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Reloading Presses
PATBUZZARD
Member Posts: 3,556 ✭
I have 4 reloading presses,3 from one company that have play in the ram,and one older press that has no play at all.Is play normal in a press,is it from wear or just sloppy manufacturing?
Comments
Is this a good press for the money?
If you are looking to load anything big or size bullets (especially hard alloy)spring for the cast press. I use it to load for 50bmg and it has plenty of leverage to size those big cases.
I use the RockChucker for the rifle ammo.
On the Lee, I usually do around 100/hr but I know others who can double that.
I like the interchangeable turrets for quick caliber changes.
Ya the primer feeder is a PITA. Maybe I just got a bad machine..but love my single stage and with Lee dippers I never have issues filling cases with powder.
Same here, primer feeds and powder drops are inconsistent. Dies are great though. Use them on my rock chucker.
I just love love love the Dillion 550 Progressive press, i'm just sayin!
Didn't you make me some tool head holders a few years ago? Those were geat!
PS move this over to the reloading form.
The other two presses by lee with "turrets" are the pro 1000 and the Loadmaster. The turrets on these presses don't spin like the turret on the turret press does. The shell plates spin.
I use the loadmaster now. Got it for free from someone frustrated trying to learn how to use it, there is a learning curve [thank you U-tube] And the priming system sucks! Cheap plastic parts that get mashed easly. Dirt and powder gets into the track and everthing goes to heck quickly. I like to handprime now. Find more damaged cases and you can feel the primer seat all the way into the primer pocket. Not all cases are the same and even the Dillon has some problems with their priming system. I know of several prople with the 550, 650, and even one of my best friends has a Dillon 1050 [What a beast!] and they always has some issue to fiddle with. Most common is flipped primers [upside down]. Dillons customer service is top notch, it does not get any better. Lee's is so-so.
If you are on a budget like I am a Lee is the way to go, everythig is priced right. Compare for instance the price of shell plates, or the cost for a caliber conversion. If you got bucks get the Dillon. It will last forever and if you break anything,,,even if its your fault,,, and you admit it to Dillon that its your fault they will still send you the replacement parts for FREE!!! If I had lots of money for a reloader I would get the 550, with everthing I need for the calibers and primer feeds it would set me back about $1200. I probably have $125 invested in my Lee Loadmaster in shell plates and turrets. The dies are the same.
If you want to load lots of pistol ammo like I do a progressive is the only way to go. I crank out about 250 9mm per hour with my Loadmaster taking my time.
However the Classic that I bought to replace the Deluxe, is a much stouter press that should be able to reload anything that you can get between the ram and the dies.
With either of these presses you have a turret and a single stage press in one. Just remove or re-install the twisted metal rod under the center of the turret. The advantage over a true single stage, is that you don't have to remove and replace the dies for each operation, you just rotate the turret manually to the next die.
As far as primer feeds, Lee sells a primer feed set that includes both large and small primer arms and both primer feeding arms.
Here's a link to the Classic press.
http://leeprecision.com/4-hole-classic-turret-press.html
1. The indexing is dependent on a small, cheap, plastic ratchet that is consumable and fails after a few thousand pulls of the handle. Takes 30 seconds to replace, they give you one free one, but I made it a point to order a dozen (they are about $.50 each).
2. The turret itself has some slight vertical play when put under pressure by the ram. So long as horizontal alignment is true, this isn't really an issue, but you will notice it.
Other than that, the thing is a beast, far superior to their old designs; it will handle even the biggest belted magnum with ease, though the auto index feature is only going to work for mid length or pistol cartridges.
Lee's turret press is very good. The only two small problems I can find with it are:
1. The indexing is dependent on a small, cheap, plastic ratchet that is consumable and fails after a few thousand pulls of the handle. Takes 30 seconds to replace, they give you one free one, but I made it a point to order a dozen (they are about $.50 each).
2. The turret itself has some slight vertical play when put under pressure by the ram. So long as horizontal alignment is true, this isn't really an issue, but you will notice it.
Other than that, the thing is a beast, far superior to their old designs; it will handle even the biggest belted magnum with ease, though the auto index feature is only going to work for mid length or pistol cartridges.
Due to those issues I would recomend looking at the Redding T-7 Turret Press. The Redding not only solves the issues listed above but it also allows for loading rifle cartridges.
http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:t-7-turret-reloading-press
I started out with a Lee Turret press and it was great for learning to load with. It will only do pistol rounds and maybe some shorter rifle rounds. I loaded quite a bit of 223 with mine. It won't do 308 or anything simular length wise. I also don't think its strong enough to size 308.
The Lyman turret will handle .308 & 06 without breaking a sweat. With Good press setup and load practice, Bullet Run out will be .002-.005 +- on a Concentricity Gage.
Buy the Redding a cry once.
I have the Lyman T Mag turret press, I reload .308, .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag with no problems. The Lyman is a stout press.
But if I buy another turret press it will be the Redding. [:)]