Question on press (hollywood reloading)

[Joeyf1986]

Got this press for free from a buddy, who knew nothing about it.
Looking to get into reloading, mostly 6.5CM and 300PRC.
Is this press viable these days (parts interchange/availability, dies, etc, or should I just buy a complete unit from another company?
I'm not able to find a part number on it.

[eaglemike]

Pretty sure that uses standard shell holders, like RCBS. Standard die thread, 7/8-14, so no issue there. Hollywood got bought out by somebody long ago. It should be usable. Not a bad press to start. You can see everything happening one step at a time.
There used to be more manufacturers of reloading stuff in California. Like many other industries, the either die or move away. I'm trying to decide if I want to move, shut down, or struggle on a couple more years.

[bigbossman]

Originally Posted by eaglemike

Pretty sure that uses standard shell holders, like RCBS.

Pretty sure this is not the case. The shell holders are different, and peculiar to that press. RCBS does make an adapter, though.

Hollywood press die for 30-06:



RCBS adapter:

[BigBronco]

Yes it is useable. She'll holders are no longer made but can be found on eBay. There is also an adapter available but it will raise the height of the shell holder and may affect Camover.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by BigBronco

and may affect Camover.

Oh dear, you risk conjuring F Guffey to show up and impart his vast knowledge....

[BigBronco]

Originally Posted by smoothy8500

Oh dear, you risk conjuring F Guffey to show up and impart his vast knowledge....

I did think about that just before hitting send.

[eaglemike]

Originally Posted by bigbossman

Pretty sure this is not the case. The shell holders are different, and peculiar to that press. RCBS does make an adapter, though.

Sorry, you are right. It's been a long time, but I think I might have made an adapter for a guy maybe 35-40 years ago.
Cam over Machinists might call it going past center, or over center. I'm not the expert FG is though. I did work for several years at Star Machine Works making parts for reloaders and Lubri-Sizers. The travel past center of the Lubri-Sizer is used to pump the lube into the grooves of the projectile. Simple and brilliant idea. Still sold today by Magma. The inventor, Elard Mock, never used the term "cam-over."
Might be able to just install the die bodies higher and still get the desired "cam over."

ETA: OP, if you cant find an adapter, I could likely make one for you. I'd just hate for that to go in the scrap heap for lack of a small part. Or maybe sell the press to someone that already has one.

[hermosabeach]

Great press in its day

They made a lot of precision seating dies

If you load big stuff, it's great. 408 -50
Maybe even 338

For normal rounds, it's more than you need.

So if you load 308/30-06/300 WM I would pass.

[pacrat]

Originally Posted by hermosabeach

Great press in its day

They made a lot of precision seating dies

If you load big stuff, it's great. 408 -50
Maybe even 338

For normal rounds, it's more than you need.

So if you load 308/30-06/300 WM I would pass.

Too late to pass. OP already has it for free.

The old Hollywood presses are very desirable for loading the Big Long Cases. I know a fella that uses one for 50 BMG. And he also loads many other lesser sizes on it. Works just fine.

I can't ask him for advice because he absconded for Chloride Az long ago and lost touch.

OP: yours appears to have holes for both 7/8" and 1 1/4" dies. You need to do a bit of measuring. Standardized loading dies are 7/8"-14tpi. BIG dies like the 50 BMG are 1 1/4".

Can you raise the press to half mast and show a pic? I would like to see if it has "on press priming". If not, it's not a big deal. Lots of guys prefer the "feel" of hand priming.

As a FNG to reloading. I would suggest first getting a couple of loading manuals. And a couple of Lee Deluxe Die sets. Which have the excellent Collet Neck Sizers, and a FL die.

Don't be in a rush. Build your "know how" and tooling in an unhurried manner. You don't really NEED every new dodad or whatnot, that comes down the pipe. No matter what "latest" advice you get on the interwebs.