Target Sports

SPECIAL FEATURE PART TWO: UNDER PRESSURE

Created on 14th May 2009

LAURIE HOLLAND continues his overview of handloading presses with a look at more single-stage versions along with turret presses

CARRYING ON from last month, we have some more single-stage designs to look at before moving to ‘turret' models. But first, a quick update on distributors: Forster Products, previously looked after by North West Custom Parts, has just been taken on by Tim Hannam, with stock arriving from the USA shortly. Tim Hannam has in turn handed over its long-standing import/distribution role for Hornady reloading tools, ammunition and bullets to Edgar Brothers. At the time of writing the latter company awaits delivery of stock from the USA, so I was unable to borrow a press for a hands-on test. Another large press covered this month was also unavailable, the Lyman Crusher II - an embarrassing omission as I own one but cannot find it! You might ask how anybody can lose such a large item but I'd found it over-heavy for my portable loading bench as it was then configured and had substituted the lighter Lee Classic Cast, storing the big Lyman away - if only I could remember where!

As in part one, subjective impressions of press operation were obtained by sizing 25 Norma 1980s-era .308W cases that been used as factory ammo in a competition and fired in a large number of different rifles. Case headspace values and ranges were measured, as was runout to see if there was any difference between presses - particularly whether single-stage and turret models gave different results.

Bench presses

Here's a continuation of my look at general purpose/heavy duty single-stage bench presses:

‘Super' single-stages

We've reached the end of the road with ‘mainstream' single-stage designs (subject only to being able to borrow a Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic model once Edgar Brothers receives stock from the USA). However, there are still larger, heavier and more powerful examples available. Such models were traditionally used for bullet swaging and radical case-forming and were largely confined to professional users or serious amateur experimenters, but a market now exists for handling the big .50BMG and similar cartridges. Some models, like the CH4D Heavy Duty Champion, stick with a cast iron O-frame; others, including the RCBS Ammo Master Single and Hornady 50 BMG, have adopted a two-assembly form comprising a base/linkage/ram bottom half with a die-holding superstructure, the pair being linked by steel columns (like Lee Precision's smaller and more commonplace turret presses). This provides the necessary tool height, strength and rigidity to deal with near 6" long cartridges within a manageable weight. The die-holding insert may be larger than that of smaller presses, to hold the large diameter dies used, and large diameter rams may not accept standard shellholders so adaptors are often needed to handle standard dies and cartridges. The following is not an exhaustive list and does not include specialist Corbin and other makes of bullet-forming presses.

Turret presses

Turret presses are not offered by all manufacturers - neither Forster nor Hornady supply them. The format can vary but the traditional form is rather like a large C-type press, with the top ‘arm' of the frame replaced by a multi-die turret or tool-head semi-permanently mounted using a retaining bolt. The result resembles a large mushroom. The head is rotated (indexed) to bring different dies into line with the ram. Easy turret removal is normally provided, to allow replacement by another with different dies pre-installed. Turret heads have become larger over the years. Some models accept six dies; the Redding T7 takes seven.

How do they compare to single-stage models? The primary advantages obviously arise from their ability to mount several dies. Many users only set up dies once in the press, leaving them permanently installed. This is particularly handy for the typical American shooter who shoots a combination of a .30-06 rifle and .357 Magnum revolver or similar - the two-die rifle and three-die pistol sets are handily accommodated by a six-hole turret, leaving a spare position for a powder measure. They offer greater output than single-stage types. This comes partly through avoiding die changes but also because users have the option of taking each case through the entire loading cycle in sequence, turning the turret after each part of the process to bring the next die into play and charging the case using a special die that mounts the powder measure and may even operate it automatically as the press ram is raised. Alternatively, the user can leave the turret head at one position and batch-process cases as on a single-stage press.

The downsides arise from the tool being asked to do more than the single-stage version. This makes it more expensive and heavier and means it has more parts to wear out. It once suffered too from inherent weaknesses that caused it to be shunned by precision rifle cartridge shooters. These were difficulty in obtaining precise alignment of die and press-ram for every station and the fact that the turret would ‘spring' under the pressure. These problems could be exacerbated by wear and tear from turning the turret that made its fit on the frame sloppy. CNC-machining and improved materials have largely overcome these problems and modern examples offer improved alignment, strength and longevity. Nevertheless, most are still avoided by precision handloaders or those undertaking really heavy duty full-length resizing.

Most designs stick to the traditional ‘mushroom-form' that indexes manually, with the operator manipulating a short handle that slots into the turret side. Lee Precision has gone down a different route, using a light-alloy die-holding disk supported by and rotating within a steel holder. This ‘turret' offers such low resistance that a simple ‘auto-index' mechanism attached to the press ram turns it to the next die position on each pull of the press-handle, increasing output through a loaded round being produced on every third or fourth stroke depending on cartridge type and die configuration.