Turret press?

Jeff423

Jeff423

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I've been reloading for about 10 yrs now and have a progressive press and a single stage. I don't plan on buying a turret press, but I have read a lot about them. I must be missing something. Following scenario:

Loading 100 rds on a single stage you would run each round through the press 3-4 times. Changing dies after each run. If you have lock rings on your dies you don't have to make any adjustments.

If you have a press Like the Forster Co-Ax you don't even have to do that, you just snap the dies in or out.

Turret press: It seems that the process would be the same except you would only have to rotate the turret after each run instead of unscrewing/screwing in the die. Or do you process each round completely and then go to the next? Meaning multiple rotations per round.

Are there more advantages to a turret press than that?

Jeff
 
Are there more advantages to a turret press than that?
Click to expand...
Sure. I still use my old Lee turret for small batches and test runs.
Since the whole plate comes right out, caliber changes are nearly instant.
If you choose the powder through die, you can use the press to produce a cartridge with each rotation, and never rotate by hand.
Pull out the center rod, and it is a single stage.
Take a spare plate and put in specialty dies, like a punch through case sizer, or a bullet sizer.
The reason I have the Dillons is for long production runs of identical cartridges. I can runs tests with the Lee, transfer the selected dimensions to the Dillon, and load a thousand or two.
 
Have used a Lyman All American for years works great I can turn out about 100 rounds on 38/357 an hour, with brass cleaned preped and ready. Works for me.
 
Yes, the advantage to the turret over the single stage press is that rather than batch processing all your cases through a die and then changing dies, you can complete a cartridge from start to finish only handling it to place in the shell holder and take it off when done. I prime and powder charge on the press. So, all you have to do manually is place the bullet on the prepared case at the appropriate station. The dies in the turret index (advance) mechanically with each pull of the lever.
 
What I like most about my Lee classic turret press is the quick changeover. In apx. 20 seconds I can change the plate that holds all of the dies that are already set up and then add the powder measure. And it is MUCH cheaper than a progressive.
 
I have an old 1950's Texan 7 hole turret. I use it like a single stage loader, but keep my 9mm, 22-250, & 243 dies in it all the time. The 38 & 45 are in the Dillon.
 
My only experience has been on a single stage and my Lee Classic 4 place turret. I de-cap all of my brass on the single stage (and size my cast lead bullets as well) - I hand prime. After that, it's all on the turret. I'm loading 9mm and 38 spl - have a separate turret plate for each caliber. I just take the primed casing and quickly process each casing in the four stages - I use a Lee Perfect Measure attached to the powder through mouth expander die. Four pulls and the cartridge is done. It's quicker than the single stage and the turret works well for the batches I load up - usually around 150 - 200 rounds at a time in an evening. I love the turret and have no complaints at all.
 
While I do not have a Turret Press, I would think that the main advantage over a Single Stage Press would be that you could make single rounds for set up or test purposes a bit quicker by just turning the turret instead of unscrewing and re-screwing all the dies. It is also convenient to have TWO different calibers in the turret at the same time if you switch back & forth often.

If you regularly load hundreds of rounds at a time, I see no real advantage over running through one die and then changing and running them through the next one on a single stage press.

I like my Dillon 650 progressive and think it's the nuts!
 
I appreciate all the replies and the last one seems to sum up my opinion. My personal feeling is that processing one round completely with four pulls is no better/worse/faster than batch processing all the rounds four times. Personally I would rather batch process - but I haven't tried the other way.

Jeff
 
There are some good videos on YouTube showing it in use with auto indexing.At my best,with a single stage and a hand primer,I might turn out 80 an hour.With the classic,I'm thinking 200+.
 
Personally I would rather batch process - but I haven't tried the other way.
Click to expand...

In that case we forgive you for not knowing any better. But the turret is over twice as fast as batch processing, and I have done it both ways many times. The Dillon is over twice as fast as the turret--or about 5 times as fast as batch processing, and the ammo is just as good.
 
A turret makes sense to me for certain applications. I've got an old Lyman that I keep 3 sets of rifle dies in (17/223, 22 Hornet and 6x45). I shoot these guns regularly, but in relatively low volume (approx 300 rds each per yr) during varmint expeditions while the main varmint guns cool. The turret is perfect for such regular use, doing away with the need to change the dies all around each time.

For high volume rifle and handgun rounds I have enough space to use a Dillon 550 and an RCBS Piggyback. I use a Lee hand press for very low volume big game rifle calibers.
 
What no one has actually stated is that ONLY the Lee Classic Turret has the auto index feature. All the others are simply places to store your dies until you need them.:)
I don't think anyone would actually turn the turret by hand to perform each operation. Except for the LCT you would use them like a single stage.
 
Jeff423 said:
I appreciate all the replies and the last one seems to sum up my opinion. My personal feeling is that processing one round completely with four pulls is no better/worse/faster than batch processing all the rounds four times. Personally I would rather batch process - but I haven't tried the other way.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Batch is a great way to blow up a gun
 
Actually there are some of us who do take the rotating mechanism off and turn it by hand.
The way to do it is I do 100 cases at a time. First I deprime/resize and reprime each case. I do all 100 cases and turn them upside down in the case holder to inspect for a primer.
Next I turn the turret and now charge and flare each case. I put them all in the case holder for powder inspection.
I turn the turret and install a bullet and seat it. I do all 100 cases.
I turn the turret and finish by crimping with the Lee factory crimp die. I do all 100 cases.
I have timed myself and I can do it this way in 40 mins. I did not hurry. And I am 100% sure each case has a primer and 100% sure each case has its powder charge.
 
dla said:
Batch is a great way to blow up a gun
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll bite. Why?

Either you have no idea what you're talking about or you're just looking to start a flame war. I say that because I've loaded several hundred thousand rounds of pistol ammo in batches of 300-500 at a time, and I haven't blown up anything yet.

So let's hear it. Personal experience or Internet rumor?
 
Everybody that handloads has a little different style. Some deal with a progressive and juggle 5 different cartridges at one time, checking all the little necessary things in a big multi-task effort.

Some build one cartridge at a time focusing on each step in serial fashion from start to finish with each round.

I heard a guy just recently (here?) say he set up a bench full of several single stage presses. Each one did the equivalent of what one stage of a turret or progressive would do. He walks his cartridge from press to press from start to finish.

No style is better or worse than any other. No style is more prone to disaster than any other except to someone who isn't comfortable with that other style. ie if I can't wrap my head around YOUR style, then YOUR style, whatever that might be, is prone to disaster for ME. But it's because of MY approach to hand loading. It's not because YOUR equipment or your style is inherently problematic or dangerous.

Are ya' makin' rounds?
Do they go bang when you want them to?
Are you happy with the speed/consistancy/whatever other factors you might think up with your system?

If yes x3, continue to do that.

Don't tell some other hand loader his style is a disaster or that his equipment is inferior to yours. Tell us, instead, why YOUR method works well for YOU.


Sgt Lumpy
 
I set my turret press with expander dies 9 .40 .45 and the other 3 get the crimp dies. I use a rockchucker for sizing and seating. Size all brass, 1 session. prime by hand 2nd session. Then when ready to load, i expand all brass, seat all bullets. Then remove bell with crimp die.
 
I started my loading experience on a single stage, then went to the Lee Classic Turret, so I'm familiar with the differences between the two approaches. Here are my observations:

-I found that having to change dies on the single stage each time I proceeded to the next operation became very old. I was very grateful that that was eliminated with the turret.

-I found no disadvantage, when I went to the turret, in not being able to check the powder level in all the cases at one time. I simply check the powder level in each case immediately after the charge is dropped and I advance the turret to the seating operation.

-But perhaps the biggest advantage of the turret, mentioned briefly by Peak53, is that I don't have to HANDLE AND MOVE the cases repeatedly. This, to me, is very significant. Dropping a case and dumping the powder on the floor, accidently hitting the case loading block with the typical consequences(when your hand/fingers don't quite move to the place they should), transferring a case to/from the press and accidently banging it against the side of the loading block or the other cases, reaching for a case in the loading block and getting your fingers tangled up in two or three, etc., etc. -the chances of this kind of thing happening are greatly mitigated with a turret. I didn't experience this often when using my single stage, but it was a pain when it happened, especially when a charge of powder ended up on the floor. With the turret you just take an empty case from the box, place it on the shell holder, then remove it and place it in the ammo box after the bullet is seated and crimped.

No, I don't have tremors or anything making normal dexterity difficult. It's just human to occasionally fail to manipulate objects properly with one's fingers and hands. A turret press restricts the possibility of this happening.

Regards,
Andy
 
I've used a single stage for pistol/rifle for 30 years or so and a progressive for shot shells,the difference in production is huge.An hour or two is my max for reloading any more before tedium and back spasms set in.The Lee Classic looks like an inexpensive solution to the slow pace of the ss without investing in a progressive .
 
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