It's not stages. I leave as many as possible bullet searing dies in the stations because they take the longest to setup. Sizing dies for pistol rounds setup in seconds.Not sure what I would use eight stages for?
Seven stages seems to be a reasonable number?
The T-7 Turret Press features a seven station turret head, cast iron construction, and powerful compound linkage. Its rear casting supports a rock solid turret for precise alignment. The T-7 incorporates a one inch diameter ram and accepts 7/8 inch to fourteen inch threaded dies, including the longer Competition dies. Additional interchangeable turret heads may be purchased. This is the only turret press we recommend buying.
I had recently replaced my Lyman AA8 due to wear issues after less than a year. Started noticing alignment problems between the ram and die. Found .010 run out at the top of the stroke.
Get the Redding.
.40
I’m looking at RCBS’s 6-stage press v. Redding’s T7 7-stage press v, Lyman’s All
American 8-stage press,
I've been very pleased with my RCBS turret press. I've used it for 5 pistol calibers since 2011, and loaded about 74,000 rounds with it. I have 4 turrets with different caliber dies, and just switched to the one with .380 dies, and the swap was quick and easy.
I now have a Mark 7 Evolution for 9mm, but will still use the RCBS for the other 4 calibers, and maybe 'special' 9mms. It's really handy for bulge busting .40 S&W Glocked cases.
I think you'll be happy with any of the 3 presses you are considering.
I would consider the Dillon but really don’t have the space for this:
View attachment 903549
It kind of reminds me of a Linotype machine in its complexity.
BTW, it’s amazing the number of reloaders I talk with who don’t know there are 3 types of presses.
Can I use my Redding, RCBS, Lyman, and Lee dies?jski: LOL.. If you read my early post that T-Mag was replaced by a Dillon 550 in the early 80’s.
Lots here use the Dillon, lots don’t. I’ll say this it’s a once in a life time purchase. If you load a lot go for it you’ll never regret it. One sweet machine. I’d go for the new 750 but I’m just too old now, and the eldest boy is considering it.
Actually it’s foot print on the bench isn’t much greater than a turret. You still have the bullet case and loaded round bins with those also.
Forget the strong back mine mounted directly to the bench.
Would seem. So it’s not for you. There’s many avenues, pick what seems to work for you. In my winter home I have a Lee Classic Turret Press. Sort of semi progressive. It too needs tool heads, but still needs three or four handle pulls to complete one cartridge, same as my T-Mag only the Lee rotates the dies automatically.Now this is more reasonable:
View attachment 903556
Now I need shellplates for each cartridge. Correct?
At $40 a pop, that ain’t cheap!
Those aren’t really “stages,” and IIRC none of those are auto-indexing. They aren’t going to be quasi/faux progressives. They’re just going to keep dies already set for you.
Frankly, these only seem useful if you have 2-3 rifle cartridges that you load all the time and want to leave dies set for them.