Anyone use a Turret Press????

[Elpatoloco]

Im a new guy, so a little background. Ive been handloading since I was 15.

I started on a single stage and my collection of presses became somewhat eclectic. Always going back to the single stage.

I was with the wrong woman for 27 years. Married for 22 of them. She decided that she'd sleep with everyone in a tri-county area while I was away at work. Eventually moving half way across the country with a fella our son's age. Anyhow, Texas is a no fault divorce state so she got half my shit.

I remearried a Good Woman a few years later. And dug out 2 of my presses after settling down and building a new home since I lost the farm..
All of my presses are single stage at this point save for shotgun stuff.

I shot IDPA for Years and hunt 99% of the time with a single action revolver. I'm way more anal about my handgun fodder than Most. Not that I can see good enough to make a damn difference anymore!

I spied a few Turret style presses online last night. Ive always thought of them as pricey endeavors, but now with money worth less than half of what it was a few years ago, I'm thinking serious about it. I dont want anything progressive as reloading itself has always been therapudic to me.

Any of those presses much better than others? I guess I am just getting lazy as I age. Im partial to RCBS and wont look at anythimg Lee makes unless I am looking for a new boat anchor. ( No offense to you Lee fans. I work in industrial automation and see Lee stuff as Innovative, but the execution of design is always in the lacking).

Any advise/experience is appreciated.


Btw, turns out losing half of everything I owned was the best thing that ever happened to me. The judge gave me the kids which was really the only important part. Anyone going through such, keep your head up. You WILL come out on the other side better for it.

I got back on castboolit website after an extended absence. Was pointed here by CW after my point of view of the other site was aired by myself.

Thanks,
Colby

 

[waco]

Welcome Colby. I have been using a Lyman All American Eight for the past few years and am very happy with it. I bought five or six extra turret heads and I really enjoy being able to keep dies set in place once they are adjusted.

 

[JonB]

Colby,
I am a Lee fan boy...BUT, I agree with you about Lee and a lot of what they make...their products seem more like toy than tools. With that said, I think the exception is Lee's Classic cast sgl stage press and Classic cast Turret press are worth the look. Innovative, heavy duty, and the execution done well. I've used the Lee classic cast Turret since 2006 and love the auto-index feature, I don't think anyone else does that?
.
The only thing that is fiddly, is the "On Press" priming (Lee Safety Prime), that is, if you chose to prime on Press. It is fiddly to mount and get setup, but once setup correctly, I think it works well...It is plastic and has a tiny spring that likes to break after a few thousand primers had been dispensed, but is easy to replace. That is really the only thing that could have been done better.
.
I can't speak to other brand turret presses, but I will say, they seem more like using a single stage with their manual advance.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Hello Colby!

Glad you got the login reconnoitered!!

I have had a number of Lyman Turrets starting with a Spar-T. Later a Mag II and today a American 8 like Coates Brothers above!
I had same issues I have with many and decided to tighten up tolerances. I end up with one of my favorite presses!!

Another I like allot, is the lil LEE 4 holer. I am NOT a LEE fan. But find this to be a dandy PISTOL press.

Welcome Brother!

CW

 

[Gary]

Here's what I use and it's a fantastic press. Redding T-7!

 

[Jeff H]

Welcome, Colby!

CW steered you in the right direction. Been with the same woman for 43+ years, but on and off a bunch of forums. I think I've been on this one longer than any in the past, and all but one or two others IS in the PAST.

My personal favorite press IS a turret press - an older LEE 3-hole turret press. I got one in 1982 after going out on my own and being 2k+ miles from my dad's assortment of reloading tools. I was originally steered that way by a very thoughtful gun shop owner in California, who was looking out for a young GI with a small paycheck. About ten years later, I "upgraded" to an old-name, cast-iron turret press and hated using it for all of about a year, sold it and bought a LEE turret press again.

I use the turret press like a single-stage - like I used the old Lyman Tru-Line Jrs, growing up. I'll resize a batch of brass, then each other operation (as appropriate to the case) all in a batch. I just really like having the dies ALL set up and ready to go and ORGANIZED in a compact way to boot. If I start to seat a pistol bullet and realize I missed on in the flaring die. I can crank the turret 120 degrees, flare the mouth, crank it back and seat the bullet. I've done a lot of reloading on this thing, to include some minor case-forming, in addition to regular reloading.

I've used a lot of different presses in my life, but I'm still partial to this one. The new version, I think, improves upon a thing or two, namely the spent primers, but I don't want to switch to the 4-hole turrets. Over time, I've reduced the number of die sets I use to five, plus one for some ancillary dies, like a universal decapper, flaring die and some collet-crimp dies for pistol cartridges. Four-die turrets would probably make more sense for my pistol die sets, but are perfect for my rifle dies sets, which include FLR, Collet Neck-sizers and Seating.

What's so cool about this forum is that I can say all that without spending an hour closing loopholes trolls would like to crawl through. Some folks here like LEE stuff, some don't. All seem to freely express their personal preference without reprisal.

 

[Winelover]

I've loaded so long on an RCBS JR single stage that even though I have an eight-station Hollywood Turret, I still load by the batch, as if it were a single stage. Only advantage is not having to install dies on the turret. I do all my pistol loading on the RCBS JR and my rifle calibers on the Hollywood, indexing after expanding, then moving on to bullet seating. Crimping is always done as a separate step.

All de-capping & sizing is still done on the Junior. Primers are seated manually, with an RCBS bench-mounted tool. I'm never in a hurry to reload. I enjoy it, It's therapy.

 

[Elpatoloco]

Colby,
I am a Lee fan boy...BUT, I agree with you about Lee and a lot of what they make...their products seem more like toy than tools. With that said, I think the exception is Lee's Classic cast sgl stage press and Classic cast Turret press are worth the look. Innovative, heavy duty, and the execution done well. I've used the Lee classic cast Turret since 2006 and love the auto-index feature, I don't think anyone else does that?
.
The only thing that is fiddly, is the "On Press" priming (Lee Safety Prime), that is, if you chose to prime on Press. It is fiddly to mount and get setup, but once setup correctly, I think it works well...It is plastic and has a tiny spring that likes to break after a few thousand primers had been dispensed, but is easy to replace. That is really the only thing that could have been done better.
.
I can't speak to other brand turret presses, but I will say, they seem more like using a single stage with their manual advance.

I appreciate the input fellas.
Yes Sir, like I said....I do appreciate a lot of lee ideas. Id gladly pay double or triple if they would make some of the stuff out of quality materials.

The only thing Lee that I have not had to fool with to make run 100% is the APP press. I cannot load the tubes with cast fast enough. It is a sizing Beast with powdercoat, plain base slugs.

And the manul advancent seems to be what I am after. Not having to set uo the die every time start a loading session. I dont care what kind of lock ring set up I have tried. Once that die is unscrewed, it doesnt go back in an set right to my liking.

 

[RicinYakima]

I like my Harrell's Brothers turret press very much, although I use it almost always for pistol cartridges. About the same price as the other new ones, is portable it you want it to be and came change turrets in less than a minute with 100% accuracy. Only fault is they drop the spent primers on the floor, or into a wastebasket.

 

[Rick H]

My first press purchased after using Lee "Whack a Mole" loaders for a couple of years was a Lyman Spar-T 6 station turret. I was loading .222Rem and .308W and kept both sets of dies set up on the press all the time. I would just change shell holder and index to the proper dies for the cartridge I was loading. I basically used it as a single station press with quick change capabilities. I still have that Lyman Spar-T as my back up press.

I currently use the Lee Classic Cast Iron turret (4 hole) with many extra turrets. I don't use it as a progressive press just manually index it. I deprimed and cleaned cases before loading and do my priming off the press. I leave most of my dies set up in the aluminum 4 hole turrets and change them out along with shell holders when I load different cartridges. It literally takes about 15 seconds to make the change. I load all of my handgun cartridges plus 223R/5.56mm, 7x30Waters, and 45-70 on the Lee turret press. Most of my other bottle neck rifle cartridges are loaded on a single stage Redding.

 

[Brad]

Here's what I use and it's a fantastic press. Redding T-7!

Same here. Very happy with this press.

 

[Bill2728]

Another T-7 user

 

[fiver]

no turrets unless you count dillons that turret round the bottom.

if i want the convenience of using different dies in different stations.
i simply screw the dies in the 3 0-frames sitting next to each other and swivel the turret chair a little.

 

[Elpatoloco]

It will be portable, no matter what I get. I kept a shop building that I had in another town. I do all my casting etc over there. My main loading bench with Lube sizers and presses live there.
I just whipped up this little portable thing to load on here at the house. I figire a turret would work well on it as I am constrained for space.

I really need to sell my shop and put new one here. If only money grew on trees!

 

[TXTad]

I have wanted a turret press for a long time, but what I keep doing is adding single stage presses. I tend process my brass in phases:

1. Deprime. I use my smallest single stage press for this.
2. Wet tumble with pins. I like the primer pockets clean, hence step 1.
3. Dry, of course.
4. Size. Even though I use carbide dies, I still use a bit of lube to make things smoother and easier. I often just keep putting drops of the RCBS Case Lube-2 on my finger tips if I'm sizing pistol brass, or imperial sizing wax, also on my fingers, if I'm loading bottle necked cases. For bottle necked cases, I've already brushed the RCBS Case Lube-2 into the necks before sizing.
5. Expand, if not already done in step four.
6. Rinse off the case lube.

Steps 4 and 5 are often done with two single state presses next to each other. At this point, I will often store the brass away.

When it's time to load, I do this:

1. Place the primed brass into a loading block.
2. Charge every case in the loading block.
3. Visually inspect each power charge to make sure it appears to be the right level in the case.
4. Spot check a few charges on the scale.
5. Working from the narrow side, I place bullets on top a row of cases for handgun or boattail rifle bullets.
6. Grab a case and bullet together so they don't fall apart, or grab a case and flat bottom rifle bullet.
7. Place the bullet into the reloading press, align the bullet, seat the bullet.
8. Move the loaded cartridge to another press to crimp.
9. Place the cartridge in the cartridge box.
10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 until the batch is loaded.

Here too I can benefit from two single stage presses.

This is not the most time efficient manner to load, but I've always gotten good results, never had had charge problems, and I can move along at a surprising pace. This method does not lend itself to a turret press.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have used one on and off for years. Really like the ability ta have dies a quick rotation away. But it wasn't till my Lyman American 8 Rebuild did I truly like one.

I picked up a LEE 4Hole classic couple years ago because of much prompting and suggestion and I must say I do like this little press too. BUT JUST FOR PISTOL. As it doesn't have much strength or any cam over abilities. It can turn out good fun shooting ammo pretty quickly.

Id recommend these to anyone after explaining limitations.

The Redding T is another highly respected press many have.

CW

 

[Elpatoloco]

I have wanted a turret press for a long time, but what I keep doing is adding single stage presses. I tend process my brass in phases:

1. Deprime. I use my smallest single stage press for this.
2. Wet tumble with pins. I like the primer pockets clean, hence step 1.
3. Dry, of course.
4. Size. Even though I use carbide dies, I still use a bit of lube to make things smoother and easier. I often just keep putting drops of the RCBS Case Lube-2 on my finger tips if I'm sizing pistol brass, or imperial sizing wax, also on my fingers, if I'm loading bottle necked cases. For bottle necked cases, I've already brushed the RCBS Case Lube-2 into the necks before sizing.
5. Expand, if not already done in step four.
6. Rinse off the case lube.

Steps 4 and 5 are often done with two single state presses next to each other. At this point, I will often store the brass away.

When it's time to load, I do this:

1. Place the primed brass into a loading block.
2. Charge every case in the loading block.
3. Visually inspect each power charge to make sure it appears to be the right level in the case.
4. Spot check a few charges on the scale.
5. Working from the narrow side, I place bullets on top a row of cases for handgun or boattail rifle bullets.
6. Grab a case and bullet together so they don't fall apart, or grab a case and flat bottom rifle bullet.
7. Place the bullet into the reloading press, align the bullet, seat the bullet.
8. Move the loaded cartridge to another press to crimp.
9. Place the cartridge in the cartridge box.
10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 until the batch is loaded.

Here too I can benefit from two single stage presses.

This is not the most time efficient manner to load, but I've always gotten good results, never had had charge problems, and I can move along at a surprising pace. This method does not lend itself to a turret press.

This is exactly how I do it as well, but just on one press currently. After seating the bullets they go back into a block. Then I swap/adjust dies and crimp. I never seat and crimp in the same operation unless I am shooting jacketed slugs.

I figured a Turret would be easier that screwing a Die in and out for every operation. Not to index and do each cartridge straight through.

I may just get a Forster Co Ax for my next press. Easy enough to swap dies out, and they have real good deals on their Blemished inventory.

I'm mainly just looking for an excuse for a new press, I suppose.

 

[Rex]

I have a Dillon 550 that my crew gave me as a retirement gift. I like it a lot and leave it set up for .38 special. However don't get rid of your single stages, I have an old Pacific that I use for all rifle reloading and oddball test rounds for my handgun. The old Pacific probably gets more use than the Dillon.

 

[TXTad]

I totally missed the priming step.

Sometimes I pre-prime brass using my Lee Bench Priming Tool. Other times, I'll set up a third single stage with my RCBS priming die and ram and prime a batch into the loading tray, then start with the powder charging step.

With pistol brass, I often don't expand until I'm in the loading phase. I'll then add a fourth press for that.

I suppose if I'm doing four steps at once during the loading phase I might could make use of a turret press, but I've just never tried it.

I have wanted a turret press for a long time, but what I keep doing is adding single stage presses. I tend process my brass in phases:

1. Deprime. I use my smallest single stage press for this.
2. Wet tumble with pins. I like the primer pockets clean, hence step 1.
3. Dry, of course.
4. Size. Even though I use carbide dies, I still use a bit of lube to make things smoother and easier. I often just keep putting drops of the RCBS Case Lube-2 on my finger tips if I'm sizing pistol brass, or imperial sizing wax, also on my fingers, if I'm loading bottle necked cases. For bottle necked cases, I've already brushed the RCBS Case Lube-2 into the necks before sizing.
5. Expand, if not already done in step four.
6. Rinse off the case lube.

Steps 4 and 5 are often done with two single state presses next to each other. At this point, I will often store the brass away.

When it's time to load, I do this:

1. Place the primed brass into a loading block.
2. Charge every case in the loading block.
3. Visually inspect each power charge to make sure it appears to be the right level in the case.
4. Spot check a few charges on the scale.
5. Working from the narrow side, I place bullets on top a row of cases for handgun or boattail rifle bullets.
6. Grab a case and bullet together so they don't fall apart, or grab a case and flat bottom rifle bullet.
7. Place the bullet into the reloading press, align the bullet, seat the bullet.
8. Move the loaded cartridge to another press to crimp.
9. Place the cartridge in the cartridge box.
10. Repeat steps 5 through 9 until the batch is loaded.

Here too I can benefit from two single stage presses.

This is not the most time efficient manner to load, but I've always gotten good results, never had had charge problems, and I can move along at a surprising pace. This method does not lend itself to a turret press.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

This is exactly how I do it as well, but just on one press currently. After seating the bullets they go back into a block. Then I swap/adjust dies and crimp. I never seat and crimp in the same operation unless I am shooting jacketed slugs.

I figured a Turret would be easier that screwing a Die in and out for every operation. Not to index and do each cartridge straight through.

I may just get a Forster Co Ax for my next press. Easy enough to swap dies out, and they have real good deals on their Blemished inventory.

I'm mainly just looking for an excuse for a new press, I suppose.

I suggest you try it first.
Its a well made press not taking anything from it. But its "guarded" hard ta get big hands in loading a bullet. I see a different set if bars offered. (Additional cost to an already costly press.) these may make a differrence. But was biggest reason I sold off mine.

Im really liking this MEC. The handle does get a lil in the way. But Im hoping, looking @ pics. That this new ergo roller handle will elevate that issue plus provide better comfort.