Reloading Equipment Quality

[Phil3]

I am brand new to reloading, and just received from MidwayUSA my Co-Ax press, Redding full length resizing die, and micrometer type bullet seater, for 223 Remington. I noticed that the Co-Ax press has some vertical scratches (one scratch is actually not straight) in the two rods at one end, and the Redding bullet seater has some small scratches and minor nicks through the black paint on the micrometer top. The paint is slightly worn through on the edge. The white lettering on the black micrometer top seems is a bit uneven as well. Is this normal for reloading tools of the trade? Parts were purchased from MidwayUSA. I keep wondering if the parts were used and returned, although the Co-Ax does look new, and the Redding bullet seater looks unused in all other respects.

- Phil

[TMC]

Sounds like the seating die is a return that they sent out to you.

As for the matching, sorry to tell you, but you should have bought Dillon. If you don't like the stuff they will replace it no questions asked. If you break small parts, even on a machine you bought second hand, they will send you replacement parts for free.

[Sky_DiveR]

Thanks. I always wanted to post that!

[Phil3]

Sounds like the seating die is a return that they sent out to you.

As for the matching, sorry to tell you, but you should have bought Dillon. If you don't like the stuff they will replace it no questions asked. If you break small parts, even on a machine you bought second hand, they will send you replacement parts for free.

I will be buying a Dillon as well (550 most likely), for pistol loading and perhaps some rifle if I need volume. I will be doing precision reloading for the rifle, possibly even benchrest, F-Class, etc. and will be measuring each charge, seating primers by hand, etc. This is not Dillon territory.

- Phil

[Phil3]

Thanks. I always wanted to post that!

Pics coming..camera battery is charging.

[ar15barrels]

the Redding bullet seater has some small scratches and minor nicks through the black paint on the micrometer top.

That's not paint.
That's black oxide.
The part lays in the bottom of a tank when it gets oxided.
If the parts are not stirred, you get spots without finish.
That won't matter one bit.

[spencerhut]

It's a machine, a tool, not some foo foo pile of art you wipe with a diaper. Does it work? Use it and quit sweating the small stuff.

[scr83jp]

I will be buying a Dillon as well (550 most likely), for pistol loading and perhaps some rifle if I need volume. I will be doing precision reloading for the rifle, possibly even benchrest, F-Class, etc. and will be measuring each charge, seating primers by hand, etc. This is not Dillon territory.

- Phil

I started using a Dillon RL450(first purchase) & upgraded it to RL550B that I used for :45acp,454casull,45colt,41mag,30-06,300wm,45-70,38spec,357mag,32-20,243 & sw460mag.They guarantee their parts and replace them w/o needing to return the defective parts.

[Phil3]

Here are pics. Pleaee note. ...I am asking if what I see is normal. I know many tools have less than stellar finishes, and accept that...but know nothing about what is the norm with reloading equipment, hence the question. Answers will help me evaluate whether future equipment is normal or not. I recognize nothing shown affects functionality. But, some level of decent finish is expected...is what I see what others typically see with their dies or presses?

28A = Full Length Resizing Die w/two nicks in it.

26A = Bullet Seater with less than clean white lettering.

24A = Bullet Seater with two nicks under "PAT", and bare metal showing around edge of micrometer top.

Also, does the resizing die come with any instructions? The seater came in a nice plastic box with instructions, but the resizer was in a small cardboard box with no documents of any kind, not even a warranty card like the seater did.

- Phil

[Phil3]

It's a machine, a tool, not some foo foo pile of art you wipe with a diaper. Does it work? Use it and quit sweating the small stuff.

That's ridiculous. If that was the case, why not buy any tool that is rusted, pitted, dented, dinged, missing a cosmetic part, has flaking paint, etc. that does not affect function? I doubt most would. A Snap-On tool would work just as well with a few cosmetic defects, but doubt most people would buy it if a defect free example was available.

- Phil

[Jicko]

Man-o-man....

All those redding looks new and normal.... if you find nicks on your hammer from HomeDepot, are you going to go return it??

Just use them and be happy and they will give you years, if not 10s of years of reliable service!

That's ridiculous. If that was the case, why not buy any tool that is rusted, pitted, dented, dinged, missing a cosmetic part, has flaking paint, etc. that does not affect function? I doubt most would. A Snap-On tool would work just as well with a few cosmetic defects, but doubt most people would buy it if a defect free example was available.

- Phil

Maybe you should just return them, and get out of this hobby before you drive yourself crazy.... midwayusa will provide you full refund... you have to accept the fact that you will not be able to make each and every round hitting exactly the same spot, you will not be able to make every round weight exactly to the 0.001gr, you will not be able to make every round exactly the same lenght to the 0.0001".....

[Phil3]

OK, that was what I wanted to know...if what I see is normal. As I said, I am fine with that...I just didn't what level of quality finish is the norm and what is not.

No, I would not return a hammer with nicks in it from Home Depot, or a vise, or a drill press with the ragged table, because I KNOW and have seen that such finish is the norm. I have never ever seen a reloading die in person, except briefly, and not had a chance to inspect, hence did not know what is normal. Now I do, thanks to your response.

I fully recognize that nothing can be perfect...I don't need any lecture on that.

I am only expecting a level of fit and finish that is the norm, nothing less, and nothing more...and was only asking what IS the norm.

I am more concerned about the Forster. Are those rods supposed to be glass smooth, or...? Again, don't have any experience to know.

- Phil

[ocabj]

As for the matching, sorry to tell you, but you should have bought Dillon. If you don't like the stuff they will replace it no questions asked. If you break small parts, even on a machine you bought second hand, they will send you replacement parts for free.

The Forster Co-Ax is a great press and Forster is a good company.

Dillon isn't the only company with solid customer service.

RCBS, Redding, Forster, ... will send replacement parts for free.

[ar15barrels]

I am more concerned about the Forster. Are those rods supposed to be glass smooth, or...?

Reloading tools are industrial machines intended to live in the garage, not lab instruments designed to live in boeing's clean room.

The rods are likely mild steel, not hardened or ground.
You are likely seeing marks that were on the raw steel bar from handling in the mill and machine shop before they became parts of the press.

Does the press ram move smoothly and repeatably up and down?
If so, that's what we are concerned about.

If the marks are effecting the operation, then call Forester about it.

[spencerhut]

Oh my . . . Way too anal even for me.