Arbor presses - worth it?

[LCazador]

I've been using Wilson chamber type seaters for 50 years now. I started with Herters press and Herters dies and always threw away the seating die and used a Wilson straightline seater. The old presses had ram misalignment problems and the straight line seater solved the bullet runout problem. Todays presses do an awesome job of addressing this issue thanks to modern CNC machines. I'm sticking to my old ways and continue using inline dies for seating. I been using a Sinclair arbor press for bullet seating the last 50 years and am still winning matches!

 

[urbanrifleman]

Using an arbor type press with a Wilson type seater is a total game changer in terms of understanding seating pressure. You simply cannot grasp the subtlety of bullet seating with a cam over type press.

Your groups will shrink. Your spreads will reduce. And you can find the bad necks in a batch of brass very easily.

 

[divingin]

There are a few of these combo presses around.

Harrells Precision Combo Press

The highest quality, most innovative reloading tools and shooting supplies for precision riflemen. Unparalleled customer service. Shop Now - PMA Tool

www.pmatool.com

I've got one of those. I like the $59 Bald Eagle better. Smaller, better feel. But having the threaded die option does come in handy at times.

 

[Jerry Snyder]

I ended up getting an inline die conversion kit for my Whidden die and ordered a K&M arbor press to try out. Thanks guys

 

[Webster]

I currently load 6 dasher on my Forster COAX press using Whidden dies. I have a pretty good load = 6 SD. Would I benefit by switching to an arbor press to seat the bullets? If yes, which press would you recommend. Thanks

They don't score ES.

 

[Slowshot]

Once I got an arbor press and a set of Wilson Hand dies, my life got a lot less stressful. An RCBS Chargmaster Combo also made a huge difference. Instead of standing in my cold gun room, operating an RCBS Rock Chucker press, and patiently measuring out loads in a beam balance, now I sit at my dining room table, next to my gas fireplace and enjoy the view out my living room window while I crank out round after round, completely assured they will be at least as identical as any I ever made with the RCBS Press.

Oh then there is the fact I also size necks, and de-prime brass with the Wilson hand dies. Other than trimming, cleaning and priming my brass, every other procedure in loading is done with the Arbor press, hand dies and the Chargemaster Combo.

Oh then there is the fact of how little weight I need to lift and how little cabinet space I need to store these tools, compared to when I used the RCBS press.

I will never go back. My 222 Rem. hand die set worked so well, I got a second set for 204 Ruger and a set for 223 Rem. When I sold my only .223 rifle, I gave the hand die set for that cartridge to the buyer. He was thrilled and paid my asking price with no hesitation.

 

[Larry Koch]

smoke and mirror.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

FWIW, it's hard to believe that it's been 10 years, but Mark LaFevers did a review that is posted here on Accurate Shooter, at this link:

RCBS Summit Reloading Press — Unique Design That Works « Daily Bulletin

Gear Review by Mark LaFevers With its innovative moving die/static cartridge design, the RCBS Summit Press definitely demonstrates out of the box thinking.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

DISCLAIMER: I also own a Rock Chucker and after I read Mark's review, I bought a used Summit 2000. I have never used it at the range, but I always marveled at Mark's setup on his hitch.

@Jerry Snyder you might consider doing something like Mark did and use a reloading press rather than an arbor press. If you have the proper tooling for the arbor press, you could try a No 1, but even those are pretty heavy and I think heavier than the single stage presses. I occasionally wish I had a Coax rather than the 2 I have, but it's hard to justify the expense when the 2 presses I have do work fine.

 

[AlNyhus]

Inline seaters like Wilson and a small arbor press opens up a whole new world for the hand loader. For those that don't load at the range, it's the first step toward that. Which in turn opens up even more doors. Precise, light weight, compact, portable, easy and repeatable seating depths changes...it's the Easy Button for precision hand loading.

Add a little press like the RCBS Partner for case sizing and a way to mount your powder measure to a loading box and now you have a complete self contained setup for load work at the range.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

not to beat a dead horse, but if one was wanting to use an arbor press, this is about the smallest one made, just spotted it on craigslist. Only opens to 4", so that could be a limitation.

small arbor press - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

small arbor press From the rough dimensions (4"-ish working height capacity), this is a No.0 / 1/2 ton size.

sfbay.craigslist.org

 

[AlNyhus]

You don't need much for seating bullets. In fact, the less the mechanical advantage, the better. This Neil Jones unit is pretty nice:

My go-tos are a couple of K&M standards. They fit in a range box nicely and are simple as an anvil. There's one in my range box and one on my loading bench at home.

My first seating press was a converted bottle capper. I've also made a couple for local guys from cheapy ebay drill stands.

Workbench Tool For Drilling Base Adjustable Bench Clamp Drill Press Stand Usa | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Workbench Tool For Drilling Base Adjustable Bench Clamp Drill Press Stand Usa at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Longtrain]

I used one for a while, didn’t see any noticeable difference. Portability is good if loading at the bench is desired. My SD’s are under 6, which I get from annealing, consistent sizing, neck tension, accurate charge weights, etc.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I've had customers that didn't even know they were hitting the donut. Because they were seating with their cam over style press. They would just slam right in the donut and keep going. Then they couldn't figure out why they were shooting like crap.

I've also had people tell me that the donuts don't exist because they've never experienced one. Because they're seating press would just plow right through them.

If you have an arbor style press you will never have an ignorance of the donut. If you even get near the donut you can feel it. Even if you're not hitting it being near it changes the neck tension and you can feel it in your fingers.

This game really is all about the donut. People really have no idea unless they are donut wise.

 

[TIMO]

Link to the press I use.

Arbor Press

What is everyone using for an Arbor Press these days????

forum.accurateshooter.com

Tim

 

[mgunderson]

Not sure many of things that I have tried are providing better scores on paper. Taught me a few things and I really like the portability for doing seating depth tests at the range. You can always sell it again if you don't like it. Generally a small price to pay for learning.

 

[chop house]

If you have an arbor style press you will never have an ignorance of the donut. If you even get near the donut you can feel it. Even if you're not hitting it being near it changes the neck tension and you can feel it in your fingers.

good words here