Hornady Lock-N-Load .50 BMG Single Stage Reloading Press 85004

Description

Loading .50 BMG takes a press that's built for the job, and the Hornady Lock-N-Load .50 BMG Single Stage Press is purpose made for that oversized case. This isn't a scaled-up standard press. It runs a long 4-1/2 inch ram stroke and plenty of clearance so you can work full-length .50 BMG brass without fighting it, and there's enough mechanical advantage to full-length size and seat without wearing yourself out.

What Sets the Lock-N-Load .50 BMG Press Apart

The star of the show is Hornady's Lock-N-Load bushing system built into the ram. You can flip your shell holder over to ram prime, then move the shell holder up to the top plate, and once those are dialed in they stay put. When it's time to go from priming back to running a die, a quick bushing change gets you there without a bunch of threading and re-adjusting. That repeatability is a big part of why this press earns a reputation for consistent, precise reloading on a cartridge that demands it.

Build Quality on the .50 BMG Single Stage Press

The frame is heavy cast alloy with a high-strength design that Hornady guarantees never to break or fail, and it's backed by their No-Risk Lifetime Warranty. Bolt this thing down to a solid bench and it becomes part of the furniture. Spent primers drop into an open-top container on the side of the ram, the handle sits at the bottom right, and there are three mounting holes so you can anchor it down tight. Mounting hardware isn't included, so plan on grabbing bolts to suit your bench.

Dies and Setup Notes

Out of the box the ram accepts 1-1/2 inch by 12 threaded dies, and with the adapter bushing installed it takes standard 7/8 inch by 14 dies, which opens the door to loading other centerfire cartridges with the right shell head adapter. Keep in mind the .50 BMG dies and shell holder are sold separately on this press-only version, so you'll want to factor those into your setup if you're starting from scratch.