Who makes the best shell holder?

[Raythemanroe]

Who makes the best shell holder? Should the case have room to self aline? I would assume tighter is better if every variable was perfect.



Ray

 

[CatShooter]

Who makes the best shell holder? Should the case have room to self aline? I would assume tighter is better if every variable was perfect.



Ray

I have used most of them, and they are all OK... there should be some play so the case can move a bit to align itself with the die bore.

 

[amlevin]

I've used all of them from Lee to Redding Competition shell holders.

All work well. Sometimes you'll run into one that's a little tight and the slightest nick on the extractor rim will make it hard to insert or remove. Other than that problems with case sizing are usually somewhere else than the shell holder.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Thanks, I assumed it was a non issue. I just wanted to hear if anyone has had trouble with certain brands..


Ray

 

[Chappy]

The Hornady and Redding seem to fit the best in my presses and give me the least amount of run out compared to the RCBS and Lyman She'll Holders I have. YMMV.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Bonanza Co-Ax self align

 

[fguffey]

All work well. Sometimes you'll run into one that's a little tight and the slightest nick on the extractor rim will make it hard to insert or remove.

I have shell holders, some have advantages over the other. If I find a case fits with difficulty I should be alarm because the shell holder I am using is precession fit. I have other shell holder that fit loose, the advantage to a loose fit comes when sizing cases for short chambers.

I have one set of Redding Competition shell holders, I paid $5.00 for the set of 5, Instead of the competition shell holders I use the feeler gage when sizing cases for long chambers.

A builder of bench rest type rifles was forming cases for one of his new creations, he asked for help, He asked me to bring the other #4 RCBS shell holder. He was forming 250 cases, Close to 40 of the cases would not fit his #4 Shell holder, I told him I would bring a gasket cutting ball peen hammer,

F. Guffey

 

[expiper]

OP,,,I like the Lee,,,they have a beveled feed ramp that is integral and makes it easier to slide the ctg rim into the shell holder,,,,,less fumbling with my fat fingers,,,,look at one,,,you will see the obvious diff,,,,,Roger

 

[Dans40X]

Take & compare critical measurements between the various manufactures shell holders & RCBS is the most consistent in the last 5 decades w/ Redding being the worst.

 

[LawrenceHanson]

I just find those that don’t work well and get rid of them.
But like you, I keep an individual shell holder with each set of dies that I work with. This is important for maintaining consistent sizing dimensions. You figure these things out as you go along.

 

[asauer]

Bonanza Co-Ax self align

Agreed.

 

[3dogs]

Another vote for the Co-Ax
Jim

 

[Patch700]

First thing I do with my presses are to remove the circlip that retains the shell holder.. I install the shell holder so the opening is 90 degrees to the opening of the ram , that is my "co-ax" lol.

If a case doesn't slide easily in and out of the holder I replace it with one that does... Generally speaking I've not found a huge variance in deck heights between manufacturers .

 

[ireload2]

Most shell holders work fine. However there are a few cases that seem to have dimensional variations that cause problems and there are a couple of cartridges that most just will not make a good shell holder to fit.

The .35 Remington can have some shell holders that do not fit well (Lee I think).
The 6.5 and 7.35 Carcano rounds will pull a rim off with most shell holders except for the tight fitting Hornady shell holder.

Finally the 7X57 has different rims depending on US or European or Norma brass.
This is listed in the RCBS shell holder tables.

 

[waldo1979]

I've had problems with Lapua .223 brass using RCBS shell holders bending the rim slightly. I have at least 4 of these now so I know it's not just a defective holder. I've wanted to try redding competitions but mostly to adjust for headspace variances.

 

[amlevin]

I've wanted to try redding competitions but mostly to adjust for headspace variances.

Get them. You'll like them a lot better than having to twiddle with the die and any slop in the press mechanism when adjusting headspace on your cases (bumping shoulders).

 

[savagedasher]

The reason for a shell holder is to remove the case after sizing. If your bumping the case and bumping the shell holder and the die together then shell holders make a difference.
Run out is from the press or the dies. Seating I like Wilson and a arbor press.
Larry

 

[fguffey]

I've had problems with Lapua .223 brass using RCBS shell holders bending the rim slightly.

Bending the rim? When? I use a different kind of lube, I determine the efficiency of a lube when I raise the ram. The other factor is case hardening, case resistance to sizing can cause problems, it is possible for a case to have more resistance to sizing then the press can overcome. Then there is die cleaning, I use a towel on a dowel.

F. Guffey

 

[Raythemanroe]

I have a Hornady #35 shell holder that the 300wsm case will hardly fit in, brass shavings and when looking from the under side it appears the flash hole is not center to the hole in the holder.. Ordering RCBS i assume..


Ray

 

[Road_Clam]

I can't tell any difference between Lee and RCBS shell holders, the both function perfect as they should in my RCBS Rock Chucker press. I have much more of a problem with the casings moving out of position within the shell holder vs. a shell holder to ram fit variance.