Adding accessories to your reloading press is always fun. They not only add to the enjoyment of the hobby but in some cases will save time and effort at the bench. While most of my suggestions will fit on all single-stage presses, there are a few mentioned that will also work with other press designs.

Starting out with RCBS, I took notice of the recent introduced Precision Mic.  According to the company’s literature, and with only a few twists of the unit for most any rifle caliber, you will know your chamber headspace. At the same time the precision Mic will show bullet-seating depth to 0.001 inch. RCBS further states this instrument measures from the datum point on any case shoulder and provides the correct SAAMI tolerance readings of all the cartridges listed in the company’s catalog. A great addition to your bench, it will extend the life of your cartridge cases, not to mention helping to obtain more accurate handloads.

 Another item from RCBS is a Ram Priming Unit that gives handloaders a better “feel” of the handle and ram when seating primers at the very top of the press stroke. It works with any single-stage or turret-type press, uses a single- stage shell holder and comes with both small and large primer assemblies. I use this technique when working on a cartridge where I have to bell the case mouth and then prime the case at the same time.

From Hornady, I noticed a Light Strip that mounts on the inside of the company’s Lock-N-Load press.  While this might be a “what will they think of next” item, it does have its value. The lighting makes for easier quality checks on a progressive press as you work, has LED lights and hooks up to any common 110-volt outlet or directly into the Lock-N-Load Control Panel.

The Lock-N-Load Control Panel is something I wish I had when I was shooting competitively and needed a lot of ammunition. This unit keeps track of the number of press strokes for an ammunition count, detects a low powder charge, includes a primer level sensor, a light strip as mentioned and a digital readout directly on the panel. Two models are offered to a handloader’s needs and the volume of ammunition that might produce.