Those who have the Grand shotshell press, do you like it?
RCBS Grand Press like it or not?
chargerdan13
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56 Posts
Those who have the Grand shotshell press, do you like it?
There are a couple of you tube videos from someone who has documented their experience with it in GREAT DETAIL, he also made some mods that seem worthwhile. (IMO, although that doesn't count for much since I have no direct experience of it.)
I don't have the link here right now, but I'll try to find it later.
BTW, the mini grand is discontinued.
I have the grand "under consideration".
I don't have the link here right now, but I'll try to find it later.
BTW, the mini grand is discontinued.
I have the grand "under consideration".
Joined
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791 Posts
I've had the Grand for about a year. I've had very good results with AA and Remmie hulls.
Easy to get adjusted and doesn't change, so far.
One of the tricks I learned here was to feed several extra primers into the feed tube in case of a failure of a primer to drop from the primer tray.
I watch the primer drops into the primer feed just to be sure.
Other than that, it's been great.
One thing I did, was to spray the moving parts with Hornady OneShot. Makes the press super smooth to operate.
Others with more long-term experience may weigh in.
The feature of no powder or shot, unless a hull is present is priceless. Quick to run a test shell through for settings.
I would definitely buy it again. In my 35 yrs of reloading, I've owned MECs (600 and 9000), Hornady APEC (12 and 20), and the Grand.
The Grand has been the best.
Good luck on your choice.
Geo.
Easy to get adjusted and doesn't change, so far.
One of the tricks I learned here was to feed several extra primers into the feed tube in case of a failure of a primer to drop from the primer tray.
I watch the primer drops into the primer feed just to be sure.
Other than that, it's been great.
One thing I did, was to spray the moving parts with Hornady OneShot. Makes the press super smooth to operate.
Others with more long-term experience may weigh in.
The feature of no powder or shot, unless a hull is present is priceless. Quick to run a test shell through for settings.
I would definitely buy it again. In my 35 yrs of reloading, I've owned MECs (600 and 9000), Hornady APEC (12 and 20), and the Grand.
The Grand has been the best.
Good luck on your choice.
Geo.
Joined
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56 Posts
Love forums! You always get answers, suggestions and new ideas.
My wife bought me a Grand for my bityhday about 12 years ago. I toyed with it for several years, then shot factory as it was faster to buy than load. Got back to loading a few years ago and really like the grand. I've owned a few MECs, and a few pacifics and there is no comparison. He only problem I had is the primer bar broke this spring. A call to rcbs and had two new ones, no charge, in the mail a few days later.
The case activated powder/shot, and the ability to remove shells at any station for inspection are nice features
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
The case activated powder/shot, and the ability to remove shells at any station for inspection are nice features
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
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393 Posts
I just purchased a used Grand. It didn't work too well for me initially. However, there are a lot of plastic parts that wear out. They are easily replaceable and are free from RCBS. They even paid the shipping. It now works very well and is a well designed and well built machine. If there is no hull, the powder does not drop. If there is no wad in the hull, the shot does now drop. The only thing that I have to watch is that if the machine sits with powder in it, the first couple of powder drops are heavy.
OtH
OtH
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60 Posts
I have had a Grand since the first year the press came out. It is a great press. It is well designed and easy to maintain. When something breaks (yes it happens every couple of years), call RCBS and they'll send you a replacement part at no charge. I had a MEC before the Grand and while the MES turned out good load, the Grand just seems to be better. It is like a solid well machined piece of equipment versus something that works but must be bent to fit sometimes.
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329 Posts
I bought a used Grand two years ago. I had 3 MEC reloaders before that, 650, Grabber and a 9000G. The MEC's worked fine, produced decent shells, but the Grand is a significant step up in quality and smoothness of operation. I was missing a few accessories and parts when I bought the reloader. I called RCBS and explained that I bought it used and needed parts and was willing to pay for them. RCBS sent the new parts, no charge and free shipping. My powder drops are very consistent. The crimp stages are similar to MEC: pre-crimp, crimp, and final crimp. I reload Federal GM, STS, and AA without problems. I like the feature of it not dropping powder or shot if there is not a hull present at that stage. I think that their manual could be more descriptive in explaining the crimp adjustment for each stage. You have to watch the primer drop, but if you put 10 primers in the primer drop tube before starting like ABH said, no problem.
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710 Posts
I think I'm smart until I pull that mec handle without a hull in the shot station and spill shot everywhere. Since I've gone to The Grand I never spill shot. That feature makes it completely worth it. It is a little weird how it hangs off the bench and it will miss a primer like them all but it's easy to keep an eye on it.
I have a love hate relationship with mine. Sometimes I wish I would have saved and gone spolar other times I love it! The no shot/powder with no hull is easily the best feature. Primer feeding could be better (like said about load some primers into the tube)
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