Does slack in turret head get cause untrue reloads in turret press?

[Bayourambler]

I'm using an old lyman Tmag turret press my dad gave me. I've always wondered if the play in the turret head can cause problems against accuracy. Ive checked my loads on a Concentricity Gauge and they normally have between .002" to .004" runout.

 

[mjsdwash]

I know on my lee the amount of force needed to turn the turret is low enough that I can just put a case in halfway, and at an angle, and the turret will turn enough to line itself up. I figure the self aligning nature of turrets would them more consistent that screw in where only the travel in the shell holder exists. I could be wrong though. I think Richard Lee said it makes no difference in his book, though its been a long time since I read it.

 

[mdi]

With "normal" manufacturing tolerances the turret will move the same amount/distance every time so the variation will only be operator caused. Not Familiar with a Lyman turret, is the turret locked down between indexing?

 

[jmorris]

Depends on what kind of "slack" we are talking about. If the turrent is changing its angle under load, that is not going to be good, if it's angle is not changing and it is just moving up/down then it shouldn't be a problem.

FWIW I have found the dies have greater effect on runout than what press they are in.

 

[snuffy]

I'm using an old lyman Tmag turret press my dad gave me. I've always wondered if the play in the turret head can cause problems against accuracy. Ive checked my loads on a Concentricity Gauge and they normally have between .002" to .004" runout.

What caliber??????

I HAD a lyman spar T press for a very short time. The slop in the turret and the fact that it's a "C" type press made it size rifle cases like a banana. It was just barely okay for handgun, AND it wasn't any faster than my RC.

I know on my lee the amount of force needed to turn the turret is low enough that I can just put a case in halfway, and at an angle, and the turret will turn enough to line itself up. I figure the self aligning nature of turrets would them more consistent that screw in where only the travel in the shell holder exists. I could be wrong though. I think Richard Lee said it makes no difference in his book, though its been a long time since I read it.

There's something seriously wrong with your Lee turret press if it does NOT index to a die location and stay there. Check your detent ball in the steel ring that the turret sits in

 

[jmorris]

Yep, slop that lets the turret change from perpendicular to the ram to some angle other than 90 degrees is trouble.

The Redding T7 addressed this with a rear support, of course and vertical movement in one would then make the rear support less than useful.



A slight vertical movement in a setup like a Lee, for example would just take up the tolerance to the lugs and not change the angle.

 

[R. Cobb]

Do you have the dark colored press or the orange colored. On the darker one it has an adjustable bolt on the backside to take up the slack.
On both styles, you will need to take the T-head off and clean it. It has a spring loaded ball bearing w/indent that should be cleaned and lubed, by tightening the center bolt you should be able to take all the slack out.

 

[Bayourambler]

Do you have the dark colored press or the orange colored. On the darker one it has an adjustable bolt on the backside to take up the slack.
On both styles, you will need to take the T-head off and clean it. It has a spring loaded ball bearing w/indent that should be cleaned and lubed, by tightening the center bolt you should be able to take all the slack out.

It's the older orange one. It does not have the backup screw on it. I did put this 30-06 die that has a stuck case , and bolt, on the opposite side of the resizing die to act as a backup to keep the turret from tilting any. It seems to take much of the play out, but you still always wonder....

 

[R. Cobb]

I’ve had both old and newer ones. From time to time I’d have to take it apart and clean and lube it.
Check the center bolt/nut for tightness, it should take alittle effort to move it.
With it lubed and tighten the movement should go away.

 

[jmorris]

It seems to take much of the play out, but you still always wonder....

If you have a dial indicator and an adjustable base, you won’t have to wonder anymore.