What arbor press is better? 21st or Sinclair.

[DanSavage]

I've read a lot of negative review's on the Sinclair press, but can't seem to find anything on the 21st century press.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

I've read a lot of negative review's on the Sinclair press, but can't seem to find anything on the 21st century press.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks,
Dan

I have the 21st Century press with force dial & priming tool. Don't consider anything else!

 

[R.Morehouse]

I guess it depends on what your seating. I like the Harrells combo press for the portability but I am loading 6PPC.

 

[DanSavage]

I guess it depends on what your seating. I like the Harrells combo press for the portability but I am loading 6PPC.

6br L.E. Wilson neck & seater dies

 

[Dub]

an arbor press is not exactly a big deal. They all depend on the die you select for precision.

 

[potatoe]

Like dub said, I've had a Sinclair and a Harrells and couldn't tell a bit of difference. It's a very basic tool, unless your looking for the force indicator

 

[jlow]

Exactly! It is a simple tool. If on the other hand, you are looking for a force indicator, you should be comparing the 21st Century to the K&M one.

 

[DanSavage]

I don't think I'll get into the force indicator arena yet,, but maybe down the road. I've been using Wilson dies for a while now and am getting sick of tapping the cases in and out of the neck die. It doesn't take a lot of force at all but it's getting annoying do all that tapping.LOL

 

[DanSavage]

I see 1 ton or half ton arbor press's are cheaper! Don't need to crush my die's though.LOL

 

[RockyMtnMan]

I conducted a lot of research before selecting an arbor press and purchased the New Gen 21st century. Couldn't be happier. Masterful machining and design.

 

[TimP]

Here is a review on the basic 21st Century Press.http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/21st-century-arbor-press/ It is the one I have been using for quite some time and it does what all arbor presses are designed to do. If you don't want a force indicator and plan to load at the range this one is very compact.

 

[1newmexkid]

I went with the, "Bald Eagle" arbor press. It goes up and down and it makes a perfect cartridge. It's almost like magic!

 

[Sniper338]

I use the 21st century.

It comes down to peraonal preference. Force indicators arent exact, but it gives you an idea... id buy the same thing again if i had to.

 

[dkhunt14]

I don't think I'll get into the force indicator arena yet,, but maybe down the road. I've been using Wilson dies for a while now and am getting sick of tapping the cases in and out of the neck die. It doesn't take a lot of force at all but it's getting annoying do all that tapping.LOL

If the cases are sticking, it's probably the seater stem sticking on the bullet. You could try polishing it some. The edge might have a burr. I usually just lift my seater some and the case falls out.

If you are in competition you might want to think about one with a gauge. We tested both the K&M and the 21st century with a load cell. They are pretty close with what they read. They definitely can read a difference in seating pressure. You have to seat really slow and watch the gauge.

P.S. I didn't see you were sizing with an arbor. Almost nobody does that anymore. They full length size with a regular press and seat bullets with an arbor. The gauge one will not work with sizing. It will break it. johara is right on his reply below. Matt

 

[johara1]

I don't think I'll get into the force indicator arena yet,, but maybe down the road. I've been using Wilson dies for a while now and am getting sick of tapping the cases in and out of the neck die. It doesn't take a lot of force at all but it's getting annoying do all that tapping.LOL

Are neck sizing on the die? is so you would be better served with a full length bushing die in a regular reloading press and seat your bullets on a arbor press jim

 

[jlow]

If the cases are sticking, it's probably the seater stem sticking on the bullet. You could try polishing it some. The edge might have a burr. I usually just lift my seater some and the case falls out.

If you are in competition you might want to think about one with a gauge. We tested both the K&M and the 21st century with a load cell. They are pretty close with what they read. They definitely can read a difference in seating pressure. You have to seat really slow and watch the gauge. P.S. I didn't see you were sizing with an arbor. Almost nobody does that anymore. They full length size with a regular press and seat bullets with an arbor. The gauge one will not work with sizing. It will break it. johara is right on his reply below. Matt

I agree with Matt. The way I deal with the occasional sticking is to just pull up on the stem (which separates the bullet and the stem) and then tap the body of the die on the table gently and the case comes out. In terms of the press, really with the in line dies, one could push simply on the die by hand. The only advantage of the press is it pushes down straight and can produce more force than you can, but most shooter do not seat their bullets with that much neck tension.

As fore the 21st Century force measuring being better than the K&M, I have never seen any evidence to this one way or the other. I think it is mostly psychological.

 

[JimPag]

Get the basic K&M and if you want later you can buy the forced indicator for it.

 

[Shynloco]

I have the 21st Century press with force dial & priming tool. Don't consider anything else!

No offense BOB LEE, I cannot at all agree with "Don't consider anything else." Certainly the equipment made by 21st Century is top notch and I own some of their equipment after I has been using other brands. But I have both a K&M and a Sinclair arbor press.. I primarily use the Sinclair as it gives me the best "FEEL" when I'm using my Wilson dies to seat the bullets in all the calibers I reload for. And that "feel" is something you develop over the years which ALSO tells me about my casings in terms of elasticity, something that an arbor pres with a gauge reads in terms of the amount of pressure used to seat the bullet. So it boils down to individual preference. I'm not trying to talk you out of a 21st Century. All I'm saying is don't rule out other brands and consider the pluses and minuses of any equipment you use or buy. Remember, what one reloader does or likes, doesn't necessarily please another reloader.

Alex

 

[johara1]

I think he is complaining about them sticking in the neck sizing die, not the seater die. jim

 

[johara1]

I have both the hydro seater and K&M with a force indicator but most of the time the force indicator is off of it. Due to the fact of bottoming it out, when it has to be used for high neck tension for fire forming. and the Hydro seater only goes to a 100 lb. i will never get rid of the K&M because it is my back up and it's versatility …… jim