Poor ol Ponsness-Warren 800B

[Sled]

Well this is a sad sight. This Goliath of a press saw plenty of action in its day. Anybody still using one of these?


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[toallmy]

Yay Project !!!!!!

[bbogue1]

I realize the name or brand is a Warren-Pondsness 800B, but, What is it? It looks like an early turret for shotguns.

[Sled]

Not my project. I prefer reloading and shooting. I don’t know if I could ever find a buyer for this at even $50. They would have to be an artist. It will make a nice discussion item in the right shop. And to bbogue1, yes it had seen a shotgun shell or two.

[Iron Whittler]

Yep, it was and still is one of the best progressive shot shell on the market. I have one of these and can say it will get 'er done. Sadly, I don't load shot shells any more. With the mandate to use steel shot for almost all hunting apps., and the high cost of lead shot, I quit bird hunting. My vintage shot guns are not designed for steel and their barrels would be destroyed in short order. :Fire:

[dverna]

I had the C model. I now have the 800+.

Parts are still available for it so it can be restored as well as upgraded with removable dies.

In working condition they sell for $300-350.

[Sled]

Good to know. I’m still on 30 day hold before I can post it in the selling threads. Might find an interested adventurer/artist.

[dverna]

Sled,

My perceptions is that there are not many serious shotgunners on this site. This will not appeal to slug, buckshot, or casual reloaders. Shotgun World (I think is the name) or Trapshooters.com are better venues for something like this. Ebay as well; as many are sold there but the fees may be negative.

As you now know, these things weight about 50 lbs so shipping is expensive. Post accordingly.

[Sled]

Thanks for the tips dverna. I’ll probably hold on to it and make a lamp out of it.

[rmcc]

Still using an 800B, early 70's vintage by serial #, over 1,000,000 loaded on this one by me and I am the 2nd owner!! Went back to P/W in 2015 for a rebuild. Other than that and normal wear items, have not done a thing to it. Greatest shotshell loader ever made!!

[MOA]

Ponsness Warren.........Just got to love these old work horses, the finest shotshell reloading machine on the market.

Saw this older thread, I love reloading, both rifle, handgun or shotshells.
These units are hard to find sometimes without paying through the nose for, and for good reason, they are IMHO the best shotshell loaders out there today.
https://s19.postimg.cc/yx64hcf0j/Photo0376.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


Loads 00 Buck just great.
https://s19.postimg.cc/k80g43nyr/20180128_133439.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/eju5d7jm7/)


So easy to create specialty loads too.
https://s19.postimg.cc/pdwfnf1nn/Photo0374.jpg (https://postimages.org/)


And as far as I'm concerned, gives the best crimps of all the reloaders on the market today. These are some of the best assembled 16 gauge shells from any loader I have ever seen.
https://s19.postimg.cc/jcyqqax0z/Photo0373.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Hamish]

Nice pics MOA!

[MOA]

Thanks Hamish, I just love my Ponsness. I have four 600 Jr's running 10,12,16 and 20 ga shotshells. Had the opportunity a while back to get mine from an estate sale in Kansas when another member on the site mentioned it, was also able to get a Pacific DL-155 at the same time along with about 700 new still in box Federal paper pre-primed 16 ga shotshells. I love paper shotshells. Just ole fashioned like me I guess. The Ponsness came with two sets of dies on the head, a 12 and 16 ga setup, I will be ordering from Ponsness a new head with 10 and 20 ga dies, that way I can just swap heads and get those great crimps on all the current gauges I am loading at this time.

https://s19.postimg.cc/k5bz3ffgz/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_001.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/qvsgcv2mn/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/jskkx8phf/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_002.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/ki3d9lq0v/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/3tb4not43/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_003.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/tc3h0pcnz/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/wl8owx8qb/Photo1630.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/4xvzitnjj/)


The Pacific DL-155 currently set up for 16ga.
https://s19.postimg.cc/yzar1dd6b/20180301_121821.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[dbmjr1]

I'm using a Ponsness Warren Press, but not for shot shells.

I have a Meta Metallic that I use for .45ACP.

[MOA]

Yes, they make great presses for metallic reloading too. Many reloader don't know they exist, let alone being one of the premier reloader press manufacturers of shot shell and metallic reloading equipment.

[skeet028]

I was a P-W distributor/dealer for many years. Rebuilt many of those machines. Had an early 2 digit serial machine that we used for out pigeon loads for quite a while. I sold it in 1967 after loading over 100,000 shells on it. I actually took it back on trade in 1998. Missing most of the paint. Little cleaning few parts and it was ready to go again. The 800Bs are not easily changed to a convertible and are truly not worth an awful lot...Some parts are not available...but many old machines to cannibalize. I still have a few P-Ws but mostly use Spolar shotshell loaders these days. They make a P-W look kinda ancient and they really do load better.

[copdills]

they are a work of art, I found a p-w 600 the other day it has sat in a garage gor about 10 years or so ,it seems to be intact but dusty and dirty , it will need some TLC fellow wants $125 for it ,does that seem like a good price or not

[Rick459]

well i just picked up a 800B of of ebay should be here by next week. i will let all here know how it performs. i have a Mec grabber and a 650 that i can compare it too.
Rick

[TNsailorman]

Nothing wrong with the Grabber or 650, but you should find the P-W 800 both smoother and faster. You really can’t go wrong with either of them. The only thing I would change about the 650 would be to put a full length resizer on it. James

[copdills]

Thanks for the information , what would be a good price to pay for a 600

thanks

[richhodg66]

Thanks Hamish, I just love my Ponsness. I have four 600 Jr's running 10,12,16 and 20 ga shotshells. Had the opportunity a while back to get mine from an estate sale in Kansas when another member on the site mentioned it, was also able to get a Pacific DL-155 at the same time along with about 700 new still in box Federal paper pre-primed 16 ga shotshells. I love paper shotshells. Just ole fashioned like me I guess. The Ponsness came with two sets of dies on the head, a 12 and 16 ga setup, I will be ordering from Ponsness a new head with 10 and 20 ga dies, that way I can just swap heads and get those great crimps on all the current gauges I am loading at this time.

https://s19.postimg.cc/k5bz3ffgz/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_001.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/qvsgcv2mn/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/jskkx8phf/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_002.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/ki3d9lq0v/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/3tb4not43/new_images_Dec_23a_2017_003.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/tc3h0pcnz/)

https://s19.postimg.cc/wl8owx8qb/Photo1630.jpg (https://postimg.cc/image/4xvzitnjj/)


The Pacific DL-155 currently set up for 16ga.
https://s19.postimg.cc/yzar1dd6b/20180301_121821.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Did those paper hulls work well? Glad the Ponses is good to go, I'm afraid I didn't know enough about it to be dangerous.

[skeet028]

I used to be a P-W distributor and worked on those old presses. In fact the P-W press I bought in the mid 60s got me into the gun/reloading business. I was the goober in a pigeon shooting business during the 60s and did most of our reloading. I bought one of the early 800 presses from a gun shop in Willow Street Pa(Clair Frank for you guys from up there). 2 digit serial number. Loaded 30,000 shells on it in under a month and a fellow came into my loading room and had to have it. Sold it to him and got another. and it blossomed from there. As a side note I got that reloader back on a trade in 1998. No paint and needed a couple of small parts. Fixed it up and it loaded just like new. There are some parts not available for the older 800Bs but plenty of parts are out there if you look around. I must have 10 of the 800s in almost every gauge they made. Good machines but I use Spolar machines now.

[MOA]

Rich, just saw your post. Yes, the paper hulls are working perfect. The PW press was pretty much good to go. I did order a new o-ring to go under the powder dispensing area of the press to keep the powder leakage down, the old one was a little flat on one side. The Pacific Hornady press needed some new bolts on the handle, and all the powder and shot bushings for the PW also fit the PH, so that worked out great. I'm planning on ordering the 10 ga dies that come with a new head for the Ponsness, so I most likely will also have the 20 gauge dies put into the head too and that way I can cover all my current gauges I load for. Hope its getting cooler for you, and your bird season is a good one.

[Three44s]

I bought a PW 800b in 12 ga. a while back but have not gotten around to cleaning it up yet. Did some oiling looked it over some.

My preferred ga. is 20 and I found a PW 375 (single stage) for those and have used it some.

I also found a PW 375 set up for 3.5” in 10 & 12 ga.

I wish my 800b was a 20ga or maybe I will stumble into one some day. Either way I am ok since I also have a Mec Jr in 20 as well.

I also have a Pacific 366 (red one) in 12 ga. and though it’s no Ponsess Warren progressive but compared to a MEC progressive it’s pretty slick.

Three44

[RSB]

Per PW I have one of the first 250 800B's made. I was told that the first 250 had hand fitted parts. i also know that they no longer support the 800B platform, so what if any parts that have, that's it. There are a few guys buying up the old presses and refinishing/reconditioning them.

As for mine, it still runs great with just a slight over index if you try to go fast. I'm 52 and one of us is older then the other by one year. I can't remember which is which?

[kd185]

I have a C model
great press, built like a tank
made to do a million and rounds +++++++++++++

[rando71]

Have 2 800s & 2 375s still reloading 12&20 ga.

[richhodg66]

Someone fairly close to me has had a Ponses Warren 800B along with a couple of other shotgun loaders for sale on facebook market place. They are asking for offers. The PW looks like it's going to need a resto kinda like the one the OP has posted, but if anybody is interested, it's still up for sale.

[Rick459]

so I decided to up grade my 800 b with the new primer system and also the new removable die plate. all bushings were replaced all new springs. it's really smooth now.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191204/12aefc509008befeb75cd36d1be8cda2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191204/b5bd495b06273ca625e368546e782512.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191204/24536811bfd99a9c91b6520c4605cd53.jpg