Which Turret Press?

[jell-dog]

Hi all!
Looking at upgrading from single stage to a turret press.
Choices I am looking at are (in alphabetical order):
Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press
Lyman T-Mag 2 Turret Press
RCBS Turret Press
Redding T6 or T7 Turret Press
OTHER SUGGESTIONS?
I would like your pros and cons of these (or other) turret presses.
Thank you!
JD

 

[BigBore45]

Lee Classic would be what I would get, auto index and cheaper. Love mine and i have a dillion 550B as well.

 

[OilyPablo]

There is a nice thread/poll somewhere about the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press.

I love mine and I use it rather manually......but have multiple turrets now. Hard to beat for the price. And you can dedicate your single stage to a deprimer.

 

[drband]

Lee classic turret! It's a winner.

 

[viking499]

I have been looking at the Redding T-7.

 

[StrutStopper]

Just upgraded from a Lee single stage to a Lee Classic Turret. It works great. I'm not sure what advantages there are for some of the others that are more expensive.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm not sure what advantages there are for some of the others that are more expensive.

The Redding T-7 mounts 7 dies and is as solid/stable as a single stage press. That the dies rotate, rather than the cases, should provide better alignment for precision loading.

Not a huge factor when loading pistol cartridges, much more so when loading for rifles

 

[higgite]

I have a Lee Classis Turret and a Redding T-7. I prefer the T-7 for rifle rounds and have replaced the LCT with a progressive for pistol rounds. I really don't see the advantage of the LCT over the T-7 or a single stage press, having used them all. Same number of pulls on each to complete one round of ammo. ymmv

Edit: On second thought, I do remember only having to handle each case one time on the LCT vs multiple times on a single stage. For rifle rounds, that's no big deal for me. For pistol rounds, I wouldn't go back from my progressive to the LCT.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you get the Lee, make sure it's the "Classic"
They also make a "Deluxe" version, that ain't very deluxe.
I learned the hard way.

I mean it's OK, but I'd rather have had the classic.

 

[BCRider]

All my Lee stuff has been passed on with warnings about the things I found wrong with the stuff.

I still buy some Lee gear but I won't buy their presses any more. Too many fixes needed to make them line up correctly with the dies in the plate and do what they are supposed to do.

If the new Lyman T-mag turret press is as nice as my really old version of this design then it's a winner.

I've also gone in another direction with a Hornady LNL single stage with the bayonet fit bushings on the dies. It takes the same time to switch dies as to index a turret with this setup.

Aside from the Lee presses, which I've already said I didn't like, I'd base which new press you get on the ability to handle priming. The one weak point with the Hornady press is the little stick holder for primers. First off I haven't even been able to find any for sale and second it looks a bit iffy to set up.

Of the lot the primer handling on the Redding looks just fantastic.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a Lee Classic Turret press for my handgun loading and a RCBS Rockchucker for most of my rifle loading. Before I had the space to set up my single stage I was also loading rifle ammo on the turret press and it was fine. It was nice to have all the dies set up actually...

 

[Wyatt]

Lee Classic and this is coming from someone who has a T-7 and really likes it. I'm not a big Lee fan, but this one is a winner and priced right! If I was only looking for precision rifle loading, I would go another route!

 

[USAav8r]

Another vote for the Lee classic turret. I have not experienced the issues with it that some have mentioned.

 

[Cemetery21]

I have an RCBS turret and a Lee Classic. I use the Lee a lot more since I load several calibers and I can swap tool heads so quickly on the Lee (as well as being able to afford to buy tool heads for each caliber). I load mostly rifle and I took the auto-index rod out, so I still batch load like a single stage, but without having to reset dies. The spent primer system is a big improvement over the RCBS presses I've owned. I wish the Lee linkage would cam over like RCBS, but it doesn't seem to affect the quality of the loads.

 

[jell-dog]

Very Informative Posts

I'm happy so many have responded to my thread and poll!

I'm planning to use my RCBS ROCKCHUCKER as a dedicated decapper/sizer (along with load development 380, 9mm, 38/357) and a turret press for completing the loading of cleaned/decapped/sized pistol brass once I've develpoed my load data.

To those that have removed the index rod, how do you line up (index) the next die station to the brass?

Thanks for all opinions on turret presses, keep them coming!
JD

 

[TexasDon]

I have as one of my presses a Redding T7, I use it regularly.
I really like that it is built well and should hold up the rest of my reloading days.

Also note that I have never used a Lee turret press, so I'm not able to comment on it.

One thing I really like about it is that I can make one complete cartridge of whatever I'm loading in a few handle pulls without changing dies as in a single stage press.
Sure....if you have your dies set and locked down, it only takes several seconds to install other dies on a single stage press.
That's where it comes down to a few other areas, money, personal preference etc..

Seems that everybody "Likes" the press they own..????

There are some mods I have added to my T7 that speed the process or at least make it easier to load on it.

Have fun & be safe.
TxDon

 

[NapalmMan67]

Anudder vote fur da Lee Classic.

Use mine for everything but .45ACP- I keep my 650 dedicated for that since I shoot that the most.


.

 

[savanahsdad]

I voted Redding because of the extra holes , I did have a LCT in my cart at Cabela's last week, but it back, they were a sale for $114.99 , then I remembered why I wanted the Redding , and that is to clear up some bench space ,I have a Lee "C" press that is used as a bullet puller only and my powder measure stand is next to that, then my Pacific single stage next to that the T-7 would replace all 3 , plus it is built like a tank.

 

[johnc486]

I had a LCT and really liked it, used it as trading material, replaced it with the T-7. I use the T-7 with the upgraded primer system to size, deprime and prime all my brass. This T-7 is as solid as an anvil, my Pro 2000 will go before it does. All this said, I couldn't find any faults with the LCT plus being a lot cheaper, you can't go wrong with either of these, buy either with confidence.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I have the Redding T-7 (and a Dillon 550B).

I use the Redding primarily for lower volume rifle hand loading (6MM BR, .270, 9.3x62). It has been great. No regrets. I have additional turrets, which is a plus.

I'd recommend it. Buy once, cry once.

 

[drband]

To those that have removed the index rod, how do you line up (index) the next die station to the brass?

The turret and ring have detents that match up with each die hole. It's very accurate with or without the index rod.

 

[Cemetery21]

jell-dog, the Lee rod does not index the tool head, it just rotates it to the next stop. The index stop is a detent in the frame that holds the toolhead. So, it indexes with the shellholder with or without the rod. Also, the toolhead is easy to turn by hand, forward or back without the rod, so you can manually index in either direction.

 

[Nanook]

I have a Redding T-7. It's built like a tank and makes very accurate ammo. I use it strictly for rifles. 6mmBR, .223 bolt gun, .260, .308.

I bought an extra turret for it when I bought the press. I like the fact that you can have 3 sets of dies on a turret, plus an extra die. I have a universal decapper die in that extra hole.

Lately I purchase the primer feed for it, and it works pretty well. It's manually operated rather than an automatic feed like on progressive presses.

Redding has excellent customer service like RCBS and Dillon do.

I've never owned a Lee press, the only thing I have from them is a couple of FCDs and a Lee Autoprime hand primer.

 

[splattergun]

Lee's best machine

Real glad I got my LCT. At about 200 rounds per hour (using it WITH the index rod), it is certainly an upgrade from SS for pistol shells. That's about all the output I need for my shooting needs. It is a good, heavy, precise machine and simple to set up and to use. It is very economical to buy, and very economical to add separate turrets for each caliber. I load .45acp, 9mm, and .38spec on mine. I still use my SS for rifle loads.

 

[LeonCarr]

Redding T-7. I liked the first one so much I bought another one .

I purchased mine after reading 31 5-Star reviews on Midway USA. Currently has 89 5-Star reviews. Tough as nails and the best combination of speed and precision out there. The only turret press recommended by Sinclair for precision handloading.

I have loaded thousands of rifle and pistol rounds on mine, and they as as tight and precise as they were when they came out of their boxes.

The only thing a Lee Turret Press has on the T-7 is price, and when it comes to reloading presses you get what you pay for. Buy the T-7.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr