BEST F-class single stage press

[Jefferson]

in the reloading section I could get lots of general answers to this but that is not the prupose nor intent,

if you were loading ammo to take to the worlds or nationals you need the best, hence the question for this forum please moderators.

I have a harrels single stage for Benchrest (yes I know the wacky ocd guys who load and shoot small groups)

since joining the ranks of the unemployed retired guys and fining f-class I have decided I need a better suited single stage press.

thoughts so far.


1. Dillon BL (basic loader)

without the automatic powder measure (just has a funnel for one at a time dropping to the .02 hundredths of a grain) SO NO AUTOMATIC PRIMING AND POWDER DUMP, great I likey,
BUT with the specs being what they are you ned a widden cnc toolhead, an adapter kit to re-thread the fit of the toolhead and so on, I just want to buy one already done up by someone who can get it to work like a precision piece of loading tool that we need,


2. CH 4D did not know they were making these now, look OK but no specs on them for precision loading to ensure you are getting the best,

http://www.ch4d.com/products/equipment/presses/044000

look nice and I like the dual ram idea, for no runout on the stroke portion (so you do not get a stroke after measuring your ammo once built)


3. Harrels precision met the brothers at Kelblys over a decade ago and they make nice stuff I have some of their products,

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/harrells-tooling-turret-press-by-henry-harrell


BUT is this press strong enough to handle the 284 or 284 shehane cases with ease and not having to fight the handle (the Ch4D might be easier to use)


4. Forester looks nice and may work but the ergonomics seem funny to me as not pulling on the side I wonder about ease of use,

http://www.forsterproducts.com/store.asp?pid=24822&catid=19938


ANY THOUGHTS FROM REAL COMPETITORS ( who are not in the USA in phoenix or when they come back)


just thinking of getting something faster than my harrels with k and m priming tool and doing batches of individual rounds if I need 200 built for each gun or cartridge,

your most reasoned reply

and that is why this wil not work in the reloadin general section as I will get the usual comments just get a dillon 550b it is good enough,

thanks (I think)

Jefferson

 

[jonbearman]

What do you mean by not in the USA? What difference does it make? Am I reading your thread wrong?

 

[XTR]

I like my Redding T7. I can keep my all of my dies mounted up and it makes good bullets.

 

[Down South]

I like my Forester Co-Ax.

 

[ShootDots]

I use 2 presses.. I use the "Sinclair Custom Press"... It is ONLY a sizing press and ONLY for "308" length or shorter sized cartridges. The reason I like this press is because it is drilled VERY straight. It is "short" due to what it is designed for, ergo less length, is MAYBE a bit straighter than some press that is nearly twice "as tall".. I find it's run-out to be very, very small. I also use an RCBS "Partner" press that I use strictly for seating bullets. I admit, it is not the most efficient way to do things, using 2 different "presses".. BUT I can not argue with the quality of Sinclair's press nor the small (as in 1 or 2 thousandths) or less>>>>my 6br and Dasher typically has 1K OR LESS run-out due to the QUALITY of the Sinclair press.. NOTE: when it designates "308" sized cartridges, I use it for my 6.5 x 284 brass too..

As we all say, that is my 2 cents worth..

 

[nfngun]

short time loader and IMO any press will work, I do have to laugh people complain about slop in cheap presses, the midrange are well buildt, tighter ect. Then you get into the Foster Coax which has slop built into to the design to self alight the die ... Kind of ironic. what it comes down too is good brass good dies and consistency with what ever tools you use.

The go to's like a rock chucker or big boss ect are build for a life time of use, the coax which is on my list to get IMO no better then any other but with a design that allows for less force to be needed to get the same job done. I only load up too 308 IMO allot of the presses are over kill, I'd love a sinclair press, compact and would do what ever I need to load.

Buy what you can afford and learn your equipment and they all can make excellent loads. a The higher end stuff is great but definitely on a more enthusiast side if you like nice quality tools.

I love tools and how they work and are built but more expensive more refined doesn't really mean better, it's an enthusiast thing and part of the enjoyment when reloading.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

short time loader and IMO any press will work, I do have to laugh people complain about slop in cheap presses, the midrange are well buildt, tighter ect. Then you get into the Foster Coax which has slop built into to the design to self alight the die ... Kind of ironic. what it comes down too is good brass good dies and consistency with what ever tools you use.

The go to's like a rock chucker or big boss ect are build for a life time of use, the coax which is on my list to get IMO no better then any other but with a design that allows for less force to be needed to get the same job done.

Buy what you can afford and learn your equipment and they all can make excellent loads.

There's a big difference between "slop" and purposeful design that includes "free float". They are not at all the same thing.

FWIW, I use a Redding T7 and a Forster Co-Ax. I like the Co-Ax for resizing operations, because of the mechanical advantage. I also use it for depriming because I think works a little easier. I using the T7 for seating because I can leave all my seating dies setup. I'm slowly finding more reasons to use the Co-Ax though - I just like it better. I made a short handle for it and it's pretty fast to use once you get going.

 

[nfngun]

A sloppy ram will not have any effect on a load if a quality die that properly aligns the case is used. everyone trys to justify the cost of high end tools. I at least am willing to admit that I like the tools because of their quality it doesn't mean the will make better loads.

short time loader and IMO any press will work, I do have to laugh people complain about slop in cheap presses, the midrange are well buildt, tighter ect. Then you get into the Foster Coax which has slop built into to the design to self alight the die ... Kind of ironic. what it comes down too is good brass good dies and consistency with what ever tools you use.

The go to's like a rock chucker or big boss ect are build for a life time of use, the coax which is on my list to get IMO no better then any other but with a design that allows for less force to be needed to get the same job done.

Buy what you can afford and learn your equipment and they all can make excellent loads.

There's a big difference between "slop" and purposeful design that includes "free float". They are not at all the same thing.

FWIW, I use a Redding T7 and a Forster Co-Ax.

 

[CatShooter]

I use a CH-4D "Champion" for the main press - and their 4 station "H" press for testing loads at the range.

The nice thing is that the standing deck height is the same for both of them, so I don't need to change anything on my dies, when loading at the range.

At ~30 pounds, the Champion press will crush any other press like it is a cat toy.

 

[Jefferson]

by not in the USA I am from Canada and some of the better shooters are at the berger match in phoenix right now, sorry




http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1389


http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1389


so now does it appear I am OCD or just need the best so I can load without worrying about the small stuff,


also see

http://www.reloadingvault.com/produc...pkit_aug08.asp


Jefferson

 

[jonbearman]

I use a rockchucker from the early 70's and a rcbs junior . They both make accurate ammo with quality dies. Personally I think die's and experience make it work.

 

[Killshot]

Redding Boss press user, F Open shooter.

I agree, it's more about the brass and dies.

As for priming tools, one of the handhelds that have an attached primer tray work well.
No feeding primers one at a time. Good feel for seating depth.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Sold my Redding T7 and bought a Forester Co-Ax, I could not be happier.

 

[Scott Harris]

I've used Harrell's turret, Redding Big Boss, Dillon 550: they all worked equally well...as in great.

Current set up is a Dillon 550 with Uniquetek floating die toolhead and a G503 scale for weighing powder.

Getting good dies is the trick to straight ammo IMHO.

 

[akajun]

short time loader and IMO any press will work, I do have to laugh people complain about slop in cheap presses, the midrange are well buildt, tighter ect. Then you get into the Foster Coax which has slop built into to the design to self alight the die ... Kind of ironic. what it comes down too is good brass good dies and consistency with what ever tools you use.

The go to's like a rock chucker or big boss ect are build for a life time of use, the coax which is on my list to get IMO no better then any other but with a design that allows for less force to be needed to get the same job done. I only load up too 308 IMO allot of the presses are over kill, I'd love a sinclair press, compact and would do what ever I need to load.

Buy what you can afford and learn your equipment and they all can make excellent loads. a The higher end stuff is great but definitely on a more enthusiast side if you like nice quality tools.

I love tools and how they work and are built but more expensive more refined doesn't really mean better, it's an enthusiast thing and part of the enjoyment when reloading.

This, I also dont understand how people want "tight tolerances" with their reloading eqipment then use a redding bushing die or whidden toolhead for a dillon so it can "float" . Even if you could buy eqipment that was machined to .0001, the tolerance stacking, temperature, and wear would come into play and quickly ruin those tolerances.
Loading ammo on my old tired 550 yesterday, it floats enough. Just for shits and giggles I pullet out an old run out gauge I have and tested the ammo, all less than .001. I then pulled out some of my 600yd loads that I had loaded on my rock chucker using a micrometer seating die, less than .001. I also tested just the brass, no runout. Thinking that I was not seeing something, I chucked a piece of sized brass up in my lathe, indicating the od at teh chuck jaws just past the rim cuttout, and sticking the other end in a dead center. No runout. I tried to do this with a loaded round, but Found that the hp is not concentric to the od on a berger bullet, or any other for that matter.
From what I understand a lot of benchrest shooters and having their press rams machined to introduce a little float in the ram now. Us shooters are all "gadget guys" and think that the latest precision machined fad will give us some real or immagined edge, when in reality its more about making good quality ammo, and learning to shoot better. Indians, not the arrows.

 

[effendude]

I have (2) Forster Co-Ax presses for all my sizing and some seating operations. I couldn't be happier. I do use Wilson micrometer seater dies with a K&M arbor press on my competitive loads. I use benchrest style seaters on the Forster presses for all my other cartridges.

I just set up a Dillon 1050 for .223 varmint loading. Nice machine but it is meant to load quantity, not quality. At least not competition quality.

Scott

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I also sold my t-7 for a coax, and couldn't be happier. I own a rock chrusher that is also a nice press, but my favorite is the forster.

 

[Hoser]

I load all my long range ammo on a Dillon 550 and Prometheus measure. I have a Co-Ax but my 550 puts out better ammo, faster.

 

[spclark]

OCD can complicate one's choice of 'stuff' for this sport - or anything else for that matter - that's for cert.

Something akin to Zeno's Paradox plays a roll too: the closer you get to your end goal, the harder it is to achieve.

I don't (yet) shoot F-Class so the ammo I've loaded using my two Rock Chuckers, then adding a Harrell's 4-hole turret for seating has been 'enough' precision for me so far. BTW I'm an advocate of an o-ring under the lock ring for all my dies.

I bought a Hornady LnL a year ago looking to load pistol ammo more conveniently. Those little 45 cases are a PITA to handle when you're used to 308-size cases. Once I get comfortable with it I might try it for my short-line ammo for the space gun too, see what happens.

 

[amlevin]

I was using a RC II for well over 30 years (forgot when I bought it) and cartridges were "OK".

Just recently purchased an RCBS Summit and after I got it setup, using the same dies as I had on the RCII, I now have sized cases with .0005" avg runout at the neck and <.001" when measured on the seated bullet.

With two handles I have all the mechanical advantage I need for sizing or "feel" when seating. About 10-15 seconds to change handles.

No more stuff hanging down under the bench. A little more than a conventional single stage, a lot less than a Harrells or Forster.

Just offering my experiences. Some get the same results from the cast aluminum Lee presses as well so who knows, maybe it is more "Operator" and any improvement when buying a new press is merely a "placebo effect".