Which reloader to buy? rifle - handgun

[fariagaurd]

Experienced shooter but have never loaded my own. The progressives proved to be a seductive mistress but I don't need to load 500 rounds per hour.

As a newbie the progressives are intimidating any many seem to always have problems with indexing or this or that. Most seem to have an issue with something.

The single stage users seem to be the happiest people on the planet. Simple with not much to go wrong.

Enter the turret press. I reallllllly like the Redding T7 turret press and the online users seem to be happy. Reviews look great. 50-100 rounds per hour depending on who is commenting. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[cfullgraf]

Personally, I do not see the value in a turret press. It costs more than a single stage but really does not offer any advantages. Having dies installed in the turret is really no advantage in my mind as it takes but a few seconds to spin one die out and another die in.

The extra money saved by purchasing a single stage could go to other reloading goodies.

But folks like them which is why they are still available for purchase.

The Lee turret press with the auto indexing has a little advantage but...

With my single stage running batch processing, I could load about 100 cases per hour without trying hard.

Single stage presses are handy to have around. They do some specific tasks that other style presses do not do well. If you start with a single stage and then move on to something more exotic, most of your equipment will work on your new press and you will have the single stage press.

 

[Candyman87]

I agree with cfullgraf; not much value in the turret.

That being said, as a new reloader, please avoid the temptation to go straight to a progressive. Yes, one day you'll probably use one, but learn the basics on a single stage. I cannot recommend the RCBS Rockchucker enough. Very solidly built, and RCBS has great customer service.

With my Rockchucker I'll put out between 50-100 rounds/hour, depending on what I'm doing. 9mm plinking loads are closer to 100/hour, whereas the loads I've been developing for .38 Special lately have slowed me down to about 50/hour.

I've been reloading nearly two years... thousands of rounds, and only now am starting to consider a progressive. That being said, my Rockchucker will always have a home with load development and small quantity, larger rifle rounds.

 

[nettlle]

Turrets are nicer to use than a single stage but not necessarily a lot faster. I have a RCBS single stage and a Redding T7 on my bench. I much prefer using the turret.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I think the Redding T-7 is an excellent choice if it is in your budget. The only other turret I'd consider is the Lee Classic Turret as the value factor is too high to ignore

There are many times I wished I had gotten a turret press rather than a single stage as having the dies already installed and adjusted allows you to complete rounds without having to batch operations...while still allowing you to batch if you wanted.

I thought the only single stage that approached the T-7's flexibility was the Forrester Co-Ax. As neither were in my budget at the time, I did settle for a Lee single stage, but I installed the Hornady bushings to allow quick change of dies between it and my LNL AP

 

[Gadawg88]

The value of a turret press is not having to handle the same piece of brass in and out of the shell holder three to four times (depending on your die set-up/caliber) to complete a round.

 

[surveyor]

The less I handle brass, the smoother my workflow is to me.
The turret let's me do more than one operation.

for pistol, I use the index rod in. And load a complete round on the press, handling the brass twice.

For rifle I usually do brass prep in 2 operations on the press, then the other 5-6 steps as it comes off the press.
I handle a piece of brass twice, less than 20 seconds later I'll grab another one.

(Once in the shellholder for deprime,size, once out for trim,chamfer,deburr,brush neck,invert the case and remove primer crimp,brush primer pocket, doing all these steps one handed never leaving the brass untill it is complete. My trimmer and case prep center make this possible for me to do this way)

For loading rifle I'll do the other 2-3 steps on the press. I handle the brass twice in this step.

It fits my needs and workflow, and gives me easy caliber swaps by changing shellholder and turrets.

 

[yugorpk]

I learned to load on a Hollywood turret and curse my ex wife to this day for selling it at a garage sale.

Having said that I use a progressive LnL for high volume work. For light duty work I use a hornady single stage. Its sort of like having a turret in that the uses the quick change Hornady die holders that pop quickly into place and hold their settings.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I happily loaded nearly 20 years with a single. Then, I got a Hornady LnL. I feel like I wasted a lot of time and unnecessary handle pulls over all those single stage years.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

My first real press was Dillon 550B. My 2nd and 3rd were RCBS Rock Chuckers. I shoot mostly rifle and the trouble with doing rifle on a progressive is you need to pull it off the press after resizing to trim (unless you have a trimmer mounted to your press). Over the years I've found that I can reload rifle ammo almost as fast using the 2 Rock Chuckers as I could on the Dillon (one for resizing one for seating and crimp). Now I only use the Dillon for loading pistol rounds. I still like the looks of the Redding T7 Turret and should I find one at a decent price I might have to replace one of the Rock Chuckers. I like the idea of having 3 sets of rifle dies set up and ready to go. I figure if I got a couple additional turrets I'd not have to bother setting up dies for all but a couple of the rifles I shoot.

 

[gspn]

From an economy of movement standpoint, an auto-indexing turret like the Lee Classic Turret, saves you a lot of hand movements...and therefore a LOT of time.

The auto-index turret saves you from having to handle every single case 3 or 4 times (depending on how many dies you use). It saves FAR more time than merely changing the dies out.

If I use four dies and load 500 shells on the Lee turret I have to physically move each shell twice...once onto the ram and once off...for a total of 1,000 movements to and from the bench.

If I use a traditional single stage I have to move those same shells 4,000 times...twice for each of my four stages...once onto the ram and off of the ram for each die I use.

So...using the auto-index turret I make 3,000 fewer movements of the brass by hand...that is a big time savings. If you figure that it takes a second to move the shell each way then you are talking about a time savings of roughly 50 minutes for those 500 shells by using the auto-index vs single stage just from moving shells back and forth.

The auto-index turret provides tremendous economy of movement over the single stage "batch process".

 

[oldreloader]

From an economy of movement standpoint, an auto-indexing turret like the Lee Classic Turret, saves you a lot of hand movements...and therefore a LOT of time.

The auto-index turret saves you from having to handle every single case 3 or 4 times (depending on how many dies you use). It saves FAR more time than merely changing the dies out.

If I use four dies and load 500 shells on the Lee turret I have to physically move each shell twice...once onto the ram and once off...for a total of 1,000 movements to and from the bench.

If I use a traditional single stage I have to move those same shells 4,000 times...twice for each of my four stages...once onto the ram and off of the ram for each die I use.

So...using the auto-index turret I make 3,000 fewer movements of the brass by hand...that is a big time savings. If you figure that it takes a second to move the shell each way then you are talking about a time savings of roughly 50 minutes for those 500 shells by using the auto-index vs single stage just from moving shells back and forth.

The auto-index turret provides tremendous economy of movement over the single stage "batch process".

I agree!

 

[PO2Hammer]

I load 1 rifle and a couple pistol calibers and have no interest in setting speed records. I bought the T-7 about 10 years ago and love it. I like concentrating on 1 case at a time and having it right there front and center. With .45 auto I have all 4 dies and the powder measure mounted and work the case through all the stations. Not as fast as a progressive, but a lot faster than moving each piece of brass in and out of the press for each step on a single stage. Plus I like the peace of mind from seeing each powder charge clearly before I set the bullet on top.

 

[SwaneeSR]

fariagaurd -

I have found hand loading my own ammunition my favorite part of the shooting sports - welcome to the party.

Your post kind of jumped into the "Which press is best for a beginner?" That may well be your only question. I own a Rock Chucker, Lee Classic Turret, MEC shotgun press and a Dillon 550b. I use all of them for different hand loading.

I started by hand loading shotgun and next straight wall pistol in 9mm.

There is also some great videos that you can watch. Here is one of my favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zSG804HwVk&index=6&list=PLZnvShFZFsAYfl2mqEEcx9Rzc04FsK23v

There are a number of good threads on THR that discuss what you need to get started in reloading.

What type of cartridge would you like to start with? Pistol? or Rifle?

Swanee

 

[JimKirk]

Give the Forster Co-Ax a close look ...it is a really good single stage .... You can swap dies as quick as you can rotate a turret ... and never have to worry about readjusting dies ... they simply slide in and out ... I have dies that have not been reset/readjusted in over 40 years ...

 

[Rule3]

Ummmmmmm, nobody mentioned that the LEE Classic Turret Press is also a single stage press buy simply removing the turret rod. (2 seconds)

The posts that it eliminates handlong the same piece of brass 3 or 4 times is the bug factor,

The Redding or RCBS turrets are heavier duty but I do not see were they will do anything that the LEE will not and they are not self indexing,

If you want a true single stage press you will also need all the other "stuff" regardless so look at the RCBS Rock Kit. It has most everything, no junk lifetime warranty etc.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/93...pf_ci_google&gclid=CPbtxdycscoCFVYYHwodPoYGUA

 

[FROGO207]

I presently use two RCBS presses. One is a Rock Chucker and the other is their Turret. The turret is set up with a universal decapping die and several sizing dies for what I commonly reload. Then I prime off the press. Then set up and batch process. I will expand if needed then after charging the cases I seat/crimp on the single stage. Changing a die now and again is no big deal IMHO.

Loading piles of ammo fast and loading safe accurate ammo are at the opposite ends of the world, for me at least. YMMV

A short story
I have a friend that was getting into reloading and asked me to show him how. Naturally I said OK. Soon I was going over to show him how (on a single stage press I figured). I get there and he had two Dillons set up. One was already loading 40 and he and his son had loaded a few hundred rounds already using the previous owners settings. I asked if they had looked into the cases to see if the propellant was actually there. They looked at me kind of funny like. I explained why and the need to look for squibs and overcharges. The son said they could just weigh them. I explained the variations of bullet and brass weight compared to charge weight and how that would not work. Then they had a new I think SBD that needed 223 dies put in it and set up. They were planning on reloading precision ammo for a fairly nice AR15. I said that having never used a Dillon before I was not really comfortable setting up that press that day. I did not do much for them other than help them to see that it was not just pull the handle and ammo falls out.

He is getting a single stage press as well as a few other things I suggested and THEN I will show them how to load good quality 223 ammo. Once they get that then they can try that Dillon.

 

[joem1945]

I started with a Lee press. It didn't take long before the pot metal links broke. They are cheap to replace anyway. If I were to start over I would get a RCBS and the lock & load conversion kit. Once your dies are set, a simple twist to remove them and install the next die in the process. The money saved should go toward a nice powder drop like the Hornady and a good mechanical scale like the Dillon. I do have a 650 that I use for large lots of brass.

 

[kcofohio]

I started with a Lee press. It didn't take long before the pot metal links broke. They are cheap to replace anyway.

You didn't specify which Lee press. But I can attest that neither the LCT and the cheap c-frame of mine have linkages made of pot metal. I can easily see a flaw in material or MIM more than pot metal.

 

[BYJO4]

The T7 press is very good and I'm sure you would be happy with it. I also like the Rockchucker for single stage. Regardless of brand, the heavier the press the more leverage you get which requires less effort on your part while loading. A good press is a lifetime investment so the cost is spread out over many years. Buy the press that best meets your needs with price being a small factor in your decision.

 

[mdi]

Auto-indexing turret presses are often used as "semi-progressive". Advantages are quick caliber change (yep, quicker than spinning out and readjusting a die), and when used for batch loading are simpler and faster than a single stage.

BUT, for a new reloader a single stage is best. One learns how to reload, step by step, and sees what each step does and why. Changing and readjusting dies teaches proper die adjustment and knowing how to properly adjust dies is essential for troubleshooting any problems with finished ammo...

 

[dirtengineer]

I started out with a Lee anniversary kit. Lee equipment is inexpensive and their kits include just about everything needed to start. If you really like loading, you can upgrade over time. The low cost makes your payback time short. I do most of my loading now on a Hornady lnl, but my single stage Lee still gets use.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Redding or RCBS turrets are heavier duty but I do not see were they will do anything that the LEE will not

I can't speak to the RCBS turret, but the Redding T-7 turrets are calibrated, via their mounting bushing, for consistent alignment when the ram/shell holder are raised.

That is why you can't mix-n-match the bushings and turrets when changing them...they are match machined to correctly align on the press

 

[Lost Sheep]

Auto-indexing turret presses are often used as "semi-progressive". Advantages are quick caliber change (yep, quicker than spinning out and readjusting a die), and when used for batch loading are simpler and faster than a single stage.

BUT, for a new reloader a single stage is best. One learns how to reload, step by step, and sees what each step does and why. Changing and readjusting dies teach proper die adjustment and knowing how to properly adjust dies is essential for troubleshooting any problems with finished ammo...

There is that. When I started loading (on a single stage) and later (progressive but I only had one press head) I got well-practiced at installing and adjusting dies so well that I could do it almost in my sleep. As with riding a bicycle; it becomes instinct.

Remember, if you install only one die in the turret head, the turret press is a single stage in every aspect. If you or simply leave the turret head in one position, the effect is the same.

I will admit that learning to adjust the dies might be easier learned on a solid-frame single stage press, as there is no movement of play between the ram and the die. But that should make only a minor difference and not enough to make a new reloader who knows that a turret will be his/her eventual choice to be forced into a single stage first simply as "training wheels". (no denigration intended)

Lost SHeep

 

[dh1633pm]

The type of question asked, a recommendation for a press and you will get as many opinions as are reloaders. Every suggestion that I read above is an excellent. All great presses with many years of service to give.

But, if you want the best, the very best, get a Co-Ax. Now its all debatable and some will say that theirs is still the best. That's fine, they may very well be right. But look at a Co-Ax and look at all the rest and you will see they rest are all basically the same. The Co-Ax is different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzVZe7f6G0