Executive Summary: From the time the box arrived at my gate on Saturday, to the time I was getting an accurate seating force plot on my computer, was less than an hour. Since then, I've loaded almost 100 cartridges with a very short learning curve, and gotten data about my bullet seating that would be impossible to derive with any other tool. If you've got $1,300+ of cash hanging around and you want to materially improve your visibility into the interface between bullet and case, then you should buy one of these gadgets. If you don't have the cash to buy one, sell something else you don't need, and get one anyway.
Buying Experience: I contacted AMP via EMail and told them I wanted one even though everybody complains it's never in stock. They told me to go to the web site, register, put one in my cart, and get into the queue. Shockingly, it showed me in Queue Position #2, and a week later, I got the message that it was available for purchase. Went to the cart, paid, got a confirmation, and it was shipped the next day. It surprised the crap out of me how quickly I got one.
Initial Setup: Watch the Assembly and Setup video ... just turn it on and follow each step, pausing along the way. The Amp Press assembled exactly as described, quickly and easily. Loading the software either from the Web Download Site (how I did it), or from the supplied USB Stick, is easy and straightforward. When you start the application on your computer, it asks for the "Key" ... a long string of numbers in a text file on the USB Stick. Just cut and paste, and the software activates right away. The version selling now works via the USB cable, or by Bluetooth. I did my initial setup via USB, and when everything had been working well, I unplugged and tried Bluetooth. Long story short, I could only get Bluetooth to work with a clean software start, and initial power-up of AMP Press. Sequencing for this matters ... Software first, then Press Power, then select "Bluetooth Connect" from the Commands Menu. No need to add it to your computer as a new Bluetooth device, it just "finds it" without fuss as long as your computer is running a Bluetooth driver. As a last step, tighten EVERY screw, as I found a couple of the factory-tightened screws that were just a little loose.
Getting Acquainted: Follow the steps in the video to load a few dummy rounds, and you'll quickly get the hang of it. Also, use the included test die to watch and test the accuracy and repeatability. The force line plots should be linear and right on top of each other. If they're not, you did something wrong. That's it ... now I'm loading, seating, and learning things about my seating force that I never knew, and that will certainly help me improve my consistency and accuracy.
Pro's
I hope someone finds this helpful.
Buying Experience: I contacted AMP via EMail and told them I wanted one even though everybody complains it's never in stock. They told me to go to the web site, register, put one in my cart, and get into the queue. Shockingly, it showed me in Queue Position #2, and a week later, I got the message that it was available for purchase. Went to the cart, paid, got a confirmation, and it was shipped the next day. It surprised the crap out of me how quickly I got one.
Initial Setup: Watch the Assembly and Setup video ... just turn it on and follow each step, pausing along the way. The Amp Press assembled exactly as described, quickly and easily. Loading the software either from the Web Download Site (how I did it), or from the supplied USB Stick, is easy and straightforward. When you start the application on your computer, it asks for the "Key" ... a long string of numbers in a text file on the USB Stick. Just cut and paste, and the software activates right away. The version selling now works via the USB cable, or by Bluetooth. I did my initial setup via USB, and when everything had been working well, I unplugged and tried Bluetooth. Long story short, I could only get Bluetooth to work with a clean software start, and initial power-up of AMP Press. Sequencing for this matters ... Software first, then Press Power, then select "Bluetooth Connect" from the Commands Menu. No need to add it to your computer as a new Bluetooth device, it just "finds it" without fuss as long as your computer is running a Bluetooth driver. As a last step, tighten EVERY screw, as I found a couple of the factory-tightened screws that were just a little loose.
Getting Acquainted: Follow the steps in the video to load a few dummy rounds, and you'll quickly get the hang of it. Also, use the included test die to watch and test the accuracy and repeatability. The force line plots should be linear and right on top of each other. If they're not, you did something wrong. That's it ... now I'm loading, seating, and learning things about my seating force that I never knew, and that will certainly help me improve my consistency and accuracy.
Pro's
- Assembled just like the video, easy and low-stress
- Software loaded flawlessly and connected to the Press right away
- Very "sturdy" - machined for strength and tightness
- Delivered accurate data on the very first bullet seating
- Software is simple and easy to figure out even without the instructions (which are pretty good)
- Yup ... it's expensive ... get over it
- Gotta buy one of the Inline Dies that works with this ... I like the LE Wilson Inline Seating Dies
- Bluetooth setup was challenging and the documentation has nothing about it
- Data doesn't allow for export to a spreadsheet ... this is a big "miss" that needs to get fixed in future updates
- Something as simple as getting an "average" force for a session isn't possible without manual entry
I hope someone finds this helpful.
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