Caleb is joined by Craig from Area 419 to take an in-depth look at a piece of gear that's taken the reloading world by storm: the Zero Turret reloading press. The folks at Area 419 are all precision rifle shooters who spend a lot of time loading their own ammunition. Each of the currently available high-end presses on the market does something well - but none of them does it all. The design mandate of The Zero was to combine ALL the best features and functions of current reloading press technology into ONE press that would maintain consistency not only from one round to another but from batch to batch of ammo.
Why a turret press? Because it combines the stability and repeatable lockup of a single-stage press and the convenience of a progressive by not having to change dies. A "zero point" retention system locks the turret in place with zero movement - hence the press's name. Even when you swap turrets on the Zero, the dies will be positioned within half a thousandth of an inch of where they were when you first set it up. Even top-end single-stage presses can't replicate that level of precision.
The Zero's body is produced on a 5-axis machining center from a single block of American aluminum alloy. No cheap castings here! To ensure precise specs are maintained throughout, Area 419 manufactures their own shoulder bolts. Tolerances between parts are a "Machinist's Dream" of exactitude. The Zero's rock-solid "of a piece" feel is unlike any other press currently available. The bearing that guides the ram is lined with PTFE (same material that's in Teflon®), which makes The Zero essentially self-lubricating. No need to contaminate the press or, potentially, the ammo you load on it with grease.
The Zero also offers some convenience upgrades - like the integral spent primer tray that slips right into the base, so there are no hoses sticking out from the bottom. The handle is a straight rod of solid, hardened steel, culminating in an ergonomic hand grip that spins on a captured needle bearing. Of course, you get what you pay for, so The Zero is not cheap. But experienced machinists have been incredulous that the Area 419 crew can build it for that price. There you have it: the most precise reloading press you can buy - maybe the last one you'll ever need!
4 мар 2021
