help picking a press
- Thread starter JO JO
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Targa
Member
Of your choices, I would probably go with the turret press for that amount of ammo.
Bazoo
Member
I too would go with the T-7.
LV Gun
Member
I would go with the t7 but at least take a look at the Lee Classic Cast turret
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Pistol or rifle?
If pistol I would be tempted to get the progressive if you don't mind spending the money.
300 loads a month can easily turn into 500.....
If you go with a progressive I would strongly recommend the RCBS lockout die (for pistol) or a powder cop for rifle.
As mentioned above the Lee Classic turret might be a good less expensive choice.
If pistol I would be tempted to get the progressive if you don't mind spending the money.
300 loads a month can easily turn into 500.....
If you go with a progressive I would strongly recommend the RCBS lockout die (for pistol) or a powder cop for rifle.
As mentioned above the Lee Classic turret might be a good less expensive choice.
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rdnktrkr
Member
I have a LCT and load up to 30-06 easily, for rifle I use it as a single stage and advance the turret by hand, it is convenient to just rotate the turret instead of replacing each die, also caliber change is just a turret change. For handgun I insert a plastic square that allows the turret to advance with each pull allowing for an easy 60-90 rnds an hour, some people do more (120+) but I'm retired and not trying to set a record. With a progressive you could easily load your 300 in an hour, the new Lee will do rifle up to 223 easily anything bigger and I would look at a bigger setup, Lee has a new turret press, I've not seen one in person but I'm happy with my LCT.
I also have a RCBS Rock chucker, I purchased it used about 10 or 15 yrs ago, a little TLC and it works great, sometimes it is nice to have a single stage like when removing crimps or forming brass.
Good luck in your search
I also have a RCBS Rock chucker, I purchased it used about 10 or 15 yrs ago, a little TLC and it works great, sometimes it is nice to have a single stage like when removing crimps or forming brass.
Good luck in your search
CQB45ACP
Member
T-7
But we all know you’re getting what moves you, not what we say.
But we all know you’re getting what moves you, not what we say.
maxxhavoc
Member
For only 300 rounds a month, any single stage would be plenty. A Lee hand press would even do, and give your chest some exercise as well.
I have run 2000 rounds in a week on a Pro 1000, without spending all my free time doing it.
Just do what CQB45ACP says above. Buy what you want to buy and don't second guess it.
I have run 2000 rounds in a week on a Pro 1000, without spending all my free time doing it.
Just do what CQB45ACP says above. Buy what you want to buy and don't second guess it.
I load on both SS and progressive. Haven't used a turret. I don't enjoy the SS process enough to load 300 per month on one. I typically run batches of 100 or less on the SS and 300+ on a progressive.
Really depends on how you want to spend your time.
Really depends on how you want to spend your time.
Charlie98
Member
That. Rifle... hands down... single-stage or turret. Common pistol cartridges... progressive.
Loading 300 .45ACP, for example, every month, every month, every month... on a single-stage/turret... would get real old, real quick. I speak from experience.
With the Hornady you can easily put in only one die at a time and load just like a single stage press. Or put in all dies, but continue to only load one round at a time. Or just put in the sizer and expander, prime and powder off press, swap out the dies and seat on press. Or go full progressive. I love the choices it gives me. I’m a 1,000 round a month person.
sparkyv
Member
Turret. Agree:
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,262
Do you want to spend 2 hours on a turret press enjoying your new hobby or 18 min on a decked out progressive?
24 hours vs 3.6 for the year. Don't forget that is just loading time and there are other steps in there, breaks one might take, if it's taking forever...
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kmw1954
Member
I have two progressive presses and haven't used either one on over 2 years. But then I also have not been shooting any pistols. I do also have a turret and a single stage press that gets used almost weekly. So I guess it all comes down to how much time you want to spend sitting in front of a press.
When I load for my rifle I am only loading 50-100pcs at a time though I might do that every other week.
When I load for my rifle I am only loading 50-100pcs at a time though I might do that every other week.
Frulk
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Messages
- 1,601
I have 2 T7’s. One is dedicated full time to .357 mag. The other to various other straight walled pistol cases. I REALLY like them. I don’t load rifle calibers on them. No particularly reason for that.
Pro’s: You will NEVER wear one out. Your great grandkids will be using them. They’re exceedingly smooth and exude/ooze quality in use. T7’s aren’t finicky. With 7 stations per head you have a number of options to set up calibers in any configuration you want.
Cons: Price…especially when compared to a value leader like Lee. I don’t like the tube style primer holders (dislike the slow loading routine) so I prime on a Lee single stage using the Safety Prime system. Dump 100 primers on the tray. Shake 4-5 seconds. Put lid on and you’re ready to go.
When I’m in the reloading room alone and in the zone…that is to say it’s early evening. The wife is preoccupied with something….Cash/Merle/Tony Joe White/Eaglesmith/Colter Wall etc. is on the stereo…I can crank the T7’s up to about 220 rounds an hour keeping in mind I deprimed and sized either on an Lee APP or the single stage. I drop powder on the T7’s using an RCBS Little Dandy with stock or modified Pyrex hopper.
I also like the Lee Classic Cast Turret. Had I not gotten the T7’s at a screaming deal on each I’d probably have one on the bench since I’m a fan of their priming system.
T7 with stock Little Dandy powder measure.
T7 with modded Little Dandy
Pro’s: You will NEVER wear one out. Your great grandkids will be using them. They’re exceedingly smooth and exude/ooze quality in use. T7’s aren’t finicky. With 7 stations per head you have a number of options to set up calibers in any configuration you want.
Cons: Price…especially when compared to a value leader like Lee. I don’t like the tube style primer holders (dislike the slow loading routine) so I prime on a Lee single stage using the Safety Prime system. Dump 100 primers on the tray. Shake 4-5 seconds. Put lid on and you’re ready to go.
When I’m in the reloading room alone and in the zone…that is to say it’s early evening. The wife is preoccupied with something….Cash/Merle/Tony Joe White/Eaglesmith/Colter Wall etc. is on the stereo…I can crank the T7’s up to about 220 rounds an hour keeping in mind I deprimed and sized either on an Lee APP or the single stage. I drop powder on the T7’s using an RCBS Little Dandy with stock or modified Pyrex hopper.
I also like the Lee Classic Cast Turret. Had I not gotten the T7’s at a screaming deal on each I’d probably have one on the bench since I’m a fan of their priming system.
T7 with stock Little Dandy powder measure.
T7 with modded Little Dandy
I do sets of 200-300 rounds at a time. I use an old single stage. I have a Turret press on my bench, but never got around to setting it up. It would take me longer to set up the new press and learn how to use it and maintain it, that it takes to just load the rounds, so - maybe if I did more. I haven't done a ton of reloading, so - for me, I think it is good for me to just reset the dies and continue to do it until it become second nature, then maybe I'll set up the other press.
9mm, 44 mag , 223 , 308 ,
GW Staar
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
- Messages
- 3,721
I used a single for many, many years.....then it started hurting......we all get old eventually. 
So when it started hurting (arthritis, and other things, I decided it was either find a hobby for old people or buy a progressive. I chose to reload easier......
Take that 300 rounds per month. I doubt you will be able to control yourself that well, (it gets funner the more you shoot) but say you do......on a single or a turret, that's stroking that press 1500 times to make 300 cartridges. On a progressiive, the same 300 rounds can be loaded in 300 strokes of the press, plus 4 or 5 more strokes (depending on whether you have a 5 or 6 station press) at the beginning, when you're fresh, to load the first one, while you fill up your stations with more cases.......but....from then on it's 1 stroke, one loaded cartridge......rifle or pistol. So for me it's a wear and tear difference. I couldn't see where a turret could help one bit with that.
But then there's the other problem......caliber change.....and the older you get the lazier you get. I went from one Rock Chucker to 3 singles and 3 progressives.....easier is addictive. Singles for case prep and load testing......and progressives for loading. I load pistol on one progressive, rifle on the other.....then I bought an inexpensive Lee 6000 to see what it could do, using my homemade case and bullet feeders. So I got the press and loaded 9mm on it, but I couldn't wait for the .223 shell plate to come in, so I tried to feed cases and bullets in .223 rifle anyway...using the ill-fitting 9mm plate. So how did that work out? Well cases wobbled, not being held by the proper shell plate....but it still worked fine. See for yourself:
What does a T7 turret cost compared to a SIX station Lee 6000? Well, at Midway the progressive is $6 more for a one caliber kit with a shell plate and powder measure included. The Redding is $400, for just the press, and $91 for each additional head. I know what I'd rather have......I love that little 6000 progressive. .308? just add a shellplate and dies and die bushings.....
So when it started hurting (arthritis, and other things, I decided it was either find a hobby for old people or buy a progressive. I chose to reload easier......Take that 300 rounds per month. I doubt you will be able to control yourself that well, (it gets funner the more you shoot) but say you do......on a single or a turret, that's stroking that press 1500 times to make 300 cartridges. On a progressiive, the same 300 rounds can be loaded in 300 strokes of the press, plus 4 or 5 more strokes (depending on whether you have a 5 or 6 station press) at the beginning, when you're fresh, to load the first one, while you fill up your stations with more cases.......but....from then on it's 1 stroke, one loaded cartridge......rifle or pistol. So for me it's a wear and tear difference. I couldn't see where a turret could help one bit with that.
But then there's the other problem......caliber change.....and the older you get the lazier you get. I went from one Rock Chucker to 3 singles and 3 progressives.....easier is addictive. Singles for case prep and load testing......and progressives for loading. I load pistol on one progressive, rifle on the other.....then I bought an inexpensive Lee 6000 to see what it could do, using my homemade case and bullet feeders. So I got the press and loaded 9mm on it, but I couldn't wait for the .223 shell plate to come in, so I tried to feed cases and bullets in .223 rifle anyway...using the ill-fitting 9mm plate. So how did that work out? Well cases wobbled, not being held by the proper shell plate....but it still worked fine. See for yourself:
What does a T7 turret cost compared to a SIX station Lee 6000? Well, at Midway the progressive is $6 more for a one caliber kit with a shell plate and powder measure included. The Redding is $400, for just the press, and $91 for each additional head. I know what I'd rather have......I love that little 6000 progressive. .308? just add a shellplate and dies and die bushings.....
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AJC1
Member
The press you choose should depend on how much you enjoy the process. I put out 200 6x45 on my t-7 yesterday. If you only load to shoot and you hate it go progressive. If you love loading, consider a press that fits your style. A forester swaps dies as fast as you can change stations on a t7. If your into big cases and want micrometer tops the forester might not work well for your needs. Mec also makes nice stuff.
AJC1
Member
I used a single for many, many years.....then it started hurting......we all get old eventually.
Take that 300 rounds per month. I doubt you will be able to control yourself that well, (it gets funner the more you shoot) but say you do......on a single or a turret, that's stroking that press 1500 times to make 300 cartridges. On a progressiive, the same 300 rounds can be loaded in 300 strokes of the press, plus 4 or 5 more strokes (depending on whether you have a 5 or 6 station press) at the beginning, when you're fresh, to load the first one, while you fill up your stations with more cases.......but....from then on it's 1 stroke, one loaded cartridge......rifle or pistol. So for me it's a wear and tear difference. I couldn't see where a turret could help one bit with that.
But then there's the other problem......caliber change.....and the older you get the lazier you get. I went from one Rock Chucker to 3 singles and 3 progressives.....easier is addictive. Singles for case prep and load testing......and progressives for loading. I load pistol on one progressive, rifle on the other.....then I bought an inexpensive Lee 6000 to see what it could do, using my homemade case and bullet feeders. So I got the press and loaded 9mm on it, but I couldn't wait for the .223 shell plate to come in, so I tried to feed cases and bullets in .223 rifle anyway...using the ill-fitting 9mm plate. So how did that work out? Well cases wobbled, not being held by the proper shell plate....but it still worked fine. See for yourself:
What does a T7 turret cost compared to a SIX station Lee 6000? Well, at Midway the progressive is $6 more for a one caliber kit with a shell plate and powder measure included. The Redding is $400, for just the press, and $91 for each additional head. I know what I'd rather have......I love that little 6000 progressive. .308? just add a shellplate and dies and die bushings.....
The number of times I've used an additional head on the t7=0. It's just not an efficent way to run the press....
GW Staar
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
- Messages
- 3,721
@AJC1: I can imagine that's so. My Lee 6000 was ordered as a 9mm kit, which is why I had the 9mm shellplate (all that was in stock that day). But I immediately started working on feeders. This video is the very first finished loaded 9mm round on the new press and already using feeder mods. I was taking it verrrry slow being a newbie with that press......
AJC1
Member
I haven't to this point run a progressive. I keep thinking Dillon 550 for pistol, I just haven't jumped.... I shoot a lot of different stuff so I'd have a huge investment in caliber conversions. I already have my sons inherentence in cast bullet molds
Did you ever buy a press in 2017??
Everyone has their opinions on what press is best. It depends on your budget (plus all the extras you will need) Not just how many rounds you think you will need
What works for me, may not work for you, so I am not gonna suggest one
help picking a new press
well I am going to rebuild my bench and want to add a press I shoot / load mostly handgun but do shoot / rifle too, I will be increasing my 9mm shooting soon I load for 9mm / 40 s&w / 223 / 308 I estimate at this 9mm 1.5K + per year , 40 s&w under 300 per year , 223 around 400 or so per year...
www.thehighroad.org
Everyone has their opinions on what press is best. It depends on your budget (plus all the extras you will need) Not just how many rounds you think you will need
What works for me, may not work for you, so I am not gonna suggest one
