Top three multi-die presses?

[LRH]

Anyone have a favorite mutli-die press that allows you to just leave all of your dies per caliber on an interchangeable head so you can swap out from caliber to caliber and don't have to adjust depth every time? I seem to recall Redding has a nice one and Lee might have one as well.

 

[Mikemci]

Dillon.

 

[F Class John]

Area419, Dillon and Redding would be top 3 that come to mind depending on need and budget.

 

[TrxR]

If your not talking progressive., Redding makes the T7, Lee has one, Lyman makes one, Harrelles Precision has a small one. Their is also the Area 419 which is the most expensive and newest on the market. I think RCBS made one , I'm not sure if they still do.

They are called turret presses.

 

[piie]

T7

 

[AWS]

I have a couple of the LEE four hole Cast Classics on the bench and think they are great. I have eight heads for them. The only thing is the heads have some slop in them, no problem most of the time but if I'm seating some match ammo I put a couple clamps in it and lock the head down solid, still faster than screwing in dies.

I do use a Lyman Jr. with a 7/8x14 head on it for trimming. I have 4 Lee quick trim dies modified to be able to trim multiple wildcat based on the parent case of the quick trim like 20P, 223, 6x45 in a 223 die and 204, 22-204, 6mm-204 and 25-204 in the 204 die.

 

[338 dude]

Redding T7

 

[22vartarg]

In a non-progressive, the Redding T-7 would be my pick. I already have 4 heads all filled up with dies and it’s easy to switch out.

 

[DirtySteve]

Dillon 550....!

 

[Shooter13]

Watch Gavins interview with one of the owners of Area 419 on the zero press at Ultimate Reloader utube channel. Yes it's $1200 but looks as good as any single stage press, I may sell 3 of my single stages and get one.

 

[BoydAllen]

I went another way, that works very well. I have a lock n load conversion on my Rock Chucker. The dies settings are preserved, and they change very quickly.

 

[fatelvis]

I vote for and use the T7.

 

[GLShooter]

In my world I use the 550 or 650 with good results. I have two Lyman AA Turrets that work for leaving dies set up. My 6.8 and 6.5 sizers never leave one of those tol heads so I can load ten wildcats with just a bushing change as the headspace on each variant is + or - 0.001.

Greg

PS: If I wanted a non-progressive I would go with the T7 in a heartbeat.

 

[ballisticxlr]

For non-progressive the CH4D 444H press is my favorite. Dillon for progressive.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I just bought the Lyman Turret press when it was on sale and mounted it to the bench last night. Haven’t got to know it yet, but impressed with it and the priming system that comes with it looks decent. Looking forward to using it and leaving it set up for pistol loading.

 

[dnellans]

I haven’t seen the appeal of a turret or multi-head press if it’s non progressive. Sliding a die in and out of a forester coax takes what 2 seconds.

I get screwing a die in and out would be a PITA - but why do people want turrets over something like the co-ax design and just keeping the dies in the box? Am I overlooking a real advantage or is it just a personal organization preference?

 

[garandman]

Dillon 550C ftw.

 

[Oso]

A turret press sure seems like it would be nice when doing case forming with multiple steps / multiple dies. I have kept my Rock Chucker because I know it is sturdy enough for this process... but sure would be nice to run each case through all the steps bing-bang-boom. The Area 419 looks sturdy enough for the job, but it would be a pricey mistake to screw one of those up. I don't think a progressive can handle the pressure from multiple stations doing case forming steps, simultaneously.

Maybe Gavin can do a torture test with his 419. Maybe make a couple of thousand 17 Fireballs cases from .223/5.56 Range Brass. I wonder how much, if any, loosening of the press' tolerances would occur.

 

[dgeesaman]

I went another way, that works very well. I have a lock n load conversion on my Rock Chucker. The dies settings are preserved, and they change very quickly.

I’ve had excellent success with this. It allows die changes almost as fast as rotating a turret.
If someone handed me a free turret press, I’m not sure Id bother using it.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I use a Redding T7. I’m very happy with it, but it’s the only press I’ve owned or used.