Who's using the oldest press?

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Looking thru the reloading room pictures, we see quite a variety of presses. Some new, some not so new, but a well-cared for press can last for decades, so I'm curious:

Who's using the oldest one on a regular basis?

I'll start off w/ my RCBS Jr, just a "youngun" made in '69...

Rick C

 

[Ale-8(1)]

My 1980 'Chucker isn't even hardly broken in.

:)

 

[Rainman]

My new favorite is a huge RCBS A-2 born in 68. It's only the second one I've run across in 44 years of reloading. Bought it at a gunshow last year from a man liquidating his dad's estate. It replaced a 72 model Chucker.

Dan

 

[WIL TERRY]

1967 RCBS A2....looks brand new after tens of thousands of rounds. Paid $35.00 for it used in January 1970.

 

[J Miller]

Bonanza Co-Ax. Pre Forster. Red wrinkle paint. I have no idea how old it is.

Joe

 

[Olsherm]

I am using an older Lyman Spartan press along with a Lee turret and a Lyman Turret press. The Lyman Spartan is the oldest not just sure when I bought it.About early seventy's I think.

 

[Texas Jack Black]

I still on occasion use my fathers old Herters turret press.He left it to me 20 years ago I can remember him reloading with that press way back in 1951.

T J B

 

[sixshot]

I got my first one the year before they started making them........lets see you top that! Actually got my RCBS (rock chuck bullet swage) Jr. in 1966 in Sherman, Texas.

Dick

 

[Texas Jack Black]

I think my Herters press from the early fifties is still the earliest so far .It is still mounted to the same reloading bench and I first used it back in 1951 when my dad taught me to reload, Top that one :D


T J B

 

[GAR]

Best I could do is an early 70's RC.

Now if we were talking about bullet sizer's I have a really old one.

Tom

 

[Paul B]

Not sure of the name but it's Lyman turret type that takes the 310 Tong tool dies rather than the standard 7/8x14 type. They only neck size the brass. Mine is apparantly the first model as a later version had a double linkage system that gave better leverage.
I actually prefer using the Lyman 310 tong tools for a good deal of my reloading as ammunition made with them is very accurate. It's especially nice when loading for the 30-30 and I shoot cast bullets exclusively in that rifle. Kind of like a time machine going back to when things were less hectic. It's too bad Lyman dropped most of he dies for that tool. :(
Paul B.

 

[turner]

My Dillion 550B may qualify for the "oldest new press" as I purchased it in 1995 and it is still in the box!

One of these decades I'm going to get it out and use it.

 

[HerrMesser]

I am still using a couple of Herters presses and the one I bought used in 1972. Picked the other one up at a gun show a few years ago. Got one set up in the garage to do heavy work and the other set up beside my computer where is comfortable to work.

Rad

 

[Flash]

Not sure of the name but it's Lyman turret type that takes the 310 Tong tool dies rather than the standard 7/8x14 type. They only neck size the brass. Mine is apparantly the first model as a later version had a double linkage system that gave better leverage.
I actually prefer using the Lyman 310 tong tools for a good deal of my reloading as ammunition made with them is very accurate. It's especially nice when loading for the 30-30 and I shoot cast bullets exclusively in that rifle. Kind of like a time machine going back to when things were less hectic. It's too bad Lyman dropped most of he dies for that tool. :(
Paul B.

The Tru-Line Jr. introduced in the the late 40's

 

[Paul B]

"The Tru-Line Jr. introduced in the the late 40's."

I thuink you're right. :D
Paul B.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

My rock chucker was bought used in 1968 and I have used it since then. I bought another used rock chucker for a backup press but never set it up. So when my son started loading I gave it to him and he is using it. I don't see ever wearing out my rock chucker in my lifetime. I may leave it to my grandson so he and his dad can each have one of mine to use for their lifetimes then pass them on.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I'm still using my dad's late 50's Pacific Jr...... :shock:

(Photo in the "see your bench" thread)

 

[AZshooter]

I got my 'old' Spartan Turret Press in the early 70's, and my 'newer' Lyman All-American press, which was made somewhere in the early-mid 50's.

 

[PackinPreacher]

My Dillion 550B may qualify for the "oldest new press" as I purchased it in 1995 and it is still in the box!

One of these decades I'm going to get it out and use it.

Wanna sell it?

 

[wild_weasel]

My RCBS Jr that I bought in 1980 is still going strong after 31 years. I've honestly lost track of how many thousands of rounds I have reloaded on it.

Cheers,
W-W

 

[protoolman]

Im using my Spartan still.

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

Hollywood Senior ...inherited from Dad..I have had it for 50 years.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Hollywood Senior ...inherited from Dad..I have had it for 50 years.

That's an classy old timer for sure. My uncle used one... :wink:

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hollywood Senior ...inherited from Dad..I have had it for 50 years.

Hi,

By the time I actually started working for him, my gunsmith boss was in his third shop, but when I first met him (late-'60s), he was in his first, which was a converted garage at his house.

He had one of those Hollywoods set up out there for anyone who wanted to use it for trap load shotshells. It was set up for a single load--you brought your powder, shot and other components, or joined a group of guys who bought in bulk. Four nights a week, it was almost ALWAYS in use from the time guys got off work until maybe 8 or 9 in the evening.

I'd love to know how many 100s of 1000s of shells got loaded on that machine! Last I knew of it, one of his buddies had taken it to his house for storage in one of the moves, and was still using it around 1990 or so. A couple of the "old crew" did everything but hold a gun to his head to get him to sell it--no luck!

Rick C

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

I can reload shotshells the dies are huge.... with my Senior... but usually use it for regular rifle and pistol reloading.
Charlie

 

[APEXDUCK]

Nothing real old for me but my 12Ga grabber has been chucking them out since 1984. I do have a MEC 600jr for 410 that I think is around 1974.

My Dillon is an original Dillon progressive press (I forget the model) that I have upgraded with a new frame to take the interchangeable heads, so I do not know if it counts! All it's other parts are original.

All I know it that all of my reloading presses will outlive me!

APEXDUCK

 

[quantrill]

A "STAR UNIVERSAL" from the late 40s or early 50s. I bought it from the local police department. I know they were using it in the early 50s and they had bought it used. I STILL use it for .38spec. wadcutters and it works fine.

 

[Sal1950]

I'm not even in the running here but I bought my Dillon 450B in the early 80s and loaded many thousands of rounds since. It still works like new and I'm not interested in the auto powder dump and primer pickup anyway.
Sal