I started reloading a couple of years ago and been using a Lee single stage press for various handgun cartridges. I've been thinking about upgrading to a turret press but I'm not sure what advantage they have versus a single stage press, except that your dies don't have to be changed out. I would like to speed up my production, will a turret do this or am I better off looking at progressives?
advantages of a turret press?
- Thread starter boogalou
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WhoKnowsWho
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Why I chose a turret press.
Cost, it was a less than just about any progressive press out there, with the closest priced item being the Lee progressives.
Ease of setup, once my dies have been set in the removable turret of the Lee, I just pop it out of pop it in as I need it. Though most progressives can be just as simple with practice, but it was less pre-setup before loading I figured.
Single Stage loading, easily done if I want to do just a couple of test rounds, or with the rifle rounds, I load them in a loading block and then seat the bullet, like I had a single stage.
Speed, more than a single stage, but ever pull on a progressive makes a round, on a turret, it ends up being a few more pulls.
I prefer to use the Lee hand primer tool also, so a progressive which primed wouldn't help me much, though if I had one, I would consider using the primer system on it.
I think I produce plenty of ammo on my turret press, I can't see the cost of a full progressive setup being worth it 'cause I don't have the money for the amount of supplies I would eat through. For some, it's a hard choice. Also, look at how many calibers you are going to load. A Dillon Square Deal for one or two handgun calibers might be a good idea if you shoot enough to warrant the cost outlay.
Cost, it was a less than just about any progressive press out there, with the closest priced item being the Lee progressives.
Ease of setup, once my dies have been set in the removable turret of the Lee, I just pop it out of pop it in as I need it. Though most progressives can be just as simple with practice, but it was less pre-setup before loading I figured.
Single Stage loading, easily done if I want to do just a couple of test rounds, or with the rifle rounds, I load them in a loading block and then seat the bullet, like I had a single stage.
Speed, more than a single stage, but ever pull on a progressive makes a round, on a turret, it ends up being a few more pulls.
I prefer to use the Lee hand primer tool also, so a progressive which primed wouldn't help me much, though if I had one, I would consider using the primer system on it.
I think I produce plenty of ammo on my turret press, I can't see the cost of a full progressive setup being worth it 'cause I don't have the money for the amount of supplies I would eat through. For some, it's a hard choice. Also, look at how many calibers you are going to load. A Dillon Square Deal for one or two handgun calibers might be a good idea if you shoot enough to warrant the cost outlay.
Here is an article from Real Guns, you may find usefull.
www.realguns.com/archives/047.htm
Good Luck...
Joe
www.realguns.com/archives/047.htm
Good Luck...
Joe
grislyatoms
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I have an RCBS turret press.
Pros:
Set the dies once and forget 'em.
Total control over each step of the reloading process.
Cons:
Not as fast as a progressive.
I load @1300 rounds a month and have no complaints about the turret press' performance. Any higher than that, though, and I would look at progressives.
Pros:
Set the dies once and forget 'em.
Total control over each step of the reloading process.
Cons:
Not as fast as a progressive.
I load @1300 rounds a month and have no complaints about the turret press' performance. Any higher than that, though, and I would look at progressives.
birddog
Member
I recently started my foray into .44mag and .357mag handloading with a Lee Turret Press. I agree with the above posts. It takes a few more strokes than a progressive to get a completed round, but the press is very very flexible. Say you want to just decap / size and reprime a bunch of brass one night. You can remove the Auto Indexer rod (takes about 5 seconds) and use the press as a single stage. There are any number of configurations for which you can use the turret press. And by ordering extra turrets (about 8 bucks) you can set up in *seconds* to reload different calibers. Yesterday I deprimed/sized/primed/charged/seated/crimped a bunch of .44 mag brass right out of the tumbler, and took them right through to completed rounds. Then, I had some new .357 brass, but not enough powder or bullets to do much with them, so I removed the Auto Indexer and just sized and primed the cases and bagged them for later loading. I'd highly recommend this press for flexibility and ease of use.
Joel
Joel
SASS#23149
Member
I've run the whole gammut(sp) and imho the time savings is minimal between single stage and turret...still takes x number of strokes per completed round.
The time savings going progressive,or semi-progressive like my Dillon 550b is huge.The 550b lets me run one round at a time for whatever reason,or load it up and do and EASY 200 rph.More if I hurry,but hurryihg is not what I do while reloading.Now,hurrying while shooting up said ammo.....
I shoot less than 500 rounds per month but would not give up my progressive for any other press now that I have it.
The time savings going progressive,or semi-progressive like my Dillon 550b is huge.The 550b lets me run one round at a time for whatever reason,or load it up and do and EASY 200 rph.More if I hurry,but hurryihg is not what I do while reloading.Now,hurrying while shooting up said ammo.....
I shoot less than 500 rounds per month but would not give up my progressive for any other press now that I have it.
Kamicosmos
Member
I have a single stage and a progressive. I'm considering getting a turret so speed up my single stage loading for things like rifle loads. I'm also just picky enough that I still would prefer to weigh each powder charge, verify primer seating depth, etc. I have a constant decision making debate every time I go to reload: Slow and perfect or fast and not 'quite as good'. A turret press is looking very good and practical right now.
(BTW, I'm not saying that the progressives can't make ammo equal to the single stages.)
(BTW, I'm not saying that the progressives can't make ammo equal to the single stages.)
Smythe77
Member
The simplicity of a turret, knowing exactly how each round is progressing, to be able to stop & check, & so easy to keep clean & working.
These are the prime reasons why I have three costly Ponsess/Warren Metllic II presses. One with 38 Spl, the other with 9X19, & last being 45ACP. Also with two spare die heads I can go to 44 mag loads & others.
Okay so I am 74 yrs of age & to lazy to get monkeying around a Single Stage or progressive loader. I come home from shooting, toss my brass into the shaker for an hr, pull out the like new brass & in very short time I have reloaded my 9mm, 38 Spl & 45 loads I used that day. Not to mention boxes of ammo ready to go from prior days of simply sitting down & doing a bit of reloading.
Also it is SO EASY to teach a beginner how to use a Lee Turret that all realize it is almost a god send for within minutes they are reloading. They never come back to ask for further assistance & only some advise on loads with possibly a new poweder, bullet tip, grouping, etc., which is part of the fun of reloading.
These are the prime reasons why I have three costly Ponsess/Warren Metllic II presses. One with 38 Spl, the other with 9X19, & last being 45ACP. Also with two spare die heads I can go to 44 mag loads & others.
Okay so I am 74 yrs of age & to lazy to get monkeying around a Single Stage or progressive loader. I come home from shooting, toss my brass into the shaker for an hr, pull out the like new brass & in very short time I have reloaded my 9mm, 38 Spl & 45 loads I used that day. Not to mention boxes of ammo ready to go from prior days of simply sitting down & doing a bit of reloading.
Also it is SO EASY to teach a beginner how to use a Lee Turret that all realize it is almost a god send for within minutes they are reloading. They never come back to ask for further assistance & only some advise on loads with possibly a new poweder, bullet tip, grouping, etc., which is part of the fun of reloading.
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