Two reloading presses

[benchrest]

last year i built a cabin on my property/shooting range and was wondering if anyone ever reloads from two reloading stations?
what im wanting to do is have 2 presses but use the same dies. what i dont want to do is have to change the die lock ring from press to press. what are the odds in 2 rockchuckers being the same when i screw the sizing die and seater die from one to the other? i know, i know, easy to change but... just wondering if any one has done it or has a solution?

 

[divingin]

If they're not the same, you could have the top of one ground to match the other, could you not?

OTOH, a second set of dies isn't all that much in the grand scheme of things.

 

[JFrank]

I’m working on a similar scenario just not sure how to explain myself.
probably a senior moment thing or a Guffey thing.

 

[benchrest]

could machine the inserts(the one inside the press) to be the same. i will ask a machinist how hard that would be...


ive looked at the hornady lock and load adapters but i dont know if i trust them.

 

[PA Jeep]

I have my press mounted to an aluminum plate and "C" clamped to my reloading table. I move the press and dies from location to location.

 

[Bill K]

You would only need to adjust the dies for the press being used and set each for the cartridge being reloaded in each case, one for the sizing and one for the bullet seating.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dies need to be adjusted every time anyway so no big deal

 

[benchrest]

hopefully between the two presses, they're really close.
i asked the machinist that reloads, he suggested making up the little difference with shell holders. machine a set of those down to the longer stroked press.

redding makes competition shell holder sets, those might make up the difference.

or i could just adjust dies each time

most the time i dont touch my sizing dies, theyre where i want them. seater is always adjusted at the stem.

 

[Keith Hansley in NC]

get yourself a die adjuster(PMA or Whidden),or shims
record setting for each press
I do this all the time

 

[benchrest]

I have my press mounted to an aluminum plate and "C" clamped to my reloading table. I move the press and dies from location to location.

i may look into this, didnt really want to transport the press too, but.....

maybe a couple large threaded base plates for the press mounted to each reloading bench. at least it would be a quick couple of bolts to take the press off and on.

 

[Willie]

The PMA micro die adjuster is very consistent and easy to adjust for resizing. Not cheap, but worth every dime.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I just recently did something similar, I load 6BR and use Norma and Lapua brass, they are not the same thickness or capacity so to keep from switching die bushings or forgetting to I set two complete sets of dies labeled for each. I bet what you want to do would be really close on two presses.

 

[mac86951]

Just make a die spacer to "calibrate" the two. Machine your own, or I saw shims we're available too

 

[K22]

The two cartridge issues that may be affected because of differences in the amount of "play" in the linkages or other dimenisonal differences between the two presses are case sizing and seating depth.

Since you should be checking these anyway even when using only one press, I don't see any problem in using two pressures.

Case sizing can be easily adjusted without changing the lock ring of the die by using either Skip's shims* or Redding Competition Shell holders. I use the shim method but either works fine.

Adjustment for bullet seating depth is simple enough.

*Available at Sinclair International (Brownells)

 

[antelopedundee]

Just make a die spacer to "calibrate" the two. Machine your own, or I saw shims we're available too

Determine the difference and find a large washer and machine it down to match the difference.

 

[skeeljc]

Buy the Redding shell holders. Set up your sizing die every time so the shell holder makes hard contact with the die. Then you can change the shell holder to get the bump you want. All the shell holders are the same overall height, just the place where the base of the case sits changes. That way the shell holder is the stop, not the press.

 

[Dub]

what would Guffy do?
Really though I expect they will be VERY close

 

[JMayo]

I have the pma tool on both my 6mm and my 30 br dies.
I'm constantly switching between the two.
All I have to do is un screw one and screw the other in and go to work.

If I had two presses it would be that easy also.
I'd learn the changes I'd have to make pretty quick and know to look for it.

 

[JFrank]

what would Guffy do?
Really though I expect they will be VERY close

Guffey would probably tell a reloader to measure using a feeler gage to determine the distance between the top of the shell holder and the base of the die or the distance from the base the the lock ring after touch than use that as a transfer from press to press, and there is the cam over press.......

 

[jds holler]

Then there is the reloader who thinks that the press has head space. Presses don't have head space. Cartridges don't have head space. Chambers have head space. I am the only reloader who knows this.
f guffy