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can competition dies be used in a turret style press?

Hi all-

I just got my Redding .204 Ruger competition die set in the mail and I'm reading through the instructions now.

I was surprised to read in the instructions that it says that these dies are NOT recommended for use in a turret style press.

I have a Lyman turret press that I've owned for 20 years. I do notice that the turret does move a little when the ram rod contacts the bottom of my other dies. I have never used competition dies before, so never had an issue.

Now that I have these competition dies, do I need to get a single stage press to have them work at their best?

thanks,

Birddog
 
Hmmm. Never heard that.

I use Redding Competition dies in my Redding T-7. I don't seem to have any issues, concentricity is good, etc.

Do they give a reason?

-John
 
Glad to hear others are using these dies with a turret style press. I'd rather not have to buy a new press just for these dies.

The body die and the competition seating die do not have any restrictions on press type.

The competition bushing style neck sizing die is the only with with this statement:

"The use of this die is NOT recommended in turret type or progressive multi-location presses".

They don't give a reason, but I can only assume that the turrets have a tendancy to "move" a bit and are not as solid as the single stage presses.

Birddog
 
birddog said:
The body die and the competition seating die do not have any restrictions on press type.

The competition bushing style neck sizing die is the only with with this statement:

"The use of this die is NOT recommended in turret type or progressive multi-location presses".
Very curious stipulation. My thought is that Lee sells progressives that they call turret. I can understand the statement applying to presses that activate multiple stations simultaneously.

I think this would be a very good question for Redding. If you're so inclined as to send an e-mail, Redding will explain their position, usually within a day's time.

I think several of us would like to hear.
.
 
Redding's reloading equipment/2002 product catalog pg 27 shows their new T-7 Turret reloading press under features: they state it is competition die compatible. I can't comment on other brands.

Regards
RJ
 
For some time, the PA 1000 yd light gun 10 shot record was something like 4.2xxx shot with a 6BR. All those rounds,I believe) were loaded with Redding Competition dies and the T-7.
I have no first hand experience.

Jim Hardy
 
thanks for the good comments. I've sent Redding an email and will report back on their response.

Sounds like the Redding Turret style press is certified for competition die use. I'll bet my Lyman isn't.

Seems like a great way for unsuspecting folks to buy a nice set of dies and then be forced to follow up with a new press purchase.

Birddog
 
Oh dear lord. Can this get any sillier?

It's a 7/8"-14tpi threaded die.

The press is a 7/8"-14tpi threaded press. Should be end of story.

I know a lot of fuss and bother has been made over Redding's newer T7 press, and a fine press it is, I'm sure. I however, have one of the older Redding M25 6-hole presses... that look an awful damn lot like the Lyman T-Mag and most other 'turret' presses out there, excepting the Lee pot-metal affair.

I've loaded thousands and thousands of rifle rounds w/ the older M25 before moving to a Big Boss and then ultimately to a Co-Ax. Nothing really wrong w/ the M25; I still have it and often keep it clamped to the bench w/ other dies mounted up,decapping, bullet puller, neck turning expander mandrels, etc.).

The sole limitation of this style of press with regards to the sleeved micrometer seater dies such as those sold by Redding and Forster is that depending on how far into the press you have screwed the die, it may not clear the rear support for the turret head,the little cutout where the die passes thru on its way around). The solution is pretty doggone simple - unscrew the die a couple turns. Yes, it's a minor annoyance. No, it doesn't affect anything - assuming you have the die ring locked, etc. When you get ready to use that particular die again, screw the dang thing down again and be about your business. These turret presses,the Lyman, and the older Redding) are an older design that more or less predates the common use of sliding-sleeve micrometer seating dies like the Redding Competition and Forster Ultra - but that in no way means they won't work in said presses.

Back to my opening statements: Screw the die in and get to loading. This part,putting a threaded die in a threaded press) is not rocket science - that comes later.
 
I see no reason that a turret press should be inferior in any way. The '92 Palma ammo was loaded on Dillons and set a new standard for international competition. I've loaded tens of thousands of premium match ammo on a Hollywood turret with no thought a single station press could be any better.

Bob Jensen
 
Sorry, looks like I made much to do about nothing. Redding is removing this caution from their future documentation. Here is their email response back to me on my question:

Thank you for using Redding Reloading Equipment. We’ve removed that warning from our instruction sheets. When the current stock of them is gone, you won’t see it any more. It was originally included because the sliding sleeve in our Competition Dies impacted the back of the frame on our Model 25 turret press.



Regards,



Patrick T. Ryan



Redding Reloading Equipment

1089 Starr Road

Cortland, NY 13045



607-753-3331

FAX 607-756-8445
 
Looks like the only stipulation with the sleeved dies is there being an extra 3/8" clearance below the die so the turret can rotate.

How do your new dies work with the Lyman turret?
.
 
Haven't tried the dies in my Lyman press yet. Still waiting for my rifle to arrive. It's a Cooper I've had on order since April. Don't plan to do any reloading until I can measure the OAL that is correct for that particular rifle.

Birddog
 
I use a Dillon 550 Press for all my loading,for 308 i'm using RCBS Competition dies and i did have to make an adjustment on the inside of the seating die a spacer to the seating part of the die as when i opened the the new box there was a spacer provided with the set as i think the same die is used for the 308 and 30/06 bullet seating die for use on a single station press.
 

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