Does press type matter?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Axis II said:
buying me either a shield plus or Springfield 1911 for my birthday
Click to expand...

Firstly, I second all of what @splattergun and @FROGO207 said, Keep Her!:)

Secondly, the 1911. Obviously.;)

A separate set of dies to do some brass prep will save frustration resetting everything. Use it, especially let her see you use it, with a loving smile. There’s gotta be something that press could do for you while you earn a few brownie points.:thumbup:

Unless it’s damaged, and with good measuring, both those presses and dies sets can be adjusted to, and should produce ammunition that is as close to the exact same as a human can reasonably get it.
Around 30-06 and above is where I begin to worry about press flex.

Now, enjoy it enough to want her to buy you a nicer one, as I sit with many presses and be still envious of you.:D
 
South Prairie Jim said:
Do you start with the stripped bolt just falling free on the sized case then set back .002 beyond that?
Again just trying to learn what method guys are using.
Thx
J
Click to expand...
Once fired or 2-3 fired in my rifle. I then measure with the comparator 2-3pc and write them down and adjust the die to move the should down 2k on the comparator.
 
Accuracy in loading is from the dies. The press has little or nothing to do with loading accuracy. Look at how much wiggle there is in the fit of the casing to the shell holder.
 
Keep the girlfriend and happily accept whatever gift she buys you. If you can size 44 mag brass with your press it will do fine with 223, especially if you are only going to neck size. I even made a shorter handle for my press to reduce the amount of motion required because 223 is so easy to size.
 
Last edited:
Congratulations on the fantastic Girlfriend! While that press would not be my first choice it should work well on 223's. Like others have said, your target will tell you how well it works.
 
lightman said:
Congratulations on the fantastic Girlfriend! While that press would not be my first choice it should work well on 223's. Like others have said, your target will tell you how well it works.
Click to expand...
I heard this twice just on this thread so finally I'll ask; How or what differences do you expect to see on paper from press to press ? I don't get the connection..
 
South Prairie Jim said:
I heard this twice just on this thread so finally I'll ask; How or what differences do you expect to see on paper from press to press ? I don't get the connection..
Click to expand...
The C press seems sloppy so I was wondering how it would work for creating match loads. She bought it for me around december because I kept saying I had to go home to load deer hunting ammo. Now I have a press at her place to load my hunting ammo. Its a nice little press and I am forever greatful for it, dont get me wrong. I made some 44mag for me and a buddy on it and it worked great. I guess I am overthinking it.
 
tightgroup tiger said:
Teach your girlfriend to reload, then you can teach her what equipment you want her to buy when she wants to buy it for you.
You may end up with a new shooting partner to.
Click to expand...
I have a LCT and soon a Pro 1k so I am good as far as "better" equipment goes. The reason behind this press was so I didnt have to go home for several days and load hunting ammo. I showed her the basics and she actually sized a ton of brass for me and sat watching TV and used a universal decapper and decapped about 1200 5.56 cases on that little press and wet tumbled and sorted by headstamp for me while I was at work.
 
Axis II said:
The C press seems sloppy so I was wondering how it would work for creating match loads.
Click to expand...

Sloppy in what way?

As above, the dies you use will have a larger effect on accuracy than what press they are used in. In many cases the components, specifically the bullet will make a larger difference than what die you use, in any press.

Even cheap tiny Chinese arbor presses can make accurate ammunition. Something like this with Wilson had dies will make more accurate ammunition than a set of crummy dies in the highest quality press money could buy.

C9916189-A529-4D8D-8F56-08E12CD35557.jpeg

Go to a benchrest match and your not going to see a lot of Lee C presses but the equipment you will see isn’t going to be a big heavy weight cast iron O press either.

Brings up a great point for beginning competitive shooters though. Go to the matches you wish to compete in before dumping a lot of money. Talk with folks and see what is being used to win currently. That’s never a bad place to start.
 
Last edited:
South Prairie Jim said:
what differences do you expect to see on paper from press to press ? I don't get the connection..
Click to expand...

Me either. Definitely not in the same direction nor magnitude commonly espoused in threads like these online. If I can’t convince a load to shoot small, I can say with certainty it has absolutely nothing to do with which press was used to smash it together.
 
My hand tools' from good companies like LE Wilson , HARRELS precision, K&M and PMA will trump most power tools for making quality ammunition.
 
I have used a Lee Reloader for years almost exclusively and it has loaded many thousands of rounds of 223, 308, and lots more 9, 38, and 357. I usually have to replace them every 250-400k rounds due to breakage, but for the price I couldn’t be happier. I have broken one on a 556 case, 2 on 308, and one depriming a 30-06. Those presses have loaded match quality ammo in 223 and 308 plenty of times over the years, it’s all in the die setup.

Enjoy the press and get the 1911.
 
jmorris said:
Sloppy in what way?

As above, the dies you use will have a larger effect on accuracy than what press they are used in. In many cases the components, specifically the bullet will make a larger difference than what die you use, in any press.

Even cheap tiny Chinese arbor presses can make accurate ammunition. Something like this with Wilson had dies will make more accurate ammunition than a set of crummy dies in the highest quality press money could buy.

View attachment 1009302

Go to a benchrest match and your not going to see a lot of Lee C presses but the equipment you will see isn’t going to be a big heavy weight cast iron O press either.

Brings up a great point for beginning competitive shooters though. Go to the matches you wish to compete in before dumping a lot of money. Talk with folks and see what is being used to win currently. That’s never a bad place to start.
Click to expand...
The ram seems to have a little slop in it compared to my buddies RCBS single stage and my LCT. I will load some up tonight and see what she does this week.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Lee Hand Press
Replies
8
Views
573
kestak
K
D
  • Locked
Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Single Stage Press
Replies
3
Views
380
dragon68
D
W
  • Locked
Lee Hand Press Kit
Replies
16
Views
2K
saskboy
S
D
  • Locked
Anyone have any experience with a Redding T7 Turret Press?
Replies
20
Views
4K
PO2Hammer
PO2Hammer
SlowFuse
  • Locked
New press - Lee
2
Replies
44
Views
3K
thomas15
thomas15
Back
Top