Hello,
I am fairly new to long range shooting (just under 2.5 years) and getting into hand loading now.
I have a group of friends who I shoot with, all have different skill levels, budgets, all have very different "philosophies" when it comes to buying equipment.
One friend has all of the finest equipment. Virtually no expense spared. He has been involved in shooting, reloading, long range longer than all of us, and is now getting into ELR. He's made all of the mistakes, fallen into the pits that a new shooter would, so he's been an invaluable resource not only for information, advice, but I also get to buy his old unwanted gear at a considerable discount, which is great! Another friend is the complete opposite. Extremely thrifty. To the point where he compromises his safety, wastes time, ammunition, consumables. Relies on others to borrow equipment (I don't think he's equipped to clean brass...) His standards for performance are not FPS, merely, "does the ammo go bang yes or no..."
I don't want to be like that second friend. I want to be somewhere in the middle. Blue light special friend has a Hornady LnL Classic kit... I don't want that. "No expense spared" friend has a Forster Co-Ax. It's glorious. The reviews I've watched make me want it, and want nothing else.
Unfortunately the Co-Ax on national backorder. I almost closed on one that is on eBay, but was outbid. OpticsPlanet is "blowing them out," plus there's a 10% off coupon code, but they aren't expecting a restock until September. I was number 30 in line, I canceled my order this morning. Only one I have found available to ship now, is a B5 (newest generation) press that's been marked up by the vendor to $630...
What then, is the happy medium? I can put my order back in at OpticsPlanet, "eventually" get my CoAx for a great deal, but I really don't want to wait that long.
I see the RCBS RockChucker Supreme in stock, free same day on Amazon for 137! It lacks self-centering case jaws, and the primer capturing system seems less well contained, priming system *is nonadjustable... but are those differences really worth it? I am ONLY loading 6.5 Creed for the forseeable future, so I just need to get the case alignment right, and then lock it down... How hard can it be?
Also seeking recommendations for other single stage presses. Thanks in advance!
I am fairly new to long range shooting (just under 2.5 years) and getting into hand loading now.
I have a group of friends who I shoot with, all have different skill levels, budgets, all have very different "philosophies" when it comes to buying equipment.
One friend has all of the finest equipment. Virtually no expense spared. He has been involved in shooting, reloading, long range longer than all of us, and is now getting into ELR. He's made all of the mistakes, fallen into the pits that a new shooter would, so he's been an invaluable resource not only for information, advice, but I also get to buy his old unwanted gear at a considerable discount, which is great! Another friend is the complete opposite. Extremely thrifty. To the point where he compromises his safety, wastes time, ammunition, consumables. Relies on others to borrow equipment (I don't think he's equipped to clean brass...) His standards for performance are not FPS, merely, "does the ammo go bang yes or no..."
I don't want to be like that second friend. I want to be somewhere in the middle. Blue light special friend has a Hornady LnL Classic kit... I don't want that. "No expense spared" friend has a Forster Co-Ax. It's glorious. The reviews I've watched make me want it, and want nothing else.
Unfortunately the Co-Ax on national backorder. I almost closed on one that is on eBay, but was outbid. OpticsPlanet is "blowing them out," plus there's a 10% off coupon code, but they aren't expecting a restock until September. I was number 30 in line, I canceled my order this morning. Only one I have found available to ship now, is a B5 (newest generation) press that's been marked up by the vendor to $630...
What then, is the happy medium? I can put my order back in at OpticsPlanet, "eventually" get my CoAx for a great deal, but I really don't want to wait that long.
I see the RCBS RockChucker Supreme in stock, free same day on Amazon for 137! It lacks self-centering case jaws, and the primer capturing system seems less well contained, priming system *is nonadjustable... but are those differences really worth it? I am ONLY loading 6.5 Creed for the forseeable future, so I just need to get the case alignment right, and then lock it down... How hard can it be?
Also seeking recommendations for other single stage presses. Thanks in advance!
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