Which press?

[Valar]

Rockchucker isn't expensive and work fine

He's looking for something portable, not a boat anchor ;D
[/quote
Now Thats Funny, I dont care who ya are! LOL]

 

[ridgeway]

The Partner press is a very fine little press and would work perfect for what you want to do. Many short range shooters tote one to matches. Mount it to a small board so you can clamp it to a bench. Its small and compact.

 

[shothook]

go buy the new RCBS Summit press and an RCBS mounting plate-don't look back

 

[LHSmith]

go buy the new RCBS Summit press and an RCBS mounting plate-don't look back

Unless the OP is a 6'-2, 240 lb linebacker , I believe at 21 lbs. w/o mtg. plate, the Summit does not fit the "nimble and portable" requirement he specified.
He intends to load for 6 PPC and 6 XC......not .338 Lapua Mag.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Nimble and portable doesn't necessarily mean light, If it helps you could bolt it to a little red wagon and pull it around..

 

[Patch700]

I just recently replaced my old redding that i used for loading at the range etc with a Harrells Mag length... Very nice little press ... And i dont need a red wagon to pack it around lol.

 

[LHSmith]

I just recently replaced my old redding that i used for loading at the range etc with a Harrells Mag length... Very nice little press ... And i dont need a red wagon to pack it around lol.

I believe they are actually compact enough to fit in your loading box.......can't beat that feature with a stick.

 

[Cakes]

JRS-
Funny, Funny!! I have 6 of those boat anchors on my bench. True they've been modified and "tuned" and don't go anywhere but they are very consistent and work for me.
Eric in DL

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/harrells-tooling-turret-press-by-henry-harrell

 

[Kodiak99317]

Hood press, very portable and comes with both the arbour and can use regular dies as well...

http://www.benchrest.com/hoodpress/hood_press.html

 

[Patch700]

I just recently replaced my old redding that i used for loading at the range etc with a Harrells Mag length... Very nice little press ... And i dont need a red wagon to pack it around lol.

I believe they are actually compact enough to fit in your loading box.......can't beat that feature with a stick.

I use a Stanley "FatMax" on wheels for a shooting box and yes indeed the Harrells fits very nicely in the bottom compartment with the dies,powder, bullets etc.. Highly recommend it.

One bit of advice i did get from a member here was that unless you go with the Mag length you won't be able to use alot of the smaller portable presses for seating bullets in 284 based cases ( with respect to harrels or sinclair)

 

[wkdickinson]

I agree with effendude - Forster Co-Ax. If you haven't used one, you won't understand. It makes reloading almost enjoyable.

 

[JRS]

JRS-
Funny, Funny!! I have 6 of those boat anchors on my bench. True they've been modified and "tuned" and don't go anywhere but they are very consistent and work for me.
Eric in DL

I have a couple myself Great presses. The OP clearly stated "portable". It appears reading comprehension is a lost art ;D

 

[Waskawood]

I have my crash helmet on cause I might get a whack or 2 for going low but....

The only whack you deserve is for asking this kind of question. Google search "which reloading press", and start reading.

Wow. I want to thank the OP for NOT using Google search. I always learn something when I read these longer threads. If we all used Google search we wouldn't need these forums anymore and what fun would that be. Keep asking the questions guys. I keep learning from them!!!

 

[ridgeway]

I have my crash helmet on cause I might get a whack or 2 for going low but....

The only whack you deserve is for asking this kind of question. Google search "which reloading press", and start reading.

Wow. I want to thank the OP for NOT using Google search. I always learn something when I read these longer threads. If we all used Google search we wouldn't need these forums anymore and what fun would that be. Keep asking the questions guys. I keep learning from them!!!

Yep, a gazillion similar threads on numerous forums. All end up taking the same direction.

 

[gibson]

I have been using an RCBS Partner with Redding dies for my PPCs and 30 BR and it works just fine. It goes in the bottom drawer of my shooting box just fine. I carry a short 2X4 to mount it to and then clamp that to the bench. Its solid as a rock. No problem with bumping or FL sizing. Imperial die wax and your good to go.

Like another poster said, watch how fast they go when one is offered for sale, that speaks volumes.

gibson

 

[Southj]

Just bought a Forster Coax which I really like.....hard to find but a dealer in Texas had 6 in stock.

 

[BoydAllen]

As some have already said, accuracy comes from the dies. Any of the presses that you mentioned should work just fine. One of the better benchrest shooters in Texas, runs a machine shop and actually turns down the rams of his Partner presses slightly so that the case can self align to the die. A friend has done a variation on this by modifying shell holders, and the top of the rams of his Rockchuckers. The improvement shows up on his concentricity gauge. The really good thing is that you are getting set up to load at the range. So many are stuck at their home loading benches, and will never experience the enhanced flexibility, and tuning efficiency of range loading. I use Harrell presses at the range. I have both a turret, as well as the Combo, and like them both. The combo stays in my range loading kit, and is my go to press unless the case that I am working with is longer than it can handle. I have converted my Rockchucker to take the Redding Lock-n-Load inserts, and leave one in the press, allowing it to be used normally, but for the calibers that I plan on loading more often, I leave inserts on the dies. The good thing about this is that the die settings are to the inserts, and are less likely to be disturbed when changing from FL to seating dies. The conversion was mostly for the few instances when I lug it to the range to help a friend with tuning up something like a .338 Lapua, and will be frequently changing from sizing to seating. Years back, when I replaced an old, but perfectly fine RCBS Jr. with the Rockchucker, it was so that I could have the additional leverage when sizing .357 cases unlubed with a carbide FL die. I was also impressed with how easily it FL sized using my RCBS dies. These days, over 30 years later, I know that if a die fits a chamber properly, that the case is not reduced much at all, and that this requires much less from the press as far as leverage is concerned.