Why a turret press?

[flyrobb]

If you plan to load a LOT of calibers and do not need MASS quantities of ammo, the Lee CTP is a very affordable way to go.

The Redding T7 or RCBS are high quality presses but expensive, The prices of extra turrets is far more than LEE.

I load a lot of calibers, my total investment in dies, turrets and the press is much less than just a expensive press alone,

Change over is about 3 minutes or so.

As mentioned it is all about how much ammo you need and how much you want to spend. The price of "What Dillion is Right for me" is not the price of the actual press shown, and it does not come with the Hot model!.

I had a RCBS auto progressive, great machine but actually prefer the turret, but that is for my needs.

I really don't see my self loading a lot of ammo but enough I can see the single stage getting a bit slow. As far as calibers 45 and 9 will be 99% of my loading and eventually a FEW 38 Special but don't even have dies for it yet. That J frame is to tough on my hand to shoot too much.

It almost appears if I'm going to spend the cash on something like the Redding T7 I might as well go a bit more and go progressive. Make sense or am I missing something here.

The Lee Classic Turret is starting to look like a pretty good fit for what I see myself loading. I already have RCBS dies for the calibers so one other turret would cover both calibers I have. Then, "down the road" if I end up shooting way more than anticipated and go progressive I won't have too much invested in a turret and I'm sure it won't go to waste.

Of course when I hit the Lotto...and you really burst my bubble about the models not coming with the press.

 

[MyDads38]

flyrobb,

I have the Lee Classic Turret, an upgrade from my original Lee 3 hole turret press. I still use my RCBS Reloader Special single stage (circa 1978). My shooting volume is about the same as yours 100-200/week between 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 acp.

I have each caliber set up in it's own turret ($10-$12 each) and a Lee Auto Disk Powder measure installed on each caliber ($24 each). Caliber change-overs take 1 minute or less, fill powder hopper and primer feed and done. I DON'T RELOAD FAST OR IN A HURRY. 100-150 rounds an hour is achievable on the Lee, maybe even more. What I like most, is I have complete control of each round from start to finish and can remove at any time, for any reason.

I've been tempted over the years to try a progressive, but low volume and cost of new equipment just doesn't make sense for me. I've used Lee equipment for years and it has worked well for me. Lots of choices and lots of good suggestions, best of luck in your search

 

[venomballistics]

Short and sweet answer .... ones shooting needs are not the only factor one needs to take into account.
on an O frame, you will need to noodle with the dies a little each time you change one out.
Turret, they stay there in proper adjustment, just turn the head to the next station.
its a fairly significant edge over a single stage without imposing the complexity of a progressive.

 

[Boogsawaste]

I have a lee classic turret. I just love the little press! I can churn out 200 rounds per hour easily enough. Not progressive speeds but it meets my demand just fine.

 

[rwsmith]

I use a single stage now...

If I wanted to go one better without the complexity of a progressive, a turret would do nicely. Once you set your dies you aren't obligated to change them unless you want to load a different configuration of bullet. If you want to load a different caliber, just change the plate.

A turret is almost as simple as a single stage, but the time tinkering with dies is cut way down.

It's easy to go back and make an adjustment if you don't like what came out, just rotate the right die into place. Right now I have to remove the die and replace it with the one I want (resize, flare) if I don't like what I did first.

 

[Rule3]

Not saying this is the press for you but it just plain works well,is inexpensive, speeds things up a little and caliber changes are easy, I and many others have been using them for years, I load almost all handguns and 4 rifle calibers on it, As I mentioned I had the expensive RCBS auto progressive(as good or better than a Dillon) and went back to the LEE.

From the amount of ammo you said you need, you do not need a progressive, Even if that time comes the Lee is not expensive you can keep it or sell it.

here is a good review.

Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret, It's Not Just For Kids

 

[Duster340]

Another Lee 4-Hole user here. Run through 300-500 handgun rds/month. IMO the Lee Turret Press offers a lot of bang for the buck. I too have a separate turret for each caliber (40 SW, 44 Special and 44 Rem Mag).

 

[Collo Rosso]

Works for me.

I don't do start to finish of a cartridge. I will polish, then size and de-prime, bell and prime, etc in steps.
I use the Frankfort arsenal loading trays with the uniflow. Tap to level and you can run your eyes down the rows and spot a double or a missed charge easily. I'll load 500 or so of a caliber then onto another one.

 

[fredj338]

I chose a turret over a progressive because I want to be able to concentrate on 1 cartridge at a time and manually operate my powder drop, but still have more speed than a single stage.

What's funny is I still look for excuses to buy a high end single stage like a Forster Co-ax or RCBS Summit, but then I sit down at my T-7 turret and that goes away.

You can do exactly that on the 550, what makes it such a great press. 100% control as you manually index. You can run it exactly as a turret, move the shell plate instead of the turret. Go fast go slow, a true upgrade to a ss or turret press.
250rds a month, even a ss press is fine. At 250rds a week, now you are in progressive territory IMO. Loafing along on a 550, only 45min a week. If you don't have much time to shoot, you have even less time to reload.
Cost of gear should really never be the issue. So you spend $400 or $200, that is nothing compared to the time list using slower equip. Not to mention, any progressive will cut your handle pulling by 75%.

 

[flyrobb]

Square Deal B?

You all make some VERY good points both ways. I have plenty to consider.

One thing I am curious about is the Dillon Square Deal B. I don't see it mentioned much. Everyone seems to jump to the 550b. I understand it's for pistol only but what's the skinny with the SD b?

 

[novalty]

The Square Deal B also uses proprietary dies from Dillon.

 

[fixitfred]

It's more for us lazy people.

Heck I bought separate 38 special and 357 Mag dies and have them is separate turrets. At the time turrets were $10 or less.

Not to argue with you but I think I'm lazier.

I thought about getting separate dies too so I wouldn't have to readjust 38 to 357 and vice versa.

I think the RCBS turrets run $75.

It might take me 2-3 minutes to screw out then screw in 4 dies. I like to do it at a leisurely pace so it may be closer to 5 min.

Swap out the shell holder. Caliber change complete.

 

[fixitfred]

The Square Deal B also uses proprietary dies from Dillon.

Yea that's a deal breaker for me.

 

[Rule3]

You all make some VERY good points both ways. I have plenty to consider.

One thing I am curious about is the Dillon Square Deal B. I don't see it mentioned much. Everyone seems to jump to the 550b. I understand it's for pistol only but what's the skinny with the SD b?

Price out what everything you need to change to a different caliber. That should answer your question. (besides the fact that it only uses their dies.

 

[10mmauto]

I love my Lee Classic Turret. (I also love my SDB).

I guess I'm conflicted......

 

[flyrobb]

I love my Lee Classic Turret. (I also love my SDB).

I guess I'm conflicted......

You realize two loves can be a real problem. You've obviously not suffered through "Life Time Movies" with your wife.

 

[flyrobb]

Price out what everything you need to change to a different caliber. That should answer your question. (besides the fact that it only uses their dies.

It starts to get pricey for sure. I want to be able to use the dies I have already purchased in my Spartan and whatever press I end up with. Really leaning toward the LCT.

 

[Clovishound]

If you go with a turret, I would suggest picking up a powder check die. On the LCT, this will work if you use the 3 die sets. With .38, that is the way I go. .38 is such a deep cartridge, and the charges are so small, even eyeballing them in a loading block you could miss an over or underthrow if you aren't looking really carefully. The powder check die will catch some pretty small departures IME. I have played around with mine and found I can spot just a few tenths of a grain.

 

[Neumann]

In engineering terms, a turret press reduces the external time over a single station press - not used for production - by simplifying setup. LIke a progressive press, additional turrets are inexpensive.

Typical usage would be to process many cartridges under a single die, then rotate the turret for the next stage. The powder dump would be external, using a loading block so each dump can be inspected before proceeding. Each cartridge would be placed and removed several times, but that's more efficient than rotating the turret for multiple operations on one cartridge, and more consistent.

A turret press might be the best choice if you weigh each powder load or use a bench priming tool, take special care to inspect the results of each stage, or process fewer than 100 rounds or so per session.

A progressive press is three or four times as efficient because each cartridge is handled once, and three or four operations are performed in each stroke. The powder measure is not as accurate as weighing each load, with a standard deviation of about 0.2 grains (or more). Even on the simplest progressive, you can load 300-400 rounds per hour, but avoid pushing the powder load limits closer than about 0.5 grains.

If you have a quick setup, with dies and powder funnels in a separate die block for each caliber, the setup time is minimal. The longest setup is if you change primer size, or if you have an automatic case or bullet feeder.

A progressive press is great if you load 300-400 rounds per session, and/or have several calibers to load, and use mostly the same components for each size.

 

[ozo]

If you loaded only one handgun caliber, the Square Deal is super.
I have loaded almost 50 yrs and bounced around with a lot of equipment. My Uncle always gave me a ration of **** and told me to quit playing and get a 550B......and I always had a solid reason not to. As friends and family followed his lead they ceased to even mention equipment any longer. I finally did get my own, and I could give you as many reasons as have been discussed here, pro and con, but I can simplify it this easily.........until you get a 550B you will never understand the reason you should have already gotten one.