Press for someone new to reloading rifle

[Mike M]

looking for recommendations on a turret press to start reloading rifle and pistol. I have a lot of experience with shotgun reloading but realize that rifle reloading is very different. I was thinking about starting with a turret press instead of a single stage. Any recommendations between Lee or Hornady? Appreciate any advice or thoughts.

Thanks

 

[CH Luke]

looking for recommendations on a turret press to start reloading rifle and pistol. I have a lot of experience with shotgun reloading but realize that rifle reloading is very different. I was thinking about starting with a turret press instead of a single stage. Any recommendations between Lee or Hornady? Appreciate any advice or thoughts.

Thanks

Redding T7. My second press. Had one for two years now. Sturdy, excellent finish and good feel combined with plenty of power.

 

[hoz53]

Redding T7. My second press. Had one for two years now. Sturdy, excellent finish and good feel combined with plenty of power.

That Redding turret is the one to get if a guy wants a turret for general reloading. I'd encourage anybody starting out to get a single stage though. Mabie I'm biased cause that's what I started with. It's always nice to have a single stage even if you buy more presses later so it wouldn't be a waste of money and you could get started a little cheaper, learn the basics and then get deeper into it if you want/like it.

 

[hpshooter]

T7 for the turret press. Set the dies up properly then use it as a single stage to size and prime a batch, charge them all however you want and then seat the bullets. Learning to set up the dies is one of the biggest hurdles in the beginning. Get them set right for the rifle you are using and leave them alone.

I have its predecessor, the T6, not as robust as the T7 but still a good press to have a couple seldom used calibers set up on.

 

[Mike M]

Thanks for the comments. I like the idea of the T7 and using it as a single stage to start based on some info I found on the net.

 

[/VH]

T7

 

['Freak]

I de-cap as a separate operation using universal de-cap dies setup on a cheap bitty little Lee (Reloader?) press. Full length resizing with just enough shoulder bump to maintain a thousandth or two of headspace on that case inside a particular chamber gets done on a Redding Big Boss. An expander die with whichever neck expander mandrel is setup on one RCBS Partner press, and a bullet seating die stays setup on a second Partner press.

 

[KentuckyFisherman]

Thanks for the comments. I like the idea of the T7 and using it as a single stage to start based on some info I found on the net.

You've settled on a good plan, Mike. I've owned and used a Lee Turret for years. When loading rifle, I never use the progressive or auto mode. It simply becomes a single-stage press with the advantage of being able to adjust the dies and have them ready to go in the easily changed turret. It's a big thing not having to unscrew one die, screw in another and then adjust it.

I do sometimes use the auto function when I want to load a large number of pistol bullets, usually .38 Special. The risk there is that you must have a totally trustworthy auto-powder drop. Even then, I wear a headlamp and look down into EVERY case to see that the powder dropped looks right. With my Lee powder dispenser it would be hard to get a double charge, but you might somehow not get any powder, which is just as dangerous (squib round followed by a loaded round).

Your plan is solid and while I like my Lee Turret, the T7 is no question an even stronger press. And don't for an instant believe folks who try to convince you that a turret press can't or won't resize brass and seat bullets as straight as a single-stage press. That's hogwash IMHO.

 

[Barlow]

Another T7 user. Barlow

 

[jimbires]

I like my T-7

 

[Mike M]

As someone new to the forum...I just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback. Nice to have a place to ask dumb questions!!!!

 

[dickn52]

Ok, now I'm curiously thinking about this T7. Progressive on demand I guess? I too use the Chucker and like it, but this might be a better way to go if it's solid.

 

[hpshooter]

"As someone new to the forum...I just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback. Nice to have a place to ask dumb questions"

No question is dumb if you don't have the knowledge or experience to answer it. None of us was born knowing everything about everything.

 

[jimbires]

Ok, now I'm curiously thinking about this T7. Progressive on demand I guess? I too use the Chucker and like it, but this might be a better way to go if it's solid.

I like the turret press since I'm usually loading for 2 or 3 different rifles . I can keep all the dies set up , turn the top , change the shellholder ,ready for the next rifle . or when using a neck die , body die , neck expander , seating die , everything is set just turn the top .

 

[Sigfla]

Just got mine from Sinclair on sale. Also got a RCBS dispenser system from Natchez seriously discounted. Slowly putting together my components as they go on sale.

 

[hoz53]

Just got mine from Sinclair on sale. Also got a RCBS dispenser system from Natchez seriously discounted. Slowly putting together my components as they go on sale.

Ok In 40 years of reloading I have never owned a turret so I am probably missing something. I would not put up with screwing dies in and out all the time these days either but I still have no use for a turret. I use a coax and keep my dies set up and I think it's just as fast as a turret. It was cheaper than a T7 and I don't have to buy extra heads for 75 apiece. Just my preference but worth checking out. I have several Dillion's for when I need to load faster. FWIW I'm old school and still use a powder measure and beam scale.

 

[tdogg]

So without knowing what rifle cartridges your intend on reloading nor the purpose of the cartridges, I have a hard time recommending a press.

If your rifle reloading is for a 1000 yd benchrest gun the equipment would be a little different than for an AR used in 3-Gun. What is your anticipated volume? How much time do you have to reload (wife, kids, empty nest, etc...)?

I didn't write this but there is a ton of good info in this thread: http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=58939.0

Cheers,
Toby

 

[jimbires]

Ok In 40 years of reloading I have never owned a turret so I am probably missing something. I would not put up with screwing dies in and out all the time these days either but I still have no use for a turret. I use a coax and keep my dies set up and I think it's just as fast as a turret. It was cheaper than a T7 and I don't have to buy extra heads for 75 apiece. Just my preference but worth checking out. I have several Dillion's for when I need to load faster. FWIW I'm old school and still use a powder measure and beam scale.

no need for extra heads or several presses . I don't have extra heads for my T-7 and I only have one T-7 press . the dies are easy to screw in again , when I load for a different rifle . I just loaded a few on mine . here is my order . I know I can't swap dies in a coax 2 or 3 times per case as fast as turning the turret or run each case through the coax 2 or 3 different times as quickly as turning the turret .

lube all brass
put brass in press
body size
turn turret
neck size push out old primer
(if next step is used )
turn turret
expand neck with expander die
remove brass to clean, trim , prime , add powder
do all cases
turn turret to seater die
put brass in press seat bullet
do all cases

 

[ireload2]

Turning a turret is really not that much faster than handling each case.
You can only process one case or cartridge at a time.
Time it. You will not find more than about 5% improvement.

To go significantly faster you really need a progressive that has 5 or 7 stations with each station processing one case per stroke.
A turret does not save a single stroke of the ram.

 

[snert]

Admission; I did not read all the posts so...

Just keep in mind a T7 (which I have and love) is not a progressive press like a shotgun press. It IS incredibly versitile and well made. For progressive i use a Dillon 550. Honestly, I still do my sizing on the T7.

One neat thing about a T7 is when you want to actually check cartridge length to the land bearing point on the bullet. knowing each bullet may vary, you can use a micrometer die in one hole and an instant indicator in the next. First you seat long. Then you click over to the instant indicator, take a reading to see how long you really are, do the math, dial in the change on the seat die micrometer, click back and seat. Takes out the variable of differences in the bullet (and the II reads to the Land Bearing Point, not the bullet tip, so that helps.)

Snert