Bald Eagle BE1218 User guide

BE1218

Heavy-Duty Match Press

Instructions

Tech Support: [phone] • Email: [e-mail] • Web: www.grizzly.com

Not included: Die, case, and shell holder.

Introduction

The Model BE1218 Heavy-Duty Match Press is designed to be an extremely versatile, single-stage reload­ing press. Featuring a super heavy-duty and beefy cast-iron C-frame design, this press enables match
shooters to perform body and neck sizing, primer decapping, case-mouth expansion, and bullet seating
very accurately. Weighing a hefty 22 lbs., the Model BE1218 features two mounting holes for rock-solid
stability.

1

The 12
heavy-duty, 1
to accommodate a variety of brass cases for handguns and rifles. Also, it accommodates standard
press dies with the provided die adapter installed or 1

⁄2" long press handle can be positioned for right- or left-handed use. The press features a super

1

⁄8"-wide ram—one of the largest on the market—with a 3.85" stroke and a 3.95" throat height,

1

⁄4"-12 press dies with the adapter removed.

COPYRIGHT © JULY, 2016 BY GRIZZLY INDUSTRIAL, INC., REVISED MARCH, 2024 (BL)

#BL18262

WARNING: NO PORTION OF THIS MANUAL MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM

WITHOUT THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF GRIZZLY INDUSTRIAL, INC.

PRINTED IN TAIWAN

7

⁄8"-14

To reduce risk of serious personal injury:

• Always wear safety glasses when
reloading.

• Read and understand all warnings and
instructions that came with your reload­ing equipment.

• DO NOT smoke while reloading or oper­ate reloading press near flammables,
sparks, or fire.

• Keep reloading press and related equip­ment out of reach of children.

• Full mental alertness is required for safe
operation. Never operate under influence
of drugs or alcohol, when tired, or when
distracted.

• Examine all cases before reloading to
ensure they are in good condition. DO
NOT use cases exhibiting cracks, splits,
corrosion, or any structural deformities.

• DO NOT store cases or ammunition near
chemicals that may produce fumes that
can weaken metal.

Identification

D

C

E

B

A

F

Figure 1. BE1218 identification.

Inventory

Description Qty

A. Press Handle .............................................. 1

B. Reloading Press ......................................... 1

Primer Collection Tube 1⁄2" x 20" ................ 1

C.

A B C

Figure 2. BE1218 inventory.

If you are not experienced with reloading,
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you seek
additional training outside of these instruc­tions. Read books/magazines or get for­mal training before reloading. Regardless
of the content in these instructions,
Grizzly Industrial will not be held liable
for any accidents.

Mounting

Mount the Model BE1218 to a sturdy workbench
heavy enough to not tip over when the press
handle is pulled.

1

The base has two
to be fastened to a workbench or other mounting
surface to prevent it from moving during operation
and causing accidental injury or damage.

⁄2" mounting holes that allow it

A. Press Handle
B. Ram

Ram Cap

C.
D. Die Adapter
E. Base
F. Primer Collection Tube

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The strongest mounting option is a "Through
Mount," where holes are drilled all the way
through the workbench, using hex bolts, washers,
and hex nuts to secure the press in place. Another
option is a "Direct Mount" where the press is
secured directly to the workbench with lag screws
and washers.

The press may also be mounted to an aluminum
plate with fasteners and secured with C-clamps.

BE1218 Heavy-Duty Match Press

Assembly Setup

1. Thread press handle onto right or left side
of linkage block, as shown in Figure 3, and
tighten with a 12mm open-end wrench.

Shell holders and reloading dies are not included
with the Model BE1218 and must be purchased
separately.

The Model BE1218 can accommodate

1

⁄4"-12 reloading dies. To use a 7⁄8"-14 die, install

1
the die adapter shown in Figure 5, and thread the
die into the adapter. To use a 1
the adapter and thread the die directly into the
casting.

7

⁄18 "-14 and

1

⁄4"-12 die, remove

Press

Handle

Linkage Block

Figure 3. Threading press handle onto linkage

block.

Slide one end of primer collection tube onto

2.

bottom of ram (see Figure 4). Place other
end of tube in a garbage can to catch spent
primers.

Ram

Primer

Collection

Tube

Die Adapter

Figure 5. Location of die adapter.

Cleaning & Lubricating

Before installing a die, remove all rust preventa­tive from the internal parts. Clean, inspect, and
properly lubricate cases before installing them to
avoid damaging them or getting them stuck in a
sizing die.

Shell Holder Setup

Use the press handle to raise the ram just
above the base, then slide on a shell holder (see
Figure 6) that matches the case you are reload­ing. The open part of the shell holder should be
oriented toward you. Then install the ram cap.

Figure 4. Handle and collection tube installed.

BE1218 Heavy-Duty Match Press

Base

Shell Holder

Ram Cap

Figure 6. Shell holder and ram cap installed.

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Die Setup

General setup for most reloading dies consists of
installing the shell holder in the ram, raising the
ram to its highest position, threading the reloading
die into the top of the press casting or die adapter
until it contacts the shell holder, then tightening
the reloading die lock ring (see Figure 7).

Depending upon the type of die you are using, it
may need to be adjusted in or out more. Be sure
to follow the die manufacturer's instructions to
properly set up your die.

Reloading Die

Lock Ring

Expanding

For straight walled cases only, an expander die
expands the case mouth just enough to accept a
new bullet.

Bullet Seating

The bullet is seated into the mouth of the case
and raised into the bullet seating die with the
press lever during the final step in the reloading
process.

Lubrication

The Model BE1218 comes pre-lubricated from
the factory. However, it will benefit from peri­odic cleaning and lubrication, depending upon the
amount of use.

Die Adapter

Shell Holder

Ram

Figure 7. Example of sizing die setup (die not

included).

Operation

The Model BE1218 can be used to perform the
following types of operations: case sizing, decap­ping, expanding, and bullet seating.

Case Body Sizing

The brass body of a spent case can expand and
stretch as a result of firing. A body resizing die
compresses the diameter of the case back to its
original specification and can compress the over­all length of the case by “bumping the shoulder,”
the tapered portion of the case between the body
and the neck.

Wipe the press down with a clean cloth to remove
any grit or residue. Lubricate the ram and linkage
pivot points (see Figure 8) with gun oil and wipe
dry. Be careful not to get any oil on the top of the
ram, to avoid deactivating primers.

Ram

Linkage

Pivot

Points

Figure 8. Locations to lubricate.

A neck resizing die compresses only the neck
diameter back to its original specification. Neck
sizing is generally performed when cases will be
used in only a single firearm.

Decapping

A thin rod in a body or neck sizing die pushes a
spent primer out the bottom of a case, generally
at the same time the case is resized.

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BE1218 Heavy-Duty Match Press

BE1218 Parts Breakdown

14

6

18

11

19

16

8

7

4

17

2

1

15

2

10

11

2

2

2

3

10

9

3

5

2

12

2

13

REF PART # DESCRIPTION REF PART # DESCRIPTION

1 PBE1218001 BASE 11 PBE1218011 BUTTON HD CAP SCR 3/8-16 X 1/2
2 PBE1218002 FLAT WASHER 1/2 NYLON 12 PBE1218012 SET SCREW 8-32 X 1/4
3 PBE1218003 LINK ARM 13 PBE1218013 TUBING 1/2 X 20 VINYL
4 PBE1218004 RAM 14 PBE1218014 HOLLOW LINK PIN 1/2 X 1-3/4
5 PBE1218005 TOGGLE BLOCK 15 PBE1218015 SOLID LINK PIN 1/2 X 1-3/4
6 PBE1218006 PIVOT PIN 1/2 X 4 16 PBE1218016 DIE ADAPTER 1-1/4-12 X 3/4
7 PBE1218007 STUD-DE 1/2-13 X 12-1/2, 3/4 17 PBE1218017 RAM CAP 0.8 X 1.1 X 0.4
8 PBE1218008 BALL KNOB 1-5/8, 1/2-13 BLK 18 PBE1218018 SHELL HOLDER RETAINING RING
9 PBE1218009 LOWER LINK PIN 1/2 X 4 19 PBE1218019 TOUCH-UP PAINT, GREEN
10 PBE1218010 FLAT WASHER 3/8 SS

BE1218 Heavy-Duty Match Press

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