Range press recommendations

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NeilNE

Guest
I would like to get a press for use at the range. I'm looking for one that uses 7/8 and Wilson dies. The two that I know of, is the Hood and Harrell press.

What brand would you recommend, open to others.
 
Abintx, I have one Partner press now, it's just taking two press to the range with all the rest of the stuff I have to take. It some times take more time to unload and setup than I spend shooting. Just trying to take less items.

This weekend it's going to be in the 40's, warmest it been in a month and fire form some 30x47 Lapua cases.
 
The Harrel Combo-Press is as good as it gets, fits in a small space and the clamp is the best idea around. Not cheap but worth it.
 
Harrell's doesn't list the Combo Press on their web page but I sure hope they are still making it. Posts that I have seen here over the past indicate that Mr. Hood is no longer making his press, a great loss to the shooting community. Either one of these presses is an excellent choice. There are slight differences but nothing of significance. I have a Hood and it's the best portable made as far as I'm concerned (the Harrell's should be the same, but I've never used one). Don't need a Partner, don't need an arbor ... the Hood/Harrell's Combo is best of both worlds. The quality, function and precision of the Hood's is without equal.
 
I decided to call Harrell's to see what is up down there in the Virginia hill country. Lynwood says they are, indeed, still making the Combo Press and have parts all made for 150 of them. Price for the standard version is $275. I suggested he get a picture and put it up on their web page and he says they are "aimin' to do that".

Here's a link http://www.6mmbr.com/harrellscombopress.html that will give a good bit of info on the press.
 
Neil:

To cut down on the amount of equipment you haul around, you can always reload 100 or more cases at home with your fire forming load or make up small batches of separate loads for testing.

When I go to the range the last thing I want to do is be distracted by the loading process. All I want to do is shoot and practice my wind reading skills.

I know several top shooters who never reload at the range even on match days. They concentrate on the match and only the match. Just an idea you might want to kick around.
 
Press

I have Harrels Combo and Hood. I prefer the Harrells because it is more mechanically efficient, but it is heavier and a little more bulky, but it fits in the top of a Sears Metal 3 drawer chest.
 
Not a bad-looking thumb, Boyd!

Probably still more point-blank shooters load at the range/match. I fought it for awhile, but once I decided to try it, I do all my load work-up right at the range. For our matches, I still preload because there are too many things that need to be done to have time to load. I have not reached the level where I need to "tune" my 30 BR during a match. It is a pretty flexible load and my abilities are more trouble than the load at this point.

It's amazing how comfortable it is to load at the bench or table with a Combo Press, a Harrell's measure and the necessary components. I had days this summer, as a partially retired old guy, I went to the range at 8 a.m. and stayed 'til 4 p.m., loading, shooting, cleaning all day. Talk about how to spend a day!
 
Charlie Hoods press, (we have two), is a work of art! The last attemp that the Harrells made to copy it, that I saw was... (rather crude) compared to the Hoods we have. For a while the Hoods were hard to come by, and for all I know right now they still could be. Harrels makes a Good Powder measure, they are good guys, they make a real nice 7/8" x 14 die press and they make nice dies. The few copies that I saw of the Hood Press really weren't that good. For the Hood Combo type press I would find a Hood and buy it, by the way, Charlie and his wife are very nice folks too. Everything they make is top notch as well.

http://www.benchrest.com/hoodpress/index.html

Try that link

Paul
 
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