Turret Presses: Redding versus Lyman

[bearbait]

I have determined that it is time to move into a turret press, and am trying to decide between the Redding T-7 and Lyman T-Mag. I don't load enough for a progressive, and want the convenience of setting up my dies once and leaving them alone, hence the desire to move away from my single stage press. I load .44, .38, .357, .40, .308, 30-30, .300 Savage, .30-06 and .270 - not lots of each, but enough to get real tired of switching out dies.

Please let me know your experiences, preferences, and opinions on the two. I think the difference is roughly $100 more to purchase the Redding, which I will not even remember 5 years down the road.

 

[Boxerrider]

I don't have either of those but I would suggest checking on the price and availability of extra turrets as well.

Enjoy!

 

[rfwobbly]

I own the predecessor to the T-mag and it's held up really well for 20 years now. The Lyman seems to be on par with a cast iron Rock Chucker (of old) and offers in-the-press priming, which may or may not interest you. The operating linkage on mine is the simpler type, maybe the T-mag has improved on that.

However, I have to say that Redding has always seemed a-cut-above. Sort of the "Dillon" of turrets. If the price didn't matter I'd have to investigate the Redding very closely. UlimateReloader.Com has photos of one operating for you.

Hope this helps!

 

[bearbait]

It was the UltimateReloader video that got me interested in the Redding. It appears to be idiot (me)-proof. And the primer feeder looks like it really works great. I am not a fan of Lee products since the single-stage I have is one, and it has literally disintegrated from my very light usage.

I guess where I am headed with this is to see if the higher price of the Redding press & turrets over the Lyman is justified. It would help if Ultimatereloader had a similar video of the Lyman.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have no experience with the Lyman but I know the Redding will outlast me 5 or 6 times over. It is a tank designed for tough resizing but hardly ever used for that because they have another product for that. I think the T-7 is beefier than the T-Mag and that usually translates to smoother operation. Is it worth the price difference?? Maybe. Maybe not.

Here is an awesome article that compares the T-7 and the RCBS Turret press. You can be the judge from there. It is in the latter half of the article.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11843/guntechdetail/Handloading___The_Wandering_Narrative_Part_II

 

[ranger335v]

"I load .44, .38, .357, .40, .308, 30-30, .300 Savage, .30-06 and .270 - not lots of each, but enough to get real tired of switching out dies."

The current Lyman holds four dies, the Redding holds seven...and you don't want to be bothered changing out dies? Or are you planning to buy the very expensive and hard to swap heads for all those die sets?


"I am not a fan of Lee products since the single-stage I have is one, and it has literally disintegrated from my very light usage."

"Literally disintergrated"? Odd. Lee makes several presses, without knowing which model is giving you trouble it's hard to suggest a cure. I have three small Lee presses, a RCBS Rock Chucker II and a very old Lyman Spar-T six station turret, they all work fine for me and have for decades. ?? But I sure don't find the turret to be any time saver.

NOTE: "The current Lyman holds 6 dies. It is a reliable press."

I stand corrected. And they are ALL good, reliable presses. But, do (conventional) turret presses save time? Not really.

 

[lgbloader]

I have a Redding T7 and I think it is a great press. Although I have played with a Lyman, I have not used a Lyman to assemble ammo or resize but my opinion is that the Redding T7 is beefier and more solid and smoother.

Is it worth the price?? Matter of opinion.

Could I use a Lyman Turret to do the same thing?? without a doubt.

That said, I am still glad I got the Redding.

LGB

 

[Fatelvis]

I have the Redding, and couldn't be happier. I like the "through the ram primer disposal method", and is built using very tight tolerances. I've always been impressed with all of Redding's stuff, they seem very careful in the quality control department.

 

[Cajun CB]

The current Lyman holds 6 dies.

It is a reliable press.

 

[emb]

I have the Lyman. The support pin beneath the turret broke. It was probably my fault. Lyman replaced it right away, but I managed to break that one right away. I still don't know how I did that. The pin is rather brittle and breaks easily. I just made my own using other more durable materials. With that exception, no issues. I have no experience with the Redding.

 

[Offfhand]

On a scale of 10, with the Redding at 10, the Lyman is about a 7. That's not to say the Lyman isn't a good tool, because it is, but the Redding is better in a number of ways.

 

[RB98SS]

I currently own a Lee Classic and Lyman T-Mag. I use the Lee for most of my pistol reloading but I still like my Lyman for 50AE and 30-06. The Lyman turrets aren't cheap -- $36 -- bet then neither are the Reddings. The Lyman turret has 6 stations not 4 as was stated earlier.

I think the Lyman is a great press.

 

[EddieNFL]

I have a T-Mag I use for odd jobs, mostly handgun. I've used the T-7 and, IMO is arguably the best turret available and I wouldn't hesitate to load anything that fits in the opening. IIRC, the 1,000 yard benchrest record holder used a T-7.

 

[Fatelvis]

the 1,000 yard benchrest record holder used a T-7.

Eddie, I read the same thing. Also, the Redding holds 7 dies, (thus the Turret-7 name).

 

[45ACPUSER]

Of the three true Turret presses on the market, The T7 kicks ass! The Lyman is not shabby, but the RCBS is dung!