How many different model presses do you have?

[flashhole]

So how many folks collect presses from different manufacturers? Any photos of the "collection"? I'm thinking I should have several different models just for the sake of doing it and I can't imagine I'm alone in my thinking so if you have them let's see some pics.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I have six presses from five companies. No picture available as I am in the process of restoring two of them.

*Dillon 550B progressive for pistol and .223
*C-H 444 4-station, semi-progressive H for loading one cartridge completely at a time. It is currently setup for .308
*Hollywood Senior for resizing
*C-H 111/Magnum H for resizing
*Lyman All-American turret for seating bullets in 4-calibers
*Herters' Super 3M C press for decapping

And that's not counting my Lachmiller priming "press"

[1hole]

Six from four makers, but, they were acquired slowly, over 45 years of reloading. Each was chosen for a specific purpose and then for its unique features, not just to have a collection. They are all pretty much common presses, you can see photos of them in most any mail order catalog. Does that help you decide how many of what kind you need??

[flashhole]

The unique features part appeals to me.

[Crash_Corrigan]

On my reloading bench is a Dillon 550B on a stong mount with the optional caseloader. Next to it is a Lee Classic Turret 4 Station Press, and a mite further along the bench is a Dillon Square Deal Press. On a wooden TV table is a Midway SS-90 single stage alum press. Outside near the smelting table is a Lee Challenger press that is used for major decapping chores prior to tumble cleaning brass. In a drawer is a Lee Hand Press for trips to the range.

I use them all and they all do what they need to do. If I had more money I would spring for a couple more of the Dillon Square Deal presses as they are pretty much idiot proof and make excellent ammo at a reasonable price.

The 550B makes the same quality ammo but in more calibers and faster. The downside is that it requires more maintenance and set up time is higher.

The Lee Classic Turret press makes excellent to very excellent ammo but at a slower pace. It does have an auto index feature on it and I can just keep on pulling the handle and get a completed round pretty quick. However I am still working on the learning curve on the priming aspect of this press. :takinWiz:

Consequently I am decapping and sizing and priming on a single stage and then bringing a sized and primed round to the Classic just for powder charging, boolit seating and crimping etc.

[Calamity Jake]

A Rockchucker, Dillon 450B, Forster Coax, a Mec 9000G 12ga and a Mec 600jr 410

Thats all I need

[GeneT]

RCBS rock chucker
Dillon 650
Dillon 1050
Dillon SL900
Redding T-7
Lyman T-mag2
Hollywood Sr.
RCBS Ammomaster
Sinclair hand-die arbor press

All in regular use.

[midnight]

RCBS Rockchucker
Hornady 50 BMG
Lee classic cast
Lee 4 hole turret
Lee challenger
Lee (the little one) deprimes all but 50 BMG
Ponsness-Warren 800B
Herters 52

Not much into progressives (in reloading or politics) but the Lee turret 4 hole is great for handguns. Each caliber gets its own turret with dies & powder measure.

Bob

[Echo]

A Rock Chucker and Spar-T, bolted to the bench. A Dillon 550B mounted on a plank that I can mount w/c-clamps and a through-bolt in back, to the bench. A couple of Lee's (C & O) that are portable, for use at the range.

[GP100man]

I have a Lyman Crusher, RCBS partener, 2 Rock chuckers & a Lyman turret press mounted , also 2 Lyman 450 boolit sizers .

I have an aluminum lee challenger on a board I clamp to my shootin bench for developin loads!

A Lyman spartan & spartan turret , 2 RCBSs in storage

[flashhole]

Not much into progressives (in reloading or politics) but the Lee turret 4 hole is great for handguns. Each caliber gets its own turret with dies & powder measure.

Bob

So what's wrong with a progressive politician? I hear they make great targets.

[flashhole]

GP100 - why are the RCBS presses in storage?

[John Guedry]

Lyman CrusherII , Lyman T Mag (not II).

[blackhawk44]

I have 11 from 8 makers, everything from a Dillon 550 to a Ponsness Warren P-200 and a retired Cougar & Hunter. I gave my two Herters to my little brother.

[Cowboy T]

Here are mine.

Lee Reloader Single-Stage
Lee Classic Turret Press
2 x Lee Pro 1000

The Lee Reloader Single-Stage does mostly boolit-sizing duty nowadays, but I also use it for initial load development and fixing the very occasional "misbehaving" round.

The two Pro 1000's do my handgun rounds. They are FAST.

The Classic Turret is what I used until I got the Pro 1000's set up. When I start doing rifle cartridges, they all will be done on the Classic Turret.

[oksmle]

One.... And it's not mine.... I borrowed it from a best friend in 1973 (the same time he borrowed my tent poles) & neither of us are finished with them yet. It's a C&H single stage made in 1962 & loads everything I need.

[Kevin Rohrer]

oksmle: Is it a 111/magnum H?

I just bought one and am cleaning it up and repainting it.

I was amazed to see that both the shellholder and die holder plates are aluminum, as well as the base. I will be interested to see how it handles FL resizing.

[Reverend Recoil]

35 year old RCBS JR
Lyman Crusher
Lee - the small Al die cast one

I use the RCBS the most. It keeps me in 223 Rem ammo for service rifle competition. The Lyman is used for bigger cartridges; 30-06 & 9.3x74R. The lee is used only for small batches of 45 ACP.

[oksmle]

Kevin .... Mine is listed as the "H-Magnum" & has a 3 7/8" stroke. So far I haven't found anything it won't handle. From 12 gauge brass down to dinky little 9mm. It's just slow. A word of caution: On stuff like .25-20, .32-20, .44-40 & the like, be extra careful aligning the boolit & case. The press can squish a case neck while seat/crimping quicker than I can react to it. And on 9mm & .38 S&W it also squishes fingers.... I think you'll like it.

[Lloyd Smale]

right now 3 hornady lnl progressives, one single stage lnl hornady, one rock chucker, a 550 dillon and a star progressive in 38

[3006guns]

Let's see..........

Dillon 550
RCBS RS2 (ex wife got my Rock Chucker years ago)
RCBS Partner
Original 1930's Pacific, San Francisco address on frame
2 Herters 3a's
Hollywood Junior
Hollywood Senior
Hollywood turret
CH 4 station
Lyman Tru Line Jr.
Lyman 310 tools in various calibers
Lee hand press

[curiousgeorge]

1- lyman spar-t
1- c-h 4 station pistol champ
1- lyman orange crusher with rcbs piggyback mounted on top
1- star universal (38 spec and 45 auto)
1- hollywood 12 hole turret
1- lee 3 hole turret
2- rcbs rock chucker
3- dillon 550b
1- pacific dl110 12 guage
1- pacific dl155apf 20 ga / 12 ga
1- hornady dl366 12 ga
1- lyman tru-line jr
1- lyman hand press (accu-line ??)
2- lyman 310

and as always - NOTHING FOR SALE (unless you catch me gone and you talk to my wife)

[Harter66]

I just sent my LEE away.
RockChucker
RockChucker II
Partner
Pacific 12 ga
20 ga MEC super sizer
MEC 550

[flashhole]

So do you guys like your C-H presses? I'm considering a 3 station version to dedicate to my Fireball.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I like my '444' and will have my '111' back together shortly. They both operate smoothly, take up little space, and are strong. Also, in the up position, both have their operating handles out of the way so you can use both hands to remove an old case and put in a new one.

[Artful]

Current presses -
Huntington W hand press
Bonanza Co-Ax
Lee 3 station turret
Dillon 300
Dillon 450
two Lee shotgun presses one 20 and one 12
MEC 12 ga press with seperate press to size the metal bases.

Looking for Dillon 550 at a good price.

[cuzinbruce]

Three right now, an RCBS Jr, gets most of the work so far. Just added an old Lyman ST turret I picked up at the flea market for $10, setting that up for .38 Spl. And a Lachmiller 100, has a large top thread so I can use shotgun dies, or regular 7/8-14 with the adapter.

[curiousgeorge]

flashhole

My 4 station C-H pistol champ has been dedicated to loading shortened .357 mag cases with the #358429 bullet for a 50th anniversary new model ruger. I wanted something with 4 stations to load these and didn't like having to readjust my dies in the dillon or to just load single stage. The press is very well made and I think that is unusual and interesting, but I find it a little awkward to have more than 1 case in the press at a time, but I have now found a good use for it in my set up.

I actually use the Lee 3 hole turret press to set up for odd calibers that I load fairly frequently but never in a large quantity. For instance, .444 Marlin, .45-70, .218 Bee, .30-40 Krag, .303 British, .44-40, and .22 Jet. This lets me keep an "M" die or the Lee expander die ready for my cast bullets. I also keep most of the pistol calibers that are set up for the Dillons in one of these 3-hole heads. If I suddenly decide to try some new or old powder or a totally different type of bullet I can knock out 10-15 rounds quickly and don't have to readjust anything on the Dillon set ups for what I normally shoot and keep loaded ahead in quantity.

Just how I do it.

Steve

[Pressman]

Presses and reloading hand type tools number about 145. Way to many to list in this post.
Nice thread, I always enjoy seeing what everyone else is using.
Ken

[3006guns]

Somehow, with Pressman's name, I just knew.............................:p

[Shiloh]

4 brands.

Pacific
LEE
RCBS
Dillon

Shiloh

[Pavogrande]

After seeing all the goodies I feel rather deprived --
Still using my Herter 3 ($12.95 in 1958), a lachmiller press & bench primer, about $30 used in 1960. It is nice the herter and lachmiller share shellholders.
A small CH cast alum press and a few tong tools.
A star sizer, san diego made, if that counts as a press --
They don't seem to wear out so this lot should see me out -- perhaps one of the grandkids will take an interest --

[Kevin Rohrer]

Pavogrande,

You are just the guy I want to talk to. I have a Lachmiller bench primer and the shellholder is so beat-up from use the casings slop around in it a lot. It is the model that uses a tube to hold the primers and a spring-loaded arm that moves them from the primer tube thru a hold in the rear of the shellholder to the primer arm.

Do your Herters shellholders have a hole cut in the rear for primers to move thru it like the one on the Lachmiller?

[Pressman]

Kevin you are going to have to locate an early Lachmiller shellholder to make it work. The center hole is smaller in the Lachmiller compared to a Herter's because they use a different primer punch.
You have an early, (1952) tool. Finding one today is common but the tubes are almost always missing. Yours is rare is all complete.
I really like the Lachmiller tool, both old and new styles.
What shellholder are you using?
Ken

[Pressman]

Oops, I stand corrected. It appears I need to pay more attention to what goes on in my tool room. I just counted 185 presses. It seems they are multiplying like rabbits. No wonder my wife is worried about me.
Ken

[Char-Gar]

RCBS A2
Pacific Super C
Herters U-3 Super
Redding 6 hole turrent

[frankenfab]

1 Dillon 550B
Lee Classic cast
Rock Chucker
Lyman turret
2 Lee 4 holers

[flashhole]

Pressman - we need a picture or two. I'm envisioning a future museum or testimonial to you down the road. 185 presses is a lot.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Presses and reloading hand type tools number about 145. Way to many to list in this post.
Nice thread, I always enjoy seeing what everyone else is using.
Ken

Pressman: Since you have that many, I would be interested in your naming those you actually use.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Kevin you are going to have to locate an early Lachmiller shellholder to make it work. The center hole is smaller in the Lachmiller compared to a Herter's because they use a different primer punch.
You have an early, (1952) tool. Finding one today is common but the tubes are almost always missing. Yours is rare is all complete.
I really like the Lachmiller tool, both old and new styles.
What shellholder are you using?
Ken
Fortunately, it came with one for the 30/06, so it works ok for 22/250 and .308 (which are the two I am currently loading).

I have been watching Ebay, but have seen NO Lachmiller shell holders. I am assuming (perhaps wrongly) that the shellholder for their presses also fits their primer press and has the correct hole.

The hole I am talking about is in the rear of the shellholder.

[ktw]

Lee Classic Cast Turret
Lee Reloader (the small, aluminum C)
Lyman All American Turret
Lyman Trueline Jr (x4)

Used to have a Rockchucker but didn't use it enough to justify keeping it around and traded it off.

-ktw

[Pavogrande]

Kevin -- My lach does require the shellholder be slotted at the bottom for use of the feeder -

I also only have an 06 base primer holder.

Since I use a lot of tong, lee and RCBS hand primers I quite forgot about that little detail :-)

I do have a different post which allows use of herter shellholders in a non feed mode. but I have no idea now whence it came. Actually several posts for both flat and domed primers - My o my does that age me!
The post is rather easy to make so I think with little effort a simple bushing type adapter and post could be made to use the RCBS button holders -- Perhaps that will be a winters project.

[Pressman]

Kevin you are correct. Watching ebay is futile as most people would not know a Lachmiller shellholder if it bit them. They are so close to Herter's that they are always listed as Herter's. You have to spot the machining differences to ID them.
Your auto primer feed requires a slot machined in the shank from the back side of the shellholder. I probably have one if you want to trade your old one for a better one.

Ken

[Pressman]

Pavogrande, there was a converter kit produced to allow the then new RCBS snap in shellholders to work in the primer tool. I have one so I can supply pictures and measurements if you want to try and copy it.
Ken

[Kevin Rohrer]

Pavogrande, there was a converter kit produced to allow the then new RCBS snap in shellholders to work in the primer tool. I have one so I can supply pictures and measurements if you want to try and copy it.
Ken

I forgot about that. I actually tried ordering one from RCBS, but the web site wouldn't work. I need to try again.

I am assuming that with the RCBS converter, a longer primer arm is needed. Does RCBS supply that, also?

[Seth Hawkins]

Four: a Dillon XL650, a MEC Sizemaster 12 ga., a Lee Classic single, and a Corbin CSP-2 Mega Mite.

A RCBS Luba-a-Matic and a Magma Star Lube-Sizer round-out the herd.

[tonyjones]

I currently have and use the following:
* 4- Ponsness Warren 375C; 1 ea. in 12 ga. 2-3/4", 20 ga. 2-3/4", 28 ga. 2-3/4" & .410 3"/2-1/2" (I do not like changing shot shell dies.)
* 1- Redding Ultra-Mag (This is my workhorse centerfire press.)
* 1- RCBS RS3 (This is the press that goes to the range with me.)
* 1- Ross & Webb (This is a small, very precise C press for bench rest cartridges.)
* 2- Lee Reloader Presses (These are handy little buggers!)
In the forseeable future I will add the following:
* 1- Ponsness Warren 375C in 16 ga. 2-3/4"
* 1- MEC Sizemaster 12 ga. 3-1/2/3"
* 1- Dillon Square Deal B with Strong Mount in .45 ACP
I joined this forum in February of this year to learn about bullet casting. I'm still reading/studying and trying to figure out what I need/want. I try to analyze things carefully, make up my mind and buy - ONCE! Right now I'm leaning toward: Magma Master Pot with Digital Temp. Control, Magma Star Sizer, Dies & accessories from Lathesmith, one or more of just about everything Patmarlins sells, moulds from LBT, BABore, NOE, Mi-Hec, Doughty and others as I learn more.
Regards to all,
Tony

[legend]

rcbs jr3
ponsness warren p-200 (love it)
MEC 700 VERSAMEC
HORNADY 366 12 GAUGE
DILLON 550B
LYMAN TRU-LINE JR
LEE LOAD ALL 16 GAUGE



AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.......

[Freischütz]

Lyman Spartan
RCBS Rockchucker
Redding T-7
Mec 400
Lachmiller bench mounted priming tool

[casterofboolits]

RCBS Jr.
RBS Rock Chucker
CH Auto Champ Mk 5A
Dillon SDB
RCBS Bench mounted primer tool
Star Lube Sizer (2) San Diego made

[tward]

I've got Lee Reloaders in 12 gauge, 30-06, 2 Lee C presses, A lee hand press, an RCBS Rockchucker Jr as well as Lyman 310 tool. Love em all, Lee hand press is nice to just put a couple of rounds together for testing.
Tim

[scarry scarney]

Hollywood Senior Turret
Dillon 650 (with case and bullet feeder)
Dillon 550
RCBS Rockchucker
Mec 9000G 12ga 3"
Mec 600jr 10ga 2 3/4"
Mec 600jr 12ga 2 3/4"

[jonk]

6 presses.

1 RCBS Rockchucker
1 Lee Challenger
1 Lee Pro 1000
1 Lee hand press
2 Lee C frame presses