When you say ‘reloading press’ the automatic response is invariably ‘Rockchucker’. Indeed, the RCBS Rockchucker was my first press – bought secondhand for £30 at the dawn of my reloading career, it served me well for 30 years until I sold it for £75!
I didn’t really need a new press but I’d always fancied the Forster but then I watched a You Tube video comparing a dozen popular reloading presses and I ended up buying a MEC. Yes, I’d never heard of it either but I couldn’t be more pleased with it.
For the UK shooter, the American companies like RCBS, Forster, Lee, Hornady and Dillon supply most of our presses but, it’s a big world and visits to the German IWA Show opened my eyes to other manufacturers and, I always lusted after the beautiful Prazipress – that we now have for review thanks to Fox Firearms being the UK importer.
If you re-size any of the popular cartridge cases – up to say 284Win. almost any of the popular ‘O frame’ presses will do the job – some better than others of course. But, when you start to resize the larger cases – like 338 Lapua Magnum for example – the weaknesses in more flimsy presses begin to show and you do need a very sturdy press – mounted on an equally sturdy bench!
Until the advent of CNC, the one-piece cast iron ‘O-frame’ press was the preferred option but now, expect built-up presses like the Prazipress (and the smaller Frankford Arsenal press) to grow in popularity. Of course, a press isn’t simply re-sizing a fired case so it will fit your chamber – it must accomplish this action in a totally straight line if you are interested in accuracy and believe me, not all presses/dies are capable of this! If you are working with a lightweight press – or a turret press – your re-sized cases may not be as straight as you hope! If you have a good concentricity gauge you can maybe check this. There is an old saying “nothing shoots like new brass” – because it’s absolutely straight and true!
To anyone who appreciates engineering, the Prazi is a truly impressive piece of equipment. Its sheer size, weight and precision engineering on display put this press in a different league to anything you’ve likely seen before. Different options are offered – depending on use – the 50BMG 150mm version being top of the range. There is also a smaller two-pillar version (all the rest are three-pillar) which will work with the popular cartridges that most of us shoot.
Fox currently have just this one press – the heavy 150mm Prazi – so I can’t really put it through it’s paces – you wouldn’t want to fork out the best part of a grand for a press with signs of usage would you? We’ll have to make do with a ‘hands-off’ review at this stage but honestly, if I were regularly re-sizing 338, 375/408 Cheytac, 33XC or what have you, I would be certainly looking at the 140 or maybe the 150mm Prazi if 50BMG floats your boat.
The press even comes with sturdy mounting bolts, plus a 50BMG die bush and their own adjustable shell-holder. As you would expect, the operation is ‘smooth as silk’ and the handle can be placed left or right depending on your chosen mounting.
The 3 pillar 120mm Heavy Prazi comes in at £825 inc VAT.
The 3 pillar 140mm – suitable for 50BMG size cartridges is £920 and the 150mm version at £995.
The smallest 2 pillar – which would be ample for most popular cartridges is £745
Note: the Forster CO-AX XL press is now over £1500!
Email Fox Firearms irvingfox1234@aol.com