A while back one of my viewers on YouTube said: “You’ve got to check out the Präzipress, this thing is AMAZING”. So I looked it up on the internet, and found the product page on the Turban CNC website. I was immediately intrigued- this press design looked different. And I wondered how these presses would look, feel, and work in person. And that’s what this post will cover!
Präzipress Models
The Präzipress is available in three models:
Präzipress (105mm opening)
Heavy Präzipress 120mm
This is the press I’ll be reviewing in this article!
Heavy Präzipress 120mm product page.
Heavy Präzipress 140mm
Heavy Präzipress 140mm product page.
Heavy Präzipress 120mm Overview
The Präzipress unit I received is a 120mm model- which has three guide rods (Präzipress 105mm model has two, the Heavy Präzipress 140mm has three) plus the ram. So there’s really four guide rods if you include the ram. The Heavy Präzipress 120mm comes setup to accept standard shellholders (Examples: RCBS, LEE, Hornady, Redding, Lyman) and standard 7/8″ 14TPI dies. Also included is an adapter bushing that will accept 1 1/4″ 12TPI dies or bushings. Here’s what’s included with the Heavy Präzipress 120mm press:
Pictured above:
- Press assembly
- Handle, washer, nut
- Owner’s manual
- Combo wrench
- Spanner wrench (for bushings)
- 1 1/4″ 12 TPI bushing
- 7/8″ 14 TPI bushing (installed on press)
- Mounting bolts (countersunk), washers, nuts
- Primer catch bottle
This press is MASSIVE! It also has some great features and construction details:
- Three guide rods with linear ball bearings (I have not seen these on any other press)
- Ambidextrous operation (handle can be mounted on left or right side)
- Positive snap shellholder retainer (secure, but easy to insert/remove shellholder)
- 120mm opening accepts cartridges up to 338 Lapua length
- Enclosed spent primer catch system which contains debris
- Optimized leverage (VERY powerful mechanical advantage for sizing)
- Oversize handle (bar diameter) that minimizes flex
Mounting the Heavy Präzipress 120mm Press
The Präzipress is typically mounted with countersunk bolts from the top, via holes drilled through the your reloading bench. Since I use the Inline Fabrication Ultramount system with Quick-Change top plates, I had to do a bit of custom fabrication (and that’s fun). The first thing I did was to drill and countersink my generic Inline Fabrication quick change top plate: (only two holes were countersunk)
I then made some “countersunk hole adapter nuts” so that I could use 3/8″ 16 TPI countersunk bolts up through the bottom of the Inline Fabrication plate:
This made for a clean install, and I did not have to modify the press at all! The two inboard countersunk mounting bolts were passed up from underneath, and the third (closest to the operator) was passed down from the top with a standard nut and washer on the bottom of the mounting plate.
Heavy Präzipress 120mm Test Results
For my initial testing with the Präzipress, I decided to load some 6.5 Creedmoor dummy cartridges, and test for consistency of shoulder bump when full-length sizing, and concentricity of seated bullets.
Brass Sizing Test
The brass sizing test consisted of the following setup:
- Präzipress Heavy 120mm press
- FORSTER Full-Length Sizing Die (6.5 Creedmoor)
- Starline once-fired 6.5 Creedmoor brass, cleaned and lubricated with Imperial case sizing wax
I tested for consistency of shoulder bump. This test started by “zeroing” a Hornady headspace comparator tool on the first sized piece of brass:
I then tested the remaining nine sized cases, comparing them with the first. The results were nothing short of amazing, here’s the measurement for each case tested:
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
- 0.0000″
That’s right, there wasn’t even a half-thousandth variation in sizing dimension… A testament to the Präzipress, the FORSTER sizing die, and the Starline 6.5 Creedmoor brass!
Bullet Seating/Concentricity Test
The second test was to seat 10 bullets in the sized cases, and to measure the runout of the bullets in the Hornady runout measuring tool. Here’s the test setup:
- Heavy Präzipress 120mm press
- FORSTER Ultra Micrometer Seater (6.5 Creedmoor)
- Starline 6.5 Creedmoor cases
- Hornady 120 grain A-Max 6.5mm bullets
And here’s the results:
- +/- 0.001″
- +/- 0.0005″
- +/- 0.001″
- +/- 0.001″ (minus)
- +/- 0.0005″
- +/- 0.001″ (minus)
- +/- 0.001″ (minus)
- +/- 0.001″
- +/- 0.0005″
- +/- 0.0005″
That’s an average of +/- 0.0007″, or 0.0014″ Total Indicator Reading. These results are very good- I’m not sure I’ve seen concentricity numbers like this straight off the press with once-fired brass (no prep to brass at all).
Fit and Finish
The Präzipress is machined using the latest CNC technology, and every part is produced to the most exacting standards. What’s more- the fine details like the lettering shown above demonstrate a high degree of craftsmanship and quality. When you use this press, it’s immediately clear that there are no details neglected, and I can’t imagine one of these presses ever wearing out. Based on the precision tests I did with ammunition loading, it’s clear that this level of precision does make a difference for ammunition dimensions and consistency.
Where To Buy the Präzipress
If you are interested in purchasing the Präzipress (any of the models) you can get pricing and purchase here: https://turban-shop.de/shop/.
At the time of the writing of this article, the pricing is as follows:
Präzipress: (105mm) 750,00 €
Heavy Präzipress 120mm: 850,00 €
Heavy Präzipress 140mm: 950,00 €
These presses are more expensive than standard reloading presses, but compared to a $2500.00 optic (Example: Niteforce) they seem very reasonably priced. The Präzipress is for the shooter that wants the best, and is unwilling to compromise for anything less.
Also, I have more Präzipress content planned, including its feature in my upcoming lineup of 14 single-stage reloading presses!
Make sure you’re subscribed!
Thanks,
Gavin
Sadly $900 plus shipping isn’t in my retirement budget. Nor would my shooting skill level require this beautiful machine. This press will have a ripple effect for the reloading industry by setting a new high bar for precision requirements. That is beneficial for all of us or at least my grandkids who will continue the tradition my dad started.
It looks great! Wish I had one in my hands.
THUMBS UP!
Hello From Germany,
I use the Präzipress 120 and the Heavy-Präzipress 140 too.
my .408CheyTac was Reloading on the 140.
I Use only the Best Dies on the Planet, from Tiebel-guntools.de
the Package was amazing..
Concentricity Test
+/- 0.0005″
+/- 0.0002″
with a Mitutoyo Digital gauge.
Thats Amazing
Martin from Germany
Gavin,
I understand your “thing” doing what you do and why you do it. I watch 99% of all your YT vids and enjoy learning new material you present. However, that $1000.00 (incl. shipping) beast does NOT do anything my Forster Coaxial of ten years utilizing my match grade and custom dies any better and at 1/4 the cost.
I get less than .5 thou OR ZERO runout in many cases (no pun intended) with my setup either by using my custom dies made from fired cases, and or, using my Lee collet dies.
Not to “dis” European/German precision, but I prefer to help Make America Great Again by buying American.
Love it.
I totally concur! I Use Hollywood presses, (3, 2 single stage and a turret) the turret has a slight increase in run out but still plus minus 0.001. the singles are usually plus minus 0.0005 using Horanady custom dies.
There is not a American made press on the market that is worth a damn when it comes to 50BMG. I have seen them all.
Would you consider marketing your Inline Fabrication quick release top plate for this press? If so what would the price be.
Please address if the 140mm press can still reload 223Rem or 308Win. I reload David Tubb’s 37XC because I can still load from my Forster CoaX…. but I’ve always considered the 416 Barrett and I need a 50BMG press for that.
I’m confused but did you mention at about 20:05 wish that the 140 has a bushing to use with .50BMG dies but that the press ISN’T large enough to actually reload that cartridge?
Not that I can afford the press such as Daniel Boone mentions above (retirement funds), and I have a Hollywood Press I use for rhe .50BMG anyway (with my custom dies getting me RO of identical to yours and, most often, right at 0.0000″ RO for my competition rounds) and all that set me back right at ~ $2,000.00 anyway.
Still, ifn I had the discretionary cashish, I’d Love to own this press just due to the fact I strive for as close to perfection in my precision rounds myself.
All that aside, thank you for your review of this press.
It gives those with the financial wherewithal something to strive for.
Lastly, maybe YOU, Gavin, could become a distributor for this line of reloading gear?
Ok, one more “Lastly,” can you drape a curtain to keep all the equipment behind you from view during your reviews? It can be a little bit difficult to pick out the intended review products for all the visual clutter in the background.
Thanks again, Sir.
Any Discount code? 🤔
Gilbert Garcia
gil@alwaysfreshcleaning.net
407-962-8254
My question which model is able to do:
30-06 / 9mm / 300 win mag
Thank so much
I think too many people have been bamboozled by this press. The RCBS Rock Crusher and the Forster Co-Ax had just as good results in another test conducted on youtube. Yes, it is a nice press but definitely not worth the money. Not for an 0.0001 – 0.0002 improvement in runout. I’ll take a CoAx any day and invest in Redding and Warner dies.
Just my $.02 worth