Older iron C presses, education please?

[Canuck Bob]

I was considering the little Lee Reloader C press for a dedicated press for loading the 32-20 and pushing some little slugs through a push through. Someone I respect suggested I might be happy with an older iron C press.

I am looking to build a list of suitable C presses to start looking.

A small press is fine as it will be dedicated to 32-20. I don't believe I need to worry about compound leverage, opinions? I understand some older presses are small threaded, drilling and tapping is within my ability. However easy to source shell holders or adaptors for same is required.

Please don't advise that I stepup to an Ultramag or RCBS press. I'm a nostalgia buff and enjoy resurrecting old tooling to a productive place.

[JerryB]

I load on a C&H C press that I got in new 1960, this is all I have ever used and it loads just fine.

[Griff]

I still have & use my Lyman Spartan I got in 1973. Uses std dies & shellholders. I use it as my portable press when I know resizing will be necessary. See 'em all the time on sneeze-bay!

[Canuck Bob]

The Lyman Spartan does seem to pop up alot. There is one called the Junior I think. Is it a Lyman too?

[BigSky56]

Yes lyman jr. it takes the smaller thread dies not the 7/8 thread of the standard dies. danny

[Wind]

Hey there Bob -- RCBS made a "Jr." also. It was my second press after my Belding & Mull inline. Best regards. Wind

[Pisgah]

I have an old RCBS Rock Chucker, which will handle anything up to .50 BMG. For small stuff, my little Lee Challenger press, an "economy" cast aluminum job, is ideal -- compact and surprisingly strong and rigid.

[AJMD429]

If you mean a press shaped like a "C" vs. an "O", of course they "aren't as strong" to quote the sales people, but gimme a break - the excess 'play' I've seen in most setups is in things like tool-heads (even the vaunted Dillon RL-550 has to have an aftermarket add-on to keep its tool-head stable). Besides, if you spring a "C" press loading .32-20, you're probably trying to wildcat it down to .17-20 (even that probably wouldn't phase even the aluminum "C" presses I've seen.

For .32-20, with its rather FRAGILE BRASS, you might find the extra visibility and ease of precision positioning the brass with a "C" press is actually an advantage.

[CJM]

Lyman Jr's use the same size die as their 310 tong tool, and dies are still available in 32/20. So if you really want a dedicated 32/20 reloading press, a Lyman Jr. will work at least as well as any other.

[Chas.]

Another vote for Lyman Spartan. Mine's been in use since 1969-70.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I still own an RCBS Junior press that I bought new in the 60`s. It has loaded thousands of rounds of ammo. Most of it in the .308 to 7mm Mag. class. It makes just fine ammo. If you can find one for cheap it will serve you well.

mine now sets in reserve just in case of a problem with my Rockchucker and that will never happen I am sure.

[765x53]

I once had a Hornady "C" press that I picked up at a garage sale along with several bullet molds and other odds and ends for $15.

I can"t imagine any operation that could spring it or break it.

I sold it because I could never get used to the shell holder setting at an angle.

[pokey]

you don't mention how heavy you would like your press to be.
i have an old herters open [c] press that weighs 30 lbs. and is
plenty stout.
i think, if you want a dedicated 32-20 maker a light weight would
be more fitting. the first press i ever bought was one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LYMAN-ACCULINE-PRES ... 2eae4a7e3a

the cool part of this press is, with a few pins knocked out, and the
lever swung around, it can go from bench mounted to hand held.
so if you want to take it to the range with you for test loads, or
sit in front of the t.v. and decap empties you can. then reconfigure
and crank out a bunch at the bench. she's fairly inexpensive too.
oh, yeah uses standard dies and shell holders as well.

[AJMD429]

Lyman Jr's use the same size die as their 310 tong tool, and dies are still available in 32/20. So if you really want a dedicated 32/20 reloading press, a Lyman Jr. will work at least as well as any other.

Plus, if you wanted to you could get a 310 Tong Tool as well; they actually work 'ok', although I haven't used mine in years, since I got a regular size set of dies. I keep it for 'nostalgia' and as a 'backup' though. I kind of wish I had one in the .22 Hornet, actually - another 'little' cartridge regular equipment seems oversized for.

you don't mention how heavy you would like your press to be.
i have an old herters open [c] press that weighs 30 lbs. and is
plenty stout.
i think, if you want a dedicated 32-20 maker a light weight would
be more fitting. the first press i ever bought was one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LYMAN-ACCULINE-PRES ... 2eae4a7e3a

the cool part of this press is, with a few pins knocked out, and the
lever swung around, it can go from bench mounted to hand held.
so if you want to take it to the range with you for test loads, or
sit in front of the t.v. and decap empties you can. then reconfigure
and crank out a bunch at the bench. she's fairly inexpensive too.
oh, yeah uses standard dies and shell holders as well.

Now THAT is a cool press - like the Lee Hand Press, only bench-mountable as well...

[Canuck Bob]

I'm looking into that Acculine, it sure meets my needs. Are they aluminum or iron framed? It would appear that cross border shipping costs will probably run $50. I've also put ads up on some Canadian sites.

The 310 Shop has some interesting gear as well.

I'm beginning to think the Herters would cost a fortune to ship. Everyone remarks on thier massive size. I would prefer a handy size like the Acculine or Tru Line Junior.
I think the little Lee C frame press for $36 will get me started until I luck into an older press. Then I could dedicate the Lee for decapping or sizing duties.

[Lefty Dude]

My main press for the last 40 years has been the RCBS Rockchucker. When Lee brought out the pot metal C press many years ago I bought one for travel as we owned a Mountain Cabin at the time. I still use it for light duty use and have a Lyman Universal de-caper installed in the little press and that is all it is used for. I used it for loading 38's for years at the Cabin.
Try and find a Turrent head press used, I see them at the Gunshows for $50.00 and under.

Many buy a Dillon progressive machine and sell their single stage press. Bad mistake, I own a Dillon and always find a use for my single stage presses.

For load developments and short batches, ya just can't beat a single stage press. For every caliber I load with the Dillon I also have dies for the single stage.

If you want a press that will last several life times buy a Rockchucker.

[pokey]

I'm looking into that Acculine, it sure meets my needs. Are they aluminum or iron framed?

not for sure but feels like iron, not light like aluminum.
good luck.

[Hankster]

I use a pair of the Lee "C" presses mounted side by side... half the die in one, half in the other... do .38's and .357's not problem at all. As long as the dies are correctly adjusted, they do not NEED 500 lbs of pressure!! LOL you push hard enough to spring it, you have BIGGER issues!

[AJMD429]

I think the little Lee C frame press for $36 will get me started until I luck into an older press. Then I could dedicate the Lee for decapping or sizing duties.

A friend who owns a gunshop and mostly makes their income from reloading and repairs uses a Lee C-frame press for many of their reloading chores, due to the ease of setup and FAST use (due to less 'in the way'). Unless you're necking down .45-70 to .17 cal, it really shouldn't require an "O" press vs. a "C" press...

[AJMD429]

. . . you push hard enough to spring it, you have BIGGER issues!

That's for sure. Unless you're "wildcatting", what in the world requires several TONS of force to work your brass back to 'fresh' condition...?

[jnyork]

The presses you describe, Lyman, Herters (hellacious for stout!!) etc, are readily available on ebay, usually a pretty good selection, if they dont have exactly what you want they will email you when one gets listed.

[Charles]

There are lots of good quality older iron single stage presses out there. Pacific, C-H, Lyman, Herters and others will do the job just fine. They are plentyful on Ebay. On my bench now are two that would meet your needs.

The first is a Herters U-3 Super that I bought on ebay. After I bought the press, bought an adapter for snap in shell holders and sold off all of the primer arms and Herters shell holders, I had a total of $1.00 in the press.

The second is a 50's Pacific C that I bought for $15.00. It was missing a handle, but I made one. Several other press handles fit it including the Redding.

I should think you can get one that will suit you for $40.00 or so delivered to your door.