tfelog Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I'm looking for a press for the 50. Any suggestions. Likes/dislikes about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I got the Lee kit, I am not a high volume 50 shooter so it works for me. Wish it were a little taller and that it felt more substantial. Can't beat the price, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill M Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 RCBS ammomaster w/dies. This is a full height press and a decent deal. There are some better competition dies, but the RCBS dies are good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHolsted Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I also use the the Lee Pres. I am a little lazy so for the money I just got two of them and leave them, both set up just for 50BMG. However I am eying the new Dillon one I seen pics of. If it is like the rest of their equipment I am sure it will be good to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caspian guy Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Bought the Lee kit... Not sure it was the best choice. It works ok, but I would have liked something a bit more substantial. A bit more leverage would also have been nice (particularly when re-sizing brass that was shot out of a machine gun to go in my bolt action rifle). One thing that I did buy that I have been very happy with is a Giraud trimmer. I decided to get it when I started back reloading rifle ammo to cut down on some of the irritation of brass prep. It trims a .50 case about as easy as it does a .223 case which is no small feat. I know one .50 reloader who has the RCBS kit and seems happy with it. I saw a post here from the shot show about Dillon possibly making a .50 press that looked alot like a 550 on steroids. I'd be interested in that if it came to pass. YMMV Peter Adams FY-39604 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Dillon was showing a progressive 50 BMG press at the SHOT Show. If you need quantity, it may be the way to go. Otherwise, the RCBS AmmoMaster seems to be popular. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfelog Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) I'm I fan of the Blue press. Any word on how long before they roll it? The one I was thinking of was this #444 4 station "h" press. Visit My Website Anyone ever use it. Edited February 17, 2009 by tfelog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecichlid Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 A .50 BMG progressive press? The powder hopper an old 5 gallon bucket? ROFL I don't even want to think of what the case feeder would sound like on that one. lol Joe W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Sorry - in the semi-controlled mob scene that is the SHOT Show, I didn't get any real specifics on the 50 BMG press. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfelog Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Any info on the Ponsness Warren press. I have one for reloading 12ga.. Love it!! High quality, heavy duty. Anyone using the 50bmg press. -Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caspian guy Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 If you are looking for a larger sample size on .50 equipment check out the Fifty Caliber Shooter's Association (http://www.fcsa.org). It's worth joining them just for the magazine and the access to their forums. Peter Adams FY-39604 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokecloud Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 When I researched all i could a few years back, the Lee Kit rated very high. RCBS was having issues with the QC of their dies and loaded rounds had lots of runout, the RCBS press is nice, but the Hornady was the same thing in a different color and less money. Hornady dies were not much better than RCBS. The Hot ticket then was CH4D dies in a Hornady press, but when you add the dies up at 200+ each, it was very easy to get 1200 into just basic reloading components. A few guys that were high volume shooters had purchased the Lee Kits in addition to the other stuff they already had and reported less bullet runout than even the CH4D on a regular basis. The downside to Lee is of course the small opening in the press, but you get used to it quickly. their is a couple of reviews of the Lee that "competitor" made up and posted over on biggerhammer.net, he also figured out all the little tricks to using the press easy and efficient, he loaded several thousand rounds without breaking anything. I bought my Lee kit and have been very happy with it. if I weight sort my LC Brass after match prepping it, then weight sort the pull down and resized AP bullets, I get 3/4" groups at 100 yards using pulldown 5010 surplus powder through my EDM. The idea of a progressive reloader for the BMG sounds exciting, I think there is too much case work involved for me to appreciate it and im sure it comes with a hefty pricetag. I have a dillon 650, so yes I drink the blue koolaid and am a big supporter of Dillon, but If I had to do it over again, I would go the same route. for small case tools, K&M tools are 1st class. The couple that make them are great people if you have not done business with them. When I called in my order, they wouldnt take a credit card and just mailed out the tools to me with instructions that once I got them, If I liked them, then send them a check. It was a little scary at 1st, but it was refreshing to see people that are not jaded by our current society and still believe in the honor system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holliday89 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 (edited) Went to dillons booth and got a pis of there new 50BMG press. Dont know how many others are happy they are making one but i sure am. The guy in the pic is who I talked to and it looks to be march for a release date. The blue post is an option to get with the press to lag to your floor. The powder tube holds 2lbs and there is an option to get second longer tube that will hold 3 lbs or around 100 rounds worth of powder. It works like a 550 with a manual turning shell plate. If I heard and remember right they are also gonna make a shell plate for the 408 and 416 in the future. You can get multipul tool heads cuz they have a trimmer motor option for the 50 just like the smaller motor. Edited February 26, 2009 by Holliday89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfelog Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Thanks for the photos. I think I'll wait on my decision on a press, until they release a price. I only see one problem with the press. ITS NOT BLUE. -Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butthead Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 The Lee setup works very well and given the price of the press with dies included it would be hard to beat. The only drawback is that it will not accept others dies due to the thread pattern. It does come with an adapter for use with smaller standard dies. Lee also produces custom dies at a resonable cost and I have a set made from my Windrunner chamber in .50 DTC. Certainly not the best but a good value. I just got my new Dillon 550B and am very impressed with the quality. I would love to see Dillons .50 caliber press but the pictures in the post above are gone and I cant find it on Dillons website. If it is anything like the 550B I just got it should be a real winner. Starting to see things in a new blue light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 pics not working right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2osport Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I run the Lee kit. For the price it is hard to beat. I also load my 300WM precision loads on the press. It does a great job for what it is. For what 50bmg loaded rounds are going for, there is some money to be saved in reloading. I got some 690gr So. African bullets from wideners, and I got some new surplus 50 powder from Pats. Both were pretty reasonable considering. I have not loaded any of the surplus powder yet, but if nothing else it will be good for plinking. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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