Favorite features on single stage press?

[birdiemc]

I'm not sure which thread is being referenced where the same discussion is going on, if somebody could point me to which one I would love to read it. Like I said, I started this thread to specifically find out what features people like about the presses they have used, because i want to build my own as a project to get acquainted with my new milling machine. The discussion of these features has led to other questions and a broadening of the discussion, but I can assure you I'm not stirring any pot or trying to beat a dead horse. Lots of folks enjoy sharing their opinions, and I am hoping to benefit from that willingness with the end goal of taking what I learn and building a press that is better than the one I currently use even though I will likely "waste" so much time on it and spend close to enough money to just buy one.
If some of you folks can't wrap your head around that or can't comprehend why I would like to have a discussion about presses in a thread I started specifically for that purpose then you're welcome to not read it, or hit the ignore button on my name so you dont have to read my post, whatever floats your boat...I really could not care less. I'm here to learn from those who have gone before me, as I assumed was the case with all of us.

 

[cape cove]

Cape Cove, I'm curious does the redding body die have the spindle or sizer removed? A lot of posters talk about the lee collet die as being one of the keys, I believe the forster seater is top notch and I'm using them now. Ordered several collet dies today so want to try what your doing to see difference before new press arrives and I start using that. birdiemc I will give some input on the summit press tomorrow and how it moves and works as well as I set it up. That's the beauty of these sites the chance to exchange knowledge and experience in real time. Dave

The Redding body die has no spindle what so ever. It simply sizes the case body and allows you to adjust for proper shoulder bump. The Lee Collet die then does the sizing of the neck and removes the spent primer. I get great case neck run-out #'s this way.

 

[ThrdKllr]

I've thought of doing the same thing but the accuracy of today's CNC machinery would be really hard to improve on.
As far as the features I like about my Lee CC :
That big a** ram
The fact that spent primers exit via the center of the ram and are collected and not all (or any) everywhere.
The three bolt mounting on the base to limit torque on the bench
The adjustable handle for length, angle and either side
Have never had a problem getting replacement parts for anything with Lee on it ( most of the time for free)
Lee is American made.
Case forming is as easy as resizing

 

[ThrdKllr]

The Redding body die has no spindle what so ever. It simply sizes the case body and allows you to adjust for proper shoulder bump. The Lee Collet die then does the sizing of the neck and removes the spent primer. I get great case neck run-out #'s this way.

I've also got my neck tension more consistent and dropped ES/SD's in to the single digits with the collet die.

 

[6MM06AI]

Sorry birdiemc, that comment of mine was not directed at you. I was poking fun at savage comment of his stick next to a dead horse and stirring. Just trying to show a sense of humor. So don't get your feelers hurt. I think it's great you want to make your own press! That will be alot of fun and a great way to learn to use your milling machine. If it was me I would base it off of Forster CO-AX but make the handle where it goes over the dies taller so you can use micrometer seating dies, that would be a good improvement. Good Luck and have fun!

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

I'm not sure which thread is being referenced where the same discussion is going on, if somebody could point me to which one I would love to read it. Like I said, I started this thread to specifically find out what features people like about the presses they have used, because i want to build my own as a project to get acquainted with my new milling machine. The discussion of these features has led to other questions and a broadening of the discussion, but I can assure you I'm not stirring any pot or trying to beat a dead horse. Lots of folks enjoy sharing their opinions, and I am hoping to benefit from that willingness with the end goal of taking what I learn and building a press that is better than the one I currently use even though I will likely "waste" so much time on it and spend close to enough money to just buy one.
If some of you folks can't wrap your head around that or can't comprehend why I would like to have a discussion about presses in a thread I started specifically for that purpose then you're welcome to not read it, or hit the ignore button on my name so you dont have to read my post, whatever floats your boat...I really could not care less. I'm here to learn from those who have gone before me, as I assumed was the case with all of us.

Sorry birdiemc, I figured you were heading into the thread "Are the best presses for minimal runout necessary" on page four of this reloading section. I went back and went thru it and you weren't posting on it so my bad. You should read it as it mirrors this thread in content and info. You later said you were looking for ideas for building a press so again sorry for misunderstanding. Take my apology or don't but either way I am on this forum to exchange ideas and experiences and hopefully learn something along the way.

Thanks Cape Cove and ThrdKllr for info. that was what I was wondering about. I got a lot happening but will have lee collett dies soon and new press tomorrow so will be a week of set-up and experimenting for sure. will post more when I have some hands on experience.

My experience so far has been a Rock Chucker press
Good primer disposal
Strong doesn't require to much effort to resize
Hasn't produced concentric ammo(I will shortly know if its press or dies or both)
Has Been put in charge of depriming for now

 

[birdiemc]

Sorry birdiemc, I figured you were heading into the thread "Are the best presses for minimal runout necessary" on page four of this reloading section. I went back and went thru it and you weren't posting on it so my bad. You should read it as it mirrors this thread in content and info. You later said you were looking for ideas for building a press so again sorry for misunderstanding. Take my apology or don't but either way I am on this forum to exchange ideas and experiences and hopefully learn something along the way.

Thanks Cape Cove and ThrdKllr for info. that was what I was wondering about. I got a lot happening but will have lee collett dies soon and new press tomorrow so will be a week of set-up and experimenting for sure. will post more when I have some hands on experience.

My experience so far has been a Rock Chucker press
Good primer disposal
Strong doesn't require to much effort to resize
Hasn't produced concentric ammo(I will shortly know if its press or dies or both)
Has Been put in charge of depriming for now

Interested to hear if it's the press or the dies once you get them in.

And I'll check out that other thread you mentioned to see if theres anything profound there...I figured that one would degrade to "mines the best" so I haven't even looked at it.

 

[birdiemc]

Sorry birdiemc, that comment of mine was not directed at you. I was poking fun at savage comment of his stick next to a dead horse and stirring. Just trying to show a sense of humor. So don't get your feelers hurt. I think it's great you want to make your own press! That will be alot of fun and a great way to learn to use your milling machine. If it was me I would base it off of Forster CO-AX but make the handle where it goes over the dies taller so you can use micrometer seating dies, that would be a good improvement. Good Luck and have fun!

I'm liking the coax, that's good feedback to modify the handle...so far that's 2 dings on the handle if I'm not mistaken. And I've always said "when did men start getting feelings?" (modified of course as to not break rule4) I'm the last to get bent out of shape, got pretty thick skin, just wanted to make sure my intentions for starting this thread are clear...wanting to Frankenstein my own press by ripping off the best features from what's existing currently.

 

[6MM06AI]

Make sure you post pictures when you get it done. Would love to see it

 

[Ckgworks]

You actually have got me thinking about this....... I was looking at my RCBS Ammomaster tonight, and realized it's design lends itself to what looks like might be a fairly easy machining project. I attached a picture I snagged from Google. I picture a thicker top for a side slide in die slot, and a modified ram top to incorporate the rectangle Co-Ax shell holder........You might be on to something here, creating the next "best" press.

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

That ammomaster pictured above looks like a base to build a hybrid press for sure. Hardest part will be floating the dies, my summit just appeared yesterday and they are putting more movement into the shellholder and dies. Weird being backwards the way it functions, will take getting used to.

 

[6MM06AI]

I recently ordered a Redding 280 AI competition seating die to try and improve my runout after bullet seating and the handle on my Forster CO-AX cleared it just fine, it works great!

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

OK here's the take on my new summit rcbs single stage press, set it up and first thing I noticed was primer residue is contained at the bottom of press and never gets near ram or any moving parts. This is the first good feature that is improved over the rock chucker I've used for decades. It can be mounted back from the bench edge flush to bench, I won't call that a big deal but I did take advantage of it, and like the option. Handle was too long, so of course I needed to get the shorter one available. Wife took one look and said why don't it come with the short one standard and the longer one optional? It would work with a really tall reloader or very low bench, but most will probably want the shorter one. The case doesn't move, the die comes down to it, this was different, but ram is huge and after a couple rounds it felt quite normal. The shellholder has both lateral and fore and aft movement built in, the ram has additional lateral movement as well. The same dies I've been using on the same brass are producing straighter more concentric loaded ammo. Not my imagination but real fact, I chose this press from the runout numbers in the large press comparison that's been online for a while now. Another neat feature is a grease fitting on the ram, I'm sure that will get overused by heavy luber's, but a shot of synthetic once a year or every 300-400 rounds sure won't hurt. The ram linkage is adjustable and I tightened one up a little out of the box, again don't look like something you would do a lot but nice to have the option.

Happy so far, and its got features the rock chucker did not have, the rock chucker now handles depriming chores and I will always keep it like an old friend. These improvements are things I appreciate in this single stage press. Cancelled the order on the Co Ax (turns out they never had it) I don't think I'll be needing it now. I'll post if it doesn't hold up, I load 3 to 4 hundred rounds a year with 5 different cartridges and load work, target shooting, and hunting. Rock chucker held up well (19 years) but the primer corrosion going down over the ram constantly has put some wobble in the ram at top stroke. Dave

 

[fiftybmg]

I like the slide bar priming system add-on for the Redding Boss.

I have an RCBS RCII only because it can take the Hornady female bushing.

I like the Lee Classic Cast because it takes bushings, and the primer disposal is at least functional.

If I could find a single stage to prime like the Redding Boss, take either the Hornady or Lee bushings, and handle primer disposal like the Redding Ultramag, I would buy it and sell all my other single stages.