New Press Recommendations
- Thread starter Stortford
- Start date
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
I tried to source an MEC Marksman but they are hens teeth in Germany so I went for a used but like new Prazi 120mm three pillar unit which is very smooth and accurate, if doing heavy pressure case reforming I do it on my Rock Chucker as the prazi is smooth but too nice and expensive to risk buggering up the bearings on the pillars by destruction testing it, the Chucker is a shaft in cast steel construction with no bearings so just oil it up and go.
Yep I rarely see them for sale. I was lucky and got a display model for a good discount (think I paid £250 for the press and the stand from memory)
I could not believe it when it arrived. Must have been a "look only" display as it was all packaged up properly in the correct packaging and did not have a mark on it. I cannot remember the name of the company I got it from but they sold mostly shotgun reloading gear from memory.
Smallholder
Well-Known Member
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Mec marksman are nice solid bits of kit
If you want the full hog best in the game it's got to be forster co-ax - amazing bit of kit or a prazipress
If you want the full hog best in the game it's got to be forster co-ax - amazing bit of kit or a prazipress
A friend has just bought one of these. I'm very impressed with it. I echo the sentiment above.
Regards
JCS
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Had mine for while now and the only thing I can fault is the primer seating can be a bit of a pain if you have multiple calibers like I have but it's no major drama as the pros easily outweigh the cons
I use the RCBS turret press and have 4 different calibres on different turrets. I never need to change a die again. Body die, neck die, seating die, expander die and crimp die all on a single turret.
Turret presses are the way to go. The Redding T7 looks good too.
Turret presses are the way to go. The Redding T7 looks good too.
If you're loading for stalking ammo an RCBS will be all you'll need, they don't wear out so a secondhand one will serve you well.
If youre interested in the pursuit of accuracy for its own sake
Go straight to C0-Ax - yeah £450 secondhand is a lot of dosh but 1. they will never be any cheaper, 2 you will always get your money back if you change direction. So it may be the cheapest option long term
Area419 or Turban are eyewateringly expensive, the RCBS summit is supposed to be excellent but ive never met anyone who has one.
If youre interested in the pursuit of accuracy for its own sake
Go straight to C0-Ax - yeah £450 secondhand is a lot of dosh but 1. they will never be any cheaper, 2 you will always get your money back if you change direction. So it may be the cheapest option long term
Area419 or Turban are eyewateringly expensive, the RCBS summit is supposed to be excellent but ive never met anyone who has one.
Scipio
Well-Known Member
Hello @Stortford 
Well, For over all ease of use the Co-ax seems to be the slickest choice, largely due to it having:
- no need for shell holders,
- a simple and in built quick die change system and
- a good spent primer pick up system.
So If the quite significantly higher cost vs for example a rock chucker doesnt bother you, and/or you'll be loading for quite a few different cartridges, the co-ax might be your best bet.
This said, a rock chucker, and many others of the same ilk, (like the redding big boss 2, the lee classic cast iron etc.) will probably all make more accurate ammo than what most, if not any, of us can make optimal use of. So if you dont mind a slightly slower and less sleak manner of operation, they can probably also do all you need, and do it well and for less money.
And they can be upgraded too, as this thread shows several examples of (for the rock chucker) : For the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme users (possible cool upgrades).
Speaking of price, the Rock Chuckers can, as mentioned above, also be found used quite easily and for quite good prices (i just bought one from egun.de for right around 120 pounds, including shipping to Denmark and a hornady quick die switch system installed).
Well, For over all ease of use the Co-ax seems to be the slickest choice, largely due to it having:
- no need for shell holders,
- a simple and in built quick die change system and
- a good spent primer pick up system.
So If the quite significantly higher cost vs for example a rock chucker doesnt bother you, and/or you'll be loading for quite a few different cartridges, the co-ax might be your best bet.
This said, a rock chucker, and many others of the same ilk, (like the redding big boss 2, the lee classic cast iron etc.) will probably all make more accurate ammo than what most, if not any, of us can make optimal use of. So if you dont mind a slightly slower and less sleak manner of operation, they can probably also do all you need, and do it well and for less money.
And they can be upgraded too, as this thread shows several examples of (for the rock chucker) : For the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme users (possible cool upgrades).
Speaking of price, the Rock Chuckers can, as mentioned above, also be found used quite easily and for quite good prices (i just bought one from egun.de for right around 120 pounds, including shipping to Denmark and a hornady quick die switch system installed).
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Anyone got one of these?
www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk
Frankford Arsenal Co-Axial Reloading Press
<p>Easy-to-adjust integral "floating" shell-holder plate system</p>
www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk
How does the Forster co ax press fair against the Frankford arsenal co ax press as the Frankford one is about 350 new.
Stortford
Well-Known Member
I'm literally watching the Ultimate Reloader video on it now... It looks promising! Although the I build LED seems a bit gimmicky
If your looking at inexpensive value. The lee classic cast is a brute and good for all calibers and not expensive.
Scipio
Well-Known Member
For sure, also because the adaptations you might want to carry out on the rock chucker, in order to bring it closer to the co-ax in operational sleakness, will also add to it's total cost price.
However the fairer comparison would likely be how much you'd get for your 350 in the two scenarios where you either buy a used co-ax in good condition or a used RC, also in good condition.
For 350 you could likely buy a RC in good condition, possibly one that is already upgraded a good bit, and have quite a bit of bob left for quality dies, scale, powder dispenser etc, whereas with the co-ax you'd have to add that to the total cost of your reloading kit on top of the 350.
If you want to survey your options, it might be worth having a look at egun.de They seem to regularly have used rock chuckers in good condition for sale on there, and often at quite reasonable prices too. And the shipping rates to Denmark (where i had my RC delivered too), wernt bad either.
Naturally having it shipped to the UK might be a bit more tricky these days, however the sellers i wrote to, were quite happy to inform me of the shipping cost, when asked
Things will change over the years ! However i have been asked by a few folks if i can weld the Lee Presses after they break - the answer is always no its a pita . I have used RCBS rockchuckers for years and never even known of a broken one personally . If you don't loads of ammo and want the best accuracy consider arbour presses, though they are only really for neck sizing.
For hunting ammo shooting say 100 rounds a year , there is little reason to roll your own today
For hunting ammo shooting say 100 rounds a year , there is little reason to roll your own today
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Get a coax over the frankford arsenal.
Will always be forster rings about for the dies, maybe not the case with the frankford. I just use hornady rings on mine tbh.
Also the resale if you gave up reloading would be good. Would probably recoup what you paid.
Will always be forster rings about for the dies, maybe not the case with the frankford. I just use hornady rings on mine tbh.
Also the resale if you gave up reloading would be good. Would probably recoup what you paid.
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