Area 419 zero reloading press questions

[bobcat93]

I just had a pop-up advertisement for this press i have never seen before.
It looks like a Redding T7 clone
Who has one?, how long have you used it? And what advantages is there to justify the price difference from the Redding.
Has anyone taken accurate brass readings to see if one press makes more concentric ammo then the other..
This should be a link to the press i hope i typed the headline correctly.
I seen the press and had to come ask you guys

Area 419 Zero Reloading Press Gen 2 7/8 Turret Head

The Area 419 Zero Press is milled from all-American billet aluminum and stainless steel. This press moves with the help of 14 bearings, including a...

ads.midwayusa.com

 

[Webster]

I just had a pop-up advertisement for this press i have never seen before.
It looks like a Redding T7 clone
Who has one?, how long have you used it? And what advantages is there to justify the price difference from the Redding.
Has anyone taken accurate brass readings to see if one press makes more concentric ammo then the other..
This should be a link to the press i hope i typed the headline correctly.
I seen the press and had to come ask you guys

Area 419 Zero Reloading Press Gen 2 7/8 Turret Head

The Area 419 Zero Press is milled from all-American billet aluminum and stainless steel. This press moves with the help of 14 bearings, including a...

ads.midwayusa.com

My guess is that the press has nothing to do with concentricity. All the press does is push the case into the die which sizes the case. Cannot image how the press affects the top of the die sizing the neck. Unless your shooting at a high level in competition it isn't worth worrying about.

Many post on this website by serious shooters that say they don't see a difference between 1 and 3 thou runout. Others say they see a difference.

The seating die may be more important than the sizing die?
Do a search on the website for runout and check out what others have to say.

 

[jpjulian]

I was looking to buy a T-7 when I got my Zero Press in 2022. Covid bs I suppose but I just couldn't find a T-7. I liked the features of the Zero but balked at the price. I had recently sold my Highpower gear and had a few extra bucks so I ponied up for the Zero. It's a tank. It doesn't flex. It's super smooth. It's very repeatable. It's expensive. I think it's worth it. Others disagree. That's ok, they're entitled. You still need to do your part and setup your dies correctly. It may not make better ammo than you can make with another press such as a T-7, but there is the enjoyment factor of using a truly precision made machine. I think that should you purchase one you will be satisfied.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I picked up one from a friend, with an extra turret. I load for 4 calibers, and this thing has spoiled me a bit. My brass comes out great, thanks to paying up for custom dies made off my reamer prints. The Zero Press is a luxury item that has made my hobby even more enjoyable. I even figured out how to use my arbor dies with it. But I like the reloading room just as much as the shooting.

Regards
Rick

 

[bobcat93]

Does the press have bearings at pivot points?
I need to find some place that actually stocks this item so i can fondle it ..its pretty damn sweet looking.
I doubt i would sell off my T7 its loaded a boat load of ammo in the past 8-10years and i feel its just now getting broke in. When ever i feel it drag i take it apart and clean it with hoppies #9 and a tooth brush, and bottle brush..wipe her down and ready to rock n roll again
Its a very nice press.
Im just curious to what kind of upgrades there are on the market..
Ive been very happy with redding products

 

[M-61]

to see if one press makes more concentric ammo then the other..

No. The press has nothing whatsoever to do with the concentricity or accuracy of ammo

 

[muleystalker]

Does the press have bearings at pivot points?
I need to find some place that actually stocks this item so i can fondle it ..its pretty damn sweet looking.
I doubt i would sell off my T7 its loaded a boat load of ammo in the past 8-10years and i feel its just now getting broke in. When ever i feel it drag i take it apart and clean it with hoppies #9 and a tooth brush, and bottle brush..wipe her down and ready to rock n roll again
Its a very nice press.
Im just curious to what kind of upgrades there are on the market..
Ive been very happy with redding products

I have seen them on display at SCHEELS so you might be able to fondle one there. I have one and it is a very nice press, smooth as could be and a joy to load on. I have 2 T-7's also, they are a great press but the ZERO is on a whole other level, you think the T-7 is heavy... the ZERO is heavier and its aluminum... built like a tank but a blueprinted Precision tank,LOL.
As far as producing better ammo I can't say but it sure makes chore of reloading much more pleasant.
Yes they have bearings.

 

[Northfromhere]

No. The press has nothing whatsoever to do with the concentricity or accuracy of ammo

What has the main effect when it comes to concentricity? This is just a legitimate question on mine behalf?

 

[Hemipowrd]

I went from using an RCBS Rockchucker to the A419 press. No real difference in concentricity. After seating a bullet and measuring runout it typically has .0005" to .002" runout measured at bullet ogive - usually .0015" or less. Roughly the same on both presses. As previously stated concentricity is probably more down to the sizing die than what press is used.

 

[M-61]

What has the main effect when it comes to concentricity? This is just a legitimate question on mine behalf?

Bullet seating
Neck turning
Bullet seating
So that’s 3. And of course a proper die.
I hope that helps
Your question is very legitimate
My point was the press has nothing at to do with this, think of it strictly as a tool whose job is to Insert the case in the die and to seat the bullet in the neck.
I like tools. I have eleven presses. Seven are mounted. Since I’m a short range bench shooter the cartridges are on the small size therefore there’s two that get more use by far than others. None of them produce more accurate cartridges than another. They are just some that are more ‘comfortable’ to use. Think of Wilson dies. There is no press needed.

 

[padom]

I recently switched from my 550c to Gen2 Zero and love it. I bought 4 toolheads and their Modular Shellholder set.

As their directions suggest, you screw your sizing die down until it contacted the shellholder, then move the ram and screw the die down another half turn or so and lock it. Now it has a nice repeatable cam over.

Then you swap out their modular shellholder inserts to get your desired bump. Stupid easy and extremely repeatable. No adjusting your sizing die ever again, just swap the different shellholder inserts.

The Zero lock rings and wrench are awesome also! No worrying about the lock ring allen screw being in a position you can't get the wrench on.

Also, all the Inline Fabrication Zero accessories are awesome! Ultramount, bin hanging brackets, articulating bin arm!

Couldn't be happier with my Gen2. I heard some complaints from guys about their Gen1, no idea if they were actual issues or user error but my Gen2 is smooth as silk, zero complaints or issues.

I got my Gen2 Zero from MidwayUSA along with extra toolheads and modular shellholder set with 20% off coupon and free shipping over labor day.. probably be another one here in a few weeks for Black Friday.

I dont do much seating on the Zero. Most of my precision cartridges I seat on a K&M now the new LE Wilson arbor press with LE Wilson inline SS Micrometer dies

https://imgur.com/a/80SD17D

https://imgur.com/a/bxNqMLX

 

[padom]

This is the Zero storage black that mounts to the dovetail on the back of the press.. not needed but super convenient.


And this is the modular shellholder set.

https://imgur.com/a/SOW67Dp

https://imgur.com/a/wUA7sD4

 

[Janeau]

No. The press has nothing whatsoever to do with the concentricity or accuracy of ammo

You are wrong. If the case enter de die crooked while you size or seat bullet -you end up with crooked ammo. This was proven over and over by all those tests performed over the years on many different press. If you were even close to the truth we will all use the cheap pot metal press. That kind of statement are made by people who never had - or used quality press. I shoot benchrest - and yes a good press make a difference.

When you have to cam over to size brass it mean you are trying to remove ram and linkage play. You are horsing brass in the die by force. No way to feel what going on. Tricks like putting a o ring to try to make sizing die to square off are another fix for press with play - bad ram alignment and bad tolerences.

I started reloading 50 years ago and had many press..they all went by the way side. I do own a Zero and it’s one of the high end press that make a difference and worth all the money spend.

 

[ISS]

Thank You Padom for the photos and directions. I am still struggling with the price a bit. I need to go to our new Scheels and play with one first.

thanks again,

Rich

 

[M-61]

You are wrong. If the case enter de die crooked while you size or seat bullet -you end up with crooked ammo.

I am not wrong. The case ‘if’ it entered the die crooked by sitting in the shell holder would center itself and there is no way the die is crooked. Some even put an O ring under the die to let it float a bit. Kind of hard to drill a crooked hole.
Never read anything about “tests” proving this. “Pot metal”? Never mentioned it. You did . Maybe it falls into your expertise.
Some presses are brilliant designs, others not so much. Some are poorly designed regarding strength. Some are brilliant.
Some are unbelievable in strength. Others due to poor design are not.
Bottom line they have nothing to due with the cartridge produced. Once that case is in the die that’s it.
I particularly like the assumptions you make about me. ‘ Never had a quality press’. Your 50 years experience means nothing. Some presses don't ‘cam over’ and linkage slop is not the reason.
I’ll not let this become a personal pissing match. I don’t know you and you don’t know me.
A quiet end.

 

[jpjulian]

I recently switched from my 550c to Gen2 Zero and love it. I bought 4 toolheads and their Modular Shellholder set.

As their directions suggest, you screw your sizing die down until it contacted the shellholder, then move the ram and screw the die down another half turn or so and lock it. Now it has a nice repeatable cam over.

Then you swap out their modular shellholder inserts to get your desired bump. Stupid easy and extremely repeatable. No adjusting your sizing die ever again, just swap the different shellholder inserts.

The Zero lock rings and wrench are awesome also! No worrying about the lock ring allen screw being in a position you can't get the wrench on.

Also, all the Inline Fabrication Zero accessories are awesome! Ultramount, bin hanging brackets, articulating bin arm!

Couldn't be happier with my Gen2. I heard some complaints from guys about their Gen1, no idea if they were actual issues or user error but my Gen2 is smooth as silk, zero complaints or issues.

I got my Gen2 Zero from MidwayUSA along with extra toolheads and modular shellholder set with 20% off coupon and free shipping over labor day.. probably be another one here in a few weeks for Black Friday.

I dont do much seating on the Zero. Most of my precision cartridges I seat on a K&M now the new LE Wilson arbor press with LE Wilson inline SS Micrometer dies

https://imgur.com/a/80SD17D

https://imgur.com/a/bxNqMLX

You jumped into the pool with both feet from the 10 meter platform!

 

[ISS]

M61 has stated the case very well. It is a basic truth that you cannot drill a crooked hole. Maybe at an angle, but not crooked.
jpjulian, Stay on topic, and stop drinking the koolaid!

In the end, the market will determine if it is cost effective. I'm just not in the $1400 price range yet.

Rich

 

[drop_point]

The Zero was worth the investment just for the convenience factor.

 

[bobcat93]

Holy cow, its huge! ...you need all your bullets stored at opposite end of bench so it doesnt pop a wheele everytime you size a case hahaha
I have to get out and see one of these.
Thanks for all the input folks ..
That is probably way more then i need at this point or maybe not
You see i find myself at a new stage of life, entering a new phase.
Im 55 and most of my equipment is getting upgraded. Im not starting from scratch but pretty much need everything new anyways my equipment was stolen..it sucks
And i feel old.
So i need to make a decision. Do i just get the bare minimum and limp to my grave, or am i going bigger and better, and 100% full bore obsessed..
All it takes is a nudge..i have this conversation with the wife and she is nervous..all she sees is $ $ $ dancing in her head..
But i can vision a euphoric, oasis of a reloading room that i deserve. Because im such a fabulous person...just ask me , ill tell ya hahahaha

 

[Rope2horns]

I have a Gen1 Area419, other than the convenience of the toolhead, I don't believe it is better than my Arkomachine Hood press nor the SAC Nexus. Just my opinion.