My 2 cents
First,I'm not a competition shooter.The bench rest folks are concerned with .010 MOA,and their techniques cross over into the paranormal.
I'm not in that world.
If I notice gain .5 MOA somehow,and it sustains long enough I believe its not a fluke,well,thats a good thing.
I'm convinced that a Dillon 1050 or a Lee Hand press will load ammo that leaves me with no excuses.
We can go to Redding,Sinclair,RCBS,Forster, and throw money at just about any doubt or question we can dream up. Its amazing.
But it was not always the case. Harry Pope made the tools to make ammo for his rifle.
50's and 60's,and maybe into the 70's,a smith crafted a custom rifle,he used the reamers to make loading dies,with the right neck and throat. The whole rifle and the dies migjt have been made on a Le Blond or a Hardinge,or a Monarch...but more likely,the gunsmith's wages bought an Atlas lathe.
The man shooting the rifle might only have 23 select,finely prepped cases.
Not enough for a day's shooting,so loading at the shooting bench was routine.
Pressures weren't high,necks might be turned thin,minimal neck tension was good.
High forces were not required. Dies like the Wilson Straight lines could be used with the heel of the hand for force...usually.
Mallets? Well,who wants to beat on the tools or brass.
A small arbor press can be clamped to the bench and it provide sufficient straigjt line force with sensitive feel.
This little press has nothing to do with a 5 ton Dake.Also, there is a consistent degree of repeatable straightness concentricity,alignment,and positive length stop that all be built into one solid piece of steel,rather than 7/8 -14 threads,a ram,toggles,etc..
It might just be a more satisfying way of doing things for some.
You know,even the Lee Classic reloading set takes a significant step up when the mallet is traded for an arbor press.
Enjoy doing it your way!
