press for sizing and decapping

[Winny94]

Been kicking around the idea of moving to an arbor press for seating - would really like to do Dev at the range. If I did that, I feel the co-ax would be Overkill for sizing and decapping, and the funds I could recoup from selling would cover the expenses of moving to an arbor setup.

Anyone else been through this and care to offer some advice? Any recs for a "good enough" sizing press?

 

[Steel head]

Lee Classic.

cheap
Bomb proof
Easy swapping die collets.

 

[Dobbs02si]

Lee Classic.

cheap
Bomb proof
Easy swapping die collets.

I second that. Get the BMG version for a few more dollars if you have one to load for.

Edit: Actually the BMG version is by far better for the decapping simply for the primer shoot, which is straight through the ram. The classic cast needs a priming arm to work properly, even then it's about 90% right.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I use a breech lock challenget lee for all my sizing and seating so it's my vote. Get the breech lock version, makes changing dies easier. I have a separate decapper, then FL size, and mandrel it with 3 separate dies, they all stay set up in the bushing locks. Put em in, verify everything is still set right, and roll on.

The classic has a breech lock and a regular die option.

Also, if you get a lee, get the roller upgrade from inline. It's much nicer than the wood knob

 

[Milo 2.5]

Been kicking around the idea of moving to an arbor press for seating - would really like to do Dev at the range. If I did that, I feel the co-ax would be Overkill for sizing and decapping, and the funds I could recoup from selling would cover the expenses of moving to an arbor setup.

Anyone else been through this and care to offer some advice? Any recs for a "good enough" sizing press?

In my opinion here, sounds like you own a coax, and are sizing on it at the moment, seating also, but want to sell to purchase a cheaper sizing press and a better seating arrangement? Now will you take 2 presses to the range? I haul a press too for finding seat depth myself. This setup flat works, I did some mods to it, solid as a rock, maybe 25lbs total weight.

The coax is one of the top presses for controlling concentricity. So hypothetically you buy a press that may impart runout, and try to correct that with an arbor press. I think you are spinning here.
I am not getting into the virtues of an arbor press and inline seaters. I went that route for a half a day and it cost me close to 200 for seating 60 bullets, 30 in 2 different cases, there was going to be no benefit to me.
I am not accusing here, but people like to complicate things with gadgets that may or not have benefits, as noted, I am one myself.

 

[Winny94]

In my opinion here, sounds like you own a coax, and are sizing on it at the moment, seating also, but want to sell to purchase a cheaper sizing press and a better seating arrangement? Now will you take 2 presses to the range? I haul a press too for finding seat depth myself. This setup flat works, I did some mods to it, solid as a rock, maybe 25lbs total weight.
View attachment 7234263

The coax is one of the top presses for controlling concentricity. So hypothetically you buy a press that may impart runout, and try to correct that with an arbor press. I think you are spinning here.
I am not getting into the virtues of an arbor press and inline seaters. I went that route for a half a day and it cost me close to 200 for seating 60 bullets, 30 in 2 different cases, there was going to be no benefit to me.
I am not accusing here, but people like to complicate things with gadgets that may or not have benefits, as noted, I am one myself.

No, I wouldnnt take 2 presses, just a seater. Not sure why you didn't stick with the arbor, but I'm looking for more flexibility and range time maximization. my coax setup will sell for ~$400, and I can get a sizing press like a Lee and an arbor press for ~$170. Dies are about a wash so I would come out about $200 ahead with more flexibility and on par quality in my reloading setup.

 

[Foul Mike]

Not to derail this, but, has anyone seen RCBS Master load kits with everything you need, up date later, going out at Walmaart? for a good rate?
If you buy it cheap and get a good press, what more could a young shooter ask for?

 

[phlegethon]

In my opinion here, sounds like you own a coax, and are sizing on it at the moment, seating also, but want to sell to purchase a cheaper sizing press and a better seating arrangement? Now will you take 2 presses to the range? I haul a press too for finding seat depth myself. This setup flat works, I did some mods to it, solid as a rock, maybe 25lbs total weight.
View attachment 7234263

The coax is one of the top presses for controlling concentricity. So hypothetically you buy a press that may impart runout, and try to correct that with an arbor press. I think you are spinning here.
I am not getting into the virtues of an arbor press and inline seaters. I went that route for a half a day and it cost me close to 200 for seating 60 bullets, 30 in 2 different cases, there was going to be no benefit to me.
I am not accusing here, but people like to complicate things with gadgets that may or not have benefits, as noted, I am one myself.

What is that thing?

 

[Milo 2.5]

No, I wouldnnt take 2 presses, just a seater. Not sure why you didn't stick with the arbor, but I'm looking for more flexibility and range time maximization. my coax setup will sell for ~$400, and I can get a sizing press like a Lee and an arbor press for ~$170. Dies are about a wash so I would come out about $200 ahead with more flexibility and on par quality in my reloading setup.

Good luck with your sale, I just bought a new 3rd coax for 350 to my door, if you cant 400 for used, go for it.
The arbor press did nothing that I did already had or knew. I have excellent feel with a coax. Only you can decide if the swap was beneficial.
I'll tell you point blank, you will not accomplish anymore with your wet dream than I can with my setups.

 

[Steel head]

What is that thing?

A rocket launch pad?

 

[Milo 2.5]

What is that thing?

It is portable reloading station, I modified mine so I do not have to add weight to stabilize it. I am not sure they are sold anymore. I'll try find a stand alone pic.

 

[phlegethon]

It is portable reloading station, I modified mine so I do not have to add weight to stabilize it. I am not sure they are sold anymore. I'll try find a stand alone pic.

Yeah, if it’s still made I’d love to find out where.

edit: I realize I could just bring a C clamp like a normal person...

 

[Milo 2.5]

What is that thing?

Version of it, rather handy, I loan it out a lot

 

[Milo 2.5]

What is that thing?

Thec4m3ron portable reloading bench, < name, my searches come up empty, bought it off old laptop, a friend picked one up on ebay. I just cannot help finding one, this was one pc of gadgetry I endorse, lol

 

[Winny94]

I'll tell you point blank, you will not accomplish anymore with your wet dream than I can with my setups.

Well, I will be able to cut out 1-3 range sessions per load development, save space on my already crowded bench, and net about $200, so if that's all I accomplish, then goals met. Hell, if all I do is net $200, goal met.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I predict in the end you lose $200, not gain.

 

[Winny94]

I predict in the end you lose $200, not gain.

I've already priced it out. I'll net between $150-$250. The only variable is if the buyer of the coax wants the inline stand and handle.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I've already priced it out. I'll net between $150-$250. The only variable is if the buyer of the coax wants the inline stand and handle.

A few points:

-I paid $300 for my CoAx brand new. If you can get $400 for a used one that's great but they come up for sale at Brownells all the time.

-When you realize what piece of junk the Lee press is and decide to swap back to a Forster CoAx you'll eat the price of Lee, the arbor press, and the price difference between what you actually get for your used CoAx and the new CoAx.

-Arbor presses aren't all that, they only add another step to your reloading process as well as additional equipment. You'll learn the hard way that you could have gotten the same results by adjusting the CoAx. I get about .001" runout and about .001" length variation on almost everything I load on the CoAx.

 

[Winny94]

A few points:

-I paid $300 for my CoAx brand new. If you can get $400 for a used one that's great but they come up for sale at Brownells all the time.

-When you realize what piece of junk the Lee press is and decide to swap back to a Forster CoAx you'll eat the price of Lee, the arbor press, and the price difference between what you actually get for your used CoAx and the new CoAx.

-Arbor presses aren't all that, they only add another step to your reloading process as well as additional equipment. You'll learn the hard way that you could have gotten the same results by adjusting the CoAx. I get about .001" runout and about .001" length variation on almost everything I load on the CoAx.

Thanks for blessing the thread with your superior knowledge, have a great night.

 

[Nimothy]

In my opinion here, sounds like you own a coax, and are sizing on it at the moment, seating also, but want to sell to purchase a cheaper sizing press and a better seating arrangement? Now will you take 2 presses to the range? I haul a press too for finding seat depth myself. This setup flat works, I did some mods to it, solid as a rock, maybe 25lbs total weight.
View attachment 7234263

The coax is one of the top presses for controlling concentricity. So hypothetically you buy a press that may impart runout, and try to correct that with an arbor press. I think you are spinning here.
I am not getting into the virtues of an arbor press and inline seaters. I went that route for a half a day and it cost me close to 200 for seating 60 bullets, 30 in 2 different cases, there was going to be no benefit to me.
I am not accusing here, but people like to complicate things with gadgets that may or not have benefits, as noted, I am one myself.

I whole heartedly agree about the concentricity. Don’t go from a caddie to a Kia on your sizing press. It’s equally if not more important than your seating one. I had a arbor for a couple weeks, now I seat with forester bench rest or redding comp dies on my lnl ap (the shell plate free floats, kinda) hardly ever a full thousandth of run out. Could it be better with a set of custom reamed Wilson’s..... probably, but would they shoot better? maybe, could I shoot them better? No!! And think of all that time it would take. If you want to load at the range. Seat em long at home then buy a lee hand press and shrink em up with a nice redding/forester/whidden seater die. I bet you’ll get the same down range performance and you’ll only spend 60$ish.

 

[Winny94]

Don’t go from a caddie to a Kia on your sizing press. It’s equally if not more important than your seating one.

Do you have any data to back this up?

 

[Steel head]

Do you have any data to back this up?

Looking forward to the answer.

 

[Nimothy]

It’s about leverage. Your coax makes sizing a breeze compared to an o frame design. I’m pretty sure the forester is a hard stop and not a cam over too. The caddie to Kia comparison is in term of horsepower. Way more leverage=less effort=quicker operation

Do you have any data to back this up?

 

[Winny94]

It’s about leverage. Your coax makes sizing a breeze compared to an o frame design. I’m pretty sure the forester is a hard stop and not a cam over too. The caddie to Kia comparison is in term of horsepower. Way more leverage=less effort=quicker operation

Yea no doubt there.
Was curious if you have ran any comparisons measuring runout when sizing on a Rockchucker, for example, vs the coax - all else being equal from that point on.

If anyone has the means, time, and desire, that would be a very interesting test.

 

[Nimothy]

There is a article on that somewhere. But I in heart of hearts (lol) believe that run out is mostly a die issue

 

[Winny94]

There is a article on that somewhere. But I in heart of hearts (lol) believe that run out is mostly a die issue

Im getting all my questions and info from a handful of very accomplished shooters, and this is the only common advice ive gotten from all of them

 

[Nimothy]

Im getting all my questions and info from a handful of very accomplished shooters, and this is the only common advice ive gotten from all of them

To use good dies? I used to think they were created equal, boy I was wrong. I will say once your get into redding comps/forester benchrest/whidden.... I cant tell the difference in those three. I will say I much prefer the redding micrometer but the forester is close behind. Whidden is very well made and makes great ammo but it’s just not my preference

 

[Winny94]

To use good dies? I used to think they were created equal, boy I was wrong. I will say once your get into redding comps/forester benchrest/whidden.... I cant tell the difference in those three. I will say I much prefer the redding micrometer but the forester is close behind. Whidden is very well made and makes great ammo but it’s just not my preference

Yea, use the best does you can afford - ideally matching reamer cut (but who can afford $300-$600 does haha).
I've had no issue not preference b/w Forster, whidden, or redding

 

[ram]

Yea no doubt there.
Was curious if you have ran any comparisons measuring runout when sizing on a Rockchucker, for example, vs the coax - all else being equal from that point on.

If anyone has the means, time, and desire, that would be a very interesting test.

I have a RCBS Rockchucker and a Forster Co-Ax, and the several times I've checked it with the same die, on average the runout was actually slightly better with the RCBS.