I have a gunshot arm and am somewhat sensitive to the mount of force needed to resize precision rifle brass. I am looking for advice on presses that meet this criteria.
I have a gunshot arm and am somewhat sensitive to the mount of force needed to resize precision rifle brass. I am looking for advice on presses that meet this criteria.
Any large single stage press will work, the trick is to extend the handle (create more leverage) to limit the force you need to exert.
There may be some compound action press out there that I don't know about that would be good too.
The RCBS Rockchucker will resize rifle brass about as easy as anything out there. C-H, Lee, Lyman, Hornady, RCBS and Redding all make an "O" frame press with compound linkage. Some of the "C" frame presses don't have the mechanical advantage of compound linkage. It would be pretty easy to make a longer handle if you needed it.
Most any modern press uses compound linkage. Or, use your other arm.
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If you can find a Corbin "S" press (Dave Corbin) that has the loading conversion piece with it, it creates considerably more force then my RC's. I have never used it for reloading but have used my RC's for Swaging. I find the dedicated swage press exerts a lot more pressure with less effort.
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I have an RS3 and my Co-ax is easier to size with.
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This is what you want for easiest sizing: https://www.ch4d.com/products/equipment/presses/RC000
But now back to reality. Any of the current single stage presses have compound linkage. I prefer the Lee Classic Cast. I have a bunch of the others. The handle on the Lee is adjustable so you can set it where it works best for you.
Take a hard look at the Redding UltraMag press, the compound linkage
gives more mechanical advantage.
Ideally would be to try one before purchasing it. Some Gun shops will allow this even. Another way is to use one of the bullet swaging presses as they have much more advantage power wise do to the intended uses. a longer handle may help with leverage but your also moving more thru a bigger arc. Another way might be to "pre size" with the seating die then finish size with the sizing die. I have a rcbs summit and for case forming its wanting in power. my Bonanza Co Ax is good power wise with the standard handle but the over head linkage limits what tools can be used also. ( this is the same with the summit) Lyman orange crusher is okay for power and tool use. I did extend the handle 8"-10" on mine also for heavy case forming work. RCBS rock chuckers have been a standard for many years for power and ease of use. Right now mine is set up for bullet sizing and mounted horizontally. The RC was originally desighned as a bullet swage press also. Some of the heavier lee presses may be okay also, but lee uses a different handle mount that's harder to make a new handle for if you want to extend it.
My extended handles are made from mechanical 4140 tubing with inserts for threads and a plug for the end This helps to reduce the weight of the longer handle when using.
I can't think of a reloading press out there that doesn't use compound leverage to amplify applied force.
I think some of the "C" frame presses don't, but I could be mistaken. I started loading on a Herters "C" frame press that did not have it. We kept our lead inventory on the back of the table and would still shake the table when sizing normal 30-06 cases. The Rockchucker was a big step up in the world.
You guys are right about some of the bullet swaging presses having a tremendous amount of leverage!
I don't know how old this Hollywood is but that's a compound linkage.
Even the cheap Lee C press uses compound linkage.
Any of the bigger compound leverage presses will work ok with the right technique. If you have a press that will FL resize a .50 BMG case it should be easy to size most hunting and target rifle brass.
When I get cases that require more than a comfortable amount of effort I can use both arms on the handle.
My stool is the right height so that I can just lean on both arms with my upper body weight to push the handle down. I am taller than most people and I have a 36" sitting height so my upper body is plenty large enough to push the handle down.
You can also get an ambidextrous press that permits the use of the handle on either side depending on using your left or right arm.
The very large RCBS Big Max can be set up with a horse shoe handle arrangement that would permit easy use of both arms.
EDG
Here's another vote for the Redding Ultramag. 300 Win Mag, 7mm RM, re-forming 30-06 to 25-06, 45-70 and a bunch of small stuff. Ultramag doesn't break a sweat.
I've owned a Rockchucker and a Co-Ax. Still own the Lee Classic Cast. None compare to the Ultramag.
,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 Pat Lengyel (my wife) in a discussion about Liberals.
Dude,
No smoke, no bias that will not stand, you need to look at the RCBS Ammo Master II.
This thing is physically twice as big as most any other press, meaning the arm and linkages are longer, meaning more leverage. It's big enough that it's designed to do 50 BMG single stroke. I can do any case conversion I want simply by leaning on the press arm.
It's fairly expensive, but it's worth it's weight,,,,,
More "This is what happened when I,,,,," and less "What would happen if I,,,,"
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My experience also with the Rockchucker. My Ultramag has sat on a custom pedestal since day one. Even then the handles long throw caused some bending when operating it. Dan at Inline Fabrication set me up with a custom Ergo Lever and eliminated that added strain completely. He now has that style lever as a stock item, it's worth a look.
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Have any photos of them?
I found some RCBS JR2 photos but I guess they already went to compound linkage.
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BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
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