RCBS Turret Press
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CQB45ACP
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Others? Have two, use one.
Redding T-7. Built like a tank. RCBS-like is my guess. 7 hole. Manual. LOVE it. Use it but not for priming. Spensive.
Lee Classic Turret. Built like a Prius. Lee-like. 4 hole. Indexes or manual. It’s fine. Don’t use it cause bought the T-7. Not spensive.
(And Im not anti-Lee. I use breech lock SS for 9mm loading and ALL priming.)
Redding T-7. Built like a tank. RCBS-like is my guess. 7 hole. Manual. LOVE it. Use it but not for priming. Spensive.
Lee Classic Turret. Built like a Prius. Lee-like. 4 hole. Indexes or manual. It’s fine. Don’t use it cause bought the T-7. Not spensive.
(And Im not anti-Lee. I use breech lock SS for 9mm loading and ALL priming.)
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algaeguy
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I have the Lee turret for making 9mm ammo. Works well for me.
CoalCrackerAl
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I have a lee classic cast turret. I load all my hand gun loads on it. 2 Lyman brass smith press's. I run my rifle ammo on them. I have a Lyman T-mag turret on the way. And Hornady 223 dies with a bullet guide sleeve for seating. It's going to be dedicated to im hopping precise ammo for my bolt action 223. And i would not hesitate on getting the RCBS turret. I was going to get one. Before i found the T-mag package deal.
jmorris
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What are the reasons you want a turret press?
higgite
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Why would he not want one?
I’m not familiar with the RCBS turret, but I have a Redding T-7 that I only use for rifle cartridges and I love it.
tominboise
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I have the Lee Classic cast 4 hole turret press. All my rifle ammo goes through it, as do small runs of pistol ammo. I do not use the auto index feature, nor do I prime on that press. Run out control on bottle neck cases is very good, assuming the dies are set up correctly. The beauty of the Lee Turret press is the ability to set up your dies once and then swap turrets out easily, as opposed to screwing dies in and out of a single stage press all the time.
My rack of turrets, ready to go:
My rack of turrets, ready to go:
jmorris
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It was a question to see what attributes he was looking for in a press.
That said. I guess a short list would be:
Same number of strokes as a single stage, same work just added cost.
If you just wanted all of your dies ready to go on a turret, you still have to swap from turret to turret and they are an additional $63 a piece.
https://www.rcbs.com/presses/turret/
You have a central pivot with a stop on the back once the die is forced up tilting the head back to it. The Lee design makes more sense than the “on top of a post” designs, in this area.
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RKRCPA
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I started out 40 some years ago with a Lee turret and it gave good service but a T-7 it's not. In fact, the RCBS turret press looks skinny compared to the T-7.
Why did I go with the T-7? Because I wanted more room for my size xxxl hands than an RCBS single stage could provide. Do I need the extra strength? Not yet, but you never know.
Why did I go with the T-7? Because I wanted more room for my size xxxl hands than an RCBS single stage could provide. Do I need the extra strength? Not yet, but you never know.
CQB45ACP
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jmorris
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I didn’t see that in the OP.
There was this.
Can’t do that without knowing why he wants it.
There was this.
Can’t do that without knowing why he wants it.
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jmorris
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Why, I asked what the reason(s) for his interest in them. I can think of a number of reasons I have acquired them over the years. Curious as to his. There are better choices but what direction one goes generally depends on other factors, thus the question.
If the OP just wants one to have a turret, that’s reason enough for me but I wouldn’t know that without an answer.
If the OP just wants one to have a turret, that’s reason enough for me but I wouldn’t know that without an answer.
Stefan A
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I have the Lee Classic Turret. I’ve made lots of good ammo. But it’s finicky.
CQB45ACP
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True enough. I guess I presumed context was recommend or not the RCBS v other turrets.
But have at as you already have.
to add on to your add on, I don’t think one can say there are better choices in any objective way especially before you know their why.
Mine is a clear and logical choice—space, single caliber, all dies in place adjusted and ready to go. NO flex which is a strawman anyway.
jmorris
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Yep, that’s exactly why I asked.
CoalCrackerAl
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I'll add if one gets the Lyman brass smith turret. You get 8 die holes. The press is rock sold too. It also cost less than the RCBS.
First Look: Brass Smith All-American 8 Turret Press from Lyman - YouTube
First Look: Brass Smith All-American 8 Turret Press from Lyman - YouTube
GW Staar
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Jmorris, totally agree. I was tempted once, until I thought it out seriously about what was important to me. Granted, I was old then and older now. Having reloaded on a Rock Chucker for 40 years, I was tired of all the cranking. A turret just wouldn't help in that area.....at all. So I went progressive. Five cranks for the first cartridge and only one crank for cartridge 2 on. That's it in a nutshell for me.
Caliber change is as easy as lifting off the powder measure, sliding in a new tool head, and replacing and adjusting the powder measure. And sometimes unscrewing and rescrewing in the other size priming rod.
Caliber change is as easy as lifting off the powder measure, sliding in a new tool head, and replacing and adjusting the powder measure. And sometimes unscrewing and rescrewing in the other size priming rod.
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Been using a Rockchucker for years. Don't need a progressive. Just thought a progressive might simplfy the die changing process.
kmw1954
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This is the one I use for loading Target 223 ammo, to work up loads and to make small short runs of 50 or less of pistol ammo.
For the 223 I use just 2 stations; one for the powder measure and then the seating die. The powder measure drops and then each one gets weigh checked on my beam scale then the bullet gets seated. All case prep work gets done on an RCBS JR3.. Works very well for me as this is a short round and the presses have a short ram stroke. If I were loading larger, longer rifle rounds I am sure I would use something else.
Bat Rastard
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I have never seen an RCBS turret press, but I love my T-7.
As a general rule RCBS makes fine presses I see no reason this one would not be well made. Why do you think you need a turret, or should I ask what problem are you solving ? Lyman makes a similar Turret to the RCBS which may be another option too.
I use a Lee Classic Cast Turret and for what I do I love it. I can load the removable turrets with different caliber dies and can change calibers in under 5 minutes. You can auto-index or manual index, your choice. It's still 3-4 pulls per round like a single stage, but with accessories you can run 100+ rounds an hour without pushing it.
-Jeff
I use a Lee Classic Cast Turret and for what I do I love it. I can load the removable turrets with different caliber dies and can change calibers in under 5 minutes. You can auto-index or manual index, your choice. It's still 3-4 pulls per round like a single stage, but with accessories you can run 100+ rounds an hour without pushing it.
-Jeff
Varminterror
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I have two LCT’s (4 hole) and a T7. The T7 is in a box on the shelf. The benefit is about turn over time - I actually crank MORE times per round than a single stage, but don’t waste the changeover time to remove and place cases in and out of the press. As has been said above, the center axle designs of the Redding, RCBS, and Lyman turrets functionally offer greater turret tilt than the rim supported design of the Lee.
jmorris
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I assume you intended to say ‘“turret” might simply die changing process’ and it will, just need enough turrets to hold all your dies.
Kind of like single stage “bushing” presses. They are faster than threading all of your dies in and out and I agree that gets old pretty quick, you just have to keep buying bushings or turrets as you add calibers (that’s not a deal breaker either, just something to keep in mind).
The co-ax doesn’t need either and there probably isn’t a press in the world that can change calibers faster.
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