Reloading Press Info Needed

[AICS308]

I am doing product research for a new press. The Dillion 650 is what I have been using for the last 25 years for pistol ammo. It has been a fantastic press.

Now I am looking to get back into F-Class TR loading for 308. There are a multitude of presses available now but i have narrowed the field somewhat to single stages presses. The main function for the press would be resizing and shoulder bump along with consistency from case to case. It seems after reading reviews and watching videos I'm still as confused as before.

The 3 that stand out most are the Forester Co-Ax, Harrels, and Hood. Since I am running out of space on the bench I am considering the Harrels and Hood due to the smaller size.

Any opinions on these presses for the stated purpose would be appreciated. Also any other presses that reliably produce less run out would be great.

T2A

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I'm kinda in the same boat. I've always wanted a CoAx, but lately I've been leaning towards a Redding T7. I'd like to just set my dies and forget it. One tool head will hold 3 sets of dies, which is really appealing.

 

[wkdickinson]

Buy a COAX and you will never look back!

 

[cem]

Happens I've got a Harrell's on the desk in front of me next to the computer monitor for handy and a T7 and a CoAx on the reloading bench next to a progressive with a case feeder. Involving children and family is better than an electric case feeder but lacking children I'll always have a case feeder for a progressive .

Sadly despite my lifelong effort to buy points without working for them I have to say there is no logical reason to expect better accuracy results from any one of them. The T7 is mostly so I can leave Redding Instant Indicators in place while bumping shoulders on another press and such. I use the Harrell's most because its short stroke and handiness work for me but the CoAx or the T7 each will do things the small and handy Harrrell's won't. The CoAx does more to make me smile. The current CoAx will work with ever longer dies that the older CoAx back to Bonanza days won't. I even have a Hollywood Universal Turret with a mixed hole size turret for need and because Elmer Keith said it was the best. I'd say the Hood offers versatility as does the very similar Harrell's combination. I don't own a Hood and have never used one but I would think long and hard about giving up the Redding micrometer seating die with its extra length. When used for .308, it will accommodate the Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die, but will not allow the use of Redding's Competition Seating Die (too long); however, the Wilson .308 Inline Seater can be used.

Again I've never used or even seen a ZERO reloading press or the German Turban Heavy Präzipress 120mm
competition but I'd sure add that to consideration again trying to buy points I suppose. But see Ultimate Reloader.com for reviews and thoughts from an expert source.

 

[AICS308]

Good information.

Thanks

 

[Twdmar]

I like my coax but I load my high-power LR ammo on my 650. Size, etc on one tool head and load on another. I really only use my coax for forming cases.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I like my coax but I load my high-power LR ammo on my 650. Size, etc on one tool head and load on another. I really only use my coax for forming cases.

How do you handle powder with the Dillon? I have a 550, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around how it would be any faster based on the way I load over a single stage.

 

[Twdmar]

How do you handle powder with the Dillon? I have a 550, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around how it would be any faster based on the way I load over a single stage.

I have done the thing like whidden does with the funnel on station #2 and dumping it in when the ram is at the top. That led to me losing my train of thought and dumping powder occasionally, that lasted a day or two.
Now I have my brass fully prepped and put powder in, using an autotrickler, and leave the button out of station 4. I put the case in the shell plate, stick a bullet in and load it. It may not be benchrest ammo but it meets the requirement for the LR target and should work for f-class.
The Dillon powder measure if tuned up works very well with the right powder. I don't use it for 600 yd and 1000 yd ammo for my own piece of mind but I have shot ammo loaded with it for practice at 600. Even in a small case like 223, the slight variations make less difference on the MR1 target than you'd think.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I have done the thing like whidden does with the funnel on station #2 and dumping it in when the ram is at the top. That led to me losing my train of thought and dumping powder occasionally, that lasted a day or two.

Hahaha, I can barely load pistol ammo on my Dillon, not mention having to remember to add powder in the top position!

I think a Redding T7 is in my future as I perform so many processes off the press. With a T7 I can keep my 3 most commonly used die sets on a single turret.

- I have a Redding Boss (the small guy) to deprime
- Tumble
- Size on T7
- Trim on Forster hand lathe
- Chamfer with Sinclair tool in power screwdriver
- Prime with KKM hand tool
- Throw charge with Harrel's powder measure and trickle to weight
- Seat on T7

I rarely reload rounds to completion on a single night. I will often pop the primers and tumble on one night, do sizing/trimming another night, and throw charges/seat on another night. Reloading is one of those things I do in stages when I find myself sitting in front of the TV and I feel like I should be doing something productive.

Getting back to the original topic, I'm just not sure the features of the Co-Ax are what I need. The depriming I would likely continue using my old Boss press due to the shorter throw of the handle. I also wouldn't do my priming on the Co-Ax as I like the KKM tool, and the Co-Ax still requires handling each individual primer. Last, I shoot .223 as much as .308 head sized cartridges, so frequently changing out the Co-Ax shell holder plate seems like more of a pain in the butt. Really, my only use for the Co-Ax or T7 would be sizing and seating.

Decisions..... I'm a big fan of both Redding, Forster, and Harrel's. The Harrel's press just doesn't seem robust to me, but I could very well be wrong.

 

[cem]

I have no qualms about robustness on the Harrell's. I do have qualms about abrasive wear on aluminum especially aluminum threads in an abrasive environment. I don't doubt that a T7 with a demonstrated life span in excess of a million cartridges output and still going strong will outlast a Harrell's. All the more if the Harrell's is used for everything with lots of primer dust and swapping dies but most people won't.

 

[Shrek]

You can set and forget the dies used in a C-Ax. Dies just snap in and out. N need for extra plates like the T7. I’ve been super happy with my Co-Ax. Played with a T7 nd didn’t see the attraction of needing shell holders and extra plates.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

How do you like feeding everything in from the front of the press vs at an angle with a traditional "O" style press?

 

[hoz53]

How do you like feeding everything in from the front of the press vs at an angle with a traditional "O" style press?

let’s see I’ve got 2 coax’s and a T7 and 2 dillons. One thing before I forget - the spring and ball bearing on a T7 May launch skyward when you remove the tool head. I have been thinking of getting another tool head but haven’t yet. I keep mine loaded with pistol dies, a decaping die, and mandral. Don’t discount the speed of a coax compared to a turret, with its snap in and out die system. For the most accurate rifle ammo I load, I size on a coax, use an old lee hand tool for priming, use a powder measure with scale and trickle up, and use a coax to seat. I keep my dies in a rack on my bench so I can easily swap lots of different dies out on the coax. Its a lot faster for me than a turret. If a person only loads one caliber that may be different. Ive got other single stage presses to and I’d lump them pretty much all into the same category since you have to screw the dies in and out. One nice thing I will say about them is you can use die washers. Ive never used a harrels or a hood and wouldn’t buy one unless l loaded at the range and wanted the portability. Ive been using an M5 for powder but I do have an A&D I need to get setup. That’s on my list. Hope this helps a little.

 

[AICS308]

Not to throw a curve to the conversation, but does anyone use the LE Wilson sizing dies and an Arbor Press? What kind of run out and consistency for shoulder bump would you expect? OK, better, worse, same, pure c***, pure gold?

 

[TrxR]

Not to throw a curve to the conversation, but does anyone use the LE Wilson sizing dies and an Arbor Press? What kind of run out and consistency for shoulder bump would you expect? OK, better, worse, same, pure c***, pure gold?

They only make neck size dies in the arbor press style not full length sizers.

 

[AICS308]

They only make neck size dies in the arbor press style not full length sizers.

Thanks for that. more research needed!

 

[caihlen]

I have a Harrells and i like it a lot for some things. Full length sizing is not one of them.

 

[powderbrake]

I agree with caihlen, I would not full length size anything over a 6PPC or 6BR in my Harrells.

I have two Dillon 550's, a Harrells, and a Rockchucker on my load bench. The Rockchucker does all the heavy duty work. I can even prime on it, and I have a spare in case I need it, as the original is 40 or 50 years old.

 

[3Ackleys]

Hahaha, I can barely load pistol ammo on my Dillon, not mention having to remember to add powder in the top position!

I think a Redding T7 is in my future as I perform so many processes off the press. With a T7 I can keep my 3 most commonly used die sets on a single turret.

- I have a Redding Boss (the small guy) to deprime
- Tumble
- Size on T7
- Trim on Forster hand lathe
- Chamfer with Sinclair tool in power screwdriver
- Prime with KKM hand tool
- Throw charge with Harrel's powder measure and trickle to weight
- Seat on T7

I rarely reload rounds to completion on a single night. I will often pop the primers and tumble on one night, do sizing/trimming another night, and throw charges/seat on another night. Reloading is one of those things I do in stages when I find myself sitting in front of the TV and I feel like I should be doing something productive.

Getting back to the original topic, I'm just not sure the features of the Co-Ax are what I need. The depriming I would likely continue using my old Boss press due to the shorter throw of the handle. I also wouldn't do my priming on the Co-Ax as I like the KKM tool, and the Co-Ax still requires handling each individual primer. Last, I shoot .223 as much as .308 head sized cartridges, so frequently changing out the Co-Ax shell holder plate seems like more of a pain in the butt. Really, my only use for the Co-Ax or T7 would be sizing and seating.

Decisions..... I'm a big fan of both Redding, Forster, and Harrel's. The Harrel's press just doesn't seem robust to me, but I could very well be wrong.

On the CO-AX shell holder: I have never changed from the way it came (LG I think) and I load from .223 to 28 Nosler. On the 28 N you need to take the case out at a certain angle but it is not difficult. The spread on the jaws is adjustable also. A guy can't have too many presses!

 

[AICS308]

I agree with caihlen, I would not full length size anything over a 6PPC or 6BR in my Harrells.

I have two Dillon 550's, a Harrells, and a Rockchucker on my load bench. The Rockchucker does all the heavy duty work. I can even prime on it, and I have a spare in case I need it, as the original is 40 or 50 years old.

I have an old Rockchucker I used for many years. It's almost 50 years old. All my reloading equipment, powders, primers, dies, everything were always kept in my reloading room. When I got the Dillion I packed the RCBS and dies in a box. When I moved 16 years back I forgot about it and left it in the garage. When finally found it a few weeks back, it doesn't look good. I have been thinking about cleaning, painting, and polishing the surface rust to see if I can get it going again.