New design for press

That's a mighty fine looking press, HS! Like Mykeal, I wonder why your 1858 takes so much pressure - mine is fairly easy to load. In fact, my 1860 requires more oomph than the Remington!
 
Coupla responses

Grym,

Agree. I haven't had a lot of time, over the last coupla days but in the time I have had I simply can not come up with a lever type press that can generate the mechanical advantage, be stout enough and still meet the size requirement. Not one that will load all six at a time. And you have to be able to load, not just six but five or four or three and this adds complexity to the design. Still fiddling.


HisSoldier,

Very very nice looking press. Nice wrokmanship.

To Mykeal et al.,

My Remingtons and Ruger load easier than my Colts.

Tnx,
 
HisSoldier, you may want to try .451 swagged balls. I know some of the Pietta 1858 products specify .451 as the ball to use. I know this because my buddy has a Pietta 1858 he bought last year and for which he had me order his lead balls for.

I'd recommend anyone having a tough time to take a second look at their chamber diameters (for those with poor hand/arm strength or arthritis it might not be a firearm/ball problem). Really, the lead (the proper lead) used is very soft and should shave easily. Other than that some folks may be trying to stuff just too much powder such that the resistance is actually the powder compression.
 
HisSoldier:

NICE loading press and great design work, it's very flexible.

Doc:

Perhaps a removable lever or one that extends so that it can be more compact in its partially disassembled state.

Even if the ultimate loader does not come out of this thread, there's been some good thought on it and plans for single loaders seem more simple now, yeah!
 
Cage,

Yes...Heartily agree.

I have a press I built a couple months ago on which the lever engages a link that collapses and then the lever comes off. It breaks down into a space about 8 inches by 4 inches by 3 inches. But it is a little hard to use. It is easily small enough to satisfy me but it is just too finnicky to use.

You can probably find the thread on this forum that described and had photos.

A lot of folks think I am on a fools errand but this is the way I, 1) extend my shooting activity into non-shooting times. and 2) keep my sanity.
 
Nice press HS!

For those who wonder why people make presses when onboard loading levers have served so well over the years, I think it's because a press can speed the loading process, maybe resulting in a more pleasant shooting experience and well..... because they can! Some people just like to tinker and if the end product is even marginally useful, the exercise can be considered a success.

Then there's me.... sort of satisfied with doing the electronic modeling, collecting the materials, stacking them on the bench then constantly protecting them from Mrs. Grymster's assaults on their usefulness. :)
 
I think we would find that people with Remingtons are more inclined to have the press because it's so easy to take the cylinder out. One can be shooting while another is reloading.
I constantly wonder about reloading a BP revolver while huge bullets are chipping the trees on all sides, with friends screaming in pain, dealing with terror and shaking with adrenaline.

And in spite of a long history of such bravery, such sacrifice, we lost our country from within, to lawyers and politicians, not on the battlefield. :(
 
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