Which Turret Press?

[Dudedog]

With no index rod you just manuallay turn the turrent. It is easy to to with 2 fingers. I broke the index paul (my fault) ordered spares. But with out I had my right hand on the handle, left takes care of case, rotate, bullet, rotate....
(I only have the deluxe but I am quite happy with it. The Classics are supposed to be much nicer. I had a poll and the ? was buy again. I would say 85% of the people said yes and were happy with it. Turrets are about $12. I mount my dies and store them in the Plastic airtight tubs they sell at the grocery store. Changing calibers is a snap.

I clean, deprime, clean again, hand prime while checkin the cases then run them thru. After being primer I can do 200+ an hour. More if I was in a hurry, but I'm not and getting in a hurry is a bad idea IMO.

 

[Gravedigger56]

IMO, any turret press is a good one. I upgraded from my single stage RCBS press to a turret before I even used the old press. I have a turret for every caliber I reload set up with Lee Deluxe 4-die sets and a dedicated powder measure set to the load I desire. Overkill? probably but I just like it that I can take off one and pop on another and have everything pre-set and ready to go.

For the time being, my new/old single stage is being used side-by-side with the turret press for decapping, case trimming and any other case prep that needs to be done.

 

[OilyPablo]

T-7 does look good on paper but I have never seen one in person. It's 3 times the cost of my Lee Classic which so far is perfect so I'll stick with what I have until maybe some rifle round exposes the weaknesses of the Lee.

 

[USAav8r]

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

For lack of a better word there is a click you can feel when lining up the next station. It's not a guessing game.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO, any turret press is a good one. I upgraded from my single stage RCBS press to a turret before I even used the old press. I have a turret for every caliber I reload set up with Lee Deluxe 4-die sets and a dedicated powder measure set to the load I desire. Overkill? probably but I just like it that I can take off one and pop on another and have everything pre-set and ready to go.

For the time being, my new/old single stage is being used side-by-side with the turret press for decapping, case trimming and any other case prep that needs to be done.

I also have all my die sets set up on their own turret for quick change but I just couldn't spend the money for a dedicated powder measure for each. I think i have a dozen turrets set up right now. If I bought a powder measure for each that would cost me $500 plus another $85 or so for risers for each.

I'm not saying you are wrong, only that I can't spend almost $600. I have a Pro Auto-Disk for handguns and a Lyman #55 for rifle cartridges.

 

[9mmepiphany]

T-7 does look good on paper but I have never seen one in person. It's 3 times the cost of my Lee Classic which so far is perfect so I'll stick with what I have until maybe some rifle round exposes the weaknesses of the Lee.

I loaded on a friend's (reloading mentor) Lee Classic Turret and have handled a T-7.

The T-7 is worth the difference in price. That isn't to say the Lee is bad...it is a great value...just that the T-7 really is that much better. The Lyman and Redding look very much alike, but the Redding is well worth the difference in price between them also

Without having seen one, much less having handled, to say nothing of loading on, one, makes it a bit hard for me to explain the difference. It is like not being able to explain why a Porsche 911 is a better sports car to someone who has never driven one...I didn't believe it until I drove one either.

 

[ATLDave]

I'm sure the T-7 is a great piece of equipment, but my Lee CT has been completely sufficient for me. If I were going to upgrade, it wouldn't occur to me to get some better turret... I'd just go straight to a progressive.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Ponsness & Warren Metallic II

 

[codefour]

I have a Redding T-7 and love it. If I was limited to just one press, I would be a Redding T-7. Redding makes a great product and the customer service is second to none. It is one huge chunk of steel. It is way over built. I like the seven hole die plates. They are expensive but it is the last press you will buy as far as turrets go.

I load semi-progressive on it as well. I put my case activated Uniflow powder measure on it from my Pro-2000. It is nice placing one case and it is done from start to finish. I installed all my rifle sizing dies into one die plate. I never have to adjust or reset my sizer dies. It is a very consistent press.

I have no experience with Lee, RCBS, or Lyman turrets.

 

[TenDriver]

Hate to hijack, but is there really a time savings to be found when moving from a single stage to a turret?

I generally size/decap and then store cases. I'll usually prime 2-300 at a time, then load when I get a chance. Tonight I had 100 .223 and 150 9mn cases primed. Loading took around 2 hrs for 250 rounds. Would a turret have saved me much time?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It looks like the Redding T-7 is a strong single stage press with the ability to mount 3 sets of rifle dies for the convenience of having them set up when you need them. (and a spare) If I didn't already own a good single stage press I might look at the R-7 because i like having the dies set up. Like I said in another post, For a while I was loading rifle cartridges on my Lee Classic Turret press and I did enjoy having the dies set up and available at the turn of the turret.

I do however like the Lee press for handgun loading because of the auto-index feature. I can safely load 180 to 200 rounds/hour and sometimes even more when I'm on a roll...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hate to hijack, but is there really a time savings to be found when moving from a single stage to a turret?

I generally size/decap and then store cases. I'll usually prime 2-300 at a time, then load when I get a chance. Tonight I had 100 .223 and 150 9mn cases primed. Loading took around 2 hrs for 250 rounds. Would a turret have saved me much time?

The turret press isn't faster for rifle cartridge loading because of the additional steps necessary to process the cases but for handgun loading, it's fast. Like I just said above, I can safely load 180 to 200 rounds in an hour or maybe a little more. I'm talking finished ammo, in the case ready to shoot. The 4 hole turret press by Lee is fast when you add a Pro Auto-Disk and prime on press.

 

[Twiki357]

I voted for Lyman. I can’t really speak to the T-Mag since mine is a little earlier. I don’t know how old mine is since I bought it used back in 1962+/-. So I say they make a good product as far as I’m concerned.

 

[lauderdale]

T-7 Turret/DILLION S.D.B. Pretty much what everyone else been saying about it! STOUT! Extra turrets are a little pricey but worth it. If the press primes I use it break it in and rely on its ability to work! T-7 likes to toss a primer every now and then but the ability to have the stations is very nice!

 

[TenDriver]

The turret press isn't faster for rifle cartridge loading because of the additional steps necessary to process the cases but for handgun loading, it's fast. Like I just said above, I can safely load 180 to 200 rounds in an hour or maybe a little more. I'm talking finished ammo, in the case ready to shoot. The 4 hole turret press by Lee is fast when you add a Pro Auto-Disk and prime on press.

Thanks. Sounds like it's time to buy one.

 

[lckdnldd]

I am right partial to the Lee Classic Turret Press myself. I purchased the kit and it has worked flawlessly.

 

[KarlJ]

My only experience with any press is the redding t-7, and Im happy I bought it.
Some of the reasons I bought it are: It's made in America with American steel. The 7 hole turret, which I can purchase other turret heads for other calibers(if i don't want to swap dies out). The optional primer feed system. And the reviews on the T7 construction. It's a heavy hunk of steel that will provide service to my future generations.

 

[jell-dog]

Boy, thanks everyone for sharing your opinions on turret presses!
Very informative and appreciated!
Looking like Lee 4 Die Classic Turret has a lot of satisfied users with the Redding T-7 close!
JD

 

[codefour]

Deleted

 

[edleit]

@codefour,
An interesting comparison, aside from the fact that both Craftsman and Mac (Matco) tools are made by the same hand tool division of Danaher Corporation. So, unfortunately, the statement loses some of its intended potency. Now, Lee, RCBS, and Redding are independent entities, and each have their following (personally, I own 2 RCBS single stages and a Lee classic 4-hole turret) but I don't see the value of such a simile. The Lee product line provides a good value proposition, and if selected with reasonable expectations will deliver excellent results.

 

[Gravedigger56]

Brand is irrelevant. If you like what you have and it does what you want it to, then that's all that really matters.

Oh btw, my car is better than yours. So there!

 

[OilyPablo]

Lee is the Harbor Freight

Terrible analogy about a company who take pride in their Made in USA statements. I get what you are saying that the $389 press IS better than my $130 press, but to imply the $130 press is garbage is just plain ignorance. Tell me about all the bad ammo produced on Lee products next.

 

[johnjohn]

I have a Lyman T-Mag (not the 2). I,m happy with it.

 

[WolverineFury]

I don't claim to have much knowledge about any of the presses listed. I do know that I haven't found a thing wrong with my Lee press. Though granted I've only loaded about 200 rounds on it.

 

[BoltLover]

I have three lee presses including the turret and my Dillon collects dust.