Turret press accuracy

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Waskawood

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I have a question concerning turret presses. Here is the situation. I don't compete with anyone but myself. I like to get the best out of my equipment so maybe I am a competitor but I am my own competition. I would like to get a Redding T-7 turret so I don't have to keep changing dies, but I am concerned about what the "play" in a turret will do to the accuracy of my loads. If a turret would happen to affect accuracy, how about Hornady lock-n-load bushings? Do they offer repeatability when changing dies in a single stage? Do you need to re-adjust a die everytime you change it in a single stage press? Are any of the mentioned real or am I worrying about nothing? :banghead: Thanks for any help.


Waska
 
I have used a Lyman T-mag for years and am very happy with the consistency of my loads. You are right, you can see a little play in the turret however that play is the same every time as the ram always stops at the same point.
 
The Redding T-7 turret press is built like a tank. The ammo I've loaded on it seems to be more accurate than what I used to load on an RCBS single stage press. I don't think you need to worry about "play" in the T-7; I highly recommend it.
 
Ditto on the T-7 being as solid as a rock. I switched to one from a single-stage press about 2 years ago and accuracy definitely hasn't suffered at all.
 
I know of one user who marks his LNL bushings and the press adapter such that he can insert the LNL-bushed die with the same "clocking" every time. The bushing allow a little bit of "float" too. The play in the turret plate couples up-down float to tilt angle.

I use a forster co-ax, with its own floating, quick change system, and like it a lot.

If a seven hole turret plate will hold all your dies, great, but if not, you either have to spend major $$ for a new plate, or you are back to swapping dies out normally.

For the way I reload (batch), I'd rather have the co-ax or LNL bushings.

Andy
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate the input. Andy brings up another question. If I out grow one head on a T-7. Can you switch heads and not have to adjust your dies?

Waska
 
OK guys, don't flame me too badly here, but this is my take on it. I believe the lee turret has the potential to churn out better ammo. Why? Because the presses with the turret mounted with a single bolt, are in fact "C" presses with the forces being applied on one side.The Lee turret is really an "O" framed press supported all around. Now whether this difference translates into better shooting ammo, who knows?
Bronson7
 
lgbloader,

Please elaborate. If what is set up properly? The dies or the head? How does one set it up properly? Thanks to everyone who has replied. I appreciate it very much.

Waska
 
OK guys, don't flame me too badly here, but this is my take on it. I believe the lee turret has the potential to churn out better ammo. Why? Because the presses with the turret mounted with a single bolt, are in fact "C" presses with the forces being applied on one side.The Lee turret is really an "O" framed press supported all around. Now whether this difference translates into better shooting ammo, who knows?
Bronson7
Click to expand...

I tend to concur mainly because I have a Lee Classic cast Turret that loads great ammo.
 
Do you need to re-adjust a die everytime you change it in a single stage press?
Click to expand...

I've never done this. I don't move lock rings after I adjust a die.
 
lgbloader,

Not anal at all. Or should I say, no more anal than me. You do bring up a very good point about leaving the dies exposed. Mine would be in a bedroom type enviorment so dust would be the main worry not humidity. That brings up one of my previous questions. If I elect to swap dies all the time weather it be in a turret or in a single stage press, how is the repeatability? Can you just screw the die die down to the locking collar an be confident that it is going to throw a cartridge the same as last time? How many thousands difference would there be in seating depth or sizing? Are Hornady lock-n-load bushings any more accurate? I may be anal also but when developing a load, I want to know that nothing has changed other than what I have purposely done different in attempt to make a better load. Thanks again guys.

Waska
 
I have a LEE classic cast and it works every bit as well as the old RCBS RS5 I used to have.

IMO if your shooting bullseye and accuracy is your goal, there is MUCH more you need to be concerned about than just the press. In the case of accuracy you should be measuring and weighing everything in an attempt to get all of your rounds as uniform as possible.

When accuracy is your goal a single stage probably is better, in some ways, but unless you are going to buy a few of them and only load one caliber on them...your going to be changing the dies anyway A LOT. The nice thing about turrets is that the dies can be set and left alone so I personally think consistency is better acheived with a turret.
 
Bullit,

I agree with your statement. My whole problem is that I am new to all this so I am trying to minimize variables. I understand weighing brass and charges for consistency. That I can do with no problem. What I am trying to accomplish is when something goes astray, where do I look first. If I weighed every charge and every piece of brass I know that isn't the problem. So what was it? I am just trying to eliminate troublesome areas now rather than later. If I have to always wonder, was it the press, or maybe the dies were not the same as last time, etc. I would never know where to start my process of elimination. I just want to make sure this part of my process is correct.


Waska
 
Waskawood,

The amount of money spent for an older turret vs. the time and accuracy gotten out just isn't there. The best quantity you can get out is about 50 rounds per hour and you'll have hundreds invested.

If you're shooting bullseye, you can spend the same money as the Turret you're talking about buying and get a LnL progressive that'll load ammo more accurate than you can shoot in either rifle or pistol. How do I know? I loaded for and shot high power out to 600 yards on my LnL for rifle cartridges that had to do the job and did. Runout was as good as my Rock Chucker and much faster. For that matter, a Lee Classic Cast single stage with the LnL bushings is a lot more affordable and will also provide top notch accuracy. Once you've set your dies up, they'll stay where you've put them when you use the LnL bushings.

I think you're money would be better spend someplace besides a Redding T-7. They're just not quite fast enough and the accuracy isn't overwhelming for the cartridges you create on them compared to other methodologies.

Look at a LnL bushing swappable single stage or a LnL progressive for the same money as the Redding Turret press.

Regards,

Dave
 
The Redding T-7 turret press is built like a tank. The ammo I've loaded on it seems to be more accurate than what I used to load on an RCBS single stage press. I don't think you need to worry about "play" in the T-7; I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...

That thing is not built like a tank. It is built like a tank on roids.
 
Dave,

Thanks. I am not interested in a progressive. I need something to do during our miserable Minnesota winters so the more time I can kill doing something, the happier I will be. I wasn't looking at a turret for speed. I just thought it may be more accurate than die swapping. I like the idea of L-n-L bushings. Have you used them? How accurate are they? Are they more accurate than screwing out the dies? Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.

Waska (a.k.a. Dave)
 
I love the LnL die bushings. They are significantly faster than screwing a die in and out of the single stage. All it takes is a twist and click and you're done. Takes me longer to type this than to swap a die. Makes my Lee single stage about as fast as a turret press (I used to own a Lyman T mag) without all that bulk.

I much prefer it to the Lyman for versatility.

BTW, forgot to mention, as far as accuracy goes, the Lee Classic Turret is about as fast as most reloaders will ever need and produces very accurate ammo. Is also a better system than the Redding Turrets. I hate to say it, but the older style turret presses are for the most part obsolete and over priced for what you get, which is a C-press with a rotating head.

Regards,

Dave
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I do appreciate all the comments and ideas. Now to sort it all out and make an educated decision. I have already bought a Wilson case trimmer, RCBS Chargemaster combo, tumbler, and Redding deluxe dies for my .223 and .204 but I just couldn't make up my mind on a press and how to lube the cases. I better leave case lubing question for another time. I don't want to wear out my welcome the first day!! Thanks again.

Waska
 
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