RCBS Jr vs Lyman Spar-T press

[David LaPell]

I "inherited" a Lyman Spar-T turret press. It's in good working order, just needs a good cleaning. I already have a RCBS Jr, I only have room for one press, I like the Jr but is the Spar-T any stronger? I load only handgun cartridges but I am also branching out to the .45-70.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

i have a lyman turret press and really like it.
i only load pistol and the turret press is great for that.i have loaded 44mag. on a turret press with no problem.i would load a 1000 rds.and see how you like it.sell the one you don't like and buy some reloading supplies.
don

 

[Skip Sackett]

I have an RCBS RS-3 and a Spar -T too. That was all I had when I started reloading. Both tools are good ones and I didn't part with either of mine. In fact, I still have both of them although they are under the bench now!

Because of the construction of both the Lyman has some inherent problems with strength. Not that it would break or anything, just that the design being an open frame would be weaker than a close type.

I have loaded many thousand rounds on the Lyman and found the multiple dies in the head made doing so faster.

Does your Lyman have the primer attachment with it?

 

[walnutred]

A Lyman Spar T was the only press I possessed for 30 years. I have loaded everything from 32S&W to 458 Winchester on it with no problems. Now I do most of my loading on a Dillon 450 but still use the Lyman for load development.

I would keep both presses. Use the Lyman for actual reloading but save the single stage for heavy resizing. Eventually you may have enough room to set the single stage up as a dedicated priming station.

 

[buckbeans]

I have both. I would keep the spar T.

 

[harry carey]

I have had a Spar-t since 1974, still have it , but then I have a tru-line junior, and a Herters single stage that weighs 2 tons and eight other presses.

 

[Noah Zark]

My first press of my own was a Spar-t in 1970 when I was a Jr in high school. I loaded 38 Spl and 357 Magnum with it, then bought a Rock Chucker II for my rifle cartridges in the late 70s after Marines and college. I continued to use the Spar-T for pistol reloading until I bought my first Dillon SDB. The Spar-T is on the shelf, awaiting the first grandkid that shows an interest in reloading for himself.

Make sure the center nut is snug, or the turret will "cant" a bit and cause depressions in one side of cases as you resize them from turret misalignment.

Noah