Favorite features on single stage press?

[birdiemc]

Not having to use shell holders and torque dies with the Forster Coax has been nice.

That seems like a cool feature if you load for several different sized cartridges.

 

[birdiemc]

Every feature I liked on my Rocker Chucker can be duplicated or bettered on my Dillon 550s. I can use my 550 like a single stage if I want and don't have to change dies. For that reason, if I had to stay with a single stage I would buy the conversion kit to convert my RCBS to use the Hornady Lock and Load die quick change system, but you would have to buy a lot of bushings. Give me the Dillon.

I haven't used hornady lnl bushings, but the ones on my lee are complete garbage. I've always suspected they introduced a lot of slop into the setup, but I finally got to see it last night when running the lee case trimmer, I had everything snugged down well, but the whole die was wobbling like one of those weeble wobble toys from back in the day.

 

[YZ-80]

RCBS Rock-Chucker IV here. What I like about it? Simplicity and robustness. Primers fall neatly into that "Y" shaped plastic thingie and it spits out ballistic nirvana.

 

[birdiemc]

So heres another question, is concentricity of a loaded round more a product of the die or the press?

 

[ThrdKllr]

You've opened a whole new can of worms. Dies won't straighten non concentric brass and unless you are turning the necks concentricity problems can vary with neck thickness. Your fired brass will only be as concentric as your chamber.

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

You seem to have left the original intent of this post......with that said I would answer both can and will effect the finished result. The last sentence in ThrdKllr's post also speaks to fired brass that's chamber formed. In a factory barrel and chamber or a custom barrel w/match chamber? If not the press than why the raves about the concentric rounds produced by the forster co ax ? If not the dies than why the attempts to float the spindle or remove the sizing button? In the 14 press comparison that's been linked to several posts of late why did all the presses come out with different runout numbers with same dies and cartridge? This has all been discussed in a current post running on this forum page 4 to be exact, feel like I'm standing next to pot being stirred

 

[6MM06AI]

Are we stirring the pot and beating a dead horse?

 

[birdiemc]

The reason I asked the question is because of my note that the Lee press I own doesnt hold the die securely as noted by the wobble when trimming necks. This wobble allows the die to cant relative to the ram during the stroke, whereas on the coax the top of the lock ring would be pushed upward to register against the flat bottom of the slot on the press during the stroke, so if that flat surface and the top of the lock ring are square to the die body and ram then it would prevent the wobble effect I see on the Lee press.
But is that wobble a problem? I would think no during sizing but perhaps yes while seating a bullet, but I have no empirical evidence to determine one way or the other. I do know my bullet seating depth can vary by .006 CBTO (the worst I've seen)

 

[cape cove]

So heres another question, is concentricity of a loaded round more a product of the die or the press?

I believe to achieve low run-out you need both a good press and dies but I would stress the need for good dies. With a Redding body die and Lee collet die and Froster seater I can load ( on my Lee CC) very straight ammo. All I need do to load ammo with .005-.006 or greater run-out is switch to standard dies with the expander ball and standard seating die. JME

 

[birdiemc]

Thinking about some chamber reaming threads talking about floating reamer holders, I wonder if placing a ball bearing between the case and shell holder could allow the case to self center on the die. Of course this has a whole set of issues, like pulling the case back out of the die, but does it seem a floating shell holder would be a benefit if not using the coax?

 

[cape cove]

There is already quite a bit of "slop" with the case in the shell holder. Would you not think that it might be enough as is. Just throwing that out there.

 

[aushunter1]

 

[ThrdKllr]

I just use an oring or rubber band to hold my shell holder in the press ram. If it wants to wiggle it can. I get very concentric ammo with my Lee CC also. And also use a Wilson body die and the Lee Collet Die. I use the Lee seater die heavily modified. I like it because the shell holder against the bottom of the Die keeps them all the same.

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

I believe to achieve low run-out you need both a good press and dies but I would stress the need for good dies. With a Redding body die and Lee collet die and Froster seater I can load ( on my Lee CC) very straight ammo. All I need do to load ammo with .005-.006 or greater run-out is switch to standard dies with the expander ball and standard seating die. JME

Cape Cove, I'm curious does the redding body die have the spindle or sizer removed? A lot of posters talk about the lee collet die as being one of the keys, I believe the forster seater is top notch and I'm using them now. Ordered several collet dies today so want to try what your doing to see difference before new press arrives and I start using that. birdiemc I will give some input on the summit press tomorrow and how it moves and works as well as I set it up. That's the beauty of these sites the chance to exchange knowledge and experience in real time. Dave