Anyone have experience with a single stage press? I am looking at getting into doing some distance shooting and would like to reload those rounds. Not looking to put out thousands of handgun rounds, if I wanted to do that I would get a progressive (will probably do that one day though). I used to have a Lee turret press and it was ok, didn't make me want to jump back into a Lee because I assume there are better options out there and single stage presses are cheap enough as is. Not looking to feta kit either, would rather piece everything together since this will be for more of a precision setup.

Suggestions?

8/5/2012 7:52:19 PM

i've got the newest version of the Rockchucker. it is an excellent press. it's smooth and solid. plenty of leverage. the spent primer collection device on it takes some tweaking, but other than that it's perfect.

i've also got an older Lee Challenger that stays setup with a universal decapping die. it's rough and flimsy, but it's fine for decapping.

"precision" means different things to different people. a Rockchucker and a decent 2-die set will turn-out ammunition that is more accurate than most factory rifles. from there you can go to neck sizing, micrometer seating dies, bushing dies, body dies, blah blah blah right on up to non-threaded dies in an arbor press like a lot of benchresters use.

here's my setup:




[Edited on August 5, 2012 at 8:04 PM. Reason : i know y'all are jealous of my pastel paint job in my reloading room]

[Edited on August 5, 2012 at 8:06 PM. Reason : a dillon 550 will be going in that empty spot on the press island sometime soon]

8/5/2012 8:03:51 PM

Nice setup, I like what I have read about the rockchucker so I am leaning on that direction as of now. At the present time my precision loads will not be too fancy as I don't have a rig worthy of getting real technical but that is on the list so I want something that will suite my needs now and when I get a custom rig

8/5/2012 8:11:08 PM

i'd also suggest looking at the Lee Classic Cast. it's not much different from the Rockchucker. cast iron frame, a tube for routing spent primers into a bottle or trash can, and cheaper than the Rockchucker.

the Forster Co-Ax is regarded as many as the best single stage press available. at the price they're going for, it should be. i'd love to have one, but what i've got seems to get the job done so far.

8/5/2012 8:19:14 PM

That Co-Ax is pretty tempting but yeah the price is up there for a single stage. I really want to get one of the three you have mentioned and the Lock-n-Load AP, my brother in law has one with some of the extras (brass feeder, maybe the bullet feeder too, can't remember) and he can absolutely crank out some handgun and .223. Not a cheap setup by any means though.

8/5/2012 8:24:54 PM

Quote :

"Anyone have experience with a single stage press?"

I've made over 1,000 .40S&W rounds with my single stage. That's more or less my experience with reloading

8/5/2012 8:54:00 PM

i've heard too many complaints about the finicky priming system on the lock-n-load AP to ever consider it. if i wanted a progressive i had to tinker with constantly, i'd save my money and get a Lee.

8/5/2012 8:57:31 PM

Anyone shot a makarov PM?

(another candidate for wife gun)

8/6/2012 2:20:37 PM

you pick some off-the-wall shit. why not get her one of the countless 9x19 purse/CC options? practice ammo, which she should use a lot of, doesn't get much cheaper.

8/7/2012 12:29:31 PM

lol sorry... i like metal guns and abnormal guns.

i'm thinking on my semi-auto 308 i'm just going to make a scar 17-s be my Christmas present to me

8/7/2012 12:51:00 PM

pick one up for me too

8/7/2012 12:51:26 PM

the 9x18 makarov is a silly cartridge.

8/7/2012 1:09:14 PM

well its cheaper then .380 lol and is centerfire.

8/7/2012 1:11:03 PM

God forbid this happens, but what if your wife uses this weapon in a defensive situation and has shot someone with this cheap steel jacketed ammo?

In the current political climate I see such things labeled as armor-piercing even if it has the ballistics of a thrown ham sandwich.

Surplus isn't really a reliable source of ammo for any caliber, especially if its importation ceases in the near gun-control future, and domestically produced 9x18 is pricey.

Even if you're set on a surplus caliber for defense isn't the 7.62 x 25 much more powerful and widely available? Hell, on CSF someone is selling 1600 rounds for under $300. It's comparable to 357sig IMHO.

Nice Yugo M57s available for $199 on aimsurplus right now-

Nice mags on classicfirearms and unissued mags easy to find as well (tho $25).

Don't order a Makarov online either; especially not a Polish gun. Handle it in person first because some of these things have trigger pulls over 20 pounds. I like surplus guns but these are not something I've ever wanted.

8/7/2012 1:34:28 PM

10-4... never handled one... thats why i asked.


i'll probably do the PPK-S

8/7/2012 2:06:20 PM

fuck a 380.

8/7/2012 2:11:54 PM

FOR A GIRL!

i just want her to have something that will build confidence. Then move her to a 9mm or .40

she's 6' tall and lanky as crap.

8/7/2012 2:12:56 PM

there's a lot more to it than cartridge choice. my 1911 has much more manageable recoil than my LCP.

[Edited on August 7, 2012 at 3:16 PM. Reason : nnn]

8/7/2012 3:16:24 PM

yeah... heavy/ small.. is my goal and i'll do what i can to tune the springs etc. for her.

2 days till i get my 1911.

8/7/2012 3:17:22 PM

I've always found a heavier framed 9mm is more comfortable to shoot than a .380. If I was going to get my wife a pistol it would be a 38 special revolver but if I wanted to go semi auto I would probably look into a non polymer 9mm.

Really I just hate the .380 and would try to avoid it at all cost.

8/7/2012 7:34:55 PM

Don't believe the gunstore hype, man.

My wife carries a Glock 36. Get her a good gun and caliber and get her lessons. I'm not talking about punching paper at 7 yards I'm talking about stress shooting, positional shooting etc.

And don't try to do it yourself neither, that is asking for trouble.

8/7/2012 7:40:54 PM

3k more primers, 500 more bullets, 4 more lbs of powder

really need that 550

8/7/2012 7:46:59 PM

My wife has a Sig P238.
It is one of the heavier .380 pistols, and one of the other benefits is that it has real sights on it.
It is probably the pocket pistol I have most enjoyed shooting. The 1911 format, great trigger, ability to put new grips on...


Anyone have any tips/tricks/knowledge on changing the trigger on a Remington 700?

8/7/2012 8:28:13 PM

are you putting in a drop-in trigger like a Timney? that's just a couple pins. a bench block would be helpful.

8/7/2012 8:39:12 PM

I have the 700 AAC-SD, with the adjustable trigger.
The trigger itself broke where the set screw runs threw it.
I am putting in the remington 40X trigger.

I have an assortment of tools at my disposal, but no bench block.
I can't find any tutorials online, but my understanding is something like the following:
Remove action from stock
Push out pins
Pull out old trigger
Put in new trigger
Put pins in
Put back in stock

8/7/2012 8:59:05 PM

that's pretty much it. you can probably get by with a block of wood with a hole drilled in it.



also, lol @ another broke remington

8/7/2012 9:01:43 PM

The upgraded 40X trigger is courtesy of remington.
The trigger broke during a class where a remington rep was present.

8/7/2012 9:04:59 PM

the point is it broke

8/7/2012 9:13:57 PM

found a deal on a chronograph on another forum today. gonna be cool to get some real data.

8/8/2012 10:07:08 PM

If youre interested in an interarms ppk/s, shoot me a PM

8/8/2012 10:28:49 PM

Is a semi auto 308 awesome or dumb... I still can't decide.

8/9/2012 2:27:13 PM

full auto 308 would be more fun

8/9/2012 2:54:56 PM

^^ STFU and buy something already

[Edited on August 9, 2012 at 2:55 PM. Reason : ^^]

8/9/2012 2:55:25 PM

^^^I'll let you know by this weekend. Going to take the SCAR out to the range for the first time.

[Edited on August 9, 2012 at 5:08 PM. Reason : .]

8/9/2012 5:08:06 PM

he ain't gonna buy shit

8/9/2012 5:41:41 PM

let me know how you like the SCAR. I've been seriously contemplating getting one and outfitting it with an ACOG.

8/9/2012 6:35:02 PM

New interesting SCAR-25 lower by Handl Defense. Accepts AR-15 style grips and Magpul magazines.

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop%2Fdetail&product_id=3217

8/9/2012 7:31:41 PM

sumfoo you fucker! buy a PTR-

real guns dont have gas systems (plus i want you to review it before i purchase kthx).

[Edited on August 9, 2012 at 9:58 PM. Reason : 20rd magazines are like 2 dollars a piece]

8/9/2012 9:56:52 PM

I hope this was just created drama for TV; otherwise this hothead doesn't need to be in the business.

8/9/2012 10:00:15 PM

30rd PMAG for $10

http://www.kygunco.com/products2.cfm/id/5762/name/magpul-pmag-30rd-magazine-black

8/10/2012 8:28:57 AM

^ don't forget about shipping: Ground - $9.08

8/10/2012 9:25:04 AM

Good call... I forgot to check that. Its over $12 for me

disregard that

8/10/2012 9:44:22 AM

yeah i was gonna order 4 until i saw $12+ shipping

8/10/2012 11:05:14 AM

I just ordered (7) Windowed PMAGs from http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/product_p/mag-210.htm?1=1&CartID=1

Free Shipping over $90 + 5% off with code 'snipe' = $98.75

Ends up being $14.11 each, shipped - for the windowed version

8/10/2012 11:26:49 AM

Quote :

"i just want her to have something that will build confidence. Then move her to a 9mm or .40 she's 6' tall and lanky as crap."

Find her a used Sig P232. Best sidearm ever.

8/10/2012 12:43:35 PM

So I was trying to shave down the front sight post on the upper for the AR build I am doing for my Dad and I would start making progress and then my dremel battery would die. Still needed to shave it down some but was getting sick of never having enough juice in my dremel and then I remember that out in the back storage room of the house we are renting there is a grinding wheel

Fail

8/10/2012 8:24:46 PM

the cordless dremels are about useless

8/10/2012 8:34:20 PM

For anything heavy duty I agree (and learned it the hard way). For a quick cut here or there it works pretty well. When I bought it I didn't plan on using it to shave down something like that, I am still kicking myself that I didn't remember there was a grinding wheel within my reach.

8/10/2012 8:36:47 PM

Quote :

"Find her a used Sig P232. Best sidearm ever."

That's a horrible idea. The easiest way to build confidence is picking the right platform/caliber combination.
A small direct blowback 380 with a narrow backstrap isn't a good gun to learn on. Instead, pick a full size metal framed (all steel would be great) 9mm. A beretta 92 clone, sig 226, or cz 75 would be a good choice. If she's 6' tall she should have no problem at all with any gun being too big. I think the best would be a cz 75 sp-01. It's all steel with full length dust cover and the grip circumference is smaller than the regular 75b. It's probably the softest 9mm out there.

I don't know why people think small guns are any easier to shoot. The light weight doesn't absorb recoil, the short sight radii make it difficult to shoot, they often have small sights, and the short slide length and grip length dont cut down on muzzle flip.

8/11/2012 5:48:22 PM

got my wife shooting my 1911 today. she made me proud.

then she let me go buy a Dillon 550

8/11/2012 6:23:07 PM