New press suggestions. Redding or Forster

[Ranger007]

The 419 Zero Press has me intrigued.

 

[wkdickinson]

I should have noted in my previous post, that I've made a couple modifications to my COAX that have really improved it's functionality. I built a 9" riser out of 3" steel pipe and 2 floor flanges. It raises the press so it is much easier to see what you are doing and also raises the bottom of the handle stroke to a point where you don't need to bend down each time. As mentioned by rockable in an earlier post, I also built a short handle (4") with a round ball on the end. I really like the reduced stroke with the shorter handle and have not found any job difficult, but I only FL resize and bump the shoulders back on 243, 6.5 CM and 223, no "case forming".

 

[Nellej12]

The 419 Zero Press has me intrigued.

That press looks good but the price looks painful.

 

[Shinbone]

The ergos on my Coax are great.

 

[INTJ]

To me, the critical feature of a press is how consistently is sizes brass. In general, bigger heavier presses have less deflection and size more consistently. While my Co-Ax is great, it does have more deflection than my Prazipress. Pulling hard in the Co-Ax handle will size more than light pulling in the handle. I would use this to make sure all my BR cases are within .0005" in shoulder length--assuming I can really measure to a half thousandth with my Mitituyo digital.

I was asked about my Prazipress in a PM and here was part of my response which is applicable to this thread. My percentages are approximate as I didn't keep a log of the actual numbers.

Using the custom Whidden dies in the Co-Ax I would have cases size with the first stoke to within a half thousandth about 60% of the time. Probably 30% of the cases would come out a thousandth too long and maybe 10% would be two thousandths too long. The cases that are too long would need to be sized once or twice more to get them within spec. On rare occasion I would get a case too short by a thousandth--probably self induced by over lubing.

Using the custom Whidden dies in the German Prazipress, I estimate 85-90% of the cases size to within a half thousandth. The others are never more than one thousandth too long. I never get any too short unless I over lube them.

I also find that I get more consistency using RCBS case lube and a lube pad vs using Imperial with my fingers.

 

[cem]

Agreed CoAx or T7. My own choice was CoAx and T7 with a Hollywood Universal Turret for the largest of cartridges and dies bigger than 7/8-14.

I did buy a short handle for the CoAx and I actually use a Harrel's turret more than any of the others for the short cartridges where the Harrel's is the best of the bunch.

I take more pleasure in using the CoAx than I do in the others.

Everybody should add a progressive with a case feeder. The idea is to shoot more.

 

[br1111]

I'm look at getting a new press. Looking at Redding big boss 2 or Forster Co-ax. Any thoughts that would make me lean one direction over the other.


Thanks,
Jeff

get a mec marksman and never look back

 

[Ranger007]

That press looks good but the price looks painful.

Agree 100%.

 

[JimPag]

Hard to beat a Redding Ultra Mag the way the linkage is set up. Buries a Rock Chucker.

 

[INTJ]

The 419 Zero Press has me intrigued.

I think I will eventually add a Area 419 Zero Press. That combined with the Prazipress would be a very nice combo.

 

[Ranger007]

I think I will eventually add a Area 419 Zero Press. That combined with the Prazipress would be a very nice combo.

Yes I am leaning towards that as well. Just pulled the trigger on an auto drive and a dillon 650.

 

[INTJ]

Yes I am leaning towards that as well. Just pulled the trigger on an auto drive and a dillon 650.

That would be my third and final part of a complete reloading setup.