Best Precision Reloader

[rebs]

I load them all on a Hornady lock and load progressive. Excellent reloads and the powder measure is second to none.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Presses have been doing their thing for a REAL LONG TIME.....I enjoy using vintage type equipment that was precision made and according to my concentricity gauge my old Hollywood Seniors an R.F.D. and custom made dies from Sid Goodling & Mike Ezell are doing the job just fine. I have a Rockchucker & a Classic Cast as well that would do just as fine of a job with the mentioned dies plugged into them.....

Regards
Rick

 

[danny]

Forster (Bonanza at the time) Co-Ax press was recommended to me forty years ago. The floating quick die change and.case head clamp jaw design beats them all. The overhead pull down operating handle provides unbelievable leverage. Read up about it, but one, use it, and you’ll become a believer. The bench mounted RCBS priming tool is a necessity for me. I have a Lyman C-press for pulling bullets. My RCBS Rockchucker lays on a shelf. I sold my Redding Ultra Mag to a friend. If you get into benchrest competition you’ll need L.E. Wilson hand dies and an arbor press to go with the Co-Ax.

I am a Co-Ax user and love my press, but, I do not have the same opinion as you when it comes to leverage on the Co-Ax. I have a 17 Fireball with a generous chamber. My Co-Ax won't full length size the brass, but my Lee Classic Cast will, like nothing is going on with the Fireball brass. With that said, the Co-Ax is my main press and I am glad I bought it.

Danny

 

[Papaprimer]

I am a Co-Ax user and love my press, but, I do not have the same opinion as you when it comes to leverage on the Co-Ax. I have a 17 Fireball with a generous chamber. My Co-Ax won't full length size the brass, but my Lee Classic Cast will, like nothing is going on with the Fireball brass. With that said, the Co-Ax is my main press and I am glad I bought it.

Danny

Using my Co-Ax right now to run bulged 6.5 Creedmoor cases into a Redding body die. They were fired in a Ruger with a large chamber. Won’t even go into the chamber on my Kimber. A little Imperial die wax and one hand on the Co-Ax handle slides them protesting into the die where they’re brought back into spec and they slip right back out.
So far mine hasn’t had any problems resizing any cartridge case from 22 Hornet to 30-06.

 

[mikehotel]

I had a Co-ax, sold it. It's pretty hard to beat the RCBS rock chucker with the Hornady lock and load bushing kit, makes switching dies a breeze.

 

[INTJ]

Co-Ax is the top for precision. Rockchucker Supreme for a second press.

 

[Twicepop]

The good folks at Sinclairs used to say (and maybe still do) the Redding T-7 was the only turret press capable of producing bench rest match grade ammunition.

 

[JFrank]

I use an old school RCBS RS
Seems to work well for me $20.00 from a garage sale.
Of course I have my 2 presses
by Lynwood & Walter Harrell
Arbor and a compact.

I gotta have those”

 

[Baer45]

I'm a big fan of Harrell's Tooling Turret Press. Once I have my die set where I want, I don't touch it again..
P.S. This press is only for short action cartridges, 284Win and down...

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/harrells-tooling-turret-press-by-henry-harrell

Robert

I agree. I have owned everything from a Rockchucker to multiple S1050’s. All my loading is now done a Harrels 4 hole turrets press if its 308 or under; anything above I do on a DILLON 550 Progressive....Harrels is the best kept secret to PRS shooters but it’s hard to find Benchrest shooters who don’t own one or know what it is...I did not like the primer fed on the 650 which caused me the buy the 1050s which are sewing machines but overkill forprecision....

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I do get a kick out of seeing comments about some presses being better for precision work (speaking specifically about single stages here). I've been lucky enough to get some exposure to a couple top-tier, state/national champ shooters, and I was honestly shocked at some of the setups.

At the time I didn't know what I know now, and assumed they *must* be using the latest and greatest presses/dies etc. Nope! Walking into their shops and seeing faded 40 year old RCBS presses bolted to the bench.

You're not going to press-upgrade your way into a higher score/x-count.

As long as it's free of defects, the press likely won't be a bottleneck on loaded round quality.

I do think arbor presses w/ force gauges are a different discussion though.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Invest in good dies- a press is a press as long as it isnt too tight and affects the case going into the die. Some presses are nice to use, and feel good, but the most expensive prazi press doesnt make better ammo than a $20 lee.... but it does make it easier.

 

[Barlow]

I used an RCBS Jr for many years with no issues. Bought a T7 five years (or so) ago, and it has been flawless. The slight tipping is not a problem. Barlow

 

[INTJ]

I do think arbor presses w/ force gauges are a different discussion though.

That’s something we haven’t discussed yet here. I doubt anyone who is serious about small groups seats on a 7/8 x 14 press anymore. In long range BR the preferred tool seems to be the hydro arbor seater and inline dies.

As long as a sizer press doesn’t deflect it ought to be okay. I think my COAX sizes a little more consistently than my Harrell’s, but I think brass hardness and case springback overwhelm that. Crud, the amount of lube and how hard you pull the handle will case variation in in sizing. I measure every case to the shoulder and I work to keep them within .0005” as measured by Mitituyo digital calipers, and I expect that keeps all my sized cases within .001”.

I am not sure this level of fussiness in loading matters anywhere but in BR in very good conditions............

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That’s something we haven’t discussed yet here. I doubt anyone who is serious about small groups seats on a 7/8 x 14 press anymore. In long range BR the preferred tool seems to be the hydro arbor seater and inline dies.

As long as a sizer press doesn’t deflect it ought to be okay. I think my COAX sizes a little more consistently than my Harrell’s, but I think brass hardness and case springback overwhelm that. Crud, the amount of lube and how hard you pull the handle will case variation in in sizing. I measure every case to the shoulder and I work to keep them within .0005” as measured by Mitituyo digital calipers, and I expect that keeps all my sized cases within .001”.

I am not sure this level of fussiness in loading matters anywhere but in BR in very good conditions............

Youd be surprised how many use the super precision mitutoyo micrometer top newlon blank custom reamed by their gunsmith.

 

[INTJ]

Must be an east coast thing.......

 

[dolek]

Must be an east coast thing.......

More of an "experience/knowledge" thing...

 

[quest450]

Love my CoAx it’s an excellent press to deprme my brass

 

[Shinbone]

Anyone got any hand's-on experience to share on the MEC Marksman press? It looks like a very solid rig and has a floating shell holder feature to minimize runout.

https://www.mecoutdoors.com/mec-marksman

A review by Ultimate Reloader:

 

[INTJ]

More of an "experience/knowledge" thing...

LOL!!! I SERIOUSLY doubt that.........

That’s a good one though!!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Love my CoAx it’s an excellent press to deprme my brass

And it comes in second to a summit thats only suitable to depriming.