How should I inspect a used press?
Quote from Reloader on June 19, 2012, 6:51 pmI'm looking at buying a used Square Deal B press, set up for .45 ACP. It hasn't been used in a few years and the original owner is deceased. Before attempting to reload anything on the press, I want to inspect it thoroughly and make sure it is in top condition. What sort of things should I be looking for? Any advice would be appreciated.
I'm looking at buying a used Square Deal B press, set up for .45 ACP. It hasn't been used in a few years and the original owner is deceased. Before attempting to reload anything on the press, I want to inspect it thoroughly and make sure it is in top condition. What sort of things should I be looking for? Any advice would be appreciated.
Quote from Reloader on June 21, 2012, 4:08 pmFirst, see if the handle cycles up and down fully. When it does, the shellplate should rotate 1/4 turn. Push forward on the handle at the end of the upstroke, make sure the primer cup comes up through the hole in the shellplate without snapping abruptly. It should enter the hole smoothly. When the machine was shipped new, it included the primer magazine tube, primer slide, and a primer pickup tube for both large and small primers. As well, it included a thick and a thin powder bar. Make sure these parts are included.
First, see if the handle cycles up and down fully. When it does, the shellplate should rotate 1/4 turn. Push forward on the handle at the end of the upstroke, make sure the primer cup comes up through the hole in the shellplate without snapping abruptly. It should enter the hole smoothly. When the machine was shipped new, it included the primer magazine tube, primer slide, and a primer pickup tube for both large and small primers. As well, it included a thick and a thin powder bar. Make sure these parts are included.
Quote from Reloader on July 26, 2012, 3:30 pmThe small powder bar is about .355" thick measured vertically, the large powder bar is about .708" measured vertically.
The small powder bar is about .355" thick measured vertically, the large powder bar is about .708" measured vertically.