Show your old favorite single stage press!

[seagiant]

Hi,
In an earlier thread DUKE NUKEM was asking about Bair and CH "H" type presses and I thought I would show some pics of mine and then thought there are a lot of old presses out there still being used and loved by many of us.
This old Bair "Brown" model is one of my favorites and took a bit of TLC to bring back on line. I stated earlier that I saw no holes for the primer arm originally on it. I was wrong as they were found on the backside under my little cup on the base to catch the primers. I bought this press used at my local Gunshop,whose sales clerks thought of it as junk! Admitedly it looks better now but I didn't argue with them and told them to let me know if they got another!

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10354&stc=1&d=1230http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10355&stc=1&http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10356&stc=1&d=1230840147d=1230840147840147

[badgeredd]

Nice old press, and I like the Bridgeport too.

I have a not so old but not new at all RCBS Big Max that I'll keep til I go to the range above. It is strong and user friendly. I've loaded thousands of cartridges with it and even if it is slow (even if I am half fast), I still like it.

I do want to get a Lee Classic Turret to speed up pistol ammo but I haven't been able to justify (in my mind) a true progressive, yet.

Edd

[seagiant]

Hi Badger,
Got any pics? I've always wanted a Big Max press,but have never run into one yet. Might have to try E-Bay but they seem to be high dollar on there!

Thats my 1964 J-head Bridgeport,Took me YEARS to run into that one!

[Pressman]

Ihave yet to own my favorite, the Herter's Model 3 Improved. Not the big cast iron C press but one that looks like a Rockchucker. Which leads into the star of my collection, the Rockchucker prototype. Shown here with a Rochchucker with a1972 production date.
Ken

[seagiant]

Hi Pressman,
That looks like a stout handle on the proto type! I have a RCBS Jr.2 and an old Co-Ax Bonanza,my first press,I'll try to get some more pics up later! I've always enjoyed products from RCBS!

[Pressman]

The prototype uses the same handle as the A models, steel tubing over a 4 inch long stud.
Ken

[seagiant]

Hi,
Here is a Bonanza Co-Ax press that I load all of my rifle ammo on. It also was my first press,that I had to put on layaway to afford at the time. Also is an orphaned RCBS Jr.2 that I found without the handle. When I called the nice lady at RCBS she informed me that they had changed the threading on the newer handles and if I took off the link block and sent it in they would fit it with a new handle,which I did,all free of course! The original handle was a straight bicycle type I believe.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10382&stc=1&d=12310207http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10383&stc=1&d=http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10384&stc=1&d=1231020711123102071111

[Pressman]

JR2 handles had a 1/2" threaded shank that could/would break. RCBS changed it to 9/16" and that ended the breakage problem. That became the JR3.
Ken

[Pressman]

Forgot to add that yours is an early example, notice the stepped front strap. Not commonly seen today, though yours is light green. Does it have a date stamp on the top?
The front strap changed sometime around 1966-67 along with the paint color.
Ken

[Shooter6br]

Have old Herters from my Dad 1962 or so up in the attic

[seagiant]

Hi Pressman,
Wow! Does that mean this press is from the mid-60's??? I checked the top where the die screws in and there is no date? Only says RCBS Oroville,Calif. on the sides, nothing I could see as a date. I guess with the updated handle I've really got a Jr.3? Thanks for the info!

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10390&stc=1&d=1231039023

[STP22]

seagiant,

You`ll need to remove the die bushing from the top of the press to see the date code.

Scott

[Pressman]

With out a date I would date yours as a 64-65. Near as I can tell 1966 was the first year for the date stamp. Yours is light green and that color came along about that time.
Early ones were a dark green and the very early ones (1959) a green/white speckled color.
Likely you have a 9/16" handle. RCBS would have had to change out the pivot block to fit the new handle.

Scott; The JR's are threaded 7/8-14 directly, they do not have a bushing like the Rockchucker.
Ken

[Bret4207]

Mines a Co-Ax as shown above. Got it off Ebay a few years back. Dang thing works like s bank vault it's so smooth. My first "press" was a ho-made arbor press I used with Lee smack-em's and regular 7/8-13 dies. I'd drive the case in and drive 'em out ala Lee. That lasted about 3 days. Shortly after that I found a RCBS RS and never looked back.

[seagiant]

Hi,
Pressmans right no bushing and no date. Sort of neat that the press is that old. Of course it was without a handle when I fiound it but in very good shape other than that!

Brett,
I bought my Bonanza brand new on layaway when I was a kid and even then it seemed like the cats meow of reloaders.After 30 yrs and thousands of rounds of loading everything on it thats still my opinion! It is now used just for reloading 7.62 Nato/.308 for my different battle rifles with a nice set of Redding dies!

[STP22]

Yep, I jumped the gun...

No JR press here. Sould have dug out a period Handloader or AR mag and checked first.:oops:

Scott

[Catshooter]

I just checked my Rockchucker and it is a 1976. I love that old green-blue crinkle paint.


Cat

[ktw]

You guys can laugh if you want to, but my vote for the best value for the dollar in a single stage press goes to one of these.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/ktwna/reloading/lee-reloader.jpg

I bought it, years ago, along with the Lee reloading manual, when a buddy of mine started coming over to learn the handloading game and all I had in the way of a press was a single Rockchucker. Later, when he got his own equipment he left this one mounted on my bench.

I have found it incredibly useful for all of the odd jobs; everything from running a universal decapper, to using Lee size dies, to carbide sizing handgun brass as a batch process rather than while loading. It does a better job of handling spent primers than the RC and offers all kinds of room around the ram for quickly switching brass in the shellholder.

Later, when upgrading to a Lee Classic Cast Turret, the new turret replaced the Rockchucker on the bench rather than the more useful little Lee Reloader. Best 5 bucks I ever spent on a loading tool.

-ktw

[seagiant]

Hi KTW,
Thanks for the pic! ...Actually these presses are a favorite of varmit hunters that want to reload in the field and are supposedly very accurate ammo making machines!

[mikenbarb]

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/mikenbarbj/011.jpg
This is a Herters Super 81 single stage 2 ram press. Its one of the strongest presses I have seen made. Theres 2 12 gauge hulls in shell holders for size comparison and a 30-06 case next to the ram on the right..

[mikenbarb]

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/mikenbarbj/001-16.jpg

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/mikenbarbj/003-18.jpg
Heres another cool one I own. Its a Savage Arms reloading press. Yep, Savage used to make reloading presses also and it even has the Indian head sticker still.

[Pressman]

Made from 1964 through 1969, they are stronger than they look as they used a forged steel frame. The only reloading press to do so. Savage also made all their own dies in house. They hold the patent on the primer arm that Redding copied for their current line of presses.
Savage decided to take up reloading tools when they got out of the lawn mower business.
Ken

[seagiant]

Hi,
Never heard of them,but me like! Notice how much table support it has compared to it's size! Thanks for the pic!

[1911sw45]

Pressman, is the date a 2 digit on the RS2 and 3's?

1911sw45
Adam

[mikenbarb]

http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/mikenbarbj/001-12.jpg
This has gotta be my favorite press and love to break them out once in a while to keep them working good.:wink:

[LeadPoor]

My all time favorite press was a Dunwood or Durham or something like that It was a twin die setup about 10 inches across and the dies would be about 4 inches center to center side by side, the ram handle attached off center to the lower roller of about 2" diam. the ends had link arms that raised the lower platform(shell holders) up two posts 1 inch dia. A plate was mounted across the top of these posts and were where the dies screwed in, understand ???

Wish I would have never sold it but seen an ad in shotgun news or Gunlist and figured I would make a few bucks, believe it went to washington or someplace out west.

currently have RCBS JR2 '68 and RC mid 70's a RL550B bought in 88 I think and a NIB BOSS

LP

[3006guns]

Probably a Dunbar and you are right about wishing you didn't sell it! I found one at a garage sale years ago and didn't buy it simply because I didn't know what it was. Still kicking myself today...............:???:

Since I have my own machine tools, I'm thinking of building my own version. There's something satisfying about the massive straightforward look of the thing.

[LeadPoor]

3006 , Thats it! Dunbar it was Thanks now I know what it is I'm trying to find LOL

LP

Here is a link to a pic of the Dunbar (http://www.doering.cc/Dunbar_Files/DPress.JPG) and it is exactly what I had.
I found this on a page (http://www.doering.cc/dunbar.html) related to Dunbar press

Now that I've looked abit I find I'm preaching to the choir as this press was discussed at least once in recent history here http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=31622&highlight=dunbar

LP

[seagiant]

Hi 3006,
I was thinking of making my own Hollywood press as I have a lathe and mill. The Dunbar is interesting by having 2 stations side by side. I have the Bair H type press and use it for pistol,2 dies at a time. Resize and expand,then seat and taper crimp,works for me!
The Dunbar looks like it could be made from just big wide peices of steel and then bush it where anything rubs with Olite bearing material.I know if you took your time and made it like that you would have one fine press that could not be touched commercially!

[Pressman]

Seagiant, I would like to see a homemade version of the Hollywood Senior but I am thinking it would be a major undertaking. They are machined from a solid casting, that is the top and base are part of the post.

Lots of people have made H presses at home. Most I have seen are OK but not as good as the Dunbar. Some lack leverage as the arms are designed wrong, others have the die stations too close together.

I have a couple of homemade, original design, presses that look good and do not work. As the one pictured below.
Ken

[yondering]

The Dunbar mentioned in the link above was mine, until I sold it on Fleabay to pay for a Forster Co-ax. That Dunbar was something impressive, I'll tell ya. Weight was about 40 lbs. Kinda wish I hadn't sold it, but the Co-ax is a nice press.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/zthang43/Misc/IMG_0973a.jpg

[seagiant]

Hi Pressman,
Wow! Thats a fine looking press! Sorry you are not happy with it. I might not be as smart as I think I am about building a press! Actually when I got down and studied the Hollywood,it looked to hard so I never started one. The H-type press looks easier and the Dunbar would probably be a good model. I love my old Brown Bair and will never sale it! I'll remember your suggestions if I ever get the time to build one,thanks!

Yondering,
The pic of your Dunbar just made my wallpaper! If I ever run into one of those it's mine!

[3006guns]

Pressman, is that a Jordan press? Seems to me that Bill Jordan (or a similar namesake) came out with a similar design in the late thirties or so. Looks nicely if strangely made. What don't you like about it?

[Pressman]

3006, that looks like a Jordon, but only in the pictures. It is a lot larger than the Jordan but works on the same principle.
The part the handle and links fasten to is from the rocker arm of a car engine. Everything is very well machined except the links. They are small and light, then the holes are drilled rather than reamed. Because of the drilled holes the press tends to bind under load.
Ken

[marlinman93]

Well this one is really old school! A prototype Huntington's before they went into full production:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/6572tool1.JPG

[Cherokee]

Here is my CH "H" press, gets lots of use for small batches of rifle & pistol

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee102/DCS44256/Reloading/CHPress001.jpg

[wiljen]

My oldie. Wish I could find more shell holders for it. Eaton Big Giant Circa 1957.

[Pressman]

One you don't see everyday. It is P&O single press. A double die version was also made. They date to the early to mid 1950's with a very limited production. No parts interchange with any other press. This one is 38 Special and that is about all I would want to try to resize on a press this small.
Ken

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I can go you one better on the Huntington... a friend who was a machinist was too tight to pay the whopping twenty dollars Huntington started them out. Soooo, I bought enough aluminum for four, and he made them. I got two, sorry I ever got talked out of one by a (still) very good friend. That was about 1979 or early 1980.

Rich
Buff Killer