Zero press Gen2

John Glidewell · Tuesday at 2:55 AM

You knew it would eventually happen. But is it enough improvement from Gen1 to switch?

The ZERO Gen 2 Reloading Press

NOTE: DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, EXPECT UP TO 5 DAYS OF PROCESSING TIME.

www.area419.com

Maurygold · Tuesday at 6:38 AM

No way I’d switch. I cam over my sizing die so I have no idea why I’d need stronger linkage. It’s by and far already the smoothest press I’ve ever owned and I don’t know why an improvement there would matter. The detent for primers might be cool but I have no idea why I’d need it - the tray has never moved even with swapping on my inline fabric. And I put my torque wrench in the hole in my inline fab.

It’s cool they’re continuing to improve but there’s no reason to upgrade I can see.

TBK · Tuesday at 7:15 AM

If one were buying new today, Gen 1 or Gen 2? I currently use an older Hornady single stage. I am looking for a turret style for precision rifle reloading (Redding T7 or Zero). I don't (up to now) use the press for primers.

DairyDictator · Tuesday at 7:26 AM

I have one coming because I'm really dumb and like shiny objects. 20% off coupon doesn't hurt either. Let's see if Midway honors it.

Herb Stoner · Tuesday at 8:08 AM

Maurygold said:
No way I’d switch. I cam over my sizing die so I have no idea why I’d need stronger linkage. It’s by and far already the smoothest press I’ve ever owned and I don’t know why an improvement there would matter. The detent for primers might be cool but I have no idea why I’d need it - the tray has never moved even with swapping on my inline fabric. And I put my torque wrench in the hole in my inline fab.

It’s cool they’re continuing to improve but there’s no reason to upgrade I can see.

I obviously haven’t used a gen 2 but this is pretty much my view as well. It’s already rock solid with very strong linkage and extremely smooth. I decap on a Dillon with a case feeder and prime on a CPS so no opinion on the detent for the little primer tray.

C130 · Tuesday at 8:16 AM

I have one arriving Thursday, bought directly from Area 419 last Friday. I thought about buying the Gen 1 and saving some money but a couple places I looked at were already sold out of the Gen1. I'm sure I could have easily found one but just went with the new version. It'll be my first press, new to reloading.

Southpaw357 · Tuesday at 8:52 AM

On Gen 2, the ram now goes up and then back down a little at the end of the stroke, correct? This is what they are calling cam-over? What is the perceived benefit if this?

DairyDictator · Tuesday at 9:12 AM

Southpaw357 said:
On Gen 2, the ram now goes up and then back down a little at the end of the stroke, correct? This is what they are calling cam-over? What is the perceived benefit if this?

Correct. I believe in the video they said it will drop about .001" at the upper end of the stroke.
The benefit of this is when your shell holder isn't making contact with the bottom of the die. It's really difficult to make the ram stop in the perfect position every single time. The stops at the bottom of the stroke always have a little give to them, or you can get some dust on it. If you have contact between the die and the shell plate, the die actually sets the base position which is reached before the end of the stroke, negating the need for cam over. This is why they strongly recommended shell holder contact on the gen 1. Most presses have a "cam over" so the maximum height of the ram is achieved before the bottom of the stroke, meaning that stop point is far less critical and the max height is more consistent. This is a lot more important if you float your dies.

Southpaw357 · Tuesday at 9:15 AM

DairyDictator said:
Correct. I believe in the video they said it will drop about .001" at the upper end of the stroke.
The benefit of this is when your shell holder isn't making contact with the bottom of the die. It's really difficult to make the ram stop in the perfect position every single time. The stops at the bottom of the stroke always have a little give to them, or you can get some dust on it. If you have contact between the die and the shell plate, the die actually sets the base position which is reached before the end of the stroke, negating the need for cam over. This is why they strongly recommended shell holder contact on the gen 1. Most presses have a "cam over" so the maximum height of the ram is achieved before the bottom of the stroke, meaning that stop point is far less critical and the max height is more consistent. This is a lot more important if you float your dies.

I understand now, thank you!

W6SPK · Tuesday at 9:50 AM

Primer tray detention and the tool slot are nice little additions, but not worth upgrading in my opinion.

JB.IC · Tuesday at 12:41 PM

Insecurities from FOMO are about the only reason to upgrade.

avidflyer · Tuesday at 10:48 PM

DairyDictator said:
Correct. I believe in the video they said it will drop about .001" at the upper end of the stroke.
The benefit of this is when your shell holder isn't making contact with the bottom of the die. It's really difficult to make the ram stop in the perfect position every single time. The stops at the bottom of the stroke always have a little give to them, or you can get some dust on it. If you have contact between the die and the shell plate, the die actually sets the base position which is reached before the end of the stroke, negating the need for cam over. This is why they strongly recommended shell holder contact on the gen 1. Most presses have a "cam over" so the maximum height of the ram is achieved before the bottom of the stroke, meaning that stop point is far less critical and the max height is more consistent. This is a lot more important if you float your dies.

At least on mine, with SAC dies if they touch the shell plate, I get almost 75k of sizing past where I need to be. Been debating about putting they die in the lathe.

DairyDictator · Tuesday at 11:05 PM

avidflyer said:
At least on mine, with SAC dies if they touch the shell plate, I get almost 75k of sizing past where I need to be. Been debating about putting they die in the lathe.

As in .075" bump? Damn that sounds like an out of spec die or an out of spec chamber.

GenericBadGuy · 2025-04-23T14:52:02-0400

It feels a bit like the Gen 2 was really intended to help set a new, higher MSRP. I'm sure they will discontinue the Gen 1, meaning the new base price would rise from $1275 to $1400.

The incremental improvements I think are nice but not worth selling my Gen 1 that I paid $1100 for to buy a Gen 2 at $1400+tax.

Marine52 · 2025-04-23T23:38:37-0400

avidflyer said:
At least on mine, with SAC dies if they touch the shell plate, I get almost 75k of sizing past where I need to be. Been debating about putting they die in the lathe.

If you’re getting 0.075” excess shoulder bump over your goal (with firm die-to-shellholder contact), you definitely don’t want to trim your die with a lathe. That will make matters worse. Your die is out of spec. You can back the die out ‘til you find the correct shoulder bump but it’s likely the case will not get sized correctly at the base .200 line.

db2000 · 2025-04-24T08:31:23-0400

JB.IC said:
Insecurities from FOMO are about the only reason to upgrade.

No doubt and likely 50% of the time why people buy one in the first place.

loveha · 2025-04-24T17:11:01-0400

This seems more like it's a refinement. Not really any kind of upgrade. Will people dump their Gen1 for a 2, absolutely. I love the next new shiny as much as the next person, but see nothing that would make a round better than the Gen1. Money wasted on upgrading can be better spent on putting it into supplies. Like powder and bullets.

zeroz · 2025-04-24T17:21:40-0400

People dumping perfectly good gear for the newer tiny bit better one is how poors get nice shit. Upgrade or you're a poor.

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