Thread: Press option

So...I'm starting down the road of collecting up enough gear to get into reloading. I have managed to bulk buy a couple of lots of odds and sods of gear on trade me and have ended up with a bit of collection of presses. Obviously only need one so my question is which press should I keep. One is a Hornady lock and load that has probably only loaded 50 round from new and the other press is a Lyman orange crusher still in its original box with primer arm and primer catcher. Appears to also have been barely used. Flip a coin or choose one based on which colour is the coolest? Is one any better than the next?
Cheers

Can't comment on the Lyman but I'm more than happy with my Hornady Lock'nLoad press

Originally Posted by Blackfern

So...I'm starting down the road of collecting up enough gear to get into reloading. I have managed to bulk buy a couple of lots of odds and sods of gear on trade me and have ended up with a bit of collection of presses. Obviously only need one so my question is which press should I keep. One is a Hornady lock and load that has probably only loaded 50 round from new and the other press is a Lyman orange crusher still in its original box with primer arm and primer catcher. Appears to also have been barely used. Flip a coin or choose one based on which colour is the coolest? Is one any better than the next?
Cheers

Obviously only need one

I would question that statement but yes, Hornady over Lyman

You can always have more than one press

I run 2 presses and it works well, if you have the space and don't need the money set them both up. In a years time you'll understand

Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

I run 2 presses and it works well, if you have the space and don't need the money set them both up. In a years time you'll understand

What's the benefits of running two presses?

Originally Posted by Blackfern

What's the benefits of running two presses?

Saves having to change dies, I use a few presses, 1 just to decap fired brass, the next one to size cases, the third one to expand necks and seat pills


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Being able to run multiple dies, puller or decaping die without constantly re setting up the press works well

For low volume loading not much advantage in having two presses


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Used both the Lyman and the Hornady and it would be Hornady every day, although the Lyman primer arm worked well for me. Others not so.

33

Originally Posted by Blackfern

What's the benefits of running two presses?

If you have the bench space it is handy to have two work stations one for sizing and prepping cases
the other for loading the ammo,
I have a Lyman Chusher 2 and a RCBS Rock chucker, If I had your choices I would go for the Hornady it is the more modern design
but try both before you make up your mind

One press T7
This has been the best option for me for medium volume, still a rigid enough design to load concentric ammo, cheaper than a Dillon progressive but can do multiple tasks on the one case without removing it from the press.
Doesnt come close to a progressive for high volume loading, but I find it way more convenient than two presses and my work space is limited.

I have limited bench space but sufficient shelf space. I made my own plate and rail system with two stations on one bench and a third on another. The third one alternates a couple of Dillon 550Bs for large and small primer Pistol. To be fair I could load any of my calibres on one Dillon. I just love playing with different things. So I also have Lee and RCBS presses, singles and turrets. And an old Lyman, plus some Shotgun presses. Presses are like rifles, you can stick with just one and be boring, or not ( running, ducking and diving). Just run with whatever floats your boat...

I run one of these stands

https://inlinefabrication.com/

The stand itself stays there and you swap out with different presses which are quick mount (two wingnuts) on custom plates

Good for people who want the same workstation

Originally Posted by 308

I run one of these stands

https://inlinefabrication.com/

The stand itself stays there and you swap out with different presses which are quick mount (two wingnuts) on custom plates

Good for people who want the same workstation

Yeah I made mine from some Aluminium profile attached to Kwila rails and a ply plate to slide into them with press bolted to the ply plate. Not just presses. Also powder measures and a Dremel in its drill-press stand and a utility vise. Anything really that I want to use fixed temporarily to my work bench. Works great. Super cheap.