Press Help

[USMCGRUNT_0341]

USMCGRUNT_0341 what are you loading on the LNL that you don't like? I only load straight wall cases on my LNL and all rifle on my Rock Chucker. I can't see any difference between any of the handgun ammo I load on the LNL and single stage Rock Chucker except it is so much easier and quicker on the LNL.

It wasn't that I didn't like it or it wasn't a good press, but personally there were too many moving parts for a fairly new loader. I do not need to pump out the volume that some do. I like to take my time and have control over every round. I am sure that many of you experienced loaders can do that, but I just want comfortable with it. If I had to pick a load that would dominate it would probably be my 223's that I do the most of.

I really narrowed it down to the T-7 and Rock Chucker. And then I researched the Forster and love everything I read/watched on it. I haven't seen one bad review about it. No shell plates, easy die change, and total control is exactly what I am looking for. However, I am waiting to hear back from Jerry's Sports to see if they stock them in PA. I still haven't completely ruled out the T-7.

Decisions....Decisions...

 

[someguy2800]

Don't you guys with the t7's get tired of indexing the turret by hand? That would drive me nuts. Along with turrets being $70.

 

[TBJK]

I tell you what, I like the Co-Ax press. I have a Rockchucker now, had I seen that one first if probably would have got it. I like that I don't have to buy a ton of shell holders. Not sure if I like it or not about the slide in & out of the dies. It's different which makes me tend to like it more.

 

[JimKirk]

Trust me .... once you set your dies for a CoAx ... you will never have to change them .... I can slide a die in or out in about two seconds and the fact that the die is free floating means it allows the brass and die to align ....

 

[CuriousCarl]

If I had it to do again!

I'd get: a T7, wet tumbler w/stainless steel pins (cleans primer pockets great), RCBS Universal hand primer (you feel the primer seat and it's fast), automatic powder trickler, Hornady bullet puller, and I'd adapt a spring cartridge ejector (see RCBS or Inline Fabrication) for depriming. I find reloading enjoyable and relaxing. Hurrying ruins it for me! Kinda like to sell my Lee, Dillon, and RCBS and do the above!

 

[Reeferman]

USMCGRUNT_0341 its your choice but you should think about keeping the LNL and look at getting whatever other press that you think will work for you.
You never know you may want to start using the LNL again. You are going to lose selling it.

I'm a new reloader as well and with the help of Bill Morgan videos the LNL was not very hard to get working very well. But whatever decision you make all the presses that are out there are really good regardless of the color.

 

[zb338]

I have an RCBS and a Lyman press. The RCBS works good but has a small opening.
The Lyman has a larger opening and it's easier to put your cases into it. If you
load long magnum rifle cases the RCBS Rock Chucker is a pain to use because
the opening is a bit smaller than the cases. I wish I had the Redding press
because it is really nice and very smooth.
Zeke

 

[Milt1]

In answer to Someguy, I have a T-7 and you really aren't rotating the turret that much. For example if you are resizing, all of the cases are run through that operation before you index to the next operation. The rotation is something that you really don't think about because it's not a constant. Also the dies are very easy to remove and put back in and for that reason, I've never felt the need to purchase another turret head. I reload for .38 Special/.357 Mag, .44 Special and .45 ACP and eventually the .45 Colt. I've color coated each caliber's dies so it's very easy to move from one caliber to another if that particular die set isn't already in the turret head. Also I have In Line Fabrication's stand for the T-7 along with their ejection system. Frankly I wouldn't trade my T-7 even up for the best Dillon (or any other brand). It's not that I have a dislike for other brands, it's just that this press works best for me.

 

[nettlle]

I reload in stages on a T7. First stage I resize and flare then I store this brass. Next stage is to seat the bullet and taper crimp. I prime and charge powder off the press. Each session I am indexing the turret two times.

 

[Cemetery21]

I used an RCBS single stage for 40 years, then bought an RCBS turret (similar to the T-7) for a good price. Like Frogfurr, I process in batches because I prime, trim, drop powder and tumble clean sizing lube off the press.

I then liked the idea of leaving dies set up in the turret and doing 2 steps per shell on pistol brass, but I would need several turrets to handle all of the rifle and pistol calibers I load. For the cost of a couple of spare turrets for the RCBS, I bought a Lee classic cast turret. The spent primer system is way better than either of the RCBS presses and the spare turrets are ~$11 per.

So now I have 12 calibers set up in Lee turrets and can change calibers in about 10 seconds. My loading sessions often involve 3 calibers so the system is working well for me.

I leave a bullet puller set up in the old single stage and I have a couple of rifle dies set up in the RCBS turret, but the Lee gets 90+% of the action.

 

[someguy2800]

In answer to Someguy, I have a T-7 and you really aren't rotating the turret that much. For example if you are resizing, all of the cases are run through that operation before you index to the next operation. The rotation is something that you really don't think about because it's not a constant. Also the dies are very easy to remove and put back in and for that reason, I've never felt the need to purchase another turret head.

That would be the difference, your using it as a single stage that holds multiple dies. Because a Lee auto indexes from one die to the next I put a shell in, pull the handle to size and reprime, and it automatically turns to the expander when you bring the handle up. Pull the handle to expand and drop powder, pull the handle to seat a bullet, pull the handle to cirmp. Repeat. Shell never comes out of the press and I don't have to stack them up in a loading block.

To switch calibers you rotate the turret 45 degrees, lift it out, and drop in another. Turrets cost $10.

 

[Milt1]

That would be the difference, your using it as a single stage that holds multiple dies. Because a Lee auto indexes from one die to the next I put a shell in, pull the handle to size and reprime, and it automatically turns to the expander when you bring the handle up. Pull the handle to expand and drop powder, pull the handle to seat a bullet, pull the handle to cirmp. Repeat. Shell never comes out of the press and I don't have to stack them up in a loading block.

To switch calibers you rotate the turret 45 degrees, lift it out, and drop in another. Turrets cost $10.

I think that most buyers of the T-7 don't plan to use it as a progressive, at least that wasn't my thinking. No doubt about your Lee Auto, a very nice situation for you and just what you wanted it for. We both seem to be happy with our selection.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Grunt. I think there is a lot of good advice in this thread. Only you know what works for you. I have a Dillon 550, a MEC9000g, and a Rock Chucker II. Soon I will be adding a Lee Classic turret.

One thing - purchase your new press and use it for a month or two before you allow yourself to sell your old press. No sense having sellers remorse.

Good luck.

 

[dh1633pm]

Setting the dies once and then leaving them alone is a CO-AX plus. Handy to do one-offs. Meaning loading just a few of different calibers. You can switch from die to die quickly. Did I mention no shell holders. And the handy collection jar at the bottom sure does work well collecting spent primers.

Sure a turret can spin, but a CO-AX swaps out just as fast as a turret spins. On a turret you setup three or more dies, plus your powder measure (if using one) or you buy extra turrets, one for each die. No need for that on a CO-AX. If I had a $10 spare turret for each die I owned, I would need 18 of them. At $180, I am $110 short in savings from buying a CO-AX. Shell holders at $5 each times 18 is $90 and now I am $20 away from my CO-AX just in savings. And I haven't even begun to cover the cost of the turret press to begin with. Granted some shell holders are used for more than one caliber. When your not loosing them.

Slide out the first die and insert the second. No need to buy and store a bunch of turrets. No need to buy and store a bunch of shell holders. With compound leverage you have a smaller press that is just as strong if not stronger.

Just like everything else in life, there are trade off for everything. I used a single stage "O" ring style press, I used a turret press and a big rock chucker. They work. A CO-AX for me works better.

 

[Handgunr]

Although I have two Dillon 550B's and a Square Deal B, I still have a single stage Orange Crusher for rifle rounds and a T-Mag Lyman for loading certain handgun rounds I don't need a ton of.

Loading rifle rounds on the Orange Crusher is just a matter of preference. I enjoy paying more attention to them.....more particular I guess.

It's hard to find a bad press nowadays I think.......some are better than others in some ways, and worse in other ways. A matter of personal preference.....I do like the T7 as a turret press though.......can't go wrong with most Redding stuff as far as quality is concerned.
Being kind of a Lyman guy (brand specific nut) over the years, I just bought their new E-Zee Prime as my old (cheap) Lee died (for the umpteenth time). This thing is built like a tank and looks like it'll outlast me........we shall see.

Bob

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I have an old standard Lee 4-hole turret press that I bought back in 2005. The one with the aluminum ram handle.

This thing has loaded over 15,000 rounds of rifle and pistol ammo up to now and just keeps on ticking. I paid about 60 bucks for it back in '05....seriously impressed!

 

[Dudedog]

off thread but...

have an old standard Lee 4-hole turret press that I bought back in 2005. The one with the aluminum ram handle.

This thing has loaded over 15,000 rounds of rifle and pistol ammo up to now and just keeps on ticking

My "Deluxe" is the 3 hole and I probably have 20000+ rounds on it and it is still working fine.
Definitely have gotten my moneys worth out of it.

 

[Crashbox]

I'll throw in my pair of Lincoln coins.

I started with an LnL AP back in 2009 but purchased an LnL Classic single-stage about six weeks later as I found there were tasks better suited for one. If I were parting with an LnL AP I would purchase the single-stage LnL since the bayonet adaptors can be re-used (your dies will need to be adjusted, though, as the top head thicknesses differ between the two).

On a side note, I also found that even though single-stage shell holders are supposed to be interchangeable in theory... it doesn't work that well in practice. I have an RCBS bench-mounted priming tool which is only happy with RCBS ones and not the Hornady, and likewise with the LnL single-stage presses being fond of Hornady ones only.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr Grunt -
Just my take on the situation, but I believe the one feature you will miss the most will be the spent primer and smut disposal system of the LNL AP. You might be assuming that all presses have that capability, or you may simply be overlooking the housekeeping and health advantages that the feature provides.

Either way, to my knowledge, the only single-stage presses that offer that feature are:

• Forester Co-Ax
• Redding Big Boss II
• Redding T-7

Hope this helps.

 

[USMCGRUNT_0341]

I wanted to thank every again for all this input. I really couldn't have asked for more diverse recommendations than what everyone gave to me.

I pulled the trigger on the Forster Co-Ax. After reading, forum surfing, and watching just about every Youtube video I was sold on the Co-Ax. The two biggest selling points to me were the press used no shell holders and the easy die replacement. I also did not see a bad review about the system. The only thing I will probably change is getting a hand held or similar primer. Some people said the Forster wasn't the greatest primer. I can deal with that.

 

[gspn]

One other advantage to a turret is that you don't have to take the cases in and out of the shell holder all the time.

That's a point that's overlooked by many. From an economy of movement standpoint, an auto-indexing turret like the Lee Classic Turret, saves you a lot of hand movements.

The auto-index turret saves you from having to handle every single case 3 or 4 times (depending on how many dies you use). It saves FAR more time than merely changing the dies out.

If I use four dies and load 500 shells on the Lee turret I have to physically move each shell twice...once onto the ram and once off...for a total of 1,000 movements to and from the bench.

If I use a single stage I have to move those same shells 4,000 times...twice for each of my four stages...once onto the ram and off of the ram for each die I use.

So...using the auto-index turret I make 3,000 fewer movements of the brass by hand...that is a big time savings. If you figure that it takes a second to move the shell each way then you are talking about a time savings of roughly 50 minutes for those 500 shells by using the auto-index vs single stage just from moving shells back and forth.

The auto-index turret provides tremendous economy of movement over the single stage "batch process".

 

[nettlle]

Good luck with the Forster Co-Ax. I have never used one but have read many reviews on them. I think you made a wise choice.

 

[9mmepiphany]

So...using the auto-index turret I make 3,000 fewer movements of the brass by hand...that is a big time savings. If you figure that it takes a second to move the shell each way then you are talking about a time savings of roughly 50 minutes for those 500 shells by using the auto-index vs single stage just from moving shells back and forth.

If you'd like to further reduce your handling of the cases by 50%, look at the Inline Fabrication Case Ejector system for the Lee Classic Cast turret

 

[gspn]

If you'd like to further reduce your handling of the cases by 50%, look at the Inline Fabrication Case Ejector system for the Lee Classic Cast turret

Whoa! Thanks for that link!!! That's the first I've seen or heard of that. Love it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Mr Grunt -
Just my take on the situation, but I believe the one feature you will miss the most will be the spent primer and smut disposal system of the LNL AP. You might be assuming that all presses have that capability, or you may simply be overlooking the housekeeping and health advantages that the feature provides.

Either way, to my knowledge, the only single-stage presses that offer that feature are:

• Forester Co-Ax
• Redding Big Boss II
• Redding T-7

Hope this helps.

You can add the Lee Classic Cast (non-Breech Lock) single stage...as well as the Lee Classic Cast turret (since you included the T-7)... to that list.

That is why I picked it over the RCBS Rockchucker