Rifle Loading Equipment

I am just looking to turn out some quality rounds that will shoot well in my guns. Reloading is and will never be my hobby, shooting is! Reloading is just a necessary evil to be able to shoot, I don't really enjoy it.
A nice as the Co-Ax is you'll never get max value from it. In other words, your shooting isn't likely to get to the point of needing that particular press to produce the results you're looking for. Now if you really just want one then by all means get one. I'm just trying to be realistic to what you're describing as your goals which mirror mine pretty well. That difference in price would pay for a trimmer like the Giraud Econo or the Little Crow WFT.

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Co-Ax came in today! Still waiting for the dies to come in from Brownell's. Thinking I may order a mount from InLine Fabrication for the press as it looks like it may sit a little lower on my bench than I would prefer. Also picked up some various components for loading .223

@mckenziedrums, curious if you are use the priming system within the press or a different method? The system within the press seems like it would be extremely slow and awkward and while I am not looking to mass produce on this machine, I don't want to waste time if there is a more efficient method-e.g., a hand priming tool.
 
Co-Ax came in today! Still waiting for the dies to come in from Brownell's. Thinking I may order a mount from InLine Fabrication for the press as it looks like it may sit a little lower on my bench than I would prefer. Also picked up some various components for loading .223

@mckenziedrums, curious if you are use the priming system within the press or a different method? The system within the press seems like it would be extremely slow and awkward and while I am not looking to mass produce on this machine, I don't want to waste time if there is a more efficient method-e.g., a hand priming tool.

Awesome! I have always used the internal priming tool in the presses I've owned, but I haven't used the one on the co-ax... it seems inconvenient to take the case out of the shell holder of an otherwise super convenient press just to prime your newly sized case. I've never used a hand priming tool personally, but I've heard good things. With the co-ax you could just make that the next step after sizing/de-capping and I'd bet it's faster than the built in tool
 
Yeah it probably is better in the long run but you have to resize the shell holder manually for each larger or smaller cartridge... it seems almost like an afterthought on a press without shell holders and free floating die method haha... however, once you have it all set up, it should be just the same or a tiny bit slower than other built in methods of priming after you get in a rythm
 
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The priming system on the Co-ax is probably the best for controlling seating depth, but I have never used it. I also hand prime, primarily for the "feel" of seating the primer. I doubt that my seating depth is as consistent as it would be with the Co-ax, but hand priming is faster and I don't think I have achieved a level of reloading proficiency that would make primer depth variation of thousandth or two is the determining factor in my ammo variability.

Theoretically, the Co-ax system has a lot going for it. I am not sure that I would spend the money on hand priming tools unless using the press became inconvenient. I started hand priming before getting the Co-ax Press, because I did not like priming on a Rock Chucker, so I already had it.

And congrats, the Co-ax is a first rate piece of gear AND it looks pretty sitting on the bench.
 
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@hlpressley,

The Co-ax does not need much in the way of upgrades, but if you are considering an In-Line stand, you should also look into their Co-Ax LED press light kit. I does a great job for a reasonable investment.
 
The curved linkages have saved my knuckles repeatedly... Very nice upgrade lol

I have thought about those, but have not had any problems yet to necessitate it. Though I have to admit, the hand angle required to insert a case is a little awkward until you get the stool adjusted to the correct angle.
 
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I'm still waiting on my dies to show up from Brownell's. For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend their free shipping service. I'm at a week now. With Priority Mail being extremely inexpensive and two days, a week + is unacceptable.
 
I'm still waiting on my dies to show up from Brownell's. For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend their free shipping service. I'm at a week now. With Priority Mail being extremely inexpensive and two days, a week + is unacceptable.

I could have slid some Lee dies yor way. Every thing rifle I shoot is reloaded with lee dies.
Somehow ended up with a few sets
 
It looks so small beside the 650!

Still waiting on my dies to show up from Brownell's and to find the time to go pick up my RCBS Chargemaster Combo from another forum member. After that, I should be ready to make some boolits.



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THAT is a nice reloading area!
 
I went with RCBS because the reviews were good, and it was on sale at the time, and with a rebate.

The automated droppers are great for working up ladder loads, and I also use mine to measure for my precision rifle loads.
 
Added this to the bench today!
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How much time does it save? On precision loads I'll fill a very different caliber piece of brass (so I don't get them mixed) with powder, set the powder drop a few granules light, then roll the brass between my fingers and trickle the kernels onto the scale.
 
How much time does it save? On precision loads I'll fill a very different caliber piece of brass (so I don't get them mixed) with powder, set the powder drop a few granules light, then roll the brass between my fingers and trickle the kernels onto the scale.
Hard for me to say, I've never done it the way that you're doing it. The RCBS is very nice though. Just type in how many grains you want, and watch it drop it in. It's definitely easy!
 
Doing it in batch mode might not save a lot of time, but it does make it much less tedious.

It is great on an auto-index turret press. Drop the charge, put the pan back on the scale and it starts measuring powder. It will be finished by the time you get the turret cycled back around to the charge die.
 
I'm still waiting on my dies to show up from Brownell's. For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend their free shipping service. I'm at a week now. With Priority Mail being extremely inexpensive and two days, a week + is unacceptable.
Even faster to just go pick them up at Little Hardware. :D
 
I will most likely be buying brass already processed and ready to load. Trying to avoid that step!
What are you going to do when you want to reload those cases? If you buy new brass every time, you might as well just buy loaded ammo. Keep in mind that most new brass is not really ready for loading without some case prep.

There is no reason to get another press if you already have a Dillon 550. I load 223 on a 550 with Dillon dies and have no problems. I do my own case prep by resizing/depriming on the 550 a batch of cases at a time and then finish the case prep. The prepped cases are then fed back into the machine to finish loading them.
 
What are you going to do when you want to reload those cases? If you buy new brass every time, you might as well just buy loaded ammo. Keep in mind that most new brass is not really ready for loading without some case prep.

There is no reason to get another press if you already have a Dillon 550. I load 223 on a 550 with Dillon dies and have no problems. I do my own case prep by resizing/depriming on the 550 a batch of cases at a time and then finish the case prep. The prepped cases are then fed back into the machine to finish loading them.

Get the Dillon case trimmer ($$$$) and do the trimming on the press. Might be worth it if you shoot a LOT of .223. I don't shoot nearly enough to justify it.
 
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