welll since you asked,,,,I dont know the difference between a "F" class press and a "B"enchrest press or a "H"unting press,,,,I have used various RCBS (JR-Rockchuker-Partner) presses for all of my loading for 50+ yrs and have set some records and killed a few deer and lots ov vermin,,,,and a box car load of "paper" ,,haha,,,,I feel the press just pushes the ctg case into the die,,,,and the die makes em straight or crooked,,,the shell holder and ram need some play/clearance to allow the ctg to enter the die straight,,,and not try to "MAKE" em straight in a crooked die!!!.....so I guess Im sayin the make/type/style/brand of dies are more important than the make/type/style/brand of press !!!.....I use Wilson strait-line seater dies with a lil' arbor press to seat em,,, Roger
BEST F-class single stage press
- Thread starter Jefferson
- Start date
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
XTR said:
Same here, and it makes very good cartridges.
F open shooter from the UK:
I use a Rcbs rock chucker with the centre removed for the Warner oversize die, runout is always 1 thou or much less, I had a custom die made for a specific cartridge recently out of a Newlon blank which I sized in my Co-ax, runout was not good 3-4 thou, I checked the die and the press nothing appeared wrong, I did notice that the die had the thin a Redding type locking ring, this was swapped for the thicker Forster ring, runout disappeared!
Not saying it's anything to do with the press I like both, the Co-ax for seating/de-priming is nice as the die remains set, the Rockchucker for build and re-sizing mag cases, my point is that a very small thing can cause problems and other factors can be blamed.
I changed my T7 for the Co-ax like some others.
Gary
I use a Rcbs rock chucker with the centre removed for the Warner oversize die, runout is always 1 thou or much less, I had a custom die made for a specific cartridge recently out of a Newlon blank which I sized in my Co-ax, runout was not good 3-4 thou, I checked the die and the press nothing appeared wrong, I did notice that the die had the thin a Redding type locking ring, this was swapped for the thicker Forster ring, runout disappeared!
Not saying it's anything to do with the press I like both, the Co-ax for seating/de-priming is nice as the die remains set, the Rockchucker for build and re-sizing mag cases, my point is that a very small thing can cause problems and other factors can be blamed.
I changed my T7 for the Co-ax like some others.
Gary
Grimstod
Machinist, Designer, and Shooter.
Many people here are saying its more about brass prep bullet sorting and dies. I agree hole heartedly.
The only caution I give about cheep presses is to watch out for the aluminum ones. Aluminum losses its rigidity over time so they won't last for ever.
Spend most if not 90% of you money in dies and brass prep.
By the way my press of choice is Redding Big Boss 2 and I use primarily Forster dies.
The only caution I give about cheep presses is to watch out for the aluminum ones. Aluminum losses its rigidity over time so they won't last for ever.
Spend most if not 90% of you money in dies and brass prep.
By the way my press of choice is Redding Big Boss 2 and I use primarily Forster dies.
Have used the same RockChucker for forming/sizing cases over 40yrs and it will produce consistency that I would put up against anyone's ammo on the line.
You really do not want a super-tight tolerance press to size cases...movement is a good thing so that the case will seek its own center in the die. What is critical is having matched reamers for your chamber, form die and bullet seat die. Std Newlon blanks and a Wilson seating blank can be used with those reamers to produce ammo with all of the consistency/uniformity/concentricity that you can ever use in an F-class rifle.
Next, find a gunsmith with a precision machining background (first/foremost) that has lots of experience as a competitor and is anal about the detail of his work.
The rest is up to you...learning how to set up the tooling to produce perfect ammunition.
You really do not want a super-tight tolerance press to size cases...movement is a good thing so that the case will seek its own center in the die. What is critical is having matched reamers for your chamber, form die and bullet seat die. Std Newlon blanks and a Wilson seating blank can be used with those reamers to produce ammo with all of the consistency/uniformity/concentricity that you can ever use in an F-class rifle.
Next, find a gunsmith with a precision machining background (first/foremost) that has lots of experience as a competitor and is anal about the detail of his work.
The rest is up to you...learning how to set up the tooling to produce perfect ammunition.
Raythemanroe
Bullet Whisperer
Printing press
For sizing i had a Rockchucker for 20 years, and recently retired it.
Now i use a Turban-CNC Heavy press from Germany and with the same dies i'm keeping within .001 runout consistently, the rockchucker would give me .003-4 typically. The press costs 3 times what i would pay for a co-ax though.
As for tight fitting presses not working well, manufacturer claims it keeps tolerance of maximum 0.01 mm during the whole stroke length and it surely has done wonders to my runout.
For seating i use a K&M Arbor press and wilson dies, until i get the 21 st hydro bullet seater.
Now i use a Turban-CNC Heavy press from Germany and with the same dies i'm keeping within .001 runout consistently, the rockchucker would give me .003-4 typically. The press costs 3 times what i would pay for a co-ax though.
As for tight fitting presses not working well, manufacturer claims it keeps tolerance of maximum 0.01 mm during the whole stroke length and it surely has done wonders to my runout.
For seating i use a K&M Arbor press and wilson dies, until i get the 21 st hydro bullet seater.
Petros284
Site $$ Sponsor
First of all Larry Congrats on another great win in the windy and shifty Southwest!
I have to add my 2 cents here. I agree with all on the Redding T-7 for any kind of reloading especially precision sizing. The ability to have multiple sets of dies set up and ready to go make things much easier and more efficient. At this time I have my 6mm Dasher Sizing die and expander at the same time my .284 Die sizing die and 7mm expander die are set up and ready to go. In addition I have had a Whidden pointing die set up at on the press. All I have to do is rotate the turret to what needs sizing/expanding and double check everything is in order. Concentricity is not an issue with this press what you have to worry about is dies, case prep, and die set up ( whole other topic). My shoulder bump for the most part does not need adjusting when I leave the dies set up when I have to go from sizing the Dasher to the .284, but I do double check from time to time.
I also have a 40 year old chucker that my father gave me and I grew up reloading on and it is a great press as well. It goes with me on matches where I need to load on a stand. This press is dirty, ugly, and used, but it will size and load as straight as the t-7! As for seating I have been using a 21st Century Arbor Press and am going to the 21st Century hydro press with Wilson dies.
As with anything spend the extra on something higher quality and it will do everything you need it to do for years to come.
good luck and good shooting! See you on the line soon!
Pete
I have to add my 2 cents here. I agree with all on the Redding T-7 for any kind of reloading especially precision sizing. The ability to have multiple sets of dies set up and ready to go make things much easier and more efficient. At this time I have my 6mm Dasher Sizing die and expander at the same time my .284 Die sizing die and 7mm expander die are set up and ready to go. In addition I have had a Whidden pointing die set up at on the press. All I have to do is rotate the turret to what needs sizing/expanding and double check everything is in order. Concentricity is not an issue with this press what you have to worry about is dies, case prep, and die set up ( whole other topic). My shoulder bump for the most part does not need adjusting when I leave the dies set up when I have to go from sizing the Dasher to the .284, but I do double check from time to time.
I also have a 40 year old chucker that my father gave me and I grew up reloading on and it is a great press as well. It goes with me on matches where I need to load on a stand. This press is dirty, ugly, and used, but it will size and load as straight as the t-7! As for seating I have been using a 21st Century Arbor Press and am going to the 21st Century hydro press with Wilson dies.
As with anything spend the extra on something higher quality and it will do everything you need it to do for years to come.
good luck and good shooting! See you on the line soon!
Pete
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