[codefour]

I was looking at getting a turret press for a X-mas gift for dad. Dad, will not use my progressives and sticks with his Rock Chucker religiously.

So, I was wondering which turret press do you fellow inmates recommend. I am not a big LEE fan. Which leaves RCBS, Redding, and Lyman.

How are the priming systems on each one.? I was also wondering if the turret head deflects and moves when sizing cases?

Any input would be helpful and thank you in advance.

[Hondo 60]

codefour - you said you're not a Lee fan, but their Classic turret is the one press that I think is actually just as good as any other turret press.
It's made of cast iron with steel linkage.
Their progressives are... (trying to find a High-road way of saying junk)
I'm not trying to start a war with those that like Lee.

And they're a LOT cheaper.

Sorry, not enough experience with the presses you mentioned to be able to answer your questions..

[dnmccoy]

I hafta vote for lee as well. For the $ spent the quality is awesome and I love mine!

[Miata Mike]

I am with Hondo on the Lee Classic turret. I hand prime using a Lee primer. Spend the extra money on extra turrets and dies for Dad.

[Rory McCanuck]

Best turret press for the money is probably the Lee Classic Cast Turret.
Its design also makes the most sense; you are pushing against a fully
supported ring, instead of a pivot bolt like all the other turrets.
It uses the safety prime system, which is dead simple to load and use.
Extra turrets are $12, easy enough to have one for each caliber.

I'm also looking long and hard at a Redding T-7 though. Beautiful press,
looks to be bullet-proof, but kinda pricey. Plus you have to buy the
priming assembly seperately for $60+ I'm not sure how much extra
turrets are worth, but not cheap, I wouldn't think.

[fguffey]

codefour, deflection, a lot of that comes from the claim department, I have a turret, I have no reservations about using it for case forming, it has to be 45 years old + or – a few, there are tools that can be used to measure deflection and strain, those in the claims department do not have have access to the tools.

F. Guffey

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm also a Lee Classic Turret Press fan, I've been using one for the past 6 years. It's also the only one on the market that has an auto-index feature.

Since you don't want to buy Lee the Redding turret press is a good choice too. It will cost you more though... (well over $400 instead of just over $100)

[Bmac1949]

I've been using the T-7 for about 6 months. It's a fine piece of machinery. I upgraded from a single stage. The advantages that I see are: 1. It's rock solid. I don't think that deflection is a problem with this press (I've had no runout problems) 2. you can set up seven stations on this press. 3. It's faster than a ss press. The disadvantages are: 1. It is expensive, about $250 at Midway and the extra turrets are pretty pricey too. I haven't set up the priming system yet because I prime on another press so I can't speak to that. I batch load so I'm not worried about high output. If you want high output from a turret the Lee indexed turret would be faster but if you're looking for a trurret that is as solid as the Rock Chucker, You'll like the Redding

[PO2Hammer]

Redding T-7. Solid cast iron, no flex in this beast. I've been priming on mine since I bought it. Planned on buying a separate priming system, but no need, primes on the downstroke smoothly.
It's a real Cadillac.

[warnerwh]

I've owned Dillon and RCBS presses. Both high quality presses. The Lee Classic Turret that so many people raved about made me take a chance. They were right it has to do as good as a job as any and faster too. It is strong enough I'm sure when I get to it I'll have no problem loading 30-06 cartridges. I was amazed how good of a press it is. For 100 bucks it's a bargain.

[tts]

+1 on the Lee Classic Turret Press -- don't get the Deluxe Kit, Classic is build stronger.

Kempf Gun Shop sells a kit with the Lee Classic Press (the one you want), complete with everything you need.

https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=630&category_id=190&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41

Worth every penny!

[flashhole]

Another vote for the Classic Turret. I owned a Reddng Model 25 Turret (the forerunner to the T-7). It was a nice press but I like the Lee press much better. In fact, I have two of them. One stays on the bench and the other is part of a portable reloading setup I take to the range for load development. The turrets are interchangable between the presses so once the dies are set I can switch between the two in about 10 seconds. The Classic Turret is an excellent design and an excellent value. I purchased both of mine at Factory Sales for $89 each. FWIW - I also have the Lee Classic Cast Single Stage, another excellent value. You can buy one of each for a lot less money than a single Redding, RCBS or Lyman turret press.

If your Dad is a single stage die hard and you wanted to give him a real treat look at the Redding Ultramag. IMO it is the best press on the market today. Some will argue for Forster, had one of them too, sold it, the Ultramag is my favorte.

[ranger335v]

"I have a turret,..it has to be 45 years old + or – a few, there are tools that can be used to measure deflection ..., those in the claims department do not have have access to the tools."

I'm in the 'claims department'.

I too have a 45+ year old iron/steel turret, I DO have the gage/tools to measure deflection and it's so bad it's laffable! Any centrally secured turret plate MUST have some slop or it couldn't possibly rotate. Those who suppose their T-7, etc., is 'rigid' and does not deflect must not have actually gaged it under load. Anyone can make quality ammo on a turret press, they do not automatically produce any 'runout', that comes from dies and bad cases, but it's a little more demanding to use a turret well than a single stage.

Lee's Classic Cast turret is different, it's retained at the outer edge by a steel ring and steel rods. After the initial slack is taken up, the force of FL sizing has little effect. And only the auto-indexing Lee turret's actually add any speed to the process.

It sounds like your father is quite happy with what he has, why bother with changing his methods?

[EddieNFL]

Mass production - Redding.

[nonamehavei]

I have a Lyman T mag I am happy with, although I wouldn't mind the auto index feature of the LCT.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Another vote for the Lee Classic Cast. One of the easiest presses to upgrade to from a single stage and have great success. Can use some minor tuning, but once that's done, the press is a significant upgrade from any other turret press on the market. It can't be beat for the price.

[LeonCarr]

He is your Dad...get him the Redding T-7.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[fguffey]

Ranger335V,

"I'm in the 'claims department'." I know, if we were my neighbors I would come to your house (if invited) and use your tools to measure deflection, as when checking head space three different ways, I am not limited to talking about deflection, I am convinced anyone that reloads and is familiar with the practice of using precision tools (withing .001 thousands)can use tools on their work bench to measure deflection.

My turret, not your turret: My turret can not be be rotated (change stations) if operated correctly, to rotate the turret the operator of the press must have one large wrench, to secure the turret, the operator must use a large wrench to secure the turret, on the back side the turret there is a support pillar, inside the pillar is a spring and detente ball, on the bottom of the turret there are 6 detentes for indexing. What I could have had was a turret with 12 stations, in promotional literature the manufacture demonstrated methods for checking deflection. At that time there were 'c' 'O' 'U' presses, my strongest press is a 'U' with two rams.

F. Guffey

[ranger335v]

"I know, if we were my neighbors I would come to your house (if invited) and use your tools to measure deflection...I am not limited to talking about deflection"

I'm sure you're a very nice fellow who knows just about everything and could 'help me' a lot but visiting probably wouldn't be necessary. I was talking about deflection because that was the issue.

My (Lyman) turret can't be rotated when it's locked down either; in fact, I don't think that's unusual is it? But that just makes it a funny looking, bolted together single stage press with die storage, so perhaps you might agree that a fellow sorta loses a bit of the 'benefit' of a turret if it's locked down with a wrench? And, so far as I know, ALL conventional turrets have both spring loaded detents and a back-side support column. So....???

You can 'talk' about anything you wish - and not that the 12 station turret you could have had, wrenches, detents, dual ram press, etc., isn't fascinating - but does all that really have anything to do with helping CODE4 make a decision for his father?

[BBDartCA]

vote here for the Less Classic Turret. If your pop is more brand conscious, you can spent twice as much with RCBS for the same functionality & durability, I guess.

[oldreloader]

I have BOTH the Lee Classic Turret and a RCBS RockchuckerII. The LCT is a VERY good and solid press. I still use the RC some but the LCT gets most of the jobs. I've had very good luck with the priming attachments,Pro Powder Measure, ETC., and the used primer collection system is the best I've ever used.

[mike.h]

I'm a 'new' reloader, and the LCT works just fine, although I have nothing to compare it with. It's easy to set up and use, plus there is a ton of videos on you tube for reference.

[RandyP]

I had a couple hours before the Bears game came on the tube, so I reloaded 150 rounds of .380 and 150 rounds of 9mm on my Lee Classic turret. Two hobby hours well spent = 300 rounds of RandyFactory ammo. And that includes switching die filled turrets, adjusting the Pro powder measure adjustable charge bar for the 9mm and then installing the micro-disk for the .380.

For me Lee gear works great, costs little, fits my realistic ammo needs and budget perfectly.

[TxAg]

I've been using the rcbs turret for about a year now and really like it. At first I was hand priming, but eventually set up the priming function on the press and I like it. It is a solid piece of equipment It has 6 stations on the turret head so depending on what operations you are performing you could set up two different cartridges. I bought multiple turret heads and they switch out very easily.

[Searcher4851]

I don't know how much value my opinion has, since the only turret press I've used is the Lee Classic Cast turret press, but I can say that after upgrading to it from my 35 year old rockchucker, I'm happy with the decision. The press is quite solidly built, cast iron with steel linkage. As far as deflection, the design of the press puts one of the support posts for the turret right at the point of the highest pressure thereby eliminating deflection of the turret head. So far it's working just fine for me. btw, I still have and use the Rockchucker as well.

[snuffy]

I got a classic turret about 2 years ago to load test batches before switching over to my dillon 650 for a big batch. I also had a bonanza co-ax ,(bonanza is the original company who designed the co-ax), that I had been using for rifle for years. Forster bought out the bonanza company many years ago. I recently unbolted the co-ax, I just didn't use it anymore since getting the classic turret. It's every bit as solid as the co-ax!

Now, quit calling it the classicCAST turret. The classic CAST is Lee's new single stage press. Got one of those too.

[kennedy]

been using a lee turret for about 6 years, no problems, and it was old when I got it, my brother gave it to me after reloading on it for 10 years. I reload for 6 calibers and have a turret for each, so changing dies is a 15 sec. job.

[codefour]

Thank you all for the replies! I did watch some YOUTUBE videos of the Lee Classic Cast Turret and it did look good. I am not a snob at all. But some of LEE products seem to be kind of flimsy to me. But now, after all you guys telling me their classic turret is the one to get, I am going to get him one.

Dad likes his LEE dies so why not continue the product line. What have I got to lose. I can also buy him a turret for each caliber he loads with the extra savings. The auto-indexing was cool and would speed things up faster for him. He still has his 40 y/o Rock Chucker if the new LEE goes south.

I never thought I would say this, but the LEE appears the most useful..

[Lost Sheep]

If you have $200 budgeted, you can get a kit from Kempf's Gun Shop on line that includes

Lee Classic Turret
A set of Deluxe dies (either for handgun or rifle, your choice, whatever caliber)
Primer feeding device for both large and small primers
Pro Auto-Disk powder measure
Riser (I think) for the auto-disk, which helps it clear the primer device
a half-dozen MTM brand plastic ammo boxes

Essentially everything you need as a basic setup to start loading for one caliber, and a great deal if your Dad was thinking about picking up a new caliber or needs a new set of dies.

The only thing it lacks as a perfect setup is a scale. Since your Dad undoubtedly already has one, that is probably a good thing.

Lost Sheep

[twofifty]

There was a useful review in Handloader Magazine No.222, in April 2002.

Author Brian Pearce put the following turret machines through their paces: RCBS, Lyman T-Mag II, Redding T-7, and a Dillon AT500.

Since your dad likes and trusts his 40y.o. Rockchucker, maybe he would be most comfortable using an RCBS turret. According to the review, the RCBS turret is well made and designed. It readily accepts their (optional) Uniflow Powder Measure with a case-activated linkage kit. Charging takes place when the ram is raised.

Other hilites from the Handloader review: The only problem is that "the primer catcher will make it difficult for a left-handed person (or someone who uses their right hand to handle cases) to install and remove cartridges from the shellholder."

The RCBS turret can be operated in progressive turret mode or in batch mode (mimicks a single-stage setup). In progressive mode with the linked Uniflow Powder Measure the author reloaded 186 rounds of .45 Colt in 1 hour.

I hope this helps.

[RandyP]

"I never thought I would say this, but the LEE appears the most useful"

Yep, who'd have thought that a company that has been making affordable reloaders since 1958 would in 2011 be still making useful products - lol

Their gear is made stronger than it needs to be at a price point that allows anyone to join the reloading ranks. Several companies also make outstanding reloading gear for a higher price with added features. At the end of the reloading session however they ALL make safe, reliable and accurate ammo that I believe no one could tell apart from each other.

Match your realistic ammo needs with your budget and choose, it's all good. From the Lee$30 Loader to the $30,000 Camdex.

[snuffy]

The RCBS turret can be operated in progressive turret mode or in batch mode (mimics a single-stage setup). In progressive mode with the linked Uniflow Powder Measure the author reloaded 186 rounds of .45 Colt in 1 hour.
I hope this helps.

Well, I loaded 3 rounds of 45 colt on my lee CLASSIC turret loader in 52 seconds! If my feeble math is correct, that's 207 rounds in an hour. I'd have to stop along about midway to add more primers to the safety prime, but that's only a couple of minutes lost. Since I cast my own boolits, I'm not limited there.

[JohnM]

Main concern I have with the Lee Classic turret is the limit of 2 5/16 cases for the auto index.
There are a lot of cases we reload longer than that.
Anyone know why they didn't allow a longer case length?
Does it run with longer cases if the auto index feature is removed?

[RandyP]

Per the Lee website FAQ section:

Rifle loading on Turret Press

The Turret Press is a great press for loading rifle cartridges. If you choose to load cases that are over 2 5/16" in length, the Auto Indexing feature of the Press must be disabled. This can be done in mere seconds by simply taking the actuator rod out of it's clamp from the top of the press. It can be re-assembled in the same time.

If your desire is to load very large cases on the Turret Press, the clamp that rotates the actuator rod which is located on the back of the ram must also be removed. This too is a simple process but takes a minute or two. It can be reassembled in the same amount of time.

The Auto Index feature was primarily designed to speed the handgun loading process and allows the press in experienced hands to load 200 handgun rounds per hour. If your desire is to load larger rifle cartridges, we recommend the purchase of the four hole press over the three hole. This is because the four hole auto indexing feature can be quickly removed and re-installed with no ill effect to the timing. With three hole auto indexing, the clamp that holds the rod must be "tweaked" to achieve proper timing.

[JohnM]

OK, makes sense, but it seems like as long as they had it it wouldn't have been that much trouble to keep it operating at least up to '06 or so sized cases.

[DC Plumber]

I started reloading 15 years ago with Lee. I have had great success with their products. When I decided to go beyond a single stage press, I bought the Redding T-7 press. I resize 30-06 and 458winmag with no problems. I don't use the primer arm though. I love the Lee hand prime tool and only use that to batch process my brass.

I give the Redding a thumbs up.

[soloban]

Don't get Lee Deluxe. Lee Classic Turret is good.

[fpgt72]

It is pretty easy, and I load mostly rifle with my press. I usually don't time myself I am not in any race, but I can load a box of 50 in less time it takes CD to play.

[Oldcoyote]

Lee says the Classic Turret will load as long as .308 in auto-index mode, however, I load .30/06 this way with no problem.

[JohnM]

I'm thinking pretty seriously of ordering it next week.

[RustyFN]

OK, makes sense, but it seems like as long as they had it it wouldn't have been that much trouble to keep it operating at least up to '06 or so sized cases.

John,
I know three different guys that load 30-06 on classic turret presses in auto index mode. Hope this helps.

Well, I loaded 3 rounds of 45 colt on my lee CLASSIC turret loader in 52 seconds! If my feeble math is correct, that's 207 rounds in an hour. I'd have to stop along about midway to add more primers to the safety prime, but that's only a couple of minutes lost. Since I cast my own boolits, I'm not limited there.

And I bet that's at a comfortable pace. I know I can load faster than that if I wanted to step it up but I'm happy with that pace. I also load 200 primers in the safety prime tray so I only have to load it half as many times. Small primers fit very easy large primers take up quite a bit more room but they still fit fine.

[jrdavidson]

I love my Redding T-7 turret - its built like a tank and is unlikely to wear out - ever. The big ram and lever are solid. Just make sure you mount it well, this thing is HEAVY.

I did spring for the primer tube system, and I bought another head to accommodate switching calibers quickly. Both work really well. I can change calibers in less than a minute.

Like some have said, its more expensive, but I'm learning that buying quality saves money in the long run.

I wish I'd applied that rule consistently over the years - how many die sets do I have for .45ACP again??? Three? Why? Because each time I tried to save money. WRONG.

Buy once, buy right the first time.

[fpgt72]

Buy wise, read reviews of people that currently own the bit of equipment and go from there....that is what I did. I found that people that actually own the Lee turret press like it quite a bit, where as the people that don't said bad things about it. And those that had an issue when the issue was brought up to Lee the company took care of the customer....can't ask more then that.

Decide what you get....if anything other then a name....when you buy.

There is a term in the guitar world called cork sniffing....that means spending more for just a name, or model and not getting any real practical working value from that extra money...but you do get to say you have a signiture model...too bad the standard sounds just as good and cost half as much.

[littleguns223]

The Lyman T Mag is very good press for the money

[aerod1]

I am also a fan of the Lee Classic Turret.

[kennedy]

I like the lee for hand gun and .223 rifle, but for .308, I don`t use the auto indexing rod and use the press as a single stage for accuracy loads rather than quantity.