Opinnions wanted on C&B Pistol loading presses

M

mrappe

New member
I know that there are several out there. Which ones do you like and why. I need to get one if I switch my SASS shooting to C&B pistols.
 
Last edited:
Here where Fingers and I part ways

I used to didn't like a press feeling, as Fingers does, that it was a waste of time and money.

Then I stopped to think about the stress one places on the revolver when loading with the lever. I know that revolvers are designed to be loaded with the lever but that does not mean the stress disappears. Not so bad in a Remington or similar. But in a Colt, all of the force pulls on the arbor.

My thought on presses is that they should fit in your shooting box. Apart from that I don't have an opinion or preference.

Fingers has been doing this a lot more than I have and I in no way question his wisdom or experience.
 
I have and like the RAI loading press. I am no engineer, but i didn't want to goof up the pretty lever on my Remington. :o I bought it shortly after buying my first C&B revolver, mainly to keep the gun looking nicer. Disclaimer: I don't have the experience of the guys above.

I can't get my link to Richardson Airmotive (sp) that makes or made the RAI that i have. It has a lever & a cam that smoothly drive the lil piston to press the ball home.
 
It's my understanding that RAI is defunct; don't remember where I picked that up, but when I was looking to purchase a press I saw something to that effect.

I ended up with one of Dick Dastardly's Tower of Power presses. It has worked very well with my 1858 Remington and Ruger Old Armies, but the second base pin is too small for my Colt Walker cylinder. I need to contact Dick about that, or cobble up my own. Can't give you any comparisons, as this is the only one I have ever used, but I like it thus far.
 
I have one of those ‘cheapies’ from Cabela’s. I think it’s made by Traditions. I actually like it, and it works just fine. I have an extra cylinder for my Remington, and what I like about the loader is I can do a lot more shooting in a day since I find it’s faster than reloading with the loading lever on the pistol. It also allows me to give the cylinder pin a swipe of lube when I swap out cylinders and that keeps everything running very smoothly.

The downside is it does take up some room in my shooting box, and it’s not something I would drag around anywhere but to the range. It’s not a necessary item by any means, but I find it handy for range use.
 
I just have one of those wooden "T" type stands that I put the revolver in. I don't have any extra cylinders. For me, that works just fine - I'm not in much of a hurry when I shoot and I usually end up doing at least as much talking as shooting because whenever I show up with black powder stuff, all the tacticool and high powered hunting guys come around to see what's making all the smoke.
 
Half the accessories we have for our pistols is "unnecessary" but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy them.

I don't use my press for my Colt pistols, and use it occasionally on my Remington cylinders, but it's really useful for my Ruger. I have a 3rd party cylinder pin for it. It's less trouble to pull out the press than to put the loading lever back together on it.
 
If you have more than one cylinder then I think the loaders are the Only Way To Go!.. super fast, no hassel and easier on your guns loading lever. Especially if you shoot the Rem58

I have used several of them and this one is by far the best one I have tried...(OK so the link won't work so here is the key word search..."Dick Dastardly Tower of Power Loader"

It looks pretty big in the picture, but when I got it I was surprised at how compact it is. The brass bushings make it run nice and smooth.

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Hello,mrappe. I built one out of a discarded very small arbor press. The only reason I built it was I couldn't load the Lyman 450229 hollow base into the cyl. of the 1980's era Colt 1860 army.
There is one very important advantage of a press that far outweighs any ease of loading..that is if the press has a positive adj. stop. That is uniformity. It is almost impossible to seat all bullets exactly to same depth by feel.
When I loaded the conical hollow-base over 18.0gr. 3FG Goex, and a Super-Grex filler, That gun grouped 5 shots in one ragged hole at 25yds.
Something it had never even come close to doing before.
 
Thanks to everyone for the input.
Some of the links Posted don't work so they might not be available anymore. I can get by with out one but I think it would be helpfull to have one anyway. Less strain on the gun, better control of seating depth etc. I am not in a hurry so I guess I am not in a hurry to get one so I will continue to look.
 
Loader

I got one of the Traditions and it is very basic...

Then I got one of the http://www.blackdawgecartridge.com/catalog/bd_cyl_loader.html

...and I use it all the time. I'll use the gun loading lever if I'm ever out and need to load and don't have the black dawg loader with me.

I have several extra cylinders and it's easy to load them using the loader.

I'm going to fit a spring or something to it so the lever will stay up until I pull it down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top