The first thing I noticed after setting up the Redding Big Boss II was that the handle would not stay tight. I sent an email to Redding just to make sure I was not missing something...maybe I only thought I knew how to screw a nut onto a threaded handle? It was suggested that I try a lock washer. Many folks would not care that it looks ugly, but it did bother me. Not ideal, but it did the trick.
So now I was good to go. I grabbed my 7,000 9mm cases and started pulling the handle. After sizing a few thousand cases the linkage started to loosen. I assumed some loosening would occur as it broke in so I just tightened it until it was almost as tight as new.
However, after several hundred more cases it started tightening on it own until I had to loosen it. Eventually it became loose again and had to be tightened. At this point I was starting to get frustrated, and suspected I would eventually have to return the press for repairs.
Another email to Redding, and they sent me new linkage. However, before I had a chance to put it on the press I noticed the stem of my Lee push through sizer die was rubbing the die when I lowered the handle to size a bullet. Naturally I assumed it was an out of spec Lee die as they have a reputation for being "affordable". Then I started priming cases and noticed the primers were getting hung up on the case occasionally which they did not do when I first got the press (I am now convinced this is due to the design of the Redding Slide Prime unit, but that is another post). Finally, I started crimping with my Redding die, and noticed it was biting the brass on the case in the same place as the Lee die was rubbing (the front of the press).
I raised the ram and upon closer inspection noticed that the top of the ram seemed to move forward and back almost describing a circle at the top of the stroke. I believe this was causing the rubbing and biting on my dies. At that point I realized I was definitely going to have to send this thing back.
Now I was understandably frustrated not only because the press was only a few weeks old, but because Redding has a reputation for quality which I paid a premium for. I paid that premium because I did not want to have to tinker with my tools. To make matters worse, I waited to buy the press until it was on sale AND offered with free shipping. I knew that once I paid to ship this chunk of iron back my savings would be gone.
Sure enough, back in the box it went. A week later I had a brand new press. I bolted it down, popped in my shell holder, and was immediately disappointed to discover that the shell holder spun almost completely free in the ram! Back on the phone with Redding, and within a few days I had a new retaining clip in hand and the problem was solved.
I used the press to load a few thousand rounds, and started to love it as I had hoped I would. Yesterday the handle started getting loose.
It would be unfair if I did not mention the very kind, responsive, and accommodating customer service Redding provided. In the end I simply cannot recommend the Redding Big Boss II without adding the caveat that it may not be the piece of industrial artwork (a term used by another user of the press in describing it to me) it is seen as being.
I suspect that Redding makes equipment that is basically on par with every other manufacturer in the field, but has garnered a following of highly motivated fans. This is normal in most areas of life so I do not hold it against them. The catch is that Redding is made in the USA which cannot be said of most of the other manufacturer's equipment. This means two things. First, you can spend your money in the USA if that is important to you, and second, you will be spending more of it.
My next press may be made by Redding but only if I get it at a deep discount, and only because I know going in not to drink the green Kool-Aid.
