What to do with spare presses?

RonO.

RonO.

New member
Recently, I have fallen into an embarrassment of riches where reloading presses are concern. My first press was an old Lee Challenger press that made many great shooting rounds. Thanks to a great PM member I upgraded to a Redding UltraMag press and it is amazing. On an estate sale, I was able to purchase a Bonanza Co-Ax press that I only mounted to my bench recently and have little experience with. Another estate sale situation has me in the possession of an RCBS2 and a Rockchucker Supreme press.

My question is, given that the Lee press is a give-away item, and I only have room for so many presses on my bench, which would you keep and what would you sell? The heavier RCBS press or the lighter? Neither will equal the UltraMag for strenth nor the Co-Ax for precision, but I like the shorter lever throw for pistol ammo. Yet the Lee press could work for simple pistol ammo.

Any thoughts?
 
Last edited:
I would set 1 up as deprime only. Bolt it to a board and c clamp it to the bench when you need it, I will do that with my lee once I see a need to upgrade.
 
1badshee, that is exactly the position my Lee press is in right now. Although, the Lee press feels downright flimsy next to the others, it has given good service and is plenty good for seating bullets and depriming.
 
I have three presses...A Lee progressive for handgun rounds, a Forster for most precision loading, and an old Pacific "C" type that I use for de-constructing rounds with the Hornady bullet puller and for loading the few larger caliber rounds that would require a major change over of the Forster and that I don't feel is worth the effort for five or six rounds of the larger calibers...

I've also adapted the Pacific, with necessary companion items, to allow me to take it to the ranges,. 45-60 miles away, so that I can adjust the seating depth, or put together additional test loads as needed...Everything fits into a wood box that I also use as a wind break when measuring out powder for the loads...

If your bench space is limited, then I would use it to assemble a portable loading set up if you are into developing rounds at the range..If not, then find a beginning reloader and donate it to them as a starter...Thousands of rounds have been loaded on those old presses and with good results...They usually outlast the original purchaser..
 
Originally Posted By: 1badsheeI would set 1 up as deprime only. Bolt it to a board and c clamp it to the bench when you need it, I will do that with my lee once I see a need to upgrade.


thumbup1.gif
- I picked up a cheap single stage press and Universal Decapping Die off Amazon, for exactly that purpose.
 
I keep a little Lee C press set up for pulling bullet. I have it mounted just above the powder on the middle shelf. I can just stand up to pull a bullet without having to change my loading press.

 


Write your reply...
Back
Top