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Reloading Presses |
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VN350X10
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/13/2008 Location: McHenry, IL Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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I'm a new member, but I think I can offer a bit of knowledge here....
I've been reloading since 1973, have worn out a couple of firearms with reloads & should have been able to deduct Remington & Winchester a few times as dependants.
That said, here goes:
Current loading presses on my bench, left to right, calibers/tooling avaliable.
Lee 1000, dedicated to 9mm
Dillon SDB, 10MM & .45ACP
Dillon XL 650, 10MM, 40 S&W,(mm, 38 super, .44 Mag/Spl.
Dillon 1050, .45ACP, .44 AutoMag
Dillon 550, Rimmed revolver cals, varmint cals & CF rifle up to .375 H&H
Bonanza Co-Axial
RCBS RockChucker
Lyman Spar-T
I currently reload for a 4 man IPSC team; 9mm, 38 Super, .40 & 10MM, we just got to agree on something one of these days !
All of the presses I own have good/bad features, no one press is "perfect", not even the Dillon 1050. The new model, the Super 1050 might come close, as it can handle up to .30-06 & .45-70 size calibers, but won't do the real big stuff.
In a single station press, the Reddings are what I'd now chose over the RockChucker, but they wern't avaliable when I started loading.
I use my Co-Ax for case forming & heavy de-capping, it's stronger than the 'Chucker, not much, but it has a bit better leverage.
Sorry this is so long..I could keep going !
I'll try to answer any loading/press questions I can; My experience may as well keep someone from making the same mistakes I've made !
uncle albert
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My gun safe is LARGER than my first appartment !
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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Thanks for the input and welcome to O.T., Uncle Albert.
Doug |
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bagger
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/22/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I use the RCBS Rockchucker single stage.
I'm looking for something faster due to the amount of .45 I shoot. I'll still load my rifle stuff on the Rockchucker. Been looking at the Dillion but I'm up for suggestions.
Thanks
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VN350X10
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/13/2008 Location: McHenry, IL Status: Offline Points: 26 |
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If you have small hands & plan on only 1 or 2 pistol calibers, the Dillon SDB is good.
Small hands is the key here, there isn't a lot of room to work. Another drawback is the propriatary dies that the SDB uses. All other Dillon presses use the industry std. 7/8-14 dies.
If you went to a 550, you could load everything on it & there is a case feeder avaliable for it now.
Loading pistol or revolver ammo on a 550, without the case feed, a steady rate of 250-300/hr is realistic, as long as you get all of your components close by & handy to work with. Ignore the rates shown in the Dillon catalog, they're closer to an operational cyclic rate, but not a true production rate.
uncle albert
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My gun safe is LARGER than my first appartment !
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neil
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/25/2008 Location: Erie County, Oh Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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I have been using a Co-Ax for over 20 years and I haven't found any reason to change to another single stage press. The ability to swap dies quickly and have an almost universal shell holder, the dies and brass have some "wiggle room" that allows them to float and line up better when loading is rather unique, too.
The Co-Ax has a really precise priming system but it is slow and you almost have to either handle the primers with your fingers or use tweezers.
I do all of my single stage priming with a Lee hand primer, so that is not a problem that I have.
I do have two Dillons on the bench but the Co-Ax is right were I bolted it down back in the '80s.
neil
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neil
If I can't take it with me I'm not going! |
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yellowdog
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/22/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 432 |
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+1 on the 550 Dillon
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If you don't want to stand behind our troops, then we will gladly have you stand in front of them.
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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Originally when this was posted, I had great interest because I also was looking to upgrade my single stage press. Well I took the advise of no one and chose the Lee "classic" press based on price, strength and origin of manufacture (wisconsin). I don't have alot of time on the press, but it is definately an upgrade to my Lee challanger press, much smoother and stronger, especially when resizing. |
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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Should be a great machine.
Good on you for supporting Wisconsin manufacturing, too! Edited by RONK - April/26/2008 at 14:19 |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I have Lee Classic and a Rockchucker. Rockchucker is probably heavier duty, but both have worked well for me.
ILya |
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RONK
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/05/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3199 |
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.... and I'll bet they will still be working for your great-grandchildren, too!
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ceylonc
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/13/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 514 |
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Ha! We share the exact same setup! I agree with your assessment of the two presses but I will add that, in my opinion, the Lee Classic can do everything the RCBS Rockchucker can do with the same results. The Rockchucker just feels a little more "solid".
The Lee Challenger, while functional, definitely feels like a step down in quality from the the aforementioned presses. I think it would work fine for depriming but it left a lot to be desired when it came to full length resizing...
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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That was my single most complaint with the Lee challanger, just felt wimpy when sizing shells, the "classic" press is a great improvement in this department.
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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J!m
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/28/2008 Location: CT / NY Status: Offline Points: 77 |
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If you have a Rockchucker and want to go to higher volume, you could do what I did:
Get the PiggyBack set-up for your Rockchucker.
This is great if you have a small work space, or small budget. One press converts from single-stage to multi-stage indexing, in a few minutes (probably 15-30) and back again easily.
I was doing tons of 9mm on the piggyback with excellent results.
Now I'm doing precise .308 on the rockchucker with excellent results.
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Hmmm... It seems he's suffered from acute lead poisioning...
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