Thread: Reloading Presses

Greetings All,
I haven't modified any of my presses over the years but have modified the way I use them. Over roughly 45 years three presses have been bolted to my reloading bench. The first was a Lyman Spartan C press (grey paint) which I was quite happy with until a friend left his RCBS Junior press with me when he went overseas. The RCBS felt like a step up to me so it got bolted to the bench and my Spartan was loaned (very long term) to a young friend who was starting hand loading. He is still using it 25 years later. I thought that if the owner of the RCBS returned I would shout myself a new O press. Well he did and I did, a Redding Boss which I still have and will likely see me out.

The things I have changed about the way I use the press are as follows. First I deprime an increasing number of cases in Lee punch and base sets. This is done as part of the cleaning and inspection of the cases. Keeps that abrasive crap of the press ram and stops the dead primers rolling round the floor where you can stand on them in your bare feet. Second I do some of the neck sizing for low pressure loads in Lee Loader dies. Most sizing is still done in the press though. Next all priming is now done in a Lee hand priming tool. My current one is getting a little tired after 25 years and will need to be replaced soon. I find the change over from large to small primers much faster with the Lee tool. Projectile seating is still done in the press. I am thinking of seating the .303 projectiles in the Lee Loader as my first fumbling attempts at reloading were with a Lee Loader before my first press arrived.

None of this is to suggest that my way the best way, far from it, it is just the way my pedantic nature enjoys.

Regards Grandpamac.