Prazi press

[jackieschmidt]

A press die combination has three functions.
First is to size the case to the desired dimensions.
Second is to seat the bullet with the exact seating depth.
Third is to produce ammunition as straight as possible.

It makes no difference if a press cost $150 or $1500. If it will not do these, it is not up to the task.

The presses I use on my 6PPC and 30BR are really loose. I even use 6.5x55 shell holders on my 30BR.I let the dies do these work.

 

[danny]

Odd that the Co-Ax does not get a mention, the shell holder/spring jaw setup allows for the case to directly align with the die and helps ensure that there is no misalignment between the the die and the case being held in the press platen.
That alone is the selling feature of the press and can contribute to the concentricity of the case and bullet as the original question was about “Run Out”.
My Bonanza {the original Co-Ax before Foster bought it} loads ammo so close to perfect that I no longer bother to check case to bullet alignment and have never seen any difference on target between the 1/2 thousandth runout to the 3 thousandth ammo…
On another note, M-61 missed correcting the use of “Sight” for “Site” on the question about the Rodzilla press…

Oh shit.....now you did it... The Co-Ax haters (there Are many here) will now come out of the woodwork to tell you how you can grind on the Rockchucker to have the same self alignment features as a Co-Ax.

Danny

 

[Murray Brook]

I recall a similar question about forster coax loading better ammo because of floating shell plates etc. I compared the coax and my redding bb2. Used same dies, shell holder, loads on each press. Absolutely no difference whatsoever on target. The dies are in control.

Certainly agree with you and @M-61 . The press as long as it isn't broken has little to do with straight ammo. The dies and procedure used is what makes good targets. I also have a Lee CC and consider it a great press with many good features JMO

 

[Fire Dog]

Oh shit.....now you did it... The Co-Ax haters (there Are many here) will now come out of the woodwork to tell you how you can grind on the Rockchucker to have the same self alignment features as a Co-Ax.

Danny

Yes, but they won’t have the die setup that just slips in and out of the press that does not have to be ‘retuned’ @ time it is screwed back into a conventional press…
The SAC press incorporates this 50+ year old idea; the ability to just slip your die in and out that is perfectly set up without any hassle and no multiple shell holders were the features that influenced me when I bought my Bonanza all those years ago..
Still loading match winning ammo all these year later…

 

[boltfluter]

Most of my reloading life I have used a RCBS Rockchucker and a Redding T7 turret press. Almost all of my dies are Redding. They do the job well in my experience, however I have never really gotten very low runout. Ok, but not great.
About five years ago I ordered a Prazipress 120mm, and a set of Triebel 1 1/4 inch dies in 7x64 Brenneke. Treibel requested that I send them the exact bullet that I would be seating in my 7x64. In this case it was a Nosler 160 gr Accubond. They contoured the seating stem to match that bullet precisely. Anyway my runout has dropped remarkably, so much so that in most cases it’s very hard to read. I doubt the press reduced the runout but it certainly works well with 1 1/4 inch dies, and the pleasure in using it, is worth every cent to me. I now just use the Redding T7 for primer decapping and bullet pulling duties. View attachment 1696871

Now that is a beautiful press! The 3 columns is a great idea with easy access to the shell holder. Very nice.
Paul

 

[M-61]

Or just use an arbor press

Yes, but I wanted to use something for the press that is really loose. My bench vise fits that category perfectly.

 

[AlNyhus]

A press die combination has three functions.
First is to size the case to the desired dimensions.
Second is to seat the bullet with the exact seating depth.
Third is to produce ammunition as straight as possible.

It makes no difference if a press cost $150 or $1500. If it will not do these, it is not up to the task.

The presses I use on my 6PPC and 30BR are really loose. I even use 6.5x55 shell holders on my 30BR.I let the dies do these work.

Jackie, I use a couple of these loosey goosey Partners, like you use. Dies can be swapped between them by using a simple .004 die shim.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[9.3x64]

Now that is a beautiful press! The 3 columns is a great idea with easy access to the shell holder. Very nice.
Paul

Thanks Paul,
It’s an absolute pleasure to use. Even after owning it for years the build quality still amazes me. There is no flex or movement in the mechanism, the ram runs so smoothly. It’s extremely easy to size cases, even my 470NE and 500 Jeffery cases. Changing from 7/8” to 1 1/4 inch dies is quick and easy with the provided tools and different bushings. Access for larger hands is great. It’s got a proper threaded primer catch bottle that contains all the mess, if you wish to use it. I am extremely pleased with it , however it is expensive. But hey I don’t smoke, I don’t own a boat, I shoot..

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Most of my reloading life I have used a RCBS Rockchucker and a Redding T7 turret press. Almost all of my dies are Redding. They do the job well in my experience, however I have never really gotten very low runout. Ok, but not great.
About five years ago I ordered a Prazipress 120mm, and a set of Triebel 1 1/4 inch dies in 7x64 Brenneke. Treibel requested that I send them the exact bullet that I would be seating in my 7x64. In this case it was a Nosler 160 gr Accubond. They contoured the seating stem to match that bullet precisely. Anyway my runout has dropped remarkably, so much so that in most cases it’s very hard to read. I doubt the press reduced the runout but it certainly works well with 1 1/4 inch dies, and the pleasure in using it, is worth every cent to me. I now just use the Redding T7 for primer decapping and bullet pulling duties. View attachment 1696871

that is a beautiful son of a gun!

 

[danny]

Yes, but they won’t have the die setup that just slips in and out of the press that does not have to be ‘retuned’ @ time it is screwed back into a conventional press…
The SAC press incorporates this 50+ year old idea; the ability to just slip your die in and out that is perfectly set up without any hassle and no multiple shell holders were the features that influenced me when I bought my Bonanza all those years ago..
Still loading match winning ammo all these year later…

I love my Co-Ax. It's the features that I like. I have a Lee Classic Cast, and it's a great press. I just prefer using my Co-Ax. Probably for me as well, it's the slip in die feature that I like best.

Danny

 

[DocBII]

Good day,

Any one compared the Prazi or any similar press to the Hornady 50 BMG press? These are usually available used for WAY less bucks and seem to work well with even 50 BMG cases.

Thanks,
DocBII

 

[Fire Dog]

Good day,

Any one compared the Prazi or any similar press to the Hornady 50 BMG press? These are usually available used for WAY less bucks and seem to work well with even 50 BMG cases.

Thanks,
DocBII

Wilson makes a press that looks just like a Prazi aside from it only takes 7/8” dies and does not have ability to use the large 1 1/4” ones… Just under $1K

Single Stage Reloading Press | L.E Wilson Inc.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

le wilson makes a knock off prazi that i've seen for a pretty solid price

 

[BoydAllen]

I thought I read somewhere that Tony Boyers had the ram rod turned down a couple of thousandths to get better shell to die alignment. Point being to put some slop into the ram...

That is Jackie Schmidt. It is .006, if memory serves. He uses a pair of rcbs partner presses bolted to an aluminum press for loading at the range.

 

[Bronzie]

Thanks for the clarification. I laughed about reading that when everyone was talking about tight tolerances of presses and what's good and what's junk. But it made perfect sense and I take he was very competitive with what ammo he produced

 

[quest450]

Those of you that have this press. How do you like? What has it done for you in the line of groups on paper? Run out? Tell us about it.

I've been using one for about six years now with Warner custom dies and It's the best press I own, an absolute German perfection, there's hardly any runout on sized brass less than a thou
I think custom dies have more to do with that then the press as far as shrinking group size a quality press is just a small piece of the puzzle but I do know for a fact that the Prazi 120 did help me shoot smaller aggs in 600/1K benchrest competition

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have had a lot of presses. Not sure Id say any of them show up on target. I look at shoulder bump consistency when evaluating a press. I like the Hood but have not owned a Prazi. I have used one that a friend has though. Of the presses I have been around I would say it is the nicest I have seen.

 

[big5ifty]

As many have said, the press is not what causes or fixes runout.

You don't need an excuse to buy a well made piece of equipment that catches your fancy.

We all end up with many more presses than we need. I bought myself a new Redding Ultramag, because my son took mine with him when he moved out several years ago, and I was looking at my presses thinking what would be something really cool that I don't have. I like that it's made from cast iron, and the tolerances are so tight, yet it's so smooth.

The other week, he brought it back, with all his other equipment. He has a young family now, no time or budget for shooting.

 

[ebb]

I once looked at some new to the market fishing lures and thought they looked a tad over the top, and were priced to match. One of the sales personnel as he walked by me said very quietly " Those were designed to catch fishermen."