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Posted: 5/7/2013 2:40:10 PM EDT
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Looking for a little advice and possibly some items.
I'm looking to reload some 50 BMG. Which press(es) have any of you used? Pro's and con's? I've got a Lee Loadmaster and a RCBS Rockchucker. Love them both, but can't to 50 on those. thanks dave |
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<removed> see #2 from the COC, code of conduct. I see this thread was moved to the reloading forum after this was posted. dryflash3 jeesh, someone having a bad day?, since I posted before some whiz bang moved it, it seemed like I was responding to someone looking to buy 50 bmg reloading stuff.
SPECIFIC TO SALES
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This is the wrong forum for reloading questions. This forum is for sales. You will probably get several good replies in the reloading forum: http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_6/42_Reloading.html |
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Quoted: This is the wrong forum for reloading questions. This forum is for sales. You will probably get several good replies in the reloading forum: http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_6/42_Reloading.html What he said, move on the way. |
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The only thing I don't like about the Lee is they went with non standard thread dies for some reason. That being said I really like my RCBS Ammomaster. When I researched loading this caliber, Lee looks very attractive looking at price alone but as mentioned, their use of non standard thread size on their press locks you into using their stuff exclusively. I also was never a fan of a cast aluminum press though I do have to admit many guys spoke of having great success with them. |
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The only thing I don't like about the Lee is they went with non standard thread dies for some reason. That being said I really like my RCBS Ammomaster. When I researched loading this caliber, Lee looks very attractive looking at price alone but as mentioned, their use of non standard thread size on their press locks you into using their stuff exclusively. I also was never a fan of a cast aluminum press though I do have to admit many guys spoke of having great success with them. I am not thrilled of the idea of using an aluminum press with anything other than pistol rounds, so there would be no way I'd use one for 50bmg |
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The only thing I don't like about the Lee is they went with non standard thread dies for some reason. That being said I really like my RCBS Ammomaster. When I researched loading this caliber, Lee looks very attractive looking at price alone but as mentioned, their use of non standard thread size on their press locks you into using their stuff exclusively. I also was never a fan of a cast aluminum press though I do have to admit many guys spoke of having great success with them. I am not thrilled of the idea of using an aluminum press with anything other than pistol rounds, so there would be no way I'd use one for 50bmg The Lee press is cast iron, not aluminum. Not sure where you guys are getting that. I have the Lee press and am very happy with it, especially for the price. Put the bushing in it and you can use it with normal size dies as well. Most single stage presses use that same type of bushing set up anyway, they just don't have the opening large enough for the big 50. Lee just made dies to fit without the bushing. The only gripe some people have is that you need to angle the cartridge into the die and shell holder since there is barely enough room. |
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The only thing I don't like about the Lee is they went with non standard thread dies for some reason. That being said I really like my RCBS Ammomaster. When I researched loading this caliber, Lee looks very attractive looking at price alone but as mentioned, their use of non standard thread size on their press locks you into using their stuff exclusively. I also was never a fan of a cast aluminum press though I do have to admit many guys spoke of having great success with them. I am not thrilled of the idea of using an aluminum press with anything other than pistol rounds, so there would be no way I'd use one for 50bmg The Lee press is cast iron, not aluminum. Not sure where you guys are getting that. I have the Lee press and am very happy with it, especially for the price. Put the bushing in it and you can use it with normal size dies as well. Most single stage presses use that same type of bushing set up anyway, they just don't have the opening large enough for the big 50. Lee just made dies to fit without the bushing. The only gripe some people have is that you need to angle the cartridge into the die and shell holder since there is barely enough room. not all Le presses are all cast iron. Some are a mix of iron and aluminum. |
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How are you guys swaging/decrimping?
I have the RCBS bench mount swage for smaller calibers, but I hear the CD4H and other 50 BMG swaging setups are hard to use? Wondering if it's easier to just ream? I work at a supply company, so I have access to a tons of tools/parts/bits, ect. I have the Lee Classic and I'm preparing to get everything I need. I have the dies on backorder. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I would go with big blue on this one x 2 here. Can't possibly beat Dillons service. Equipment second to none. Wags Do you have any experience with the Dillon 50 press, or are you just regurgitating the blue koolaid mantra? The 50 bmg press alone is $1,000 (without dies). The RCBS Ammomaster is about half that with dies, the Lee is even less than that. Granted the OP did not specify his intentions with his press, or his budget, but the BFR is not your typical press for the 50 shooter. |
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I would go with big blue on this one x 2 here. Can't possibly beat Dillons service. Equipment second to none. Wags Do you have any experience with the Dillon 50 press, or are you just regurgitating the blue koolaid mantra? The 50 bmg press alone is $1,000 (without dies). The RCBS Ammomaster is about half that with dies, the Lee is even less than that. Granted the OP did not specify his intentions with his press, or his budget, but the BFR is not your typical press for the 50 shooter. I guess I'm a kool aid drinker. I have the lee 50 press/ dies, etc. Great piece. Proven itself for years. I also have a dillon rl550b. I do like dillon products, dillon service, dillon tech help when needed, etc. I like dillon. I don't think the OP asked which was the cheapest press. He asked which one to buy. I have had my lee for years. WAY before blue went big. Wags |
| I am using a steel "button" that was machined .002" smaller than the CCI #35 primer. Put the button under a one ton arbor press. Put a .5" steel rod down the case neck all the way to the primer pocket. Lube the button and push the rod and case onto the button. It will swage the primer pocket. Then I use a deburring tool and lightly debur the shoulder of the primer pocket. New primers press in snugly. The steel rod must be about .5" longer than you case length. The "button" was pressed into a steel plate. |
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I've been very satisfied with my RCBS Ammomaster. It's plenty strong to resize even M2-fired brass, tall enough so you don't have to be a contortionist to seat the projectiles, and isn't going to break the bank... though if you're shooting .50BMG, cost-savings isn't exactly your #1 priority.
As for dealing with primer pocket crimps, I use an RCBS Crimp Remover mounted in my case prep center. I feel there's still plenty of meat around the primer pocket, that cutting out the crimp isn't an issue. For trimming, I use an RCBS High Capacity trimmer. It works.... not nearly as nice as a Dillon RT1200 mounted in a progressive, but then again, I only load about 50 cases at a time, so it's not that big a deal. This, to me, is the middle-of-the-road setup. Not the cheapest out there, and certainly not the most expensive. For me, it's a good value for the price - about $720. Lee comes in at about $380, but it's just BARELY adequate for the .50BMG. Dillon is the top-of-the-line, with a progressive press, full carbide sizer, and a press-mounted trimmer - but you're going to pay close to $2500. |
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