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Arbor press vs. mallet....does one load more concentric?

Guys,

I'll admit that I'm cheap upfront, and will tell you that one of these days I'll get a nice Arbor Press. I picked up a couple Wilson seaters and am interested to know if I must use an arbor press to load, or will a mallet do the same?

MQ1
 
The mallet method will seat the bullets, but you have no feedback on the seating pressure or neck tension as you will with the arbor press.
 
I'd never consider using a mallet for seating, save it for the Wilson neck sizers.

Unless you're using mega neck tension, you should be able to use the palm of your hand to seat the bullets. Trim, chamfer, and polish the inside with 0000 steel wool on a wore out brass brush first.
 
MQ1,
The thought of using a mallet on anything that potentially goes BOOM is one ugly proposition in my book. I use Wilson dies and a Sinclair Arbor Press to seat all my bullets regardless of the caliber. The reason I like the Arbor Press is that is allows me to "FEEL" when the bullet is being seated. In other words, casings, even of the same caliber and manufacturer, can and sometimes WILL have a different feel when you seat the bullet which tells you that you might need to anneal sooner than the majority of casing in that batch. The other thing I check for is case neck thickness to see if there is a difference in the casings when I reload it from all the rest. I usually separate out those "different feeling" casings, plus if you happen to use an Arbor Press with the seating tension gauge, all that much better for maintaining uniformity with your reloaded rounds. As a result, I've found I get much better consistent tight groups when I do my part. Good luck!
 
I don't know where you live, but you can get a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Frieght for about $45.00. Heavy enough to do want you want plus some.
 
sc1911cwp said:
I don't know where you live, but you can get a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Frieght for about $45.00. Heavy enough to do want you want plus some.

Really??? that made my whole day right there LMAO!!!
Wayne.
 
bozo699 said:
sc1911cwp said:
I don't know where you live, but you can get a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Frieght for about $45.00. Heavy enough to do want you want plus some.

Really??? that made my whole day right there LMAO!!!
Wayne.

sc1911cwp said:
I don't know where you live, but you can get a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Frieght for about $45.00. Heavy enough to do want you want plus some.

Yep, really!!! I shopped for an arbor press and found the $45 model at Harbor Freight. It's not as pretty as those made especially for reloading (in fact it's downright ugly) but it works just fine. Oh, it's true that it doesn't offer the "feel" that I'm told you can get with one of those smaller more expensive arbor presses (I've used them and never experienced any particular feel when seating a bullet) but I inspect all my cases closely before the go to the bullet seating stage so I'm confident that neck tension and other considerations are as close to optimum when the press does its job.
 
I dont believe hand dies are hardened so id guess you ruin them over time with a mallet, they dont need to be hit just pushed. I have some sort of juice press from the thrift store for $4. Its against my religion to use a mallet.
 
Check benchrest central and here all the time.One sold here today or yesterday for 60.00.
 
Hi MQ,Hi all

MQ,you should definitely type Bald Eagle arbor press on your computer,you'll come up with various addresses,the best being Amazon that will send you the object for a low $60,preventing you from thinking about hammering your bullets into your cases....I can't even begin to try and believe you might be serious proferring such horrible words,my goodness!!!And that little press is so cute too;come on,do yourself a favor,it's holliday period if I'm not mistaken....
 
Clod-NC said:
Hi MQ,Hi all

MQ,you should definitely type Bald Eagle arbor press on your computer

http://toolsandmore.us/bald-eagle-be1001-mini-arbor-press.aspx?gclid=CP7Y7djL87QCFQmCQgodWjwA1g

http://www.amazon.com/Bald-Eagle-BE1001-Arbor-Press/dp/B006SBC3I2

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/486489/bald-eagle-mini-arbor-press
 
You guys had me laughing my ass off. Obviously, with the Wilson dies I have zero experience. I will refrain from hammering my bullets home! I will save my pennies and buy some boat anchor of a press so that I can press bullets and axel bearings as needed....or maybe I'll get one of those cute little Benchrest looking arbor presses and seal my fate...

I'd rather cry once...which nice press is worth what it costs?

MQ1

P.S. I'll still deprive live primers to get a thrill now and then :)
 
Lapua40X said:
Clod-NC said:
Hi MQ,Hi all

MQ,you should definitely type Bald Eagle arbor press on your computer

http://toolsandmore.us/bald-eagle-be1001-mini-arbor-press.aspx?gclid=CP7Y7djL87QCFQmCQgodWjwA1g

http://www.amazon.com/Bald-Eagle-BE1001-Arbor-Press/dp/B006SBC3I2

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/486489/bald-eagle-mini-arbor-press

Lapua 40X,
I am not going to argue with you but lets get real, this forum is called accurate shooter, not back yard press our ammo .com,...Those presses are for pressing bearings and what not,.there not for precision ammo making, I use a K&M with seat force measurement so I can sort by seating pressure, but I have several others and it I am loading during a match I just use the palm of my hand. Lets not get this new guy to reloading off on the wrong foot,...MQ1 use your hand or buy a Arbor press, there under $100 and I see them all the time on here for $60 or so, lets face it this is a expensive hobby, if were not willing to spend $100 on a press we need to not get into reloading!
Wayne.
 
Do you have a drill press? Chuck a short 1/2" diameter rod and use the press to seat bullets. I had to use this approach when I stupidly dropped and broke an arbor press. It worked fine. If the drill press wasn't in the garage, I probably wouldn't have replaced the arbor press. It even had pretty good feel.
 
I have been using a drill press to seat bullets for a couple years for my sons 22br and it has a great feel. I chuck up a flat bottom 1" reaming tool and adjust the table to a convenient height. It's a big delta press but the feel is there. And I'm cheap. Mike
 
Hi MQ,hi all,hi Wayne

Wayne,the press I'm referring to,Bald Eagle as is,has nothing to do with an undustrial heavy weight piece of cast iron machinery,trust me mate,it's a lovely arbor press that just as well might have been made by K&M or Sinclair or 21st century shooting,its lever is slightly off centered just like the 21st century,its main shaft is stainless steel,it looks real neat and up to what any benchrester will need, if I refer to what I've seen anywhere,except it's only $60....And as MQ said he was kind of short money wise,well that may be the solution for him.
 
Clod,
My good friend from down under, I own a Bald eagle and know exactly what the are and they are a very nice press I was referring to the $45 axle bearing press from harbor freight that is not a press that would be very useful at all in bullet seating or sizing, there very heavy cast iron hulk of a thing! Anyway to each there own, I have been broke before and remember what it was like. Now lets move on the operator question, YES a arbor press would tend to load more concentric ammo then a hammer, although you could use a mallet to size with and your hand to seat and probably have very concentric ammo and if your not in a big hurry there is nothing wrong with that and if is very affordable.
Wayne.
 
Guys, I really appreciate the feedback. The Bald Eagle looks great, and after reviewing German's review of the 21st Century Arbor Press, either one sounds like a solid step in the right direction. If I save a little longer, I'm more inclined to buy a quality press made here at home.

I do have an old Craftsman table top drill press that I'll put to the test in the short term.

MQ1
 

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