Reloading Press Ram Movement

[possom813]

Is .020 too much movement at full extension of the press ram?

[I'll Make Mine]

Shouldn't be a big deal; some movement is necessary to allow the case to align with the die.

[1hole]

Is .020 too much....

No.

[r1kk1]

What press is this?

Curious

r1kk1

[possom813]

RCBS JR2, probably 30 years old or better.

[onegunred]

My RCBS Jr 2 wobbles like an old drunk on a slick floor, but it is true for alignment

[Mike Kerr]

No.
That should not be a problem.

regards,

[Sonnypie]

Are you sure it's the scale and not the operator?

[possom813]

Are you sure it's the scale and not the operator?

Nope not sure it's the operator or not on the scale...but we're talking about a press

[geargnasher]

A runout check of the ammo will tell you if any of your equipment (particularly dies) is suspect. Beyond that, a little "slop" helps things self-align under pressure.

Gear

[Sonnypie]

I see now...
You are measuring the ram with a press.
You need to apply some whiskey.
Then call me in the morning.

.020" isn't a lot. How much slop is there in the shell holder? (It's a lot more)
The ram will usually wind up at the same point with each travel. And it has to have some play so it doesn't bind up.
You are probably just fine.
But if you are worried, you could get a Forester and mount it next to the press you are wondering about. Then have a choice.
I did that with the ancient Herter's Model 3 Dad and I learned on. So I have old and sloppy but reliable, and new and talked up Forester.
The Herter's Model 3 has ram slop, and shell holder slop. And the die sits tight.
The Forester has no ram slop, and no shell holder slop. But the die can slop around.
Either way, things can get a little wiggle and the forces that be can make the components come together nice and straight and the sun's gonna shine tomorrow while the birds sing and the gun goes BOOM!
And every thing gets quiet.
And the birds fly away saying get the hell out of here, Maude!
And the squirrels and the badgers dig out their collapsed tunnels.
And you ponder, was it the ram and that .020" slop?
Or was it the operator?
And the X in the bulls eye sits out there at 100 yards and chuckles softly.
"Ya missed me..."

I refer you back to line 8 of this post...
You are probably just fine.

That is.. if you can get me to let go of your leg now...


Some times you feel like a nut, some times you don't....
Doo doo do dooo....

[W.R.Buchanan]

Sonny: you have obviously already applied the whiskey. I have never seen you so poetic.

Randy

[seagiant]

Hi,
Maybe he's just content!

[mac60]

I see now...
You are measuring the ram with a press.
You need to apply some whiskey.
Then call me in the morning.

.020" isn't a lot. How much slop is there in the shell holder? (It's a lot more)
The ram will usually wind up at the same point with each travel. And it has to have some play so it doesn't bind up.
You are probably just fine.
But if you are worried, you could get a Forester and mount it next to the press you are wondering about. Then have a choice.
I did that with the ancient Herter's Model 3 Dad and I learned on. So I have old and sloppy but reliable, and new and talked up Forester.
The Herter's Model 3 has ram slop, and shell holder slop. And the die sits tight.
The Forester has no ram slop, and no shell holder slop. But the die can slop around.
Either way, things can get a little wiggle and the forces that be can make the components come together nice and straight and the sun's gonna shine tomorrow while the birds sing and the gun goes BOOM!
And every thing gets quiet.
And the birds fly away saying get the hell out of here, Maude!
And the squirrels and the badgers dig out their collapsed tunnels.
And you ponder, was it the ram and that .020" slop?
Or was it the operator?
And the X in the bulls eye sits out there at 100 yards and chuckles softly.
"Ya missed me..."

I refer you back to line 8 of this post...
You are probably just fine.

That is.. if you can get me to let go of your leg now...


Some times you feel like a nut, some times you don't....
Doo doo do dooo....

If something ever deserved to be made a sticky - that's it!

[41 mag fan]

Hi,
Maybe he's just content!

Can you blame him??? I'd be content too!!! And purring!!!

[o6Patient]

I wouldn't worry about 20 thou especially if you think the center lines are true, which they usually are.
An "O" press is pretty safe in this respect and won't have the deflection under load as a "C" press might.

[1hole]

"An "O" press is pretty safe in this respect and won't have the deflection under load as a "C" press might."

Not that is matters since, other than one, they are no longer made but C presses deflect much less than some think and O presses deflect more than most think. That "one" C is Lee's very small alum frame "Reloader" presses and they actually deflect MUCH less under load than my Rock Chucker when FL sizing .30-06; one of the valuable properties of cast iron is it's limited ability to flex under load without breaking.

[o6Patient]

"An "O" press is pretty safe in this respect and won't have the deflection under load as a "C" press might."

Not that is matters since, other than one, they are no longer made but C presses deflect much less than some think and O presses deflect more than most think. That "one" C is Lee's very small alum frame "Reloader" presses and they actually deflect MUCH less under load than my Rock Chucker when FL sizing .30-06; one of the valuable properties of cast iron is it's limited ability to flex under load without breaking.

Forgive my stupidity but there's something I'm missing. My RC is cast iron and with both ends tied down, hence the "O".
I'm not sure how it flexes between the ram opening and die on the vertical axis? I have a very fine CH "C" press and I
agree they are most stout enough to preform what is needed of them. I also have a co-ax which is a C of sorts.
I admittedly do not have a lee Al framed "C" press nor have I used one.
What you have stated is a bit counter intuitive to me but if in fact correct(which I don't doubt
you are) I thank you for clarifying this. ...and I thought "paradigms" was just 4/5 of 2 bits.