Portable Press From Evo Engineering

[Jura]

Vince Bottomley takes a look at a new portable press from EVO engineering

A few years ago, small portable presses like this one were strictly the preserve of short-range benchrest shooters who have – for reasons I won’t go into here – always reloaded on the firing-point between matches. But, this is the way benchrest shooters extract the maximum possible accuracy from...

www.targetshooter.co.uk

Anybody bought one of these; if yes how much was it and how does it compare to an Arbour Press

 

[finnbear270]

Says in the text £200

 

[Jura]

Says in the text £200

oops, scan reading...lol

 

[User00040]

Lee hand press works at a push.

Ideally you would only use it for full length resizing and seat using a Lee Loader or L.E Wilson die. These can be used without a hammer, just press down firmly with the base of your palm onto the flat area on top of the seating stem assembly.

Press above seems like a nice idea but you are limited by whatever you clamp it onto!

 

[EMcC]

I have a cheap Lee single stage press mounted on a bit of board and the board can be clamped on to a desk or table as I sued to do when the office was quiet before I retired
Much the same as this by the look of it.

 

[Jura]

Lee hand press works at a push.

Ideally you would only use it for full length resizing and seat using a Lee Loader or L.E Wilson die. These can be used without a hammer, just press down firmly with the base of your palm onto the flat area on top of the seating stem assembly.

Press above seems like a nice idea but you are limited by whatever you clamp it onto!

Thanks, @caberslash but I will only be using this with a Sinclair expander die and mandrel. Maybe bullet seating as well

 

[Bowland blades]

Thanks, @caberslash but I will only be using this with a Sinclair expander die and mandrel. Maybe bullet seating as well

sinclair did or still do make a great little arbour press for the range . Still use one on Hornet and for bullet seating 308 class and smaller , i have never seen run out go ove 2 tho' with anything i seated using it

 

[NullMac]

Don't think they make them anymore ?? There was one for sale on here a wee while ago. The guy still has it as I enquired but I think I will go down the Lee Hand Press route + Wilson seater.

 

[308tikka]

I have a harrel.

Make sure you get a large as one as possible. Long sleek bullets in 308 are a bit fiddly - I have the standard size.

 

[webley701]

I owned one for a few years. Made in reality by ‘Tier-One’ to the very high standard you’d expect from them.

The ram runs in an Oilite bushing & the arm pivots have roller bearings (from memory). The die threads into a steel threaded sleeve rather than the aluminium press body.

There’s plenty of gape for seating bullets in shorter cartridges (say up to 6.5x47).

As far as quality of build goes it’s right at the other end of the scale to the Lee press - understandably so is the cost.

The press has a couple of snags though, firstly spent primers fall down a hole on the ram & exit through a hole partway down the back of the ram to either fall on the floor or be caught in a bin - a spigot & catch tube/bottle system would have been far better & cost little extra & avoid primer ‘grit’ getting everywhere.

The other snag is the linkage - the toggle block which the handle screws into contacts the press body too soon & limits the travel & mechanical advantage. It either needed slightly longer link arms & longer ram or the underside of the press relieving slightly to allow full handle articulation (a couple of owners I know of have done the latter modification with success), this allows far easier resizing of cases - the smaller cartridges that is (the press was never intended to comfortably resize .308 Win for instance).

As it stands the press is great for seating bullets & ok for sizing the smaller cartridge cases - with more effort than should be needed thanks to the less than ideal linkage/toggle arrangement) - suitably modified though it’s capable of resizing with small cases greater ease.

You may find one ‘used’ but they’ve been out of production for some years.

The press quality is beyond reproach, it just needed more thought in a couple of areas.

 

[scotch_egg]

I have one of these. It’s a great bit of kit and I have loaded many rounds on it.

Buchanan Precision Machine Hand Reloading Press

Made in the US, the best quality portable reloading press ever built. All CNC machined aluminum.

buchananprecisionmachine.com

 

[Pete6.5]

Wamadet made a very good portable press but you can only get them second hand now

 

[Ronin]

Reminds me of the bull worker excercise device scotch

I have a harrel and K M arbour type if I need to reload away from home

 

[Simon22ppc]

The beauty of this type of press is you can clamp it to anything suitable, [tail gate ,fence rail ] and develop loads in the field rather than trailing to and fro to the reloading bench. I have a Wamadet but will certainly be taking a look at this model.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

When testing ammo I tend to juts load up 50 rounds at my desired powder charge then hit the range with my lee hand press to play with seating depth.

Saves alot of effort and money and it oy cost me 10 quid of ebay.

I suppose its a bit different if your doing benchrest who load at the range. I think alot of thoes guys now use a arbour press though.

 

[Jura]

Compact Reloading Press

Our Reloading Presses are precision machined from solid 6061 aluminum stock and come in 3 sizes to suit your needs. The PPC size will resize the PPC, BR and shorter cases. The 308 size will resize the 308 or shorter cases. The Mag size will resize up to 2.9" cases and seat bullets. They all use...

www.harrellsprecision.com

Many thanks guys; just bit the bullet and ordered a Harrell's Compact Mag Press

​

 

[JTO]

Wamadet Reloading Press For Sale UK Condition: New

Wamadet Press for sale (press only) Condition new. (Unused)

www.helstongunsmiths.com

 

[HistoricBore]

That Wamadet should be attached to a substantial plank of Marine Ply about 9" by 18"!
I have been using the same one since 1982 - they are great! .25 ACP up to .45-70 .

HB

 

[JTO]

That Wamadet should be attached to a substantial plank of Marine Ply about 9" by 18"!


HB

That's all I use! Got to get round to building a bench for the two Lee Classic Cast presses on the floor in the corner.

 

[tarponhead]

What next? Loading in the high seat with a patiently waiting deer? I admire your collective commitment to the cause of tight groups! Seriously, it is impressive - I’ll have a proper go one day.