Considering making a big change to my setup

[novalty]

Well my mind has been wrapped up in my reloading setup lately, and been thinking about changing my reloading setup. As I have added more calibers and my demand for reloads has increased, I am considering changing my setup completely. Having added a couple different calibers, I am thinking I need to change my setup to make the limited volume a little quicker. Right now I am considering selling my RCBS RockChucker II and Automatic Bench Primer and switching over to a Redding T7 with priming system. My biggest concern is that the ram travel is going to be cumbersome reloading the handgun calibers I am reloading (9mm, 38 special, and 45 acp). But won't be a hindrance when I add .223 Rem. and 25-35 WCF in the near future. Am I nuts to make this change or does this sound like a good idea?

 

[glowe]

Novalty, I would venture to guess that many reloaders have a Rockchucker sitting on the bench beside their upgraded machines. I would keep the Rockchucker and look for a quality multi-stage reloader. I prefer a single stage machine for my rifles, but multi-stage are great for high volume pistol reloading. A person can never have too many reloading presses.

 

[geoff40]

I went the Dillon route for a while, but I soon realized that my Rockchucker single stage was what I liked. I know that for many people a progressive setup is better, as said especially for handgun calibers, but it just wasn't for me. I am perfectly happy using a single stage press.
For rifle loads, I tend to weigh each powder charge by hand anyway, and so progressive never really made it in to the realm of possibility.
Anyway I would echo what glowe has said, just keep the thing. If you find in a few years you haven't used it, maybe then get rid of it, but I wouldn't do so right away if I were you.

 

[novalty]

Thanks for the recommendations so far. One of the biggest reasons that prompted my question is that the weather has warmed up here in Maine and can get out to shoot, and about a month ago I took on reloading 38 special for my father and I found myself loading 100 rounds each of 9mm, 38 special, and 45 acp in the little amount of time I had each evening during the week. Thankfully my brass was pretty much all prepped (cleaned, sized & de-primed), but it got me wondering if I could make the transitioning of cases quicker that it would help speed up the process. Maybe something like the Hornady Lock-n-Load conversion bushings would help, but was thinking with the T7 I could condense the space used up on my bench and speed up the process.

 

[Rule3]

Does the T7 press auto index or do you manually turn it to each different die. I looked at the website and could not find much info?

 

[novalty]

Rule3,

The T-7 doesn't manually index, it has an arm on the turret, and you rotate the turret to the next die or case activated powder measure. Here is a link to a YouTube video with the T-7 reloading 44 magnum. If you can skip ahead to around 5:00 in the video it show the press more in action to running a piece of brass through each step.

 

[JBnTx]

Do both set ups.

A lot of long time experienced reloaders usually have 2 or even 3 or more presses set up on their bench.

 

[jimkim]

Keep the RC and buy a Lee Classic Turret.

Lee Classic Turret Press - YouTube

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

 

[venomballistics]

Keep the RC and buy a Lee Classic Turret.

Lee Classic Turret Press - YouTube

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

this will save you some clams and do the same job.
Youve been at it long enough to know what your doing. think about parking a dillon along side that RC.

 

[novalty]

this will save you some clams and do the same job.
Youve been at it long enough to know what your doing. think about parking a dillon along side that RC.

I have considered the Dillon, but the volume in actual rounds that I am doing doesn't warrant a progressive. Plus it seems like it would be even more expensive when I start adding a bunch of conversions. Which is why I was contemplating a turret.

 

[TheTinMan]

FWIW I run a single-stage Hornady & Lyman T-Mag II turret press. All rifle rounds are done on the single stage. For pistol cartridges, I re-size & de-cap on the single stage, then hand prime. Powder loaded in trays. Then I bell, seat and crimp one cartridge at a time on the turret press. That way, each turret head carries two calibers.

Works great for .45 ACP, .38 Special and .357 Magnum.

For 9mm, please make sure that the expander does NOT touch the powder or you will have to expand before charging the cases (that's what I have to do for .357 SIG and 9x23 Winchester where the powder fills available case volume).

I can tell you that performing 3 operations on a case without removing it from the turret press does speed things up considerably. However, I do not see how you could rotate a turret more than 180 degrees easily and quickly unless it's like a Dillon 550 (Lee may be similar).

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I have a Lyman turret press and it works for me. Of coarse I am retired and have the time. I just don't shoot enough to buy a Dillon or other progressive press. I am now even loading .223 ammo for my Savage model 12 BVSS with the Lyman. For what I do I like it. Don

 

[Smith357]

You can never have too many presses. I have three, one single and two progressives, I am looking for another single and another progressive for a total of 5 presses. Keep the Rockchucker it's a great single stage press and go ahead and add to it.

 

[smithnframe]

I'm still using a Lyman Tru-Line Jr. Also a Lyman All-American. I did recently purchase a Forster Co-ax press though. I dont think its possible to have too much reloading equiptment.

 

[ColColt]

No way I'd sell a Rock Chucker. I have the RCBS Jr that's knocked out no telling how many rounds over the decades in no less that eight different calibers and still is good as new. The progressive presses and set up scare me. I don't trust the method of powder charging and had rather do it the old way-slow as it may be, I don't worry about double charges or even throwing 3-5 gr over. Old habits, I suppose but I ain't changin'!

 

[Rule3]

Rule3,

The T-7 doesn't manually index, it has an arm on the turret, and you rotate the turret to the next die or case activated powder measure. Here is a link to a YouTube video with the T-7 reloading 44 magnum. If you can skip ahead to around 5:00 in the video it show the press more in action to running a piece of brass through each step.

The reason I asked is that although the Redding certainly seems like a well built heavy duty press it is not going to speed things up if your concern is cranking out more ammo if that is your goal.

As others mentioned, the Lee Classic Turret ( which I use) works very well, saved me many clams and makes just fine ammo, I load pretty much every handgun caliber and 3-4 rifles on it. I was able to buy all the dies and extra turrets for less than one expensive progressive machine without all the expensive add ons.
Is it the best made press? No way but it works and works well. If it every breaks ( I am still on my original little plastic square turret piece) I could buy a new press for way less than any other.
So I do not see how the Redding is going to make ammo faster for you?

I started with the Lee Breech Lock single stage. With those quick release breach locks I could load all my calibers (as batch loaded) almost as fast as the Lee Turret. The main advantage of the turret is not handling each piece of brass so many times.

 

[TAROMAN]

As others mentioned, the Lee Classic Turret ( which I use) works very well, saved me many clams and makes just fine ammo, I load pretty much every handgun caliber and 3-4 rifles on it. I was able to buy all the dies and extra turrets for less than one expensive progressive machine without all the expensive add ons.
Is it the best made press? No way but it works and works well. If it ever breaks ( I am still on my original little plastic square turret piece) I could buy a new press for way less than any other.
So I do not see how the Redding is going to make ammo faster for you?

Same here. Have a turret for each set of dies, even duplicates for 38/357 and 44sp/44m.
No more screwing around and adjusting dies. Drop a turret in and go. I even keep a shellholder in the round box with each die set.

 

[Dale53]

I have long recommended the Lee Classic Cast Turret press for those that need more production but either have limited funds available or don't need what a progressive press can give them.

I have two Dillon 550B's and they are my main "go to" presses without a doubt. However, I have an RCBS Rock Chucker for certain procedures (swaging primer pockets, or heavy case forming, etc.) I also have a Lee Classic Turret press and extra dies for certain calibers. The Lee allows you to change calibers in SECONDS. When doing small runs, it is actually faster than switching my Dillon over (not that it is a problem). If I want to run fifty rounds of a special bullet or whatever, I can switch calibers in seconds, run the fifty, while I would still be setting up the Dillon.

You can load 150-200 an hour with the Lee. THAT is a big improvement over the single stage press. Further, you won't have to float a loan to buy one. The turrets are inexpensive but what is often not mentioned is the Lee is a truly fine design and well executed. The plastic cam that rotates the turret is designed to be the least expensive part to fail and protects the rest of the press by failing if forced. It costs a buck or two to have extras on hand (I still have my original spares and have loaded thousands of loads).

FWIW
Dale53

 

[dickttx]

I also recommend the Lee Classic Turret.
To steal a quote I saw the other day: "A non auto indexing turret press is simply a "C" press with die storage."

 

[TheTinMan]

I also recommend the Lee Classic Turret.
To steal a quote I saw the other day: "A non auto indexing turret press is simply a "C" press with die storage."

I have to respectfully disagree. Even moving the turret manually, doing three steps without touching the case definitely reduced the time required. I am not saying that auto-indexing wouldn't save a lot more time - just that a turret press can be faster than a single-stage.