BMG Ammo Presses

markr · January 30, 2008, 11:10 AM

Why are .50 BMG presses so expensive, in the area of $500, when much, much cheaper presses that load multiplle calibers are advertised as being big enough to handle BMG ammo?

What is it about being able to load BMG ammo that makes the press so expensive? My guess is either nothing, or fewer people buying them.

rwilson452 · January 30, 2008, 12:06 PM

The biggest factors are the size and force needed to do it. I would point out not all presses that can do the 50BMG are expensive. You can buy the Lee Classic Cast press and get the 50BMG kit for much less than some of the other presses. It is a massive steel press with plenty of leverage to handle the 50BMG cartridge.

Sevens · January 30, 2008, 08:22 PM

Like he said, the BMG capable Classic Cast is cheap cheap CHEAP!
But look up the price of the dies you need-- they are pricey.

Simply... they don't sell scads of these like they do with .30-06 or .38 Special. Thousands of those have been sold... the tooling is long paid for, and even making new calibers isn't a big stretch because they are all dimensionally similar. But the dies to roll BMG aren't standard in any way, they are massive.

Add on top of that the simple fact that folks shooting the BMG already likely have $5k wrapped up just in their rifle... A couple hundo to roll the ammo is like the new Ferrari owner that's worried about his gas mileage.

mrawesome22 · January 30, 2008, 08:39 PM

I don't see how anyone can roll 50's due to the lack of primers to buy.

slotracer577 · January 31, 2008, 10:03 AM

primers are available, but hard to find some times. For a press the cheapest is the lee. About $170 with dies. Only down side is they use a smaller thread so other dies wont fit.

You have to realize that a 50 die has to be huge compared to normal 308 rounds. A 308 round will fit inside a 50 brass.

John

markr · January 31, 2008, 01:30 PM

I saw the Lee version for $200. Still much more, considering the standard Lee O-Ring press is in the $40 Dollar range. I don't plan on shooting it for the same reason other people don't shoot it, mucho $$$ for the weopon platform and the bullets to feed it with.

I flung many down range in the military though, awesome caliber. You would be nuts not to reload it if you planned on shooting it.

angus1133 · January 31, 2008, 08:05 PM

hi,well i got the lee,and sizing was nothing,ive had 308 cases that were harder to size.it was alot more easier than i was told!!i got the lee for 150.00. but 7 months ago i sold my 50 for double i was into it for,but kept alot of brass,bullets ect.i will get another 50 and a lee press again.these were the first 50 bmg i loaded,700 ap,lake city cases,232 grains of powder!!!

markr · February 1, 2008, 10:37 PM

Nice.

Well, what are you launching 'em with?

A Picture would be nice.

Sevens · February 1, 2008, 11:14 PM

He's not launching them with anything. He sold the rifle for twice as much $$ as he had in to it.

232 grains of powder... that's 30 loaded rounds out of a 1 lb. can of powder, assuming you don't spill any!

markr · February 1, 2008, 11:31 PM

I should have read it closer. I thought he got rid of just the press, that doesn't make sense either....nevermind

Silentarmy · February 2, 2008, 07:37 PM

Primers are nearly impossible to find and even harder to pay for! I bought 2000 on DEC 15 for a cool $600 with haz mat and shipping! They are now packed only 25 to a tray as a detonation on those would be spectacular! Only about ten times the Propellant as a Small rifle primer! My dear wife bought me the Lee setup for christmas as I patiently await the next production shipment of the Bohica FAR.50.

slotracer577 · February 4, 2008, 12:57 AM

I just picked up 500 primers this week at SW. not cheap, $28/100

John

Crosshair · February 4, 2008, 03:08 AM

Just looking at the primer issue makes the 338 Lapua, 50 Peacekeeper, 510 Whisper, and other rounds that use standard size primers seem like a bargain.

January 30, 2008, 11:10 AM	#1
markr Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: Arsenal of Democracy Posts: 405	BMG Ammo Presses Why are .50 BMG presses so expensive, in the area of $500, when much, much cheaper presses that load multiplle calibers are advertised as being big enough to handle BMG ammo? What is it about being able to load BMG ammo that makes the press so expensive? My guess is either nothing, or fewer people buying them. __________________ I like to make beer, bullets, and jerky.....but not at the same time. Washed up 11B1P

January 30, 2008, 08:22 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Like he said, the BMG capable Classic Cast is cheap cheap CHEAP! But look up the price of the dies you need-- they are pricey. Simply... they don't sell scads of these like they do with .30-06 or .38 Special. Thousands of those have been sold... the tooling is long paid for, and even making new calibers isn't a big stretch because they are all dimensionally similar. But the dies to roll BMG aren't standard in any way, they are massive. Add on top of that the simple fact that folks shooting the BMG already likely have $5k wrapped up just in their rifle... A couple hundo to roll the ammo is like the new Ferrari owner that's worried about his gas mileage. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 31, 2008, 01:30 PM	#6
markr Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: Arsenal of Democracy Posts: 405	I saw the Lee version for $200. Still much more, considering the standard Lee O-Ring press is in the $40 Dollar range. I don't plan on shooting it for the same reason other people don't shoot it, mucho $$$ for the weopon platform and the bullets to feed it with. I flung many down range in the military though, awesome caliber. You would be nuts not to reload it if you planned on shooting it. __________________ I like to make beer, bullets, and jerky.....but not at the same time. Washed up 11B1P

February 1, 2008, 10:37 PM	#8
markr Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: Arsenal of Democracy Posts: 405	Nice. Well, what are you launching 'em with? A Picture would be nice. __________________ I like to make beer, bullets, and jerky.....but not at the same time. Washed up 11B1P

February 1, 2008, 11:14 PM	#9
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	He's not launching them with anything. He sold the rifle for twice as much $$ as he had in to it. 232 grains of powder... that's 30 loaded rounds out of a 1 lb. can of powder, assuming you don't spill any! __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 30, 2008, 12:06 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	The biggest factors are the size and force needed to do it. I would point out not all presses that can do the 50BMG are expensive. You can buy the Lee Classic Cast press and get the 50BMG kit for much less than some of the other presses. It is a massive steel press with plenty of leverage to handle the 50BMG cartridge.

January 30, 2008, 08:39 PM	#4
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I don't see how anyone can roll 50's due to the lack of primers to buy.

January 31, 2008, 10:03 AM	#5
slotracer577 Member Join Date: December 6, 2007 Posts: 25	primers are available, but hard to find some times. For a press the cheapest is the lee. About $170 with dies. Only down side is they use a smaller thread so other dies wont fit. You have to realize that a 50 die has to be huge compared to normal 308 rounds. A 308 round will fit inside a 50 brass. John

January 31, 2008, 08:05 PM	#7
angus1133 Junior Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2	hi,well i got the lee,and sizing was nothing,ive had 308 cases that were harder to size.it was alot more easier than i was told!!i got the lee for 150.00. but 7 months ago i sold my 50 for double i was into it for,but kept alot of brass,bullets ect.i will get another 50 and a lee press again.these were the first 50 bmg i loaded,700 ap,lake city cases,232 grains of powder!!!

February 1, 2008, 11:31 PM	#10
markr Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: Arsenal of Democracy Posts: 405	I should have read it closer. I thought he got rid of just the press, that doesn't make sense either....nevermind __________________ I like to make beer, bullets, and jerky.....but not at the same time. Washed up 11B1P

February 2, 2008, 07:37 PM	#11
Silentarmy Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2007 Location: Bountiful, Utah Posts: 355	Primers are nearly impossible to find and even harder to pay for! I bought 2000 on DEC 15 for a cool $600 with haz mat and shipping! They are now packed only 25 to a tray as a detonation on those would be spectacular! Only about ten times the Propellant as a Small rifle primer! My dear wife bought me the Lee setup for christmas as I patiently await the next production shipment of the Bohica FAR.50. __________________ "No one will Ever buy that PLASTIC gun!" Steve Gallenson, Early 1980's "Those Who live by the sword get Shot by those of us who don't" "What we learn from History is that we do not learn from History!"

February 4, 2008, 12:57 AM	#12
slotracer577 Member Join Date: December 6, 2007 Posts: 25	I just picked up 500 primers this week at SW. not cheap, $28/100 John

February 4, 2008, 03:08 AM	#13
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	Just looking at the primer issue makes the 338 Lapua, 50 Peacekeeper, 510 Whisper, and other rounds that use standard size primers seem like a bargain. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.