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Reloading Press...

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jonoMT View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2010 at 17:55
I've got a Redding Big Boss II and it has worked well. But forget about the primer seater kit. I use the Lee handheld and it has worked great. You could get a progressive, but how long does it take to switch out a die? Most of the time I spend is on two operations - resizing and weighing/filling powder charges. I perform each operation on ALL the cartridges. I've never had dies change measurement on me from screwing them in and out of the press. I replaced all my lock rings with the Hornadys and keep them tight.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2010 at 18:02
You charge them ALL before seating a new bullet?  Are you close to case capacity?  I'd be fearful of a double-charge, a bolt gun that puts powder in your face makes a powerful impression, and if you live through it,...

I have a turret (with the "progressive" taken out) press, I size all, then charge and seat one at a time.  The primed case comes out of the block once and goes directly into the ammo box when completed, no opportunity to double-charge a case or miss one and get a short round.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2010 at 18:23
 I'm still using my 30+ yr old Lyman O Mag press.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2010 at 22:46
Ive always used a RCBS Rockchucker single stage,  but any means of making your own will save you a lot of money, (of do I mean encourage you to spend a lot of money).   Its not a cheap hobby but it will keep you out of the titty bars.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote montanaoffroader Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/11/2010 at 22:49

RCBS press, Ohaus scale, Lee priming and case length tools, Lyman powder measure, dies from Redding, RCBS, and Lee.  I use stuff from several manufacturers, pretty much all of it has worked well. One thing I've learned, don't go cheap on the scale, you really get what you pay for there.

My Dad uses both RCBS and Lyman presses, my brother uses a Lee Classic, they all seem to work equally well.
 
If Lee was the only brand available to me, I wouldn't be worried at all, it gets the job done at a reasonable price.
 
 
Mike

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jonoMT View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 10:08
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

You charge them ALL before seating a new bullet?  Are you close to case capacity?


Yes. I run the loading block like a typewriter - always go across a row of five, then start over on the left. I throw a charge, place it on the scale and in the couple seconds while the scale is settling down, move the funnel to the next case. Then I trickle the last few tenths and pour the charge in the empty case.

These are .308 cases loaded with 45.5 grains of Varget so a double charge would mostly leave the funnel filled (and, yes, I've done that a couple times, but it's real obvious). As for leaving one empty, I visually inspect the entire lot before moving to seating. Also, even at an angle, while placing the cartridge in the press you can see the top of the charge.

I prefer to do it this way because it is the way I do every step in the reloading process. I can see, however, where it could be a liability and dangerous with cartridges that aren't filled to near-capacity. I take it that is often the case with pistol loads???
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 10:12
It would be pretty hard to double charge a rifle case.  Most of the time they are 85 to 90% full sometimes more than that with the required amount of powder.

I do the same thing sometimes.  If I am not super concerned about weighting each charge, I just fill my loading tray with primed brass and move it from one case to the next under my powder dispenser until all 50 are loaded with powder.  Then I look at each one to make sure they are even and load them up. 

Now a pistol round, that is a different story.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 10:49
Damn, you guys do it all differ'nt!

It is possible to double-charge some rifle brass, especially if you load subsonics. Ever.

My .308 load is similar to yours, so yes, not possible to double-charge.  I also check the level of each case as it goes from block to press.

I do not own a mechanical dispenser, each charge is weighed to the tenth of a grain (usually trickled up to final volume), bad dispenses are tossed back into the can.  And I check the scale frequently for precision and accuracy.

In my reloading, I am overly cautious, admittedly.  I've seen reloading mistakes (and 'loading" mistakes) that went real bad, so I am uber careful. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 11:03
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:


It is possible to double-charge some rifle brass, especially if you load subsonics. Ever.


Had not thought of those.

I would say 90% of my loading is done with a progressive.  About the only stuff I load one at a time is my match .308 and .223.  And those I load 1 round at a time weighing each charge and seating a bullet right after I dump the powder. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 11:40
I could see with sub-sonic rounds where that could be like pistol cartridges.

I always reset my balance to zero before starting and doublecheck that I've selected the right charge weight. Otherwise, I don't check it again during a loading session. The scale sits on a thick plywood table that is mounted on a concrete shaft in my basement. So it's very solid and level. Still, I take care not to bump it. While safety is a consideration, I mostly do this because if I'm going to to the trouble to handload I want accuracy within 1/10 grain or less.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 12:03
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

You charge them ALL before seating a new bullet?  Are you close to case capacity?  I'd be fearful of a double-charge...
 
I do whenever I'm loading for a prairie dog shooting trip and I'm taking lots of ammo with me.  I've found that I get just as good accuracy with loads in my varmint rifles by throwing charges directly from my powder dispensor as I do from precisely trickling to the tenth of a grain.  All of the loads are about 95% of case capacity, so a double charge is not possible.  This past Saturday, with the help of a shooting buddy, I loaded 1000 rounds of .223 with a single stage press in one sitting, using an "assembly line" method.  We have 3 or 4 such sessions coming up before we leave on our trip as we will take several 1000's of rounds with us on a typical pd shoot among our group.  I personally usually bring 3000 - 5000 rounds with me to feed 5 rifles.  Try doing that when trickle charging and seating one at a time. 
 
I buy presized and trimmed cases from Scharch Mfg, so I eliminated those steps.  Prior to a loading session, I will solicit the help of my wife to prime cases with a couple of hand primers a couple evenings while we watch TV. 
 
When it's time to load the sized and primed cases, my shooting buddies and I will meet up at one of our houses.  One of us will charge cases while the other seats bullets.  If there's 3 of us, one charge man will feed 2 presses for bullet seating.  We charge a tray of 50, slide it over to the guy seating bullets, and start on another tray, checking for consistency of charge weight on the digital scale every 50 charges.  Usually, the powder charge man outpaces the bullet seating man, so he has time to periodically verify charge weight consistency.  I've found by doing that many hundreds of times that my charge weights directly from the dispensor don't vary more than maybe 2/10ths grain, which is plenty good enough as long as you're within safe pressure limits in the first place.  Using a very fine grained powder that meters well certainly helps in this regard.  The guy seating bullets looks over the tray of cases with a flashlight to verify all cases are charged before seating bullets.  With the kind of volume shooting you do when sniping prairie dogs, you'll either quickly lose interest in the sport or buy all preloaded bulk ammo (which isn't a practical option for me cost-wise) before you do the "one round from start to finish" routine.
 
For all other rifles I'm loading for in much less volume, I do the one round pace just like you do.
 
On my choice of presses, I've used just about all at one time or another.  All get the job done, though I prefer those with a more solid feel to them, as you don't have to work as hard during high volume loading sessions as you would with a light duty press having a sloppy handle operation.  I've owned RCBS and Redding presses.  Both are good, but I like the Redding presses a tad better.  Currently, I have a Redding Ultramag press, and have been very satisfied with it.  It isn't the best choice for short cases and high volume, as it has a really long lever throw, but it is very smooth and has tons of leverage for big sizing jobs.  Never owned a progressive press, though I've been considering one.
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 16:53
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

Never owned a progressive press, though I've been considering one.


You should, they sure make loading volume quick and easy. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 17:48
Yeah, I know.  The problem is, my list of wants always exceeds the amount of money available in my top secret "toy fund" at any given time.  As nice and convenient as it would certainly be, a progressive press isn't anywhere near the top of my want list, so until I get the other toys on the list ahead of it, I continue to persevere with a single stage press. 
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/12/2010 at 17:53
I hear you.  My toy fund never has enough money in it either.
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/13/2010 at 06:21
what toy fund??Really Sad
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/13/2010 at 06:24
 REALLY!  That's why I'm playing "musical scopes".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SD Dog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/13/2010 at 08:07
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

Yeah, I know.  The problem is, my list of wants always exceeds the amount of money available in my top secret "toy fund" at any given time. 


You and every other hunter, shooter, sportsman. 

For me, my Dad and brother come over and in a few hours we can crank through a thousand or so.  Everyone has a job and it turns into an assembly line.  That is another fun aspect of reloading.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 57Chevy 210 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/04/2010 at 19:58
[QUOTE=The Apostle]Thinking of buying a reloading press to reload my .308 (and maybe in the future 45-70). The shop I regularly go to only has Lee Precision stuff.
 
Whats everyones opinion on this brand??? Which of their presses is the best???
 
 
 
Apostle I currently load 168 gr 308 cal with Varget powder on a Lee loadmaster with very good results. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NRV Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/09/2010 at 06:47

Apostle,

The Lee Classic Cast Iron press is pretty good, especially when used in conjunction with Hornady L-N-L bushings.  The key is to allow your dies to self-align when in operation.  I could not, in good conscience, recommend the cheap pot-metal press that Lee sells to anyone.
 
If you want a truely great press, look for a Forster Co-Ax.  It's the best with out getting into custom setups.
 
If your 308 has a factory chamber, you may have good luck with a Lee Collet sizing die.  They can produce some very straight cases.  As for seating dies, I could only recommend a Redding Competition (not regular without the sleeve), or Forster Bench Rest and Ultra Mic.
 
Lee has some very nice products (Factory Crimp, Collet Neck Size, Classic Cast) and a lot of "average at best" ones.  Their main selling point is price, and to some, paying double or triple for Forster or Redding products isn't worth it.
 
I'm not sure of your situation, or the availability of things where you live, but that is my opinion of Lee.
 
Michael
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rkingston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/14/2010 at 16:08
Considering everything you buy to reload, presses aren't that expensive. I use two Redding Big Boss presses mounted on the right side of my bench and two separate loading trays. First one for sizing and priming and the second for bullet seating. Works for me and when I accidentally drop a case and bend the neck I can just resize it in the first press and move on. And yes, even though you usually cant double load a rifle case, I still drop the charge and seat the bullet, and then move to the next round.
RK
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