Turret presses ???

Status
Not open for further replies.
So where are we in this thread? The only good turret press is the 1930s Hollywood press? A unicorn press? So ratified that it shows up occasionally on eBay for beaucoup bucks.

All others suffer from turret flex ... turret separation ... under load? In others words, their design is inherently flawed?

Incredible!

BTW, FortuneCookie45LC appears to be a fan of the Lyman All American. He does point out that Lyman has an arm on their press to mitigate the turret separation issue.
 
Last edited:
So where are we in this thread? The only good turret press is the 1930s Hollywood press? A unicorn press? So ratified that it shows up occasionally on eBay for beaucoup bucks.

All others suffer from turret flex ... turret separation ... under load? In others words, their design is inherently flawed?

Incredible!

BTW, FortuneCookie45LC appears to be a fan of the Lyman All American. He does point out that Lyman has an arm on their press to mitigate the turret separation issue.

From my perspective, the Turret presses, while a great idea, have been surpassed by more recent technology. This isn't to stay you can't get them to work or that they are bad just that there are other choices to consider. The big attraction of having multiple dies set and ready to go can be accomplished in other ways like:

  • Forster Co-Ax - instant change dies
  • Redding Big Boss II, Hornady Iron, other large O-Frame press with quick change bushing installed.
There are lots of presses on the market to choose from. It's up to you to decide what works best for you. I run 3 presses and use InLine Fabrication Quick Change mounts to swap them on my bench based on the task at hand. Forster Co-Ax for precision match grade work. Hornady LNL AP for pistol ammunition but leverage the case feeder to handle large quantities of rifle brass for tasks like de-capping and priming, Redding Big Boss II for heavy duty tasks like sizing MG fired Mil-Surp 7.62 nato brass and magnum rifle. This works the best for ME...so far.

As your knowledge and interests grow your bench tools and your press will need to grow with you. Starting off my best advice would be to follow the KISS rule. Keep It Simple Sam.

.40
 
Last edited:
So where are we in this thread? The only good turret press is the 1930s Hollywood press?
BTW, FortuneCookie45LC appears to be a fan of the Lyman All American. He does point out that Lyman has an arm on their press to mitigate the turret separation issue.

You aren't paying attention at all. I only said I have had a love affair with those old hollywood 12 holers for years. They still have the same flaw. Doesn't mean they aren't useful, if you like a center post supported design of turret have at the one that strikes your fancy. .
Hell, I don't fault my 650 because it has a tilt a whirl shellplate. I know its limitations and accept that it will make all the 9mm range ammo I need in a very short time. I would not try to load match rifle ammo on that, some do successfully but it isn't common.
 
BTW, FortuneCookie45LC appears to be a fan of the Lyman All American. He does point out that Lyman has an arm on their press to mitigate the turret separation issue.

The Redding has the same rear support design to mitigate head tilt. “Mitigate” is a proper word here, because mitigation is only a reduction of effect, not elimination.

All of these presses are “good presses,” but none are perfect. My comments were to point out the advantage to the T7 or AA8 over a much less expensive LCT is that a reloader who either only loads a limited number of cartridges or does a lot of multi-step case forming can leave a larger number of dies in the tool head. Spending more for a heavier press, in this case, doesn’t buy less run-out or greater consistency in your produced ammunition. None of them are bad, but none are perfect either, so mincing specs in a game of odd-man to pick the best among them is largely a wasted effort.
 
A little bit of flex or head tilt makes little difference. The die pretty much determines the precision of the operation. The shell floats quite a bit in the shell holder. But....I am sticking with the single stage with the quick change bushings. Unless I change my mind. I do nothing with a press that places much real force on it anyway. I lube my cases if they are sticky. Even with carbide dies. I seat bullets mostly in a competition seater. I am so old fashioned I neck size most of my rifle loads. Love well made things. Looked hard at the T7. Decided I did not want to go that route.

Have spent enough time with a magnetic base and an accurate dial indicator on mechanical things to understand that everything flexes to some degree. The amount is what matters.

Almost all of my accuracy issues have come down to how well I can shoot. I do not think there is much else I can do in the reloading room to improve my handgun accuracy or my rifle accuracy or my shotgun accuracy. I throw handgun loads and shotgun loads by volume. I load rifle loads by weight. Maybe I can make a "more accurate" load but if it is below my shooting threshold for accuracy I can not evaluate it. Many of you probably shoot better and thus have more worry about loading.

I
 
Last edited:
I would consider the Dillon but really don’t have the space for this:
View attachment 903549
It kind of reminds me of a Linotype machine in its complexity.

BTW, it’s amazing the number of reloaders I talk with who don’t know there are 3 types of presses.

I just had a good chuckle.... Gotta wonder how many people on here actually set type with a Linotype machine. Luckily our high school had one in the 70's that we got to use in our printing class!
 
Unless we communicate with the manufacturers about problems with their products, they won’t get the feedback they need to improve them.

Again, I was in NAPPA VALLEY, CAL at a flea market when I found a press in a booth that was selling industrial kitchen equipment. The dealer was advertising a juice press. I tried to explain to him it was a reloading press and then I went on to explain to him to be a juicer it would have to be mounted upside down. Anyhow, I got it cheap because he was missing (?) all the parts. This press has to be a fourth kind of press because it looks like a spider doing push-ups when put through its paces.

F. Guffey
 
Again, I was in NAPPA VALLEY, CAL at a flea market when I found a press in a booth that was selling industrial kitchen equipment. The dealer was advertising a juice press. I tried to explain to him it was a reloading press and then I went on to explain to him to be a juicer it would have to be mounted upside down. Anyhow, I got it cheap because he was missing (?) all the parts. This press has to be a fourth kind of press because it looks like a spider doing push-ups when put through its paces.

F. Guffey
It’s guaranteed “forever”, so take advantage of it.
Think of it this way: you’re doing for their own good.
 
I just had a good chuckle.... Gotta wonder how many people on here actually set type with a Linotype machine. Luckily our high school had one in the 70's that we got to use in our printing class!

I have.

My step-father bought the one he used at the newspaper he worked for. Getting it, its' typebank, and the printing press into the barn/print shop was a Job of Work.

Always had a soft spot for Linotype.
 
I’m looking at RCBS’s 6-stage press v. Redding’s T7 7-stage press v, Lyman’s All
American 8-stage press,

Experiences?
I really like my T7. Brass resizing and bullet seating are both precise and accurate. I’m at about 8,000 rounds with my press, and I observe little to no variation in the measurements of my finished cartridges. I’m much more efficient with the T7 as compared to the single stage Redding I own, and maybe I’m more consistent as I’m not moving dies; they stay put on the turret.

Opinions?
It is a very well designed piece of machinery with excellent fit and finish. Tolerances are very tight. I believe it will serve me very well for as long as I want to reload.

Caveats?
None?
 
My first press was a Redding T7. I still use it for all my pistol rounds and for decapping all of my brass. I also keep a bullet puller on the turret for the occasional times I need it. Bottleneck cartridges are done on a CH single stage. I believe the single stage has less runout than the T7, although I never tested it.

I will admit that if I loaded the same cartridge, with the same dies, on each press I probably couldn’t tell the difference when I shot them. But in my mind, the CH should produce more consistent ammo, and that makes a difference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GT1
That picture shows all the optional trays and tool racks. The actual footprint of a Dillon 650 (and I presume 750) is no bigger than the big turrets you’re looking at. It’s taller, because of the columns of cases and primers, but that’s not actually an issue in most installations.
The Dillon "footprint" is on the order of 12" x 12". Even if you get the Redding or another turret, you'll want to mount it on a Inline Fabrication Ultramount, which occupies about the same footprint.

TwTxhjA.jpg
Redding and LNL with Ultramount next to a Dillon 650 with Strong Mount

Hope this helps.
 
The Dillon "footprint" is on the order of 12" x 12". Even if you get the Redding or another turret, you'll want to mount it on a Inline Fabrication Ultramount, which occupies about the same footprint.

Or, you're like me and don't use any big mount on any press. Either way, the analysis should be apples to apples. There are presses with smaller footprints than the 650, but they're generally much smaller presses overall - either SS or an LCT. Footprint isn't really a reason not do a 650. They're tall (especially with a case feeder attached, and that's where some of the exceptional speed comes from), and they're heavy and put a good bit of load on the bench. They're a bit more complicated to learn to run than a turret, which really doesn't require any mechanical awareness beyond that required for a SS. They're somewhat more expensive. But footprint size is not a reason to avoid them, especially relative to something like a T7.
 
BTW guys, I watched this video which has the camera pointing up at the Redding T-7 turret during resizing. I saw ZERO turret flexing, certainly nothing perceptible to the eye.

This video gives a interesting disassembly of the
T-7 along with discussing turret flex.
 
Last edited:
Oh yeah, in the THR thread Redding T-7 Turret Press there’s a very interesting post:
I bought my T-7 about two months ago. The first thing I noticed when I full length resize a 308 case was the turret tilted back onto the rear support. Even seating a bullet will cause the tilt. The amount of tilt was not consistent. A call to Redding's tech support help solved the problem. Redding tech support was very good but I forgot the gentleman's name. He said the center bushing where the turret turn is a few thousandths taller than the thickness of the turret. This was done so you can turn the turret. If Redding remove all the play then the turret would not turn. He suggested two ways to deal with the tilt: either adjust you dies to account for the free play or grind the bushing down by a few thousandths so to reduce the tilt a minium. I choosed to grind the bushing down. The bushing is now just one thousandth taller than the turret and there is no more measurable tilt. The down side to this modification is the turret head is very hard to turn. But this is OK since I do in batch, I deprime, reprime, charge powder by hand off the press. The press only resizes and seats the bullet. So I only have to turn the turret once for the entire batch. The T-7 was not designed to be a fast press, it was designed to be a strong and accurate press. With the above modification I now have a truly strong AND accurate press.
 
I have a couple of the T-mag style Lyman Turret presses; an older orange one on my rifle bench and a newer grey T-mag that I use on my handgun bench. The orange one seems more precise, but I've forgotten why I think that.

Both presses have an adjustment post in the back that takes the 'rock' out of the turret when sizing. It's pretty effective, but you can't turn the turret when it's in contact with the post. I use the adjustment when resizing rifle cases, but don't bother with it for handgun cartridges.

The presses and turrets have gone up in price. I bought the newer press on sale at Midway a while back for what you'd pay now for a turret plate. Picked up some spare turret plates when I bought each press and I'm glad I did.

I have one turret plate that chronically mis-aligns. Lyman offered to look at it if I sent it back, but so far haven't bothered.

My most used turret plate set up is for .357/.38. The two calibers share the sizer/decapper, but rotating CCW brings up dies adjusted to expand and seat .357. Rotating CW from the sizer bring up dies adjusted for .38 Spcl. BTW, my turrets have just 6 holes.
 
Last edited:
I have limited time with the Redding T-7, about 2 years, however it is invaluable for me.
Let me state that my RCBS Jr. is my main press. I have size and bell dies for 38/357, 45 Colt and 45 acp permanently installed in the T-7. Then I finish my loads off in the Jr. I also use a RCBS little dandy with rotors to drop powder. If I don't have the rotor I use the RCBS Universal powder measure. After dropping the powder in 50 cases I look in every case to make sure there is powder. Then seat in the Jr.Its a little slow but no squibs--thats the plus of loading this way. I have used the Jr. for 52 years. As a Cowboy Action competitor and USPSA shooter you go through many rounds.
 
Jski......Only have experience with the T7. Started out reloading on a humble Lee 50th Anniversary single stage reloading kit many, many rounds ago. In fact, I still use the Lee for depriming and sizing as I've yet to find anything faster than the Lee Safety Prime tray to reload with primers.

Decided I wanted another press that was dedicated to the .357 full time so shopped around and ended up bringing the T7 home based on the OVERWHELMING amount of positive feedback I found on various websites. I also wanted a press that gave me a little more control/hands on over each step of the process and allowed me to stop when I chose to do whatever it was I wanted to do with less complexity of a progressive. It's built like a tank. I'll never wear it out. Has the feel of quality with each movement of the handle. I LIKE using this press for that reason alone.

About the flex. It's negligible at best. I don't notice it (not even sure it's there), and I don't worry about it. But then I don't shoot competitive long range/benchrest etc. I use it for straight walled revolver rounds exclusively so it's a non-issue for me.

I like the T7 so much that while shopping at a big box sporting goods store I saw one at a ridiculous price which made it impossible for me to walk away from and so I bought it and brought home a sibling for the older brother. That press is not dedicated to a caliber and routinely see's .44 mag, .45 Colt dies etc.

This press is shown in the pic below just after I set it up today for a large run of .327 Fed Mag/120 grain hard-cast GC's. I'm getting ready to start that this weekend (now that I have the time in quarantine).
I don't hard mount them and use the clamps to keep them in place allowing me to open the bench up for other projects when additional space is required.

Like ADKWoodsman above this post I use a Little Dandy on the press to drop the powder. What I like about this set up is it's VERY consistent in it's drops. The movement of the turret head back and forth ensures the power settles and there are no voids in the column. It's easy to see the powder level drop in the see-through tube, especially with larger charges. I check every 10th round and even with larger powders (like Unique) the most I'm off is 2/10th's of a grain and always less than that with smaller powders.

tPJl7DJ.jpg

For Christmas 2-3 years ago my mother-in-law sewed me the cover's with patches I picked up in Ireland a while back. Keeps them clean and dust free when not in use.

xoeP5Ob.jpg
 
Last edited:
Jski......Only have experience with the T7. Started out reloading on a humble Lee 50th Anniversary single stage reloading kit many, many rounds ago. In fact, I still use the Lee for depriming and sizing as I've yet to find anything faster than the Lee Safety Prime tray to reload with primers.

Decided I wanted another press that was dedicated to the .357 full time so shopped around and ended up bringing the T7 home based on the OVERWHELMING amount of positive feedback I found on various websites. I also wanted a press that gave me a little more control/hands on over each step of the process and allowed me to stop when I chose to do whatever it was I wanted to do with less complexity of a progressive. It's built like a tank. I'll never wear it out. Has the feel of quality with each movement of the handle. I LIKE using this press for that reason alone.

About the flex. It's negligible at best. I don't notice it (not even sure it's there), and I don't worry about it. But then I don't shoot competitive long range/benchrest etc. I use it for straight walled revolver rounds exclusively so it's a non-issue for me.

I like the T7 so much that while shopping at a big box sporting goods store I saw one at a ridiculous price which made it impossible for me to walk away from and so I bought it and brought home a sibling for the older brother. That press is not dedicated to a caliber and routinely see's .44 mag, .45 Colt dies etc.

This press is shown in the pic below just after I set it up today for a large run of .327 Fed Mag/120 grain hard-cast GC's. I'm getting to start that this weekend (now that I have the time in quarantine).
I don't hard mount them and use the clamps to keep them in place allowing me to open the bench up for other projects when additional space is required.

Like ADKWoodsman above this post I use a Little Dandy on the press to drop the powder. What I like about this set up is it's VERY consistent in it's drops. The movement of the turret head back and forth ensures the power settles and there are no voids in the column. It's easy to see the powder level drop in the see-through tube, especially with larger charges. I check every 10th round and even with larger powders (like Unique) the most I'm off is 2/10th's of a grain and always less than that with smaller powders.

View attachment 905403

For Christmas 2-3 years back my mother-in-law sewed me the cover's with patches I picked up in Ireland a while back. Keeps them clean and dust free when not in use.

View attachment 905404
Frulk, I’ve come to the same conclusion. After watching a million youtube reviews and reading a billion reloading forum reviews, the preponderance of evidence and opinion favors the Redding T-7. No doubt!

I do believe I’ll help out one small American business and buy their reloading press!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top