Smart Reloader products??
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higgite
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I haven't seen any references to it in quite awhile, but when I did, the gist was that a "smart reloader" would avoid it. (pun intended) Of course, it may be like Lee stuff with those who love it and those who hate it. I don't have any personal experience with it. And that's on purpose. 
Elkins45
Member
All examples I have seen were below Harbor Freight quality control standard. I would avoid the brand.
243winxb
Member
Smartreloader.com is a registered Trademark of Prima Armi Srl.
Viale Kennedy 8 - 10064 Pinerolo (TO) - Italy, Ph. +39 0121 321 422 - Fax +39 0121 398 739 www.primarmi.it - VAT nr. IT07493550011 Smartreloader.com is a new European company founded in 2004 by Prima Armi Srl., one of the main European gun, reloading and accessories distributors. Prima Armi Srl. is established in Italy since 1968 and carries many of the most known and valued guns and accessories manufacturers.
Viale Kennedy 8 - 10064 Pinerolo (TO) - Italy, Ph. +39 0121 321 422 - Fax +39 0121 398 739 www.primarmi.it - VAT nr. IT07493550011 Smartreloader.com is a new European company founded in 2004 by Prima Armi Srl., one of the main European gun, reloading and accessories distributors. Prima Armi Srl. is established in Italy since 1968 and carries many of the most known and valued guns and accessories manufacturers.
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snakeye
Member
Not very good reviews on a lot of their products on Amazon
sellersm
Member
I have one of their tumblers, and so far so good...
Not heard anything good about their presses or other products! And their warranty service, from what I've heard, requires that you send it back to Italy! Of course, that could just be "internet lore", but who knows?
Not heard anything good about their presses or other products! And their warranty service, from what I've heard, requires that you send it back to Italy! Of course, that could just be "internet lore", but who knows?
SlowFuse
Member
I've got the Nano tumbler for when I want to do small batches of brass. It gets used about once every month or two to tumble 50-75 pieces of 223 or 100-150 9's, 45's, 32/327 etc. I've had it about 4 years.
It works fine but I'd say I'm a light user, I've also read the terrible reviews and understand it's a crap shoot.
It works fine but I'd say I'm a light user, I've also read the terrible reviews and understand it's a crap shoot.
LiveLife
Member
This is straight from Smart Reloader's website - http://www.smartreloader.com/returns-policy-ezp-1.html?chapter=0&zenid=dv2d1n7nuqj6gefb5aer8tueh7
Not only do you have to ship the product BACK TO ITALY WITHIN 30 DAYS, any damage incurred during shipping MUST BE VERIFIED WITH THE DELIVERY DRIVER PRESENT!!! Are you kidding me? How often do we get to meet the delivery drivers when they just toss the box by the front door and run let alone have them wait for us to open the box to inspect for damages and to note the damage in writing?
BTW, what's the shipping charge to send anything to Italy?
So if the damage occurred at the factory, you are still out shipping charge to Italy just to return the product? Good grief!
Not only do you have to ship the product BACK TO ITALY WITHIN 30 DAYS, any damage incurred during shipping MUST BE VERIFIED WITH THE DELIVERY DRIVER PRESENT!!! Are you kidding me? How often do we get to meet the delivery drivers when they just toss the box by the front door and run let alone have them wait for us to open the box to inspect for damages and to note the damage in writing?
BTW, what's the shipping charge to send anything to Italy?
So if the damage occurred at the factory, you are still out shipping charge to Italy just to return the product? Good grief!
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I unwisely bought a nano tumbler and it is shockingly cheesy. Rough cut threads. Rough edges on the plastic. Junky springs. I use it for dedicated polishing of finished rounds. I have no expectation of ever getting my money's worth before it dies a richly deserved death. It already sounds like it is dying.
While I really dislike badmouthing a manufacturer (somebody's gotta like it), but Smart Reloader is the exception. I bought one of their "C" presses out of curiosity. When it arrived, I found that if you hold it at arms length, it looks OK. It is crudely made. The ram is sloppy in the frame (I had to guide all my .38 Special brass into the die). The ram/action also feels gritty, even after I disassembled, cleaned and lubed it. The leverage is lacking, it took quite a bit of ummmph to just resize/deprime a .38 Special case. Paint job is OK and it has a nice looking wooden ball on the lever. It's not a copy of any press I've seen (including Lee) and I wouldn't think it would last much more than 100 pistol rounds. Some folks dislike Lee products and call them junk, but compared to Smart Reloader Lee looks like prime, hand fitted, premium Rolls Royce level equipment. I would not recommend this press to anyone especially a new reloader, and every Smart Reloadeer product got a similar evaluation (junk) when it first hit the market.
I keep mine in a peg on the wall over my bench just to remind me...
I keep mine in a peg on the wall over my bench just to remind me...
Online seller had a Smart Reloader single stage press on sale for $16 and free shipping. I figured it was worth 16 bucks to find out.
I couldn't get a die to thread into the press because the threads were messed up. A 7/8"x14 tap is too expensive, but at a gun show I bought a used steel die for $3 to use as a tap to chase the threads. Plenty of lube and go slow (I started from underneath, since the threads at top were worst), finally got the threads cleaned up.
But I couldn't get a shellholder inserted into the top of the ram because the circlip was formed wrong, I removed it and reshaped. Also had to deburr the slot in the ram so the clip and the shellholder both fit together. Finally!
As the ram goes up and down, you can feel a spot where it binds slightly. Well, the ram is bent, right at the spot it binds. In its up position, the ram does not align with the threaded hole for the die. So after all that work to get the die and the shellholder in the press, I can't use it for anything. Totally worthless.
So I called the seller and asked to return it. No problem, they accept returns for credit as long as I pay return shipping. If returned UPS it would be $16 shipping, at USPS it fits in the $12.65 medium flat rate box. Crap. I'm not paying that much to return a $16 item for refund. So I still have it.
I think if I buy a small boat some day, I can use this Smart Reloader press as an anchor. Guess that's why they call it Smart Reloader, because a 'smart reloader' can find an alternate use for it. Or smarter yet, don't buy it at all.
I couldn't get a die to thread into the press because the threads were messed up. A 7/8"x14 tap is too expensive, but at a gun show I bought a used steel die for $3 to use as a tap to chase the threads. Plenty of lube and go slow (I started from underneath, since the threads at top were worst), finally got the threads cleaned up.
But I couldn't get a shellholder inserted into the top of the ram because the circlip was formed wrong, I removed it and reshaped. Also had to deburr the slot in the ram so the clip and the shellholder both fit together. Finally!
As the ram goes up and down, you can feel a spot where it binds slightly. Well, the ram is bent, right at the spot it binds. In its up position, the ram does not align with the threaded hole for the die. So after all that work to get the die and the shellholder in the press, I can't use it for anything. Totally worthless.
So I called the seller and asked to return it. No problem, they accept returns for credit as long as I pay return shipping. If returned UPS it would be $16 shipping, at USPS it fits in the $12.65 medium flat rate box. Crap. I'm not paying that much to return a $16 item for refund. So I still have it.
I think if I buy a small boat some day, I can use this Smart Reloader press as an anchor. Guess that's why they call it Smart Reloader, because a 'smart reloader' can find an alternate use for it. Or smarter yet, don't buy it at all.
Average Joe
Member
Smart Reloader = JUNK
tightgroup tiger
Member
I always put them in the same category as Amerc ammunition, on my list of things to stay away from.
jimbo4
Member
Junk.
Saw a press a while back at LGS. The link arms and ram were really loose and sloppy. A novice reloader was looking at it and I pointed out a used Hornady single stage sitting on the floor covered with dirt. Don't know which one he bought but I hope it was the red one. Based on that experience I would not buy any of their gear
AABEN
Member
Why not buy home made reloading equipment??
higgite
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You mean like Smart Reloader stuff?
scythefwd
Member
I have a bullet puller of theirs that works.. Bout all I've touched though.
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