Opinions on some older presses?

[vonb]

I was recently given several presses from a buddy. He gave me an RCBS AmmoMaster Progressive Auto and a Lyman T-Mag (not T-Mag II). I've only used single stage presses. How is the quality in either of these presses. I've heard some negatives on both presses and I realize they don't make them anymore. Is the AmmoMaster worth setting up as a progressive press for pistol loading? Are there any indexing issues with the Ammomaster?


As for the T-Mag and it being a turret, what can I expect from it in producing straight ammo? I'm using a Forster and a Lee Classic Cast today. Is it worth switching to the T-Mag over the Lee? Any input appreciated.

 

[Zero333]

Like with any progressive and turret press there is always a certain amount of flex. Mostly to do with seating the bullets.
If you had all stations empty except the bullet seating station, the COAL will be a little longer than if you had brass being sized on the opposite side of the turret. You'll know what I mean when you start loading on the turret press. If you don't use a Lock-out die to ensure you have the right charge in the brass, I recommend always having a look inside the case after charging the powder.

I use a Dillon XL650 for all my semi auto pistol / rifle ammo. I tend to use mostly ball powders for rifles. For pistols some small stick powders like N-320 - N-330 etc actually meter pretty good in the Dillon powder dispenser. I tend to load mostly 9mm Parabellum with Titegroup flake powder, and it meters very nicely. It takes some fine tuning to keep the powder from over / under throwing charges. I found as you load more ammo, the powder tends to pack itself a little denser in the hopper. Then it stabilizes and all throws are identical. I always keep the hopper 75%+ full and top up all the time to make sure it keeps throwing consistently. I have a different powder dispenser for every powder I tend to use most of the time and I keep them full at all times to avoid the compacting "phenomenon"

It's a short learning curve, so take your time every time when starting a new loading session. Once things are dialed in they tend to go plenty fast. From start to finish I can load 500 rounds of 9mmPara. in a hour with out using brass and bullet hoppers. I use the Doublealpha multi-tube brass feeder. I think it holds 150 pcs of 9mmPara brass. I put a couple handfuls of bullets on a tray and feed them on the brass by hand. I found it's not much (if any) slower than using a bullet feeder.

INSPECT ALL YOUR PISTOL and RIFLE BRASS PRIOR TO LOADING.
years ago I picked up thousands of 9mm range brass and inspected them all. found more than a dozen pieces that had a crack. Some cracks were small and other cracks were big. Inspect them properly.

 

[MSS]

I have loaded many precision rifle rounds on the tmag. I use the middle between the ears part of the turret for seating and make sure the turret has no slop in it. It’s capable of producing concentric ammo with competition dies. IMO the die is more important in this regard.

As for switching…up to you. My current setup is tmag for all things sizing (It’s super convenient to leave the turret loaded up with a few calibers). Rcbs primer tool for priming and Forster coax for seating. Dillon for pistol.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Old presses can be fine. They tend to be heavier and bulkier than more recently produced units, but they can frequently be lubed up and work just fine. It takes time to learn the "up and down" of any new reloading equipment. Take the time to learn the press before trying to mass load with it. You'll have less ruined components that way.

John

 

[SRP Shooter 1]

Since setting up sizing dies is so quick and simple I use a Rock Chucker for the heavy work. The T-Mag and old Lyman Spar-T turrets I use to set up my expanding and seating dies for my pistol rounds. Works really great since there is not much pressure applied in expanding cases and seating bullets so any play in these presses is negligible for my purpose. Someone else will have to chime in on the AmmoMaster as I have no experience with it.

KS

 

[Rednexx]

Well I guess "older presses" is a relative thing, I used to have an RCBS A-2 press, with the proper amount of lube and being really careful/slow I was able to get a 30-06 brass to go into a 222 Rem die, had the decapper out, it weighed about 37 lbs., I think it had the capability to also load 50 BMG and 20mm as the threaded area where the dies went in had a set screw and it would come out and there were bigger threads.I figured when you meant older presses maybe 19th century ones and presses from the earlier part of the 20th Century. As long as the press hasn't been abused or not taken care of most presses should be fine to uses. Some do use a threaded shell holder, but I think there are adapters for using a "snap in" shell holder. I have been looking for a Hollywood press and a Bair press, I forget the model name , but it's an O style and very strong. I also guess it might depend on what cartridges a person might be loading, small rifle and handgun doesn't really need a big press.

 

[CJ6]

I have an Ammo-Master. I use it NOW mostly for pistol loading. It's a good system when it's kept clean (keep powder from under the shell plate). RCBS has been outstanding in CS with it. The clear powder drop tube spacer has a tendency to crack or split and RCBS has replaced with no issues. I don't use it much for rifles anymore because I use more inline setups for them and hand weigh powder.

 

[WVRJ]

I use a T-Mag for my pistol and 223 ammo and it does a fine job.I found it and an old Pacific O-frame under a gunsmith's workbench and I asked him if he was using them.He didn't use them,and sold both of them to me for $50.The Pacific has a very tight ram,and makes some very concentric rifle ammo.A properly used and maintained press will load a lot of ammunition before wearing out.

 

[FNSafari]

I have an older rock chucker now that I use primarily. I had a Bair Kodiak and that is a great press too with lots of ability to handle big cases. The rock chucker offers a bit more ease in getting the case on and off the shell holder imo.

 

[powderbrake]

This thread made me look at my Rock Chucker. It was made in 1970.
Keep it clean and lubed up, and it is still making accurate ammo today, 52 years later.

 

[Shuz]

These days I use a Dillon 450 for all my rifle loading and a Dillon Square Deal B for all my handgun loading, but still sitting on the bench is my old Herter's M3 "Model Perfect " press that I learned on over 50 years ago. Talk about a stout heavy unit, this is it. I bought this press "back in the day", for around $13.00. I have seen some for sale for around $100 lately.
Mine sits there as a sentinel making sure the young presses act properly.