.50 BMG Reloading Press (opinions wanted)

[yoda]

I would like to get a press to reload .50 BMG primarily but also have the capability to reload other smaller stuff. RCBS and Hornady make kits specifically for .50 BMG. I'm interested in any opinions or experience with these or other presses.

Thanks in advance.

[big jon]

press

get ahold of mrkubota,PM him.

[mrkubota]

I would like to get a press to reload .50 BMG primarily but also have the capability to reload other smaller stuff. RCBS and Hornady make kits specifically for .50 BMG. I'm interested in any opinions or experience with these or other presses.

Thanks in advance.

At the low end price wise is the Lee 'Classic Cast' .50bmg press.
Around 150.00 including dies. It's getting good reviews:

http://members.cox.net/rjring/

Midrange, are the RCBS Ammomaster and Hornady .50bmg kits.
I use one of each on my bench set up for sizing/seating and priming.
Around 500.00 w/dies.

http://www.hevanet.com/temple/50reloading.html

On the high end, there are the Corbin and Hollywood Engineering presses.
They will load anything up to 20mm and can swage bullets too!
Around 1000.00

http://www.corbins.com/pr-csp2.htm

http://www.obscure-reference.com/guns/reloading/hollywood/index.html

All of them can reload std ammo as well...

[Hunter]

I would like to get a press to reload .50 BMG primarily but also have the capability to reload other smaller stuff. RCBS and Hornady make kits specifically for .50 BMG. I'm interested in any opinions or experience with these or other presses.

Thanks in advance.

If you are not looking to have ultra-ultra precise ammo and you can tolerate more than few thousandths of runout in the loaded ammo, then go with the Lee 50 BMG kit. It runs $160 with everything you need. For loading smaller stuff you only switch out the shell holder and put in the 7/8 bushing that comes with it. At lot of guys have had good results with this, and even some high end target shooters have commented on how well the Lee produces ammo (minimal run out) for the price paid. Now the big negative for the Lee is that it utilizes 1 1/4" dies, which means only Lee dies work. But again, dies and press sell for $160.

Now if you are looking for the better units, then go with the RCBS or Hornady so that you can utilize the standard 1 1/2" dies. You can either buy their BMG kits for the $450 range or just get the press and then start shopping for better dies. But you will need to buy the frame conversion on the RCBS to load the small stuff (another $95) if you buy the 50 BMG kits. Or you can first buy the standard RCBS press separate for $190 (so you can load smaller stuff) then add another $95 for the conversion kit to 50BMG (no dies). Then go shopping for dies, either the standard RCBS or look for better ones from M2 Precision or C4HD. You will be talking $250-$350 for a set .


So it all depends on what you are wanting for ammo. I would try the Lee first, especially if this is your first attempt at reloading and then maybe upgrade as you go on. You can always dedicate the Lee to small stuff or use if for say depriming the 50 if you end up with a higher end press later.

[yoda]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking about going middle of the road here. If it were between the RCBS and the Hornady, which would you pick and why?

[-hanko]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking about going middle of the road here. If it were between the RCBS and the Hornady, which would you pick and why?

I'd pick rcbs...they're local, customer service is superb (the equal of Dillon), and their stuff is well-engineered.

I'd also definitely check the Redding Ultra Mag (iirc). Very heavy duty & linkage is designed to put the die and shell in compression when you pull the handle; most other presses put the die head in tension. Price should be a little past rcbs/hornady, but not near Hollywood or Corbin. Having said that, if I reloaded for a .50 semi gun, I'd spend the bucks on Corbin & not look back. Tooling cost is not a big deal if you're loading dollar-fifty bullets or more.

-hanko

[SemiAutoSam]

What about dillon does old mike make a 50BMG press ?

[GW]

What about dillon does old mike make a 50BMG press ?

Oddly enough, he doesn't.

[bu-bye]

Say what you will about Lee but its hard to mess up a single stage press. I use a Lee O-press and it works great. Now, I would not touch a multi stage lee press if you paid me but a single stage is fine.

[mrkubota]

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking about going middle of the road here. If it were between the RCBS and the Hornady, which would you pick and why?

I have both the RCBS and Hornady .50bmg presses.
The basic frames are identical. The differences are that the Hornady makes use of it's "Lock 'n Load" collets, and the RCBS die set includes a (pretty useless) trim die.
The full-length decapper/sizer with the RCBS press is better except for the decapper pin. It's too thin!
The Hornady decapper/sizer is great, but it's expander ball (more like a football) can be problematic.
If I had to do it again, I'd just get either press and the CH4D die set to go with it...

I also just picked up a Lee Classic Cast .50bmg press and it seems adequate so far. I love the primer catch tube thing... and the way the priming stem plugs into the ram is a nice feature too.
Having to angle the brass into the shellholder is kinda funky, but it works.
The 150.00 price for everything is a definite plus!

[-hanko]

The full-length decapper/sizer with the RCBS press is better except for the decapper pin. It's too thin!
The Hornady decapper/sizer is great, but it's expander ball (more like a football) can be problematic.

If you know your pin size, find something maybe 5-though less, grind down the other end to fit your rcbs decapper collet, and you're good to go.

Redding makes a carbide expander button that does a great job; you don't need to lubricate the inside of the neck (but it's even easier if you do). I'm not sure if the make them for bmg though.

-hanko

[elsolo]

I have been really happy with the LEE .50BMG kit. I have only loaded 500 rounds of .50 on it so far, but it paid for itself very quickly.

My ammo is more accurate than the $4/rd "match ammo" I was buying, the group size at 600 yards was cut in half.
I can make magnet-testable ammo for ~$1.25 ea.

The only change I can conceive that would improve it is if the decapping pin allowed me to slide a case in w/o tilting it.(small gripe)