like best. i need to look more up on the mec, and the warranty.When you do precision work like that, the last thing you want is spent primers all over the floor and the press mechanisms covered with gritty primer smut. You're in for a whole new world !
Just saw Midway USA has both the Reddings on sale. Click Here
Since your work is mainly rifle with some pistol, you'll want a super strong, well made single-stage. The top 3 are: MEC Marksman, Redding Big Boss II, and the Redding T7 turret. All three of these presses route spent primers and all their smut away from the operator and into a canister below the bench. They are all super stout and precision made presses.
yes some times i use the large thread dies. the ultramag is nice and big, a O frame my be better to keep things in line. i also reload for some very accurate cartridges and a press that stays true is like gold to me. i am thinking off doing a 6BR or dasher for a build. thanks for the tip.Pardon, but since he states a need for the removable bushing for the larger dies does that disqualify the T7? Maybe he Ultramag would be a good choice in that price range. That is a really beefy tool.
i like the press but not the lock and load i need a the use off the large thread if needed.https://www.hornady.com/reloading/presses/lock-n-load-iron-press#!/
For something completely different!
I load only pistol rounds but if I was in need of a single stage press I would look at this one.
i like the press but not the lock and load i need a the use off the large thread if needed
thanks i will read it.The MEC Marksman is a great single-stage press.
Here's my thoughts on it posted in another thread:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mec-marksman.845396/#post-11005184
. i would like a press with the bushin to use the large dies if needed. .
most presses have a thread that is 1-1/4x12 inch and the bushing threads in for normal dies. the 1-1/4 dies are 50 bmg 416 barrett, 577 snider i have seen some 50/70 and others.Sorry but I'm not following this Large Dies reference. This something other than 7/8"X14
My first thought was the Lee Classic Cast press, non-breechlock version. It has the insert for 7/8" dies that can be taken out for the larger dies.I would like a nice beefy press, i do a bit of caes forming from all the odd cartridges i like and making. i would like a press with the bushin to use the large dies if needed. i hand prime so i don't care if the press is not setup for it. I am thinking the rcbs rc supreme. the mec looks nice to.
hope they have them in march when i will be getting one for my birthday. what press do you like best. i need to look more up on the MEC, and the warranty.