Is it time for a new press?

[ScreaminEagle]

While loading some 223 rounds up the other day, I noticed that my press has a lot of slop to it. i say "a lot" because I'm pretty anal about my reloading. If I press down till it stops I get one reading, then if I press harder on the handle, I can seat the bullet 4-5 thousands deeper. The press is an old RCBS press. I believe that it may have been my great-grandfather's. For sure it was my grandfather's then my dad's. Is there anything I can do about this?

I have been looking at some new presses. I'd like to get one that has some sort of primer catcher, as I hate cleaning up a thousand spent primers from the floor. What press would you suggest?

 

[DrMike]

I've had a Rock Chucker and a Partner from RCBS; either worked very well, though I sold each of them. I now have a Redding T7 and a Forster Co-Ax. If Forster makes dies, the Co-Ax is my hands-down favourite. Otherwise, the T7 performs yeoman service for me. They work very well.

 

[Wincheringen]

Send it to RCBS and they will refurbish it. Probably for free too.

 

[300WSM]

I don't doubt your reloading experience, but where are you measuring this?

Furthermore where is the die set you are using touching the bullet when seating?

 

[BK]

I love the primer catcher system on my T7!

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I don't doubt your reloading experience, but where are you measuring this?

Furthermore where is the die set you are using touching the bullet when seating?

I measure it with a Hornady OAL tool. Base of case to ogive.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Send it to RCBS and they will refurbish it. Probably for free too.

I never knew that they would do that!

 

[tecumseh]

I have a Redding big boss II press.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I've had a Rock Chucker and a Partner from RCBS; either worked very well, though I sold each of them. I now have a Redding T7 and a Forster Co-Ax. If Forster makes dies, the Co-Ax is my hands-down favourite. Otherwise, the T7 performs yeoman service for me. They work very well.

I've really been looking at the co-ax!

 

[FOTIS]

Forster cO-AX!

 

[Reconnoiter]

While loading some 223 rounds up the other day, I noticed that my press has a lot of slop to it. i say "a lot" because I'm pretty anal about my reloading. If I press down till it stops I get one reading, then if I press harder on the handle, I can seat the bullet 4-5 thousands deeper. The press is an old RCBS press. I believe that it may have been my great-grandfather's. For sure it was my grandfather's then my dad's. Is there anything I can do about this?

I have been looking at some new presses. I'd like to get one that has some sort of primer catcher, as I hate cleaning up a thousand spent primers from the floor. What press would you suggest?

Rest assured that your press is in order.

 

[DrMike]

SE, I don't believe you would be displeased with the Co-Ax. I certainly enjoy mine.

 

[FOTIS]

I have a Redding big boss II press.

Another champion press here!

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Forster cO-AX!

For you co-ax guys, do you have to buy their lock rings for your dies or do the existing ones work ok?

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Forster cO-AX!

For you co-ax guys, do you have to buy their lock rings for your dies or do the existing ones work ok?

Also do you need to buy other shellholders or do the ones provided work for them all?

 

[DrMike]

You don't require a shell holder with the Co-Ax. i don't use anything but Forster dies on my Co-Ax press, and they come with the lock rings. Truthfully, I haven't used other rings on the press. I'll have to check that this evening. I do buy the Forster lock rings in lots of ten, however, for all my dies.

 

[SJB358]

You don't require a shell holder with the Co-Ax. i don't use anything but Forster dies on my Co-Ax press, and they come with the lock rings. Truthfully, I haven't used other rings on the press. I'll have to check that this evening. I do buy the Forster lock rings in lots of ten, however, for all my dies.

I actually buy the Hornady Lock rings for my other die sets. They work really well with the COAX and are solid steel with allen screw fasteners. I only need to use them with RCBS and Lee die sets, as Reddings rings work great in the Coax.

Get the COAX SE, I think you'll like it.

 

[Oldtrader3]

If you set your die and shellholder stackup is setup to give you a repeatable shoulder datum setback on each stroke within .001 inches repeatably at the high point of press cam over, it should yield consistant and repeatable case headspace for every cycle? Unless the press is squishing roll pins, this should not change.

It is hard to analyse reloading tolerance issues from afar but it may be that you have not set die position to always yield one consistant length of headspace dimension? I do not know what press you have but assume that it is a Reloader Special or similar?

If you want a new Co-ax or progressive, by all means, go for it.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

You don't require a shell holder with the Co-Ax. i don't use anything but Forster dies on my Co-Ax press, and they come with the lock rings. Truthfully, I haven't used other rings on the press. I'll have to check that this evening. I do buy the Forster lock rings in lots of ten, however, for all my dies.

I actually buy the Hornady Lock rings for my other die sets. They work really well with the COAX and are solid steel with allen screw fasteners. I only need to use them with RCBS and Lee die sets, as Reddings rings work great in the Coax.

Get the COAX SE, I think you'll like it.

I've been watching vids on youtube of guys using the co-ax. When they put the brass in the shellholder, it looks like it's just flopping around. What's the deal? I've read that this allows the brass to self center in the die. It just looks bad to me I guess.

 

[DrMike]

It sure turns out some accurate brass, though. The concept is that the setup allows for self-centering.