I'm still a novice and have been reloading for a few years with the Rock Chucker Supreme but never took up rifle cartridges. I load .32 to .44 straight wall and am looking for ideas on another single stage press with a shorter throw. Seems like I could save some time and effort with a smaller press. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Looking for smaller press
- Thread starter slowrider
- Start date
Tellico
Buckeye
The RCBS Partner
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/403729/rcbs-partner-single-stage-press
Or even the Lee. One of these comes in handy for a lot of the easy tasks like depriming with a universal depriming die.
http://leeprecision.com/reloader-press.html
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/403729/rcbs-partner-single-stage-press
Or even the Lee. One of these comes in handy for a lot of the easy tasks like depriming with a universal depriming die.
http://leeprecision.com/reloader-press.html
About the shorter throw: Keep in mine you'll need all the leverage you can get when you start loading rifle brass.
WIL TERRY
Buckeye
LISTEN TO CHOLO !!Cholo said:
YOU will be making a mistake in logistics to do this. I use an RCBS A2 and i am here to tell you that little PARTNER PRESS they make is really excellent for decapping brass of all kinds and sizes. BUT !!! Even with it's compound leverage it is a PITA to even FL size revolver brass.
And so it goes...
Clovishound
Blackhawk
If you want to save time and effort, I suggest you look into a turret press.
The pull is still pretty long, which reduces pull weight compared to a shorter stroke, but you save time and effort, by not having to mess with the case each operation. The other time saver is a through the die powder measure. This allows you to throw powder at the same time you are flaring the case. Running a turret press in continuous mode assumes the use of a through the die powder measure.
I am fairly new to reloading. I have been reloading on a small hand held this year. Recently received a classic Lee turret as a present. I love it. It is robust, smooth and definitely speeds things up. I have yet to get a through the die powder measure, which will speed things up greatly. I can run it in single stage mode, if I so desire. Even running in single stage, I can change dies, by just rotating the turret to the desired die.
Here is a video of one in operation. Keep in mind he is going slowly to demonstrate the operation. It goes much, much faster in real world speed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDfOO2j0zYI&feature=player_embedded
If you don't like red, other manufacturers make turret presses as well.
The pull is still pretty long, which reduces pull weight compared to a shorter stroke, but you save time and effort, by not having to mess with the case each operation. The other time saver is a through the die powder measure. This allows you to throw powder at the same time you are flaring the case. Running a turret press in continuous mode assumes the use of a through the die powder measure.
I am fairly new to reloading. I have been reloading on a small hand held this year. Recently received a classic Lee turret as a present. I love it. It is robust, smooth and definitely speeds things up. I have yet to get a through the die powder measure, which will speed things up greatly. I can run it in single stage mode, if I so desire. Even running in single stage, I can change dies, by just rotating the turret to the desired die.
Here is a video of one in operation. Keep in mind he is going slowly to demonstrate the operation. It goes much, much faster in real world speed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDfOO2j0zYI&feature=player_embedded
If you don't like red, other manufacturers make turret presses as well.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Hi,
Not exactly "smaller" presses, but the Lee Classic Cast series (both single stage and turret) have adjustable length handles so you can shorten 'em for pistol use and go back to original length for rifle use. Same w/ the current generation of Lee Challenger presses (the breech lock style.)
If your budget's generous, the Forster Co-Ax comes from the factory w/ a longer handle, but Forster's added a shorter one as an option in recent years. It may hurt a little to write the check for a new Co-Ax, but I don't know anyone who's owned one who'd give it up, if that tells you anything about them!
I 'spose a person could get an extra handle for the Rock Chucker and shorten it Forster style, too. Swapping out the handle might become tiresome after a while, though.
The smallest Lee, the Reloader, is a great size for smaller pistol rounds. It's about the size of the RCBS Partner. Though a little lighter duty than the Partner, it's a "C" press design which makes access easier w/ smaller cases. I've loaded everything up to .30-06 on one to "see if it would work" and it did, but I'd say .357 Mag is about the top of it's comfortable range for serious use. A buddy has a set of four of them set up side by side for some of his pistol use (no need to suggest he get some "better" equipment: this rig sits on the bench between a Co-Ax at one end, and a Dillon 550 at the other!
)
There's also a trick that helps (especially when using smaller presses) on "tougher" pistol cases: the only time a press is REALLY doing a lot of work is during resizing, so even when using carbide dies that normally don't REQUIRE lube, a touch of case lube on every 10th case or so will slick things up quite a bit...
Rick C
Not exactly "smaller" presses, but the Lee Classic Cast series (both single stage and turret) have adjustable length handles so you can shorten 'em for pistol use and go back to original length for rifle use. Same w/ the current generation of Lee Challenger presses (the breech lock style.)
If your budget's generous, the Forster Co-Ax comes from the factory w/ a longer handle, but Forster's added a shorter one as an option in recent years. It may hurt a little to write the check for a new Co-Ax, but I don't know anyone who's owned one who'd give it up, if that tells you anything about them!
I 'spose a person could get an extra handle for the Rock Chucker and shorten it Forster style, too. Swapping out the handle might become tiresome after a while, though.
The smallest Lee, the Reloader, is a great size for smaller pistol rounds. It's about the size of the RCBS Partner. Though a little lighter duty than the Partner, it's a "C" press design which makes access easier w/ smaller cases. I've loaded everything up to .30-06 on one to "see if it would work" and it did, but I'd say .357 Mag is about the top of it's comfortable range for serious use. A buddy has a set of four of them set up side by side for some of his pistol use (no need to suggest he get some "better" equipment: this rig sits on the bench between a Co-Ax at one end, and a Dillon 550 at the other!
)There's also a trick that helps (especially when using smaller presses) on "tougher" pistol cases: the only time a press is REALLY doing a lot of work is during resizing, so even when using carbide dies that normally don't REQUIRE lube, a touch of case lube on every 10th case or so will slick things up quite a bit...
Rick C
onehandgunner
Single-Sixer
I have a Lee Classic Cast press that I use to resize 44 mag cases, with the "ratchet" handle adjustment capability that it has mine is set for a bit more than a 90 degree arc.
Lost Sheep
Single-Sixer
But none have auto-indexing. You would have to move the turret by hand, which, while possible, slows operations down just a little.Clovishound said:
Lost Sheep
GP100man
Buckeye
How about a taller shell holder ???
http://www.redding-reloading.com/online-catalog/90-extended-shellholders
http://www.redding-reloading.com/online-catalog/90-extended-shellholders
Thanks to all for the good suggestions. By no means am I getting rid of the Rock Chucker. I might pick up one of the smaller presses suggested or a turret may be in my future. I don't load that much volume and do most of my loading in the winter because it's too hot during the summer in the garage where my bench is. So I'll probably do something soon. Thanks again for all the help.
I've been thinking of adding this as a second press.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...inclair-7-8-14-benchrest-press-prod33635.aspx
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...inclair-7-8-14-benchrest-press-prod33635.aspx
mattsbox99
Hunter
WIL TERRY said:
Dang, I guess I must be some super strength beast then! There is a Partner press on my bench, and its the press I started reloading with. I have no problem resizing rifle brass with it although its primarily used for swaging pockets and as a bullet seater anymore.
dirtyted
Bearcat
I have the RCBS partner press. I have only loaded 40sw and 223 on it, but it worked great for each.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
mattsbox99 said:
Hi,
One "secret" I've learned is that URTL (pronounced "yertle") is still valid!
That's "Uncle Rick's Theory of Lubrication," which states "Every thing in life that squeaks, moans, groans or resists will benefit from a little of the proper lubrication at the right place and time." You can interpret that ANY way you want...
Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, a press is really only doing much work when sizing. I had an interesting experience w/ this over the weekend, as I swapped out presses for "a change." I have several, ranging from the little Lee Reloader to a Rock Chucker I've had for a while, but never really used. That tiny Lee has loaded .30-06 w/ not too much drama (not saying I'd like to be limited to it for such use, but it'll do it) so when I dug out some '06 brass to size, I figured the RC would be a breeze. After all, the press by itself is at least moderately behemoth class.
WTH? First case thru almost got stuck. Took both hands on the handle to get the ram back down. That repeated for a couple more before I said to myself "Stop. This ain't right." I normally use Lee case lube, and have always been happy w/ it. But for some reason, my normal lube drill wasn't working! I added some lube (both outside and inside the neck), and it got better, but still did not feel "right." Changed lube to Johnson Paste Wax (didn't have any Imperial Die Wax) and it was much better. Then, for giggles, I tried a spot of oil on a Q-tip to get the inside of the neck (no worries about powder contamination, that brass will be washed next.) Those cases went thru like pistol cases!
I'm not sure what the lesson was there, except that "bigger" doesn't ALWAYS mean better. If one watches the video on that Sinclair "mini" press, the fellow breezes right thru sizing a couple of cases w/o even lubing inside the neck (looks like he's using Imperial wax.) And closer examination shows a marked similarity in linkage design w/ the earlier Lee Challenger, a "lightweight" press I've used a lot and actually like the feel of better than some of my others. Sometimes it may take just a little tweaking of the geometry and physics involved in the design to make a big difference. I dunno...
Regardless, if you're having problems and think you might need "more" press, you may just need to "yertle it" as a buddy says...
Rick C
mr surveyor
SP-101
for handgun brass and a "small press", I don't think you can beat the Lee Hand Press with quick lock bushings. I load .38, .357, .44 mag and .45 acp, and all but (some of) the .44 mag cases are darned near effortless to resize (using carbide dies), and the .44 mag really isn't a huge effort. And, you can kick back in the recliner to resize/deprime, flair/expand the brass. Prime with hand primer and load powder with a loading tray. The Hand Press is a pretty short stroke, considering the angle your arms and shoulders are used to operate the devise. I have a bit of immobility in my right shoulder and the hand press allows me to keep my elbow down and use both arms to squeeze "inward".
Just another idea to toss into the mix
surv
Just another idea to toss into the mix
surv
I use LEE "O" presses for most sizing operations. To save wear and tear on my elbow, I cut the handle back about 5". This shortens the throw and makes it less troublesome. Secondary advantage is I no longer get a sore lower back. Since I have a number of these presses, I still have full length handles for sizing the bigger rifle cases.
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