Hunting ammo on turret press

[Slasher]

I have a Lee Classic Turret press that I've done a lot of loading on but at times the turret seems to have some play when using the press. It's not a lot but I didn't know how much play would make a difference.
Would it be worth getting a cheaper single stage press for hunting ammo (308 & 270) or is the turret press good enough. Not shooting past 100 yards of that matters.

 

[Mk-211]

Here's a thread that brought up this subject.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/creedmoor-enhanced-press-head-for-redding-t-7.908886/

 

[sparkyv]

I also load plenty on a turret and I also load on a single stage if needed. I don't shoot well enough to detect ammo performance difference loaded on either machine. Yes, the turret has a little slop in the turret head/frame, but the movement is consistent.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I prefer to load long rifle hunting ammo on a single stage press.

 

[Slasher]

Thanks for the link, Mk.
Lennyjoe, what press do you like?
Sparky, as much as I hate to say it, I think I'm with you. I don't get out to shoot enough so the most accurate ammo in the world would probably be wasted on me.
You will be saving me some money though. Lol

 

[Lennyjoe]

Lennyjoe, what press do you like?

I use an older Lyman as a single stage. If your in the market for a SS, Midway has RCBS Rock chuckers on sale.

 

[nettlle]

I reload rifle on a Redding T7. Pistol on a Dillon 550. I also have a RCBS Jr single stage but prefer the Redding over the single stage. The Redding is a pretty stout press.

 

[Random 8]

A lot of dead deer and a lot of 10's, X's and match awards didn't care that my ammo was loaded on a Lee classic turret. I threw away the automation mechanism years ago and use it as a single stage press with die holders. I do notice some slop in the turret. Requires dialing in your dead stops to compensate or you'll get short FL sizing and COLs all over the map.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have loaded 30-06 target ammo on a Lee Classic Turret press and that ammo did a 3 shot group of only 0.33". The 5 shot group opened slightly to only 0.43" I would say your turret pres will load accurate ammo. My 30-06 ammo made on the Rockchucker did no better. (but no worse either lol) I do prefer the single stage RC over any other for rifle ammo. (but for the .223/5.56mm)

On the shot groups I had to measure the entire hole and subtract the bullet diameter to get the group size.

 

[Rule3]

If the COL is the same , the powder charge the same, the bullet and brass the same Why does it matter what press they are loaded on for hunting ammo of less than 100 yards.??
There are many more factors that will mess with accuracy.
Take the index rod out and its a single stage. Yes the turret moves a bit but as mentioned the same for all, somehow the COL is still the same,

I have loaded thousands (as have other) on the Lee turret and they seem to work just fine.

Buy a cheap single stage and folks will find some issues with that.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I've loaded tons of 223, 30-30, 30-06, 6.5cm on my 4hole Lee Classic. There is a little slack in the turret when you seat or crimp a bullet, but it is consistent. If you've set it up properly you shouldn't see enough variation to matter for hunting ammo.
If I am doing seat tests or long range precision load testing, then I do use my RCBS single stage.
300wm and Hornady seating dies on the turret are a bit of a pain due to the cartridge length.

 

[mdi]

The thing about "turret movement" is that normally it moves the same amount every time, and not considered a "variation". I reloaded 308 Win. for my Ruger bolt gun and achieved 7/8" groups (when I did my part at the reloading bench and the shooting bench, and I'm old) on an old style Lee turret...

 

[rdnktrkr]

The only problem I can forsee in loading rifle rnds on a LCT is the powder drops, I measure off press and use a funnel and a Lee powder die for anything over 223. I also have some single stage presses and mostly us them for decapping and target loads

 

[Varminterror]

Would it be worth getting a cheaper single stage press for hunting ammo (308 & 270) or is the turret press good enough. Not shooting past 100 yards of that matters.

The Lee Turret Press isn’t stopping anyone from producing ammo which will shoot exceptionally small. Far smaller than anyone could ever need for <100yard deer hunting.

These were all loaded on an LCT, over 40 groups of 3-15 rounds, with only the rarest among them slipping over 1/2moa:

 

[Varminterror]

Charge off press. Don’t drop charges on the turret.

 

[mcb]

Depending on the cartridge I load some of my hunting ammo on a Dillon 650 XL progress press. There is no reason, if you set them up right and are consistent, that you can't get high quality ammo from a Turret or Progress press.

 

[nettlle]

I agree with mcb. Consistency is one of the best secrets to accurate reloads but the difference between loading on a progressive, single stage, or turret has never been a concern to me. I powder charge 9mm and 45acp directly on my 550 Dillon.

Although I reload rifle on the Redding T7 turret each powder charge for rifle is weighed and trickled.

The biggest contributors to accuracy for me is powder brand/type and bullet brand/type. If I am consistent with these the minor thousands of an inch due to deflection to the type of press doesn't seem to matter.

 

[Bill M.]

The accuracy is from the fit of the case in the dies. A little wiggle in the press does not really affect anything. Look at how sloppy the fit of the case in the case holder is. Yes I load on a stiff single stage press But I would expect the same results using a turret, Maybe if you are setup cam over it matters but I do not do that;. I put the case holder to the die base. But do not let any of this stop you from buying a new press if you want one. For me I like a single stage with a quick change die system over a turret press.

 

[jmorris]

I have a Lee Classic Turret press that I've done a lot of loading on but at times the turret seems to have some play when using the press. It's not a lot but I didn't know how much play would make a difference.
Would it be worth getting a cheaper single stage press for hunting ammo (308 & 270) or is the turret press good enough. Not shooting past 100 yards of that matters.

What size are the groups do you get and what are you intending to kill?

It’s not like factory hunting ammunition is made by a guy on a single stage…

 

[johnjohn]

I started off with a Lyman turret. Was not intending to hunt anything requiring a centerfire rifle. BUT got started deer hunting,so bought a Lyman Crusher II . Makes some great ammo, but no better than the T-Mag. Well now I have a spare.

 

[Nature Boy]

As @Varminterror stated, use your turret press like a single stage. Short throw your powder charge then take it off the press and trickle up to your target charge weight then put it back on the press to seat the bullet.

If your accuracy node is wider than the variation of your powder thrower you could probably get away with running it progressively too. Good enough for hunting for sure.

There seems to be a pervasive myth that you can’t make precision rifle rounds on a progressive press. I can assure you that’s nonsense.

These are examples of hunting loads (I have ~10 different hunting loads for .308 alone). All loaded on a progressive press.










“Half MOA, all day, if I do my part”

 

[50of4064]

Started reloading on a RockChucker...then on an All American 4 hole turret...just saved time in changing out dies...that's about all it saved...

 

[gifbohane]

Started reloading on a RockChucker...then on an All American 4 hole turret...just saved time in changing out dies...that's about all it saved...

To me that was a significant time saver. I keep all the dies for 2 rifles on the turret (T7) and I just dial them up when needed.
On my Rockchucker I use Hornady inserts that also save me some time.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As @Varminterror stated, use your turret press like a single stage. Short throw your powder charge then take it off the press and trickle up to your target charge weight then put it back on the press to seat the bullet.

If your accuracy node is wider than the variation of your powder thrower you could probably get away with running it progressively too. Good enough for hunting for sure.

There seems to be a pervasive myth that you can’t make precision rifle rounds on a progressive press. I can assure you that’s nonsense.

These are examples of hunting loads (I have ~10 different hunting loads for .308 alone). All loaded on a progressive press.

View attachment 1100991

View attachment 1100992

View attachment 1100993

View attachment 1100994


“Half MOA, all day, if I do my part”

Wow, those are some amazing groups. Well done Sir...

 

[Nature Boy]

Wow, those are some amazing groups. Well done Sir...

Thanks. That’s just hunting loads though. My target ammo groups are half that size or smaller. Again, my point being that they are all made on a progressive press.