Turret Presses

Steve Smith · November 28, 2000, 11:23 AM

I'm trying to get a shooting friend interested in reloading...or rather, he's interested, but has no direction. He does not anticipate reloading enough to buy a progressive press, but the slow progress of the single stage does not appeal to him. He is an incredibly smart guy, and shouldn't have a "safety" problem with skipping the single stage. I've recommended a turret press...what do you guys think about this? Further recommendations?

sundog · November 28, 2000, 01:38 PM

Steve, I have two Lee turret presses. I use them for loading pistol cartidges and they work just fine. Not really a true progressive, I guess, but a lot faster than a single stage. Turns out a good round with three pulls. sundog

jtduncan · November 28, 2000, 03:27 PM

Lyman T-Mags or Spar-Ts can be had at a gun show for $20 used.

Mine is 40 years old and works like a champ. Still use it.
I too thought I wouldn't need a Dillon 550. But when you can make 400 rounds an hour compared to 120 rounds an hour on a turret, the time factor should be considered.

I just keep buying and filling up ammo cans with 9mm and .45 ACP ammo.

It's kind of funny how ammo keeps for decades. I'm currently shooting some WWII .32 ACP surplus ammo in my Kel Tec P-32. If it's sealed in an ammo can, it should be able to get me into my 80s.

I'd get the progressive and shoot more to reload more.

Bogie · November 28, 2000, 04:05 PM

A Lee turret is great for handgun ammo, or fodder for a blaster rifle... I load .45, .38 Special and .223 with mine.

But if he's looking for "accurate" rifle rounds, he's going to have to realize that they take time to craft.

Steve Smith · November 28, 2000, 04:55 PM

I don't think he's looking at match quality stuff. However, I think acceptable "hunting accuracy" rounds could be produced in any type of press, right? I don't see why not. He's just looking for a way to produce his own ammo if sources are eliminated, due to high tax, lead concerns, or outright "gun control via ammo strangulation." We work in a three man office, and two of us now own Dillon 550B's. He knows it's faster, but he's not a "shooter" like we are. It definately seems like the turret will be much faster than the single stage, and I don't think he has enough intrest in doing more than that. More responses are welcome.

Turk · November 28, 2000, 10:24 PM

Steve,

You should have your friend go to the following web site
http://www.redding-reloading.com/ and check out the Redding Turret Press. I've used one for years it's heavier than a Lyman turret. Concerning accuracy using a turret press. I'm not a benchrest shooter whose goal is to shoot one hole groups but my Redding Turret gives me ammo that will shoot 3/4" to 1" groups from 100 yards in 223, 243, 308 & 3006.

A turret is more convienent than a single stage press.

Turk

jim-alex · November 28, 2000, 10:55 PM

Steve:

When I began reloading it was with a Lee Turret. Absolutely no problem starting there. Within a couple of hundred rounds, you sort of go on "auto-pilot" and can generate 150
quality rounds per hour. I have loaded 1,000's of rounds with the turret and now also use a Lee Pro-1000. Even if down the road your friend decides he needs more output and goes with a progressive, the turret will still be handy to have around. Best Regards, Jim

Steve Smith · November 29, 2000, 12:24 AM

Thanks, guys.

Kenneth L. Walters · November 29, 2000, 08:39 PM

There are two excellent ones, the Lyman and the RCBS. I've got 50 spare tool heads for my Lyman all of which are in use. The only reason I bought an RCBS was because the price for spare Lyman tool heads has gone way up so now the RCBS is just the better buy. Both are excellent particularly if you make small batches of a large number of cartridges.

November 28, 2000, 01:38 PM	#2
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Steve, I have two Lee turret presses. I use them for loading pistol cartidges and they work just fine. Not really a true progressive, I guess, but a lot faster than a single stage. Turns out a good round with three pulls. sundog __________________ safety first

November 28, 2000, 03:27 PM	#3
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,686	Lyman T-Mags or Spar-Ts can be had at a gun show for $20 used. Mine is 40 years old and works like a champ. Still use it. I too thought I wouldn't need a Dillon 550. But when you can make 400 rounds an hour compared to 120 rounds an hour on a turret, the time factor should be considered. I just keep buying and filling up ammo cans with 9mm and .45 ACP ammo. It's kind of funny how ammo keeps for decades. I'm currently shooting some WWII .32 ACP surplus ammo in my Kel Tec P-32. If it's sealed in an ammo can, it should be able to get me into my 80s. I'd get the progressive and shoot more to reload more. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

November 29, 2000, 08:39 PM	#9
Kenneth L. Walters Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 1999 Location: flagstaff, arizona Posts: 477	Turret Presses There are two excellent ones, the Lyman and the RCBS. I've got 50 spare tool heads for my Lyman all of which are in use. The only reason I bought an RCBS was because the price for spare Lyman tool heads has gone way up so now the RCBS is just the better buy. Both are excellent particularly if you make small batches of a large number of cartridges.

November 28, 2000, 11:23 AM	#1
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I'm trying to get a shooting friend interested in reloading...or rather, he's interested, but has no direction. He does not anticipate reloading enough to buy a progressive press, but the slow progress of the single stage does not appeal to him. He is an incredibly smart guy, and shouldn't have a "safety" problem with skipping the single stage. I've recommended a turret press...what do you guys think about this? Further recommendations?

November 28, 2000, 04:05 PM	#4
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	A Lee turret is great for handgun ammo, or fodder for a blaster rifle... I load .45, .38 Special and .223 with mine. But if he's looking for "accurate" rifle rounds, he's going to have to realize that they take time to craft.

November 28, 2000, 04:55 PM	#5
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I don't think he's looking at match quality stuff. However, I think acceptable "hunting accuracy" rounds could be produced in any type of press, right? I don't see why not. He's just looking for a way to produce his own ammo if sources are eliminated, due to high tax, lead concerns, or outright "gun control via ammo strangulation." We work in a three man office, and two of us now own Dillon 550B's. He knows it's faster, but he's not a "shooter" like we are. It definately seems like the turret will be much faster than the single stage, and I don't think he has enough intrest in doing more than that. More responses are welcome.

November 28, 2000, 10:24 PM	#6
Turk Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 517	Steve, You should have your friend go to the following web site http://www.redding-reloading.com/ and check out the Redding Turret Press. I've used one for years it's heavier than a Lyman turret. Concerning accuracy using a turret press. I'm not a benchrest shooter whose goal is to shoot one hole groups but my Redding Turret gives me ammo that will shoot 3/4" to 1" groups from 100 yards in 223, 243, 308 & 3006. A turret is more convienent than a single stage press. Turk

November 28, 2000, 10:55 PM	#7
jim-alex Member Join Date: March 14, 2000 Location: tired of NoVa Posts: 83	Steve: When I began reloading it was with a Lee Turret. Absolutely no problem starting there. Within a couple of hundred rounds, you sort of go on "auto-pilot" and can generate 150 quality rounds per hour. I have loaded 1,000's of rounds with the turret and now also use a Lee Pro-1000. Even if down the road your friend decides he needs more output and goes with a progressive, the turret will still be handy to have around. Best Regards, Jim

November 29, 2000, 12:24 AM	#8
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Thanks, guys.