Help choosing a press.

[Jason_A]

Got my Lee earlier this week and I think its a thing of beauty. Also, the Lee says "Cast in the USA" right on the frame, can't beat that.

 

[jvw2008]

The ram on mine is very true to the die holder no like my other presses were . my rock chucked was .012 off . The coaxial lets the case to adjust to center Larry

How do you inspect the press to determine how true the ram is to the inserted die?

 

[Steve Ladino]

Hi, all. I'm a long time reader of AS but this is my first post. I am finally ready to jump into hand loading and would appreciate some opinions on presses. I am looking at the usual suspects Lee Cast, Rockchucker, etc.. But I am really interested in the Hornady LNL system, both the Classic and the Iron.

Have you guys found the Hornady LNL system to produce consistent straight ammo?

The quick change die system is appealing to me and I have found a really good deal on the Iron that puts in the same $$$ range as the Rockchucker when you consider having to buy a priming system separate for the RC.

I am not considering the Lee Breechlock at this point because I have read it is difficult to get repeatable results.

All opinions appreciated, thanks!

Jason.

Most all of the press's are good but various ones may be more suited to particular want's. As far as the single stage press's whatever you buy in order to get and keep new performance or as close to it as possible keep the debris from decapping off the ram it's abrasive, hard to do I know...maybe do all decapping in another (cheap press) in order to save your good one.

Hi, all. I'm a long time reader of AS but this is my first post. I am finally ready to jump into hand loading and would appreciate some opinions on presses. I am looking at the usual suspects Lee Cast, Rockchucker, etc.. But I am really interested in the Hornady LNL system, both the Classic and the Iron.

Have you guys found the Hornady LNL system to produce consistent straight ammo?

The quick change die system is appealing to me and I have found a really good deal on the Iron that puts in the same $$$ range as the Rockchucker when you consider having to buy a priming system separate for the RC.

I am not considering the Lee Breechlock at this point because I have read it is difficult to get repeatable results.

All opinions appreciated, thanks!

Jason.

 

[Jason_A]

keep the debris from decapping off the ram it's abrasive, hard to do I know...maybe do all decapping in another (cheap press) in order to save your good one.

Good to know.

 

[hoz53]

How do you inspect the press to determine how true the ram is to the inserted die?

Put the ram in the up position without a shell holder in and hold down on the handle so it can't move down. Screw a die into the press until it just touches the top of the ram. The bottom of the die should be touching the top of the ram evenly all over. You can put a lite behind the press so you can see any place that isn't touching. Of coarse the die bottom may not be exact so try a few dies. If it passes this test your pretty close. The 7/8 threads in the press are coarse enough the die can be locked crooked so watch that. You could take the ram out of the press and check it with an accurate square--top to side.

 

[jvw2008]

Put the ram in the up position without a shell holder in and hold down on the handle so it can't move down. Screw a die into the press until it just touches the top of the ram. The bottom of the die should be touching the top of the ram evenly all over. You can put a lite behind the press so you can see any place that isn't touching. Of coarse the die bottom may not be exact so try a few dies. If it passes this test your pretty close. The 7/8 threads in the press are coarse enough the die can be locked crooked so watch that. You could take the ram out of the press and check it with an accurate square--top to side.

Thanks Hoz.

 

[savagedasher]

I never lock my dies I want them to align up with the threads not being held with a nut .
That is why a O ring works . Larry

 

[jonbearman]

My vote is for a used rockchucker that is older in my opinion or the leee classic cast. Had a lee ,sold it, now I regret it since it was cheap and accurate and had it set up to size .308 all the time. It was just handy as heck to leave it that way. The rockchucker is bomb proof especially the ones made before roughly the mid 1980's. To me they seemed to have better castings.

 

[jepp2]

I never lock my dies I want them to align up with the threads not being held with a nut .
That is why a O ring works . Larry

I agree with this 100%. I started using an O-Ring in the quest to improve alignment of the die during sizing. What I found after using it for a while is that it makes the minute adjustments to get the correct shoulder setback very easy. I don't tighten the set screw on the lock ring very much, so if I need to loosen and move it I can. But I find that the O-ring gives me all the adjustment I need. (Die is raised in the picture to better show the O-ring)

I do put a reference line on the die that I use to align with a "point" on the bushing on top the press for a starting point. The amount you need to move the die to change shoulder setback by 0.001" is a very small rotation. Look at the guide I show below the die picture, courtesy of Unclenick on TFL forum. (And most die manufacturers tell you to turn the die 1/4 to 1/2 turn past contact with the shell holder - and you wonder why your brass doesn't last?)

 

[Jason_A]

I agree with this 100%. I started using an O-Ring in the quest to improve alignment of the die during sizing. What I found after using it for a while is that it makes the minute adjustments to get the correct shoulder setback very easy. I don't tighten the set screw on the lock ring very much, so if I need to loosen and move it I can. But I find that the O-ring gives me all the adjustment I need. (Die is raised in the picture to better show the O-ring)

I do put a reference line on the die that I use to align with a "point" on the bushing on top the press for a starting point. The amount you need to move the die to change shoulder setback by 0.001" is a very small rotation. Look at the guide I show below the die picture, courtesy of Unclenick on TFL forum. (And most die manufacturers tell you to turn the die 1/4 to 1/2 turn past contact with the shell holder - and you wonder why your brass doesn't last?)

I have heard positive things about using an O-ring before. Thanks for the visual reference.

 

[Jason_A]

Here is a good video by the 65Guys, showing how to set up a Redding Type-S sizing die, and they show the use of actually two O-rings.

 

[ireload2]

I always lock my dies to the exact dim needed to produce the correct shoulder location. You cannot do that with an O ring.
There is no guarantee that your die threads or anything else in a standard set of dies are on the same axis as the sizing chamber because they manufacture the die blanks separate from the finishing operations.
The only way you get that is to cut the threads and the ream the die body at the same time. Even if you do that the heat treating process
can warp or bend the machined die body.

I never lock my dies I want them to align up with the threads not being held with a nut .
That is why a O ring works . Larry

 

[dedogs]

The only thing aligning the die in the press are the threads on the die. I don't care how many O- Rings you use. The minute the case contacts the inside of the die, the die threads will align the die if you place an O-Ring under the die. A lock ring properly installed does the same thing with no margin for error. JMO dedogs

 

[dcali]

The only thing aligning the die in the press are the threads on the die. I don't care how many O- Rings you use. The minute the case contacts the inside of the die, the die threads will align the die if you place an O-Ring under the die. A lock ring properly installed does the same thing with no margin for error. JMO dedogs

I tend to agree, but I won't discount the reports of people who claim less runout with O rings. The force of sizing is enough to create metal to metal contact, for sure. But is that contact somehow more even since it was created by an upward force from the ram, rather than through tension created by the lock nut? I'm not sure, but seems conceivable. That said, I've never had any issues with lock nuts. Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[LHSmith]

Let the S/H float in the ram. Simple fix. Cures a lot of ills. The die controls alignment -like it should.

 

[hoz53]

Let the S/H float in the ram. Simple fix. Cures a lot of ills. The die controls alignment -like it should.

This is what I do. I took the little spring that holds the shell holder off. I've never used the O ring so can't comment on that.

 

[6MT]

My first press was a Coax. On the advice of a friend. After trying off set arm presses, underneath presses; I don't regret it. Loading for precision for .223, .308, and .338LM and loving it!

ymmv