Got a buddy of mine that's just getting into reloading, and is considering a turret press, but i've never used one myself. His friend is telling him there's too much play in the turret system allowing for variations in sizing/bullet seating operations. Any comments on that??

Also where's the cheapest access for reloading supplies for him. I'm thinking the various catalogs-- Midway, Widener's, etc?

I brought a old turret press at a aution for 10 bucks the thing weighs 50lbs 7 holes no play in it. you can resize 06 cases easy with a couple of fingers. I belive it is a old texan.

i have the lee turret press. it does have a bit of verticle play in it. but I compensate but adjusting the dies to its upper limit.

I only reload pistol rds right now but stuff like bullet seating I can still usually get everything to within .002" oal and thats with the cheezy table its bolted too.

it is nice to just have the dies set all the time on it though and be able to just rotate the turret for the next step. but if you are really looking for .001" accuracy you might get frustrated with it.

I have gotten a few things from midwayusa.com (a few reloading manuals a lee crimp die and hoppes #9 etc) and have been very satified. stuff arrives on time and well packed. I would give them a try.

i have a lee 4 hole turret and have no problems with it. as with most presses run the case into the sizing die and adjust the die, then lock down the lock ring with the case in the die, it is convient having the dies adjusted and ready to go. after loading for a while he will know if another press would be better, i also have the bonanza co-ax, and use both.

I've got an old Lyman Spar-T turret press. It has no mechanism for indexing the turret in perfect alignment with the shell holder, which may be what your friend was talking about. It has to be done by "Kentucky windage" with or without a case in the shell holder.

Just picked up a Redding T-7 Turret.Wt about 25lb
Built like an anvil, no perceptible play in any
direction with the turret.This press has a 1in
ram. If he decides on a turret,he'll be happy with the T-7.

I just setup a Rockchucker II with Hornaby's Lock N Load system. So far, this seems like the setup
that I'm going to like the best, for quick/change
dies.(For/Bon Co-Ax included)
Torg

[ 11-03-2003, 05:32: Message edited by: Torg ]

Some years ago I wrecked a Lee Turret Press by full length resizing .338 brass. I like a lot of Lee equipment, but not the Lee presses -- I don't think they are sturdy enough for heavy loading.

As to other turret presses, my question would be: Why? Given that you can get a high-quality O-type press and know that it is sturdy and that the dies and ram arm will line up properly every time, why fool with a turret type? What useful advantage will the turret give you? Besides, it will cost more money.

Dito and thumbs up on the Redding T-7 press. I've had mine since Feb. of this year. I also got another turret head for it, I leave my dies set and forget about it. It's a solid mount that stays in place. I works for me

I'm a big fan of the Lee turret press. As you know it is different than any other turret press, in that the turret is fully enclosed.
It's kind of funny, people extole the virtues of the Bonanza Co-Ax press as allowing the die to float and align itself with the case for proper concentricity. Well the Lee turret press allows the die and turret to float slightly creating the exact same situation. I've loaded some of the most accurate concentric rounds on a Lee turret press. More concentric than a couple of RCBS Rock Chuckers I've had. Their a great press and worthy of anyones consideration.
Presses like the Lyman T-Mag and Redding turret allow the turret to "flex", and this is not good as it allows misalignment of cases. The Lee encloses the turret on all sides so the only movement is perpendicular to the cartridge and not any sort of flexing or canting.

[ 11-01-2003, 08:40: Message edited by: Bobby ]

I've resized 338 Lapua brass on a Lee turret press with no problems, what happened LE? Not enough lube? Just curious. - Dan

My old LYMAN SPART-T says to tighten the big nut on top to stabolize the press for rifle. Doing so makes it a single station press. I used it for 25 years but, finally got to where I could not stand the "clunk" every time the handle went down.

Yeah, tightening it stabilizes it, but if you've got it misaligned that's where it's going to stay. There's no detent to tell when it's lined up. At least on mine. Not the best setup for loading high-precision ammunition.

As for the "why" question, the convenience of the turret press is being able to set up and adjust all the dies for one caliber and leave them set. You don't have to stop and change dies for each operation, readjusting them each time. That's way handier, especially if you want to load several small batches, say 20 round boxes, keeping the batches separate. The only time you set anything up again is when you change calibers. I believe Lee encourages buying extra turrets so the caliber change operation is one of swapping set-up turrets.

Gents;

The main reason for a turret press is NOT to be a place to store un-used die sets, but as a machine to improve the ammunition production rate.

Each die set should be duly adjusted for the job we expect it to perform, the adjustments locked, and then stored in its own box for future reference.

For max efficiency, the turret press should be set up more-or-less as follows:

-Install the sizing die and adjust it properly. Then, LOCK the die ring and the locknuts on the depriming/expanding stem.

-If required by your cartridge, install the mouth-expander die in the next station in the turret, adjust it, and LOCK it and its settings in place. Whether or not the expander die is needed, then....

-Install the powder measure in the turret's next position. Many measures are threaded the same as the dies, 7/8"x14 tpi, which makes mounting in the turret a snap. Set the charge desired, and LOCK the adjustment. I use pliers or a small pipe wrench on my RCBS Uniflow. It won't work loose, but I check it frequently anyway.

-Finally, of course, install the seating die, and the crimping die if a separate crimper is used, and lock them, like the other dies, after adjusting.

Each case, pre-lubed if not using a carbide sizer, is placed in the press and it STAYS there until it is completely loaded. The turret is clicked from station to station to perform the various operations until the case becomes a loaded round. If visual checking of the charge is desired, it can still be done, and so can check-weighing.

I find that by using powders which I know to be free-flowing, and by locking the powder-measure's setting, there are no problems with wandering charge weights.

The time saved by NOT having to handle each case many times in separate operations using a "batch" system pays off in much-higher SAFE production rates. A batch system is where we process all the cases through sizing/depriming/priming, and then process all the cases through mouth-expansion, and then process all the cases through charging...etc. etc.

In addition, (and a feature which I really like) as soon as I sit down to load with this method, there is AMMUNITION, real,shootable rounds, coming off the press within mere seconds of starting a run. In the batch system, it's quite possible to work at the bench for a LONG time before any actual loaded ammo is produced.

Production on my All-American runs about 150-200 rounds per hour, without pushing at all. Let the rate increase gradually as experience is gained, because safety is the priority, NOT production.

You may think all this "clicking" of the turret is hard on the press. Maybe it is, but mine has been used this way for 35 years and is still in perfect shape.

It works for me....

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

BTW, Ricochet pard;

I really like that idea of interchangeable turrets. Talk about an easy change! Swap the turret, swap the shellholder, and GO. Wish I could find extras for my old Lyman.

Elegant, sir, very elegant....

Nice to see you made the leap safely from Shooters' to here and to Cast Boolits.

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

I have an old HERTERS turret with six holes. Can mount two and sometimes three sets of dies at one time. Very stout and solid. Herters also would retrofit six more holes during the period they made this press.

My first press was a Redding 6 station model 25 turret press. I still use it after 30 years. The head rotates on a spring and ball bearing in the top rear. It has to be a bit on the loose side.
That's what allows the head to index properly. If you take all the play out of it, you will have concentricity problems. It took me a while to realize that, but it's true. I've taken the measurements on cases loaded with the Redding Turret press and they are just as concentric as those loaded on my RCBS Rockchucker. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Thks. all!!

I'm a fan of the Lee turret press, but I admit it has its limitation. I don't resize bottle neck rifle cartridges on it. Got a Rockchucker for that. If and when I bust or wear out the Lee turret press, I'll replace it for about $50.

In the meantime, I load happily away.

Turret vs. Single Station:

As with anything else there's a trade off - you want speed and convenience you choose a turret. You worried about precise alignment, use a single station press (actually hand dies, with an arbor press). Not that I'm saying turrets can't provide both - only way to know for sure is test with your individual firearm and see.

IMO turrets are almost essential when loading for handgun with their prerequisite 3 die sets - also, accuracy is not quite so critical for most handguns.

If you want assurance of BOTH speed and precision with single stage presses, the answer is simple - buy 2 - one for each die.

Unless your buddy wnats to do VERY precision shooting - he probably doesn't have much to worry about.

Now as to the CHEAPEST source for his supplies -other than the catalogs there are the on-line auctions including this forums classifieds.

Let us know what your buddy does.

Oh and give me your address so I can send you a bill for my expert advice...
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Ha Ha - Just Kidding!

Hi, BruceB!

I started off loading sequentially the way you mention, on a buddy's Lyman All-American. (I still have a J shellholder or two, and an adaptor to use standard shellholders on an AA.) Eventually found it was a lot more efficient to batch the operations, except that I like to charge each case right before seating the bullet. Works that way for me, anyway. I still don't like the idea of changing out dies for each operation, though I do leave the lockrings set to minimize setup time. Do it the way you like best!

Any press your friend gets will do the job. If he gets more experienced later he might want to get something else, but that will be his choice. I have a Lyman turret press that I am setting up as a dedicated press for my 20 tactical and I expect it will load just fine ammofor that. I coulds have used my dillon 550 or my rockchucker but I didn't. They will all load perfect;y fine rounds. If your buddy was a 1000 yard marksman then it might be a little bit different story, but whatever he gets I'm sure will be fine.

P.S. I have an unused Lee turret press for sale in the classifieds right now.

Notricochet--Take the top nut completely off your Lyman Spar "T" and there should be a ball bearing and a spring that goes into the turret head. There are detents around the center post that alaign the turret with the shell holder as you rotate it. I think someone in the past had your press apart and lost the ball and spring assy. I have 2 Spar "T" turrets and think they are great. With the auto primer feed and a powder measure mounted on the press you can easily do 125 rounds of pistol ammo per hour. I have loaded .308 ammo on the press in the past with no problem and also .243. Both rifles would shoot less than an inch @ 100yds. Nick

I use a Lee turret for all my reloading. I leave the dies set in the turrets and change them out as needed. Bottle neck and straight wall as well.However 30-06 is the largest bottle neck that I load for and in straight wall its 44 mag. The dies that now spend the most time in the press are 308 win.,7mm08 and 260 rem. I would not trade this press for anything. It works for me!
Rick

Thanks, Nick! I'll look for that detent ball and spring. If it's missing, presumably it won't be too hard to find a replacement from Lyman or otherwise.

OK, I took the turret off and found the problem. The detent ball and spring are there, and working fine. Problem was with the collar with the six indexing holes in it that the ball drops into. The collar was rotating with the turret. It has a set screw to hold it on the shaft that wasn't tightened. The purpose of having the adjustable indexer is to get the turret holes lined up concentrically with the press ram, which they now are. Ought to be a BIG help!

I regularly full length size 30/06 brass with my Lee Turret press and it has plenty of strength for the job. It has as much leverage as any of the heavy "O" presses. I can't imagine a round I couldn't load on it. Now if you tried to resize without proper lube, then you'd have a problem with any press you use. Check the resale value of the Lee turret press on Ebay, they don't hold their value because they're junk.