Which Arbor Press?? New to the arbor....

[Sniper338]

I decided to just go ahead and dive in, take the plunge and start getting stuff together to seat bullets with an arbor press and wilson seating dies... I need to work on getting better neck tensions case to case, and hone in that area better as far as my reloading goes... so i want to be able to feel and see the seating pressure on the arbor press dial micrometer deal... I think neck tensions are where i lack the most... im using redding type S competition bushing dies to neck size only, then i have body dies when need be... i have a new reutine im going to start working on to try to get brass a little bit better prepped... just working on getting stuff in...


so question here is whats the best arbor press that has a dial on it to watch the seating tension?

The 21st century is the one ive been looking at..



Any other opinions?

 

[Raythemanroe]

I'd like to have all the presses in front of me to try, maybe someone has tried all of them..


Ray

 

[dkhunt14]

That's a good question. I have had people tell me that they both are good. It was about a 50/50 split. The two i am talking about is the K&M and the 21st century. I don't have one but the fact is an arbor is way better for feel. You cannot feel nothing with a loading press. Matt

 

[michaelnel]

Aside from my overall excellent experience with every other 21st Century product I have bought, one of the reasons I went with their Hydro Seating Press is the ease of adjustment. Just loosen one large knob on the side (no tools), move the head, and retighten it. The K&M requires you find the right allen wrench to loosen and retighten four allen screws in order to adjust the height. That just seems unnecessarily fiddly for such a common task.

I also like the idea of the hydraulic method with the pressure gauge instead of the Belleville spring washer pack with dial indicator which again seems like an excessively fiddly way to do it.

I bet both are mechanically good designs, but I am more comfortable with the whole design of the 21st Century one.

 

[3dogs]

I have the K & M, if the 21st Century one was out when I got mine I would have bought it
Jim

 

[Danattherock]

The 21st century arbor press is slick. As is the bullet seating setup with gauge. I also saw the Harrellson (msp?) combo press. Lots of slick options out there. After receiving my 21st century conc gauge last week, it would be easy to buy another tool from John. That neck turning lathe may be my next venture.


Dan

 

[Down South]

I've been using the 21st Century hydro seater press since last year at this time and really like it. I have several other tools that John makes/sells and its all top notch stuff.

 

[zipollini]

Another vote for the 21st Century hydro press. Just got mine and it is FANTASTIC !!! Use it with Wilson hand dies for my 6XC loads. An all around very slick setup.

 

[brian427cobra]

I have a K&M with seating force attachment, it's a good tool, but I think if I were buying today the 21st CSS would be my choice

 

[Sniper338]

Census has it. 21st century. Thanks for the help! I gotta stash some money away for it now!

 

[Lapua40X]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

 

[Raythemanroe]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

21st Century appears to be smoother then K&M, Easier to observe pressures.. K&M is almost cheap enough to buy your dies for the cost of the 21st.. A guy could buy the K&M and up grade it later to the force measurement. Each is their own, it sounds like they both get good results..


Ray

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have both, the 21st Century is hands down the better press.

 

[titanxt]

Forgive me for the hijack question, by why is Sinclair's arbor press not on the list? Is that not as good of a press as the others listed?

Andy

 

[Erik Cortina]

Forgive me for the hijack question, by why is Sinclair's arbor press not on the list? Is that not as good of a press as the others listed?

Andy

The discussion is about arbor presses that measure seating force. The only two that I know of that do that are the K&M and the 21st Century hydro press.

 

[BradY]

I have a haydon arbor press that has the force measurement feature on it. Sadly not available anymore, but its a great unit. Was advised by a well respected benchrest supplier that it was a better unit than the K&M which I was originally looking for.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I don't have the seating force feature, but do have K&M, Sinclair & 21st Century arbor presses. They are all good quality presses, but the 21st Century is much easier to change from one height to another. If you only use it at one height, go with whichever seating pressure system appeals to you.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I have both, the 21st Century is hands down the better press.

Give me a deal on the K&M?


Ray

 

[michaelnel]

I have just started using the 21st Century hydro press. It takes some getting used to.

I had gotten used to feeling the seating force with the standard mechanical 21st Century arbor press. The hydro one feels mushy / spongy by comparison, and I really cannot feel the seating force. I *have* to use the gauge and can no longer rely on feel.

It's probably better this way, but so far I am not so sure I like it.

 

[CatShooter]

There is an ad on TV that comes on from time to time - it is for one of those garden hoses that un-curl itself.

In the ad, he shows how strong his fitting is by trying to crush it with an arbor press. The press has a digital force gauge built into the base.

Any of you guys remember this ad and know who makes such a press - I have tried Google with no luck.

A press with a digital force gauge would remove any mushy feeling - it would feel exactly the same as a standard press.