How big of a press?

[P.K.]

Looking at Arbor presses over on Flea-bay. Would a 1 ton be too much or would a 1/2 ton do the trick for .223, .277 and .308 GC's?:?:

[JeffinNZ]

I have a 1/2 ton that works just fine. 1 ton would be a bit better.

[Dan Cash]

1/2 Ton will do the work but there is more room under a 1 Ton. You will find all kinds of things to do with the press. Get the big one.

[P.K.]

Thanks guy's, the 1 tonner it is.;-)

[arjacobson]

I bought a 1/2 ton and a 1 ton from harbor freight.... They were the exact same press!!! 1/2 ton works just fine and you will save a few bucks.

[fcvan]

The press I use for making my gas checks is nowhere near a ton or half ton or quarter ton, but it gets the job done. Does it nicely I might add :)

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[P.K.]

Wow, bet that Natty Ice sure does a number too.;-)

[fcvan]

LOL at the Natural Ice comment. I haven't bought beer or soda since last summer. My daughter and son in law send me all of their aluminum cans so that I can 'up-cycle' them into purty little disks. I like mountain dew cans because I can make green zombie boolit gas checks.

[Fishman]

The press I use for making my gas checks is nowhere near a ton or half ton or quarter ton, but it gets the job done. Does it nicely I might add :)

65062

Don't you know that cheapy Lee reloader press will explode if you use it for anything more than seating a boolit?! LOL :)

[arjacobson]

You can also use a 3 ton bench punch press...Mine works excellent!!!

[fcvan]

Before I got the CheckMaker dies, I only used the little press for de priming brass. It works rather well for making checks but I did have to reverse the ram as the slot/primer chute is normally facing the rear. Pulling the little 'C' clip is easy enough. Admittedly, a larger press would be better, not because it needs to be stronger, but because the throw of the ram would be longer and give a little more room. So far, the little guy is working out just fine.

[Forrest r]

No press for this 1, just a rubber mallet to make the pb checks. The work with either a Lyman sizer or a Lee push thru sizer.

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[Fishman]

I wish I'd thought of reversing the ram on mine. I sold my .45 plainbase checkmaker because I didn't have a press to use it on. Or so I thought. :(


Before I got the CheckMaker dies, I only used the little press for de priming brass. It works rather well for making checks but I did have to reverse the ram as the slot/primer chute is normally facing the rear. Pulling the little 'C' clip is easy enough. Admittedly, a larger press would be better, not because it needs to be stronger, but because the throw of the ram would be longer and give a little more room. So far, the little guy is working out just fine.

[dragon813gt]

Get the 1 ton from Harbor Freight. You will find other uses for it. It's not overkill and I wouldn't want to use a Freechex III on anything smaller. Not that it couldn't be done. It runs smoothly with minimal effort on the one ton.

[P.K.]

Get the 1 ton from Harbor Freight. You will find other uses for it. It's not overkill and I wouldn't want to use a Freechex III on anything smaller. Not that it couldn't be done. It runs smoothly with minimal effort on the one ton.

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen! I'm going with the 1 tonner, and a handy little work bench I was needing for another "station" in the garage. Gotta love Harbor Frieght. ;-)

[shadowcaster]

It was the 1 tonner for me, Operation is smooth and there's lots of clearance. I have also found that it works well for punching out shotgun wads.

Shad

[fcvan]

Fishman, if you need some 45 plain based checks, I can hook you up. Sending you a PM

[P.K.]

Both are in stock at my local store, $27.99 for the work bench and $49.00 for the press.

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