Anyone know anything about a texan 256-C? Are they good reloaders, what are they worth, who sells them? Stuff like that. A guy around here nas one for sale and I was wondering if I was getting a fair price on it.

why don't you look in your bible?

Sorry couldn't resist.

That's OK, I have pretty thick skin.

they have been out of business for years. i have one of their presses & can't give the thing away.

IMHO the only one worth a damn is the model M shotgun press.

quote:

I was wondering if I was getting a fair price on it.

They sold for around $45 new. Only way I would own a "C" shaped press (when I can pick up a used Rockchucker for under $50) is if someone gave it to me.

I don't know about them by model number but they were as good as any of their similar competitors when they were made.

If it's a compound toggle model, use it. If it's a simple toggle model use it for decapping or seating or expanding, etc., all things that don't require a lot of lever pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C. <><:
I don't know about them by model number but they were as good as any of their similar competitors when they were made.

If it's a compound toggle model, use it. If it's a simple toggle model use it for decapping or seating or expanding, etc., all things that don't require a lot of lever pressure.

Jim, not trying to quarrel, but my experience with them was different. I bought one new in the 1960's. At the same time I had an RCBS and a Herter's. The only one which ever gave me trouble was the Texan.

I note that you may have had that experience too, in that you suggest not using the single toggle ones for anything which takes much lever pressure.

If a person was resizing cases which required even slightly more than usual handle pressure, the handle would often break off right where the threads end and the smooth handle body begins. I broke the handle off four times before I decided "the heck with it" and sold the press. None of my other single-stage presses ever did that.

Today I might use one if I ws going to reload mainly small straight-wall cases, but I sure wouldn't if I was gonna re-size magnum bottle-necked brass.

Now, of course that may have just been my particular press, but I wouldn't take that chance again.

Best wishes,

AC

Albert, I bow to your greater experence with Texans. I never owned one but used to shoot with a fellow who did. He was satisfied and I based my comments on that.

I remember they didn't stay in the market long but thought the were bought by a bigger outfit; maybe not?

One of the problems wirth getting older is that you tend to forget things (like information) that you don't use a lot. I used to know what happened to the Texan firm, and why, but now I don't.

One thing about the Texan presses, at least the ones I am familiar with....though they looked almost exactly like their competetors, they were slightly smaller in virtually every dimension. That, of course, is probably why they were more frail.

Anyway, if a guy is gonna load pistol cartridges on a single stage press, I think they would do just fine. Likewise, if his "thing" was doing .32-40 or .38-55 cartridges which weren't loaded hot (and therefore not expanded drastically)...

But for other than maybe the .22 Hornet, there aren't a whole lot of other rounds I would feel secure using the Texan for, and to my mind that means I'd choose something else if I wanted value for my money.

Hopefully, we'll hear from a dozen or so members who have Texans, love them, and have never had a lick of trouble with them. They ARE a very nicely finished little press, apparently carefully made, so it would be real nice to hear that mine was just the bad exception which proves the good rule.

Best wishes all.