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press for seating only

i am looking for a new single stage press for seating only, not looking for a heavy duty press, something light weight that i can get a better feel of neck tension, was looking at the RCBS partner press, are there any others

chet
 
Following de-cap on a Lee Reloader then case prep, I full length size less the expander ball on a Big Boss, expand on mandrel die in one Partner press, and seat bullets on a second Partner. The Partner is a plenty potent for seating, bordering on more than enough. For seating alone using a 7/8-14 die, I’m thinkin’ the bitty little Lee Reloader might do just fine.
 
concentricity is more related to the type of dies, i use the Forster dies ect, and with their seater die an arbor press would be no advantage, an arbor press has nothing to do with concentricity, it the type of wilson dies ect is where the alignment comes from whether you use a arbor press, a hammer, ect, for my application no use for the arbor press, i am looking for a reloading press that has a light smooth action in the linkage, that i can feel the actual tension. i am doing it now, just looking for a second press.

Chet
 
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I like my old cast RCBS Jr. i see them on ebay fairly often. Cleaned up and lubed they run nicely
 
Another +1 for an arbor press. Probably the lightest style of press out there and arbor seating dies produce some of the straightest ammo. I have the new gen 21st Century arbor press and the feel is extremely good. Far better than my RockChucker, Coax, or T7.
 
i am looking for a new single stage press for seating only, not looking for a heavy duty press, something light weight that i can get a better feel of neck tension, was looking at the RCBS partner press, are there any others

chet
It depends what your doing. If your just seating for hunting rounds a JR or Partner press would work just fine. If your seating for competition I would go with an arbor press like a K&M or 21st Century. Seating dies have a lot to do with how concentric your ammo ends up being. The first season I was using a std Wilson seater die and I never realized how much slop there are in those dies. Now I have my gunsmith make me seater dies to match my chamber out of an old piece of barrel for all my competition calibers. It costs 3 times as much, but it your going to invest all this money that you put into this game that we play, $150.00 for a seating die is chicken feed.
 
BenchRest competition. Notice the Partner presses:View attachment 1003886
I would be willing to bet that guy doesn't win alot or at all. Some guys just go to get out and see their buddies and a break away from home.I would also bet that the majority are not using a press. I went the last two times Nationals was at Weikert. (100'S OF GUYS) I went every day just to see what the different classes of guns shot and to see the guys and equipment. Not very many using presses to seat bullets.

The OP had said he wanted to feel the seating. The best way to feel is an arbor press. That compound linkage doesn't let you feel in a press. Matt
 
I would be willing to bet that guy doesn't win alot or at all. Some guys just go to get out and see their buddies and a break away from home.I would also bet that the majority are not using a press. I went the last two times Nationals was at Weikert. (100'S OF GUYS) I went every day just to see what the different classes of guns shot and to see the guys and equipment. Not very many using presses to seat bullets.

The OP had said he wanted to feel the seating. The best way to feel is an arbor press. That compound linkage doesn't let you feel in a press. Matt
Bad bet. Evidently, you don't know much about Jackie Schmidt. Not only is he a fierce competitor, he can also afford to use the latest, greatest and best of everything. Jackie leaves nothing on the table. If he thought the use of an arbor press with chamber type seating dies offered an advantage, he would be using them. With a bit of research, you'll find the article on the pending world record HV Agg of .1118 shot by Jackie. .153, .093, .120, .100, .093, in 15-20 mph winds shooting the 30BR. I guess those Partner presses leave something to be desired:rolleyes: An arbor press, Crawford, Harrells, Partner, Etc; etc, will work just fine.
 
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It depends what your doing. If your just seating for hunting rounds a JR or Partner press would work just fine. If your seating for competition I would go with an arbor press like a K&M or 21st Century. Seating dies have a lot to do with how concentric your ammo ends up being. The first season I was using a std Wilson seater die and I never realized how much slop there are in those dies. Now I have my gunsmith make me seater dies to match my chamber out of an old piece of barrel for all my competition calibers. It costs 3 times as much, but it your going to invest all this money that you put into this game that we play, $150.00 for a seating die is chicken feed.

You can buy the Wilson blanks so you already have a machined seating stem/plunger. I just get the Wilson blank and have my gunsmith chamber the seating die with my reamer while he's chambering my barrel.
 
I have an RCBS Summit press that I use strictly for seating. I have found it has a really great feel for that task. I use it with the short handle.
This is by no means lightweight as you asked for, but as I said the 'feel' is great probably due to it not having any mechanical advantage.
I don't compete and I have no idea what others use. This is what I use.
 
i am looking for a new single stage press for seating only, not looking for a heavy duty press, something light weight that i can get a better feel of neck tension, was looking at the RCBS partner press, are there any others

chet
I use an RCBS Rockchucker that only seats bullets and never decaped or resized. I keep it clean and lubed along with a Forester seater die and can feel the bullet seat from just entering the neck and when the pressure ring passes the neck shoulder junction as in .223 with the 77 SMK's. I can feel the difference between a neck with .003 tension and a neck with .0015.
 
Chet,
Have you taken a look at the small Harrell press? It's one some guy use both at home and at the range when they custom load and is a nice piece to use for bullet seating.
www.harrellsprec.com . Right side of page "Compact Reloading Press."
Alex
 

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