Hi there folks. I'm thinking of giving a turret press a try. I been using a single stage press. 4.75 " opening Frankford Arsonal press. Do I need a tureet press probably not. The largest cartridge I load for is 300 rum and 30-378. I was looking at the Redding T7 turret press or the Lyman Brass Smith All American 8 turret press. The guys who have used either of these presses what are the pros an cons? Also whats the opening on the Lyman? If I dont get 1 of the 2 I'll probably get another single stage press. I probably load around 250 to 400 rounds a year. Not very much i dont think. Usually load 223, 30-30 and 30-06. But I do load for a few friends also. Open to suggestions also. Thanks Chris.

I have the Redding 7-station turret and can tell you that it is amply strong for any operation and has a long enough stroke for nearly any cartridge. I also have one of the old 6-station Lyman turrets which is not nearly as stout, so I use it primarily for bullet seating. No experience with the newer Lyman, which is no doubt a stronger press than the older one.

Unless you just "want" a turret press, you're not really loading enough calibers or volume to make it an improvement over your single station press. Turret presses are NOT designed to do "progressive" loading like some shotshell presses. Their advantage is in having multiple dies and calibers instantly available without removing and re-setting dies.

Will it fit the large dies? Like 505

Have both presses, Redding hands down! The largest case I load is the .338 mag and the Redding seems a bit stronger.

I have the Redding.

Redding.

I still have my Lyman Spar T press from the early 70's. It was quite an inovation at the time. Still works great today.I like the ability to set my sizing + M dies next to each other on straight wall cases + just make one small twist of hand to complete 2 functions almost as once.Redding makes very good equipment but I have never used their turret press as my Lyman never quit.I just bought a Dillon 650 to compensate for speed.I love that one as well.

I have Lyman, Redding, Dillon and Lee turret presses. My Redding has the largest distance between the shell holder and the bottom of the dies.

Do I need four turret presses? Probably not, I'm just lazy about changing dies.

Well I don't need it but I want it sorta deal. I know I'm gonna get it. The problem is which one?

I like me my Lyman alot.
But the Lee four hole is the most affordable, and it makes switching from one cartridge set to another very convenient. The four hole is great because most of the time I use a two die set for rifle loading. That makes each turret able to store two sets of dies. The turrets switch out quickly and are very cheap.
I have two Lee turret presses. A three hole and a four. They work great and load very accurate ammo easily.

I have the T7. Don't see how you could get a better press.

I had the Redding T-7 and it was a really high-quality tool.

The Redding T-7 is far superior. You can set it up with all three die sets for your calibers.

Had both the Lyman T-Mag II, and the Redding T-7, and sold the T-Mag II (some play at the end of the stroke). Nothing beats the T-7, nice and solid, and no play. Only use it for the .338WM Redding 3-die set, and have a bullet puller, plus a case-gage mounted on it. I used the gage to measure the fired-case dimensions, and then size the cases (if needed) for the chamber it was fired in, once I have chosen the right size case holder.

I used the Redding for about 7 years. I accumulated a total of four turrets to accommodate the various cartridges I reload for.

Then I discovered the Forster and I haven't looked back!

The easy slip in and out feature makes die changing very easy.

Yoiu will, hover, want a separate hand or bench mounted primer seater.