Turret press and Inline Fabrication mounting equipment?

Hey all, I have been thinking hard on investing some money and buying and upgrading some of my old reloading equipment and wanted to hear some kickback from you all about some stuff.

First of all, I am seriously thinking about upgrading my old Pacific 007 single station press to a turret press. The old Pacific is getting a little slop in the linkage and one of the pivot pins in the linkage kept walking out enough to where I had to drill and tap it to use a set screw to lock the pin in place. I've had this press for 30+ years and it's reloaded quite a few thousand rounds, so I'm not knocking it, but I figure it's time to upgrade.

1. I am looking at the Redding T7 turret press to replace it with. To me, it looks like it is the Rolls Royce of turret presses but it is also pricey too. One thing I do like about it is the spent primer catch system they use, as it looks like it should eliminate spent primers missing the catch system like I have problems with on my 007 and also on my RL-450. Reading reviews on Midway of other turret presses, it sounds like the RCBS has problems with letting spent primers out everywhere and it's a 6 station turret instead of 7 stations. Lyman also has a new turret and they only have 4 reviews, which vary between 5 and 2 (1 five star, 2 four star and 1 two star review) and it sounds to me like the priming system might be a weak point on that press. But it is an 8 station turret. Beside price, are there any other problems you all have had or heard about with the T7? BTW, my younger brother has a T7 and loves it, but I figured I would get more feedback from you all.

2. The next items up for upgrading comes from a company called Inline Fabrication. I am looking to upgrade my press mounting system to their 4" tall Micro Ultramount with quick change base plate assembly. I will buy the quick change mount plates for my RL-450, my RCBS bench mount priming tool and my single station or turret press. My brother has their taller version and he swaps between his Dillon 650 and his T7. He showed me how it works and it's pretty neat and handy and makes swapping between presses quick and easy. I am also looking at their ERGO Roller handle, their lighting system and their bin barriers which close up the cutout in the Akrobins so you don't have loaded ammo falling out when the bin starts getting full. The stuff that my brother has from them seems to be high quality, but again that is a sample of just 1 person.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

Jim

YES, for buying the Inline Fabrication ERGO Roller Handle. I put one on my LEE Classic Turret system and love it! IMO, it is a MUST HAVE.

I really like the primer catching setup on my Lee turret press. They get pressed out and drop down the center of the ram and into a 5/8" hose with a plug in the end. As long as you remember to empty the hose it's almost impossible to lose a spent primer. It takes only seconds to switch from one caliber to the next or change primer sizes. Very easy to load 150 to 180 pistol rounds an hour without going crazy trying to keep up the pace. If you want to use it as a single stage it take seconds to remove the spindle. It has been remarkably trouble free for many thousands of rounds. I have not used mine to load any rifle cartridges so I can't speak to the speed or ease with bottle neck cases. If I had it to do over I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. Not saying it's any better than the Pacific since I have no experience with them but an excellent press never the less.

1) T-7, is just fantastic. I've had mine around 12 to 15 years. I replaced a Lyman Spar-T with it. I trimmed the spent primer tube/hose to end 3 or 4 inches off the floor when at rest. I used an old 8 pound powder can for the primers end up in. This is also my dead brass receptacle, it is right at my feet, so a cracked case doesn't get used again by accident.

2) Roller handle. I have a 1984 Dillon 450 that I retro fitted up to a 550B. Somewhere around 20 years ago, I installed Dillon's roller handle with the metal roller. What a major improvement. If the Inline roller handle is similar and cheaper, go for it! If it isn't both, get the Dillon! The old handle ended up on a single stage press for more leverage when reforming large cases.

3) mounting the 450 Dillon, I have their "Strong Mount" (8.5" tall). I like the height, because it has the loaded ammo out feeding high enough to dump into a 50 caliber ammo can (30 cal. fits too!) I had made a 9.5" mount from 2x10's, so I knew I liked that amount of elevation. It is the prefect height for standing to load at a 35" tall loading bench, I also have a 24" bar stool for sitting while loading. (I would load batches of 4 to 6 thousand rounds in a single Saturday).

4) changeable equipment plates. I went from 17 feet of loading bench in a dedicated room at the farm house. Now I live in a Condo, and have 5 feet of loading bench. I use an old RCBS system that is discontinued. But the principles are the same: have what you need in front of you when you need it, I endorse any system that works for you!

extra) lighting: the little LED lights are nice! BUT a dim room is hard on seeing what else is going on besides the powder in the case (I never had to worry about that, the Dillon case mouth actuated powder drop works every time once it is adjusted properly) I like a $10, 2 bulb shop light right above the bench, the ceiling light in the middle of the room casts shadows right where you are working!

extra II) auxiliary tables. A card table is too big, and a TV tray is too flimsy and too small. I use a Black & Decker Workmate with a counter top sink cut out (about 2 x 3 feet) clamped in place. This is strong enough to hold 10,000 45 ACP bullets and stable enough no to slosh your soft drink all over the place. I kept it to my left, but I have used 2, one on each side, a few times. When I load shotgun shells I have my presses mounted to 3/4" plywood, and clamp them on the workmate. (shot shells take a lot more room than metallic reloading!)

Hope my experiences help you out.

Ivan

T7 is a great press. I have 2/ Have one set up on a Dillon Strongmount I got at an auction with a Redding Ultra mag. Neat press I have had for 15 years and have never used it. Never seen an Inline Fab anything other than pics but they look ok. My Dillons are all on Strongmounts too...but I am making some changes to the loading areas...and selling a bunch of stuff. I have accumulated a...bunch.... of stuff I don't think I need. I'm even going to sell my Rock Chuck Bullet Swage press You will ike the Redding T7

Spend the money and get the Redding. Definentley a Cadillac.

Inline Fab Quick Change System: Can't say enough good things about it. Have an LNL AP, Classic single stage, RCBS Universal Case Prep Center, Concentriciy tool, Bench Mount Primer Tool, and a vice on plates.

The mounts are industrial strength, and Dan will make a custom plate drilled to your template for about the same price as an "in-stock" plate.

I prefer the flush mount plate (surface mounted) because it works for me while seated on a drafting stool and leaves the bench COMPLETELY available when no tool is in use . . . eg when cleaning rifles. The presses are stored off the end of the bench and the other tools in a variety of places.

Redding T-7: Certainly a quality press, but I have no personal experience with it. Would suggest if your rationale for choosing it is removable turrets leaving your dies set up, you might consider the Hornady Classic with the bushing system that gives the same result.

Of course that won't work if your rationale is the option is to crank the press and complete one cartridge at a time.

Thanks for the feedback you all. I went ahead and ordered the T7 from Grafs just a little while ago, as they had the best price on it I found. Next lowest was Midsouth, but Grafs was cheaper with shipping than Midsouth has it listed for without shipping. Now to put together an order at Inline Fabrication.

This will be the first major equipment upgrade I've done since I bought my RL-450. So I am looking forward to the new stuff.

Get a T7!!!
Never any regrets when you buy right.

If we didn’t need a Dillon a T7 was tops on the list. Our two singles are a 2/7th T7.

Update:
Good choice.