Vintage reloading equipment - some real bargain deals!

[sixgun_symphony]

 Check ebay for bargains on vintage reloading equipment. I just bought a very large Herters single stage press for $20 on ebay, shipping was $20, so the total cost was $40.

 A bargain when a new reloading press of comparable quality can be well over $200.

 Thing about the vintage presses, they have propietary shell holders. Good news is that CH/4D makes an adapter. There is a company that makes the old style shellholders, Vega Tool Company. You can also find vintage shell holders on ebay under "reloading equipment".


http://www.ch4d.com/

http://www.vegatool.com/

[gunrac]

I decided to get into reloading 3+ yrs. ago. A buddy of mine gave me a have to have list. Practically my whole set-up came from E-bay. I just got an idea what each peice cost new thru Midway. I figured I saved more then 60% off new price. Just didn't get in a hurry.

[stimpylu32]

I picked up a nice Echo single stage press there for $35 shipped awhile back ,  it used the screw on style shell holders which were not easy to find ( oddball thread ) , simple fix . Took the ram from an old , broken Lee C press to my gunsmith , he cut it down  to the stroke of the press and now it takes standard shell holders .

Total investment $40 and its a tank .

If you watch what you buy , some great deals can be had BUT as the old adage states -- Buyer Bewere !!!

stimpy

[AtlLaw]

Think they have any not-so-vintage sizeing/lubeing equipment?     I feel myself being slowly twisted into this bullet casting stuff.   

[Sweetwater]

OH Yes!! They have that lubesizing stuff, too.

Also, your local gun shows can scare up a deal now and then.

I watch them and pick up any herter's shell holders I find, that I don't already have, to fit my 1957 Super 3 C press.

It was there I found the 1934 patent date Pacific C press. It's not as heavy as the Herters, but heavier than my 1961 vintage Pacific. It was $5 with both priming arms. Thing was, it was froze. I took it home, sprayed it down with WD40 and let it set through supper. After supper, I stuck an oak dowel down on top of the ram and smacked it with a leather hammer. It let go.. I washed it all down and oiled it. Runs like a champ! Yes it has the old shellholder in the ram deal, and I bought a new universal ram for the rcbs shellholders for $16 delivered. Before I changed the ram, I discovered the ram that came with the press was not the normal #1. It has a #125 which I was unable to cross-reference. Come to find out, it works the 308/30-06 family of cases, as well as the 38Special. So, that brings us to $21 for that press in operating condition, and it is the tightest of all my presses.

Deals are to be had, no doubt!

Regards,
Sweetwater