Turret presses
- Thread starter Nude nut
- Start date
The Harrells 4-hole press is very nice. Redding makes a much bigger 7-hole press. I'd look at a Dillon 550 if you are thinking about a turret press. Moving the shellholder plate is more efficient than moving the turret head. ;D
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Nude nut said:
The compact size is nice but greatly reduces leverage for FL sizing cases. I had a single stage compact Harrels press and hated it. Was so hard to size cases. Dillon presses and all their accessories are very expensive. Get the Redding T7 and never look back. World record setting long range competition rifle ammo has been loaded with the T7. Dont think the other presses mentioned can make that claim
Ledd Slinger,
Good points Im not reloading large amounts of ammo genneral is 50 rounds aweek I get by with my rcbs rockchucke and an old lee turret press the funny part about the lee is I copped some flack at the club for using one after I got of the mound the flack stopped the target talked.
I will have a look at the t7 at the gunshop after xmas 500k trip for me to have a look and thats if they have one.
Cheers Trev
Good points Im not reloading large amounts of ammo genneral is 50 rounds aweek I get by with my rcbs rockchucke and an old lee turret press the funny part about the lee is I copped some flack at the club for using one after I got of the mound the flack stopped the target talked.
I will have a look at the t7 at the gunshop after xmas 500k trip for me to have a look and thats if they have one.
Cheers Trev
Depending on how many heads you need how quickly you need to switch plates may not be important. For me the T7 was perfect. I use seven regularly to cove five for 308 (tip, de-prime, size, seat) and three for 9mm. If I wanted to add another seven it would be simple and cost effective.
The other reason is Redding themselves. A few years ago when I got back in to this I found their tech support very helpful. Toss in excellent quality and performance for why Redding products dominate my bench.
The other reason is Redding themselves. A few years ago when I got back in to this I found their tech support very helpful. Toss in excellent quality and performance for why Redding products dominate my bench.
I have a harrels turret press, it is my main press. It's a nicely made press and a great solution for a portal press. I've modified mine by removing a very small amount of material off the center post using a diamond file. I've also flatted the flat washer on a water stone down to 8k grit. The press is manufactured with good precision.
I have an assortment of turrets each with slight variances in thickness that fit a little tight or loose (keep in mind we're talking very small tolerances). The looser turrets are used for pistol (as I'm moving them more frequently) and the tighter ones I use for rifle. If you do but one I recommend get 1-2 more turrets than you anticipate on using. I ended up ordering more.
I would definitely pick a harrels over a Redding turret unless you need more positions. Reddings turrets are cast iron and harrel's CNC turrets.
That said, if you need a high rate of production (who doesn't) but still want accuracy I would recommend a Dillon 650 (or maybe a 550). Whidden sells a CNC'd floating die holder which, from what I've read, makes them very accurate. The primary difference between the 650 and the 550 is the 650 is auto indexing which means you don't have the manually advance the brass holder. Also, the 650 has an extra die slot and can use a brass feeder. On a 550 it's a 3-hand operation... Pulling the press handling, adding a bullet and adding a brass. Speed of caliber conversion is also a factor, the 550 is faster.
I plan to buy a 650 next year, mostly for .45ACP.
I have an assortment of turrets each with slight variances in thickness that fit a little tight or loose (keep in mind we're talking very small tolerances). The looser turrets are used for pistol (as I'm moving them more frequently) and the tighter ones I use for rifle. If you do but one I recommend get 1-2 more turrets than you anticipate on using. I ended up ordering more.
I would definitely pick a harrels over a Redding turret unless you need more positions. Reddings turrets are cast iron and harrel's CNC turrets.
That said, if you need a high rate of production (who doesn't) but still want accuracy I would recommend a Dillon 650 (or maybe a 550). Whidden sells a CNC'd floating die holder which, from what I've read, makes them very accurate. The primary difference between the 650 and the 550 is the 650 is auto indexing which means you don't have the manually advance the brass holder. Also, the 650 has an extra die slot and can use a brass feeder. On a 550 it's a 3-hand operation... Pulling the press handling, adding a bullet and adding a brass. Speed of caliber conversion is also a factor, the 550 is faster.
I plan to buy a 650 next year, mostly for .45ACP.
Ledd Slinger said:
This is very true. The harrels handle is a little short and you really have to man handle large caliber FL resize. Neck sizing and smaller caliber are fine.
Also, longer cases might have clearances issues. I use Forster and Redding dies to load .308 and I have to depress the floating brass sleeve in order to get bullets out of the press after seating long (e.g. 0.025" off the lands).
The Dillon I have is a stripped down 550 all I use it for is single load my cases before I bought the fancy force seating inlign presses. The reason I like the Dillon are one the tool head floats and the case will float also to help self align everything for concentric loaded rounds, also add to this a Redding comp die set and the sleeves also help align cases and bullets for sing and seating. It all makes a great combination for near perfect to perfect on runout loaded rounds.
Next was when I change calibers I just slid out the tool head and slid in another. Simple and quick. All around was a perfect setup and I still use it.
Next was when I change calibers I just slid out the tool head and slid in another. Simple and quick. All around was a perfect setup and I still use it.
Well it seems the dillon is very popular main cartridges will be 223 22.250 6.5x47 and 308 I generaly load my 270 and 300rum on my rcbs rockchucker supreme but it would be good to have one does all and use the ones I have for load development at the range.
Do they do a strpped down version like with just a primer catcher.
Cheers Trev
Do they do a strpped down version like with just a primer catcher.
Cheers Trev
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Nude nut said:
That's funny cuz I also have a LEE Classic Press. It has the sloppiness tolerances you ever saw, but somehow it makes accurate ammo. I used to use it for my Varmint rifle and pistol rounds, but since I got a T7, the LEE is only used for pistol rounds. For larger hunting rifle ammo, I still use a single stage RCBS RockChucker for FL sizing and a Forster Co-Ax for bullet seating.
For my Wilson seating dies I have an ancient arbor press that needs to be replaced. Sometimes I hate the arbor press so much I just use a rawhide mallet on them. Plan on picking up a 21st Century Arbor press.
I think I have a press collecting habit. The more, the merrier
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Nude nut said:
Watch for sales or used T7s on here. I bought mine off a fella on this site for a really good price. Dont forget to pick up extra turrets if you have a lot of cartridges to hand load. That way you can just set the dies in the turrets and leave them in. Then just swap the turrets.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Nude nut said:
Ouch. Thats a bit over twice what I paid. I suppose the Dillon would be even worse. If I see a deal on a T7, I'll be sure to let you know.
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