Press For 6ppc Reloading- Suggestions

[Gergg]

I'm new to the 6ppc and reloading, I've read tons of threads on this and am now a bit confused as to the best/most appropriate press for reloading 6ppc cases. I don't mind spending a little more to get the "right" press the first time, but don't want to spend more than I need to either. I was leaning towards a Forster co-ax, but read some things that made me wonder if I really needed it. I was initially thinking that the priming feature on the Forster would be good enough that I would not need a separate primer tool and that would make up for some of the extra expense of the press.....any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BigDMT]

Any press will work. There is no "special" press required for the PPC. If you already have a decent press, spend your money on good dies like Whidden, Redding Competition, or Forster Ultra Benchrest. The best set up would probably be a Whidden FL bushing die with a Wilson micrometer seater.

 

[expiper]

Gregg,,,many "B"enchrest shooters use the RCBS "Partner" press,,,,it is made of aluminum and is EZ to transport to the range and is inexpensive compared to most other presses,,,,If you want to spend the $$ get one of Harrells portable range presses,,,,,if you are going to shoot competitevly you will apreciate a compact portable press,,,as far as dies ,,,I like the Redding full length type S small base for most PPC chambers,,,,talk to "real"shooters at the range before you buy anything,,,,Roger

 

[Gergg]

I like the Redding full length type S small base for most PPC chambers,,,,

Hey expiper....is this the Redding part# 77211 die? I ask as I had another popular gunsmith tell me to use the 77211 die as well. Will this die "fit" the chamber exact enough? seems like the case forming tolerances I read about are so small that a custom/specific die would be needed.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[artbosco]

I'm new to the 6ppc and reloading, I've read tons of threads on this and am now a bit confused as to the best/most appropriate press for reloading 6ppc cases. I don't mind spending a little more to get the "right" press the first time, but don't want to spend more than I need to either. I was leaning towards a Forster co-ax, but read some things that made me wonder if I really needed it. I was initially thinking that the priming feature on the Forster would be good enough that I would not need a separate primer tool and that would make up for some of the extra expense of the press.....any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

For my competitive 6PPC and 30BR cartridges, I prime with the RCBS Hand Priming Tool, Full Length size with the Forster CO-AX Press, and then seat bullets with the K&M Arbor Press. There are plenty of other tools that can accomplish the same tasks. It's all about personal preference and budget.

P.S. My F/L bushing dies are from Harrell's and the Seating Dies with micrometer top are from Wilson.

 

[stool]

i'll dis-agree with this..this time.
my lee turret( early style) was to soft and would flex instead of sizing my 6ppc brass. i bought a lee classic steel single stage press( my first single stage press in over 30 years of loading at the time) and all was well....

so no alloy beginner stuff??....

Any press will work. There is no "special" press required for the PPC. If you already have a decent press, spend your money on good dies like Whidden, Redding Competition, or Forster Ultra Benchrest. The best set up would probably be a Whidden FL bushing die with a Wilson micrometer seater.

 

[JRS]

Virtually any well made portable press would work fine. If you don't mind spending the additional money, the Scotty Crawford (Hood) press occupies the highest rung on the ladder Either the single, or double 8)

And yes Mike (stool), they are aluminum. They don't need to be cast iron to size and load the PPC :

 

[jonbearman]

Stool,you care to elablrate on a lee press that would size a piddly 6ppc case.Are you saying it wouldnt push the case into the die or what.I never ever heard of a press stretching that bad in my life? Or were the cases out of whack after sizing with that early lee press? You got my curiosity going now.I am with rodger.The partner is ideal with going to the range or whatever chore you have for it.

 

[BigDMT]

i'll dis-agree with this..this time.
my lee turret( early style) was to soft and would flex instead of sizing my 6ppc brass. i bought a lee classic steel single stage press( my first single stage press in over 30 years of loading at the time) and all was well....

so no alloy beginner stuff??....

Any press will work. There is no "special" press required for the PPC. If you already have a decent press, spend your money on good dies like Whidden, Redding Competition, or Forster Ultra Benchrest. The best set up would probably be a Whidden FL bushing die with a Wilson micrometer seater.

That's interesting. I have a Lee Classic turret press I use for hand gun and AR rifle rounds. The fitment of the turret is a little sloppy to say the least, but it gets the job done and surprisingly enough, makes really accurate ammo.

But in my statement, I was only thinking about single stage presses since that's what the OP was inquiring about. If he was going to use a Turret press, which actually isn't a bad idea, I would recommend the Redding T7. That will be my next press purchase.

I know more than a few top level competition shooters use the T7.

 

[timeout]

I use this from Harrell's Precision: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/compact-reloading-press
I find it quite handy for the little PPC and BR cartridges. I use a hand primer and IMO they are much better than priming in the press. For seating, I use an arbor press and Wilson inline seating dies. Have Harrell's make you a full length bushing style sizer die that is correct for your rifle chamber by sending him a cartridge case fired from your rifle. He charges $75.00 to make it and that includes return shipping. I have not use a Forster Coax press, but guys that do are really impressed with them. My other press for larger cartridges is a Redding Big Boss II.

 

[stool]

the early turrets are NOT the same as the current CLASSIC line...not even close.
works ok on 9mm and such......way back when say 1978 or so; was using lee hand loaders up till then( and i still use them).
at the top of the stroke the press would flex rather than size the last couple of thou on my 6ppc cases.....just that simple..FLEX.
bought the lee CLASSIC single stage, same die, same brass, no issue.

the early lee press has three steel studs that hold the base to the top....my guess is it flexes to the fourth corner..the one without a stud..its where your hand goes to add and remove cases.

 

[Gergg]

Do you need 2 separate tools(press and arbor) to complete the various processes? I ask because I've read several references to using a different arbor press for seating bullets.

 

[expiper]

Gregg,,,,yes,,most of us use a seperate arbor press to seat the bullet with a wilson in-line seater,,,,most popular "B"enchrest PPC chambers are copies or derivitives of the "Boyer" reamer(( the reamer and chamber are .4395" at the 200 line,,,most PPC americans like Sako and Ruger are .442,,so you can see the need for a small base die)) ,,,no matter who does it,,,,some backwoods gunsmiths dont know the diff,,,,,and the person who told you of the 77211 knows his stuff,,,you dont need a 300$ die ,,,if your reamer matches the Boyer chamber you will be good to go,,,Roger

 

[Gergg]

yes,,most of us use a seperate arbor press to seat the bullet with a wilson in-line seater

I know there are arbor presses from overseas that are half the cost of the little Harrell press, but I remember seeing a bunch of the Harrell's at the last BR shoot I went to, maybe that would not be a bad option with a simple press like the RCBS Partner, Rockchucker Supreme, or Lee precision classic cast. I have a Wilson in-line micro seater.

 

[BoydAllen]

To wring the most out of your PPC you will need to be loading at the range. For this, a compact press is handy. That is why the Harrell presses are so popular for this application. I have a couple, the turret, and the combo, which is my favorite for range work, since it has both threaded die and Wilson type seater capabilities. For dies, Wilson seater, the non stainless, non micrometer variety will do just fine, once you spend a couple of minutes learning how to use it, and for your FL die, send Harrells some thrice fired brass (2-3 cases, fired till tight with warm loads) and they will match them to a die that works very well. While we are on the subject of PPCs, I run into fellows that think that there is some magic in just owning one, and that they can load develop and shoot (no flags, lousy bench, rest, and bags) it like their other rifles and somehow the magic chambering will do the trick. Good luck with that. The reason that short range benchrest shooters do the things that they do, loading and shooting, is that they have to to get the results that they are looking for. If they could get the results with less work, they would. BTW, if you are really on a budget, you can simply mount any press on a board and use C clamps to mount it on a table at the range. Also, if your neck tension is not too heavy, you can simply use your hand to seat bullets with a Wilson seater. In the latter case, standing up my give you better leverage. Have fun.

 

[artbosco]

While we are on the subject of PPCs, I run into fellows that think that there is some magic in just owning one, and that they can load develop and shoot (no flags, lousy bench, rest, and bags) it like their other rifles and somehow the magic chambering will do the trick. Good luck with that.

So true!

For those Really interested in bringing out the inherent accuracy of the 6PPC, I highly recommend the most comprehensive book written on the cartridge and related equipment by the most celebrated 6PPC Champion and Hall of Fame points accumulator of all time: http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BSS&Product_Code=TBSC

 

[Gergg]

Gregg,,,many "B"enchrest shooters use the RCBS "Partner" press,,,,it is made of aluminum and is EZ to transport to the range and is inexpensive compared to most other presses

So, if I were to get an RCBS Partner press, would that really enable me to load ammo as accurate as any other press? I would love for this to be the case as it is very inexpensive, just want to make sure I am not wasting money.

 

[BoydAllen]

Yes, the press is not the big deal, the dies are.

 

[LCazador]

+1 on what Boyd says. Spend your money on quality dies and a cheap press will do. Harrels bump die, Wilson seater, Harrell combo press if you can afford it, a good neck turner, and a good barrel!

 

[Gergg]

Thanks so much guys, your help is priceless.