Redding T-7

[richeyo2]

Anyone using a Redding T-7 turret press? I'm thinking hard about getting one, like the idea of being able to have 2 calibers may 3 on one turret. Also seems easy to swap out turrets from videos.

Been using friends big blue "D" but swapping calibers is a chore IMO. Might get easier after you do it a while IDK.

Looking for opinions.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a T-7 on my bench, it is great (that and my Dillion are the only presses I bought new, out of 8). I set up a decaping die and leave it (you can use a sizeing die from a really large cartridge for this). I also like a press set up for Hornady lock-n-load bushings, of course Hornady makes a couple, but I like to buy used, RCBS Rock Chucker presses and put in a conversion bushing (I have 2 on my bench) Lyman makes a good turret press, the Mag-T. It is massive and well designed. Lyman's older turret press, the Spar-T is great for pistol rounds, but deflects some on Large cartridge sizeing. From my experiance, changeing tool heads leads to problems, you will need to reset them within 1 or 2 .001" or you'll start on the road of headspace difficulties. A friend of mine uses the Lock-n-Load system only. He sets dies with feeler guages, and then Loc-tites them in place and uses the same shell holder for that cartridge exclusively, and it is marked so. Normally you would have 1 shell holder for 45acp, 30-06, 270win, and 308win; he has 4 of the same one-each dedicated to one cartridge. I have seen him shoot 1" groups at 600 yards in light wind. The Bonanza/Forrester Co-ax press is also a great press for precission ammo, but won't handle longer dies. I hope all this help you make a informed choice. Ivan

 

[RussellD]

I have a T-7 and its an awesome piece of equipment. As the previous poster noted, it will take the taller dies that will not fit into the Forster Coax. This is the first turret press I have ever used that is capable of producing benchrest quality ammo with very little run out. The primer capture system is very good.

 

[novalty]

I have a Redding T7 setup on my bench, and have loaded some 38 Special and 45 ACP on, and it works really well. I ordered a RCBS Case Activated linkage kit for my RCBS Uniflow, just waiting for Grafs to catch up on their shipments. Once I get the Uniflow set up with the powder through expanders I expect to be able to have: 9mm, 38 Special and 45 ACP set up on the turret at the same time.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I think you would get a lot more mileage from a Lee Classic Turret. Caliber change out is done in seconds. It won't even break you if you want a Pro Auto powder measure left on each turret. I won't talk bad about the T7 as it looks like it may be the best turret made. I just find it odd that if you want precision ammo made then nothing will make it better than a single stage where you can go nice and slow to ensure everything lines up the tightest. And I wouldn’t think benchrest long range ammo would be best made on anything Dillon makes. And that’s not a knock on Dillon either. It’s just a reality that a solid build single stage press like a RCBS Rock Chucker, Redding Big Boss, Lee Classic Cast, or similar cast iron “O” type press is always going to offer the best base for using the best dies that will make the highest grade ammo. But if you aren’t looking for minute of fly wing accuracy then the same quality ammo that any Dillon will poop out can be made just as well on the Lee Classic Turret for a whole lot less money. You don’t really beat the Lee Classic Turret until you start demanding higher volume and that’s when something like the Dillon or Hornady progressive come into demand.

 

[Harrison]

I have been using a T-7 for five years now. It replaced my Rock Chucker. The T-7 is an awesome, and very versatile press. Not only is it very precise, but it is as solid as a bank vault. If you cannot reload precision ammo on a T-7 there is something wrong with you loading technique. It and my Dillon 550B are all I need. BTW, comparing a Lee press to the T-7 is like comparing a timex watch to a rolex. They both tell you what time it is, and there it ends.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Yes, I'm aware the T7 is a very fancy press. But most people don't require a BMW or Mercedes to get to work. That is all I was trying to impress upon. The OP said nothing about trying to make the most precise ammo. He mentioned ease of swapping out turrets.

 

[csdmann]

I just purchased a T-7 and finished my first batch of 9mm on it. I added the "side bar" priming system that Redding sells for the press and it worked great. The reason I chose the Redding T-7 is for the side bar priming. I am happy with my choice of the Redding T-7 turret.

 

[Cdog]

I can't measure the difference in group size or runout on ammo loaded on my Lee press or ammo loaded on a friends Forster.

It doesn't sit well with my buddy, but it doesn't bother me at all?

 

[richeyo2]

Thanks for all the info guys, much appreciated,

I've thought about the Lee Classic T, I just like the idea of having more than one caliber per turret. The Lee is cheaper than the Redding cost wise, but reading reviews I've read nothing but great on the T-7. The Lee has been mixed review.

I'm still on the fence right now, leaning towards the T-7 though. But w/primers obsolete right now looks like I'll have time to think about...I'm about out of primers that I've been using at a friends house.

It's just hard getting over to his house 30min one way & figure it's time to get my own set up.

 

[richeyo2]

I have a Redding T7 setup on my bench, and have loaded some 38 Special and 45 ACP on, and it works really well. I ordered a RCBS Case Activated linkage kit for my RCBS Uniflow, just waiting for Grafs to catch up on their shipments. Once I get the Uniflow set up with the powder through expanders I expect to be able to have: 9mm, 38 Special and 45 ACP set up on the turret at the same time.

So what are you doing for powder dispence now w/o the Uniflow? I had thought about using a bench mounted dispencer. Good or bad idea you think?

 

[novalty]

So what are you doing for powder dispence now w/o the Uniflow? I had thought about using a bench mounted dispencer. Good or bad idea you think?

Right now I have been charging the case with the Uniflow on a stand. Have a Case Activated linkage kit on order...with Grafs, that I might get in 6+ weeks. On the plus side I did find a good source for lead wheel weights.

 

[Cdog]

The Classic Cast Turret works great. I use mine as a single stage, no auto index for me.

The T 7 is a fine press, but will it load 3 times better ammo for 3 times longer than the Lee?

The extra turrets are about $12.00 for the Lee. No tools required.

I got rid of my RCBS turret for several reasons, and one of them was the ridiculous pricing they're now charging for their extra turrets.

For around $100.00 you can try the Lee and if you don't like it they aren't hard to get rid of.

I recently sold and traded all my expensive presses and replaced them with two Lee presses. One Classic Cast Turret, and a Classic Cast single stage.

I would be completely satisfied with either, but I just wanted another single stage so I ordered it for .308 match loads.

There's no advantage to the single stage though, the turret loads exceptional rounds by any standards I use to measure a quality round by.

100% agree the Redding is a great, over zealously built press. I can't recommend settling for something that isn't what you want.

On the other hand, why spend more than you need too? Braggin' rights?

I don't know, it just ain't worth it for me. I've tried and owned a lot of presses in the last 25+ years and I know what I like. It's red and only about $100.00.

 

[TheTinMan]

I bought a Lyman T-Mag II although I have no doubt that the Redding is an excellent press. Cost of replacement turret heads made a difference.

I don't prime or drop powder on the press. My process is to de-cap/resize and then bell a single case. Hand prime in batches and then load powder in trays. Back to the press to seat and crimp each cartridge. Not so much faster than single stage, but I've cut the number of times I pick up a case, put it in the shell holder, and remove it in half.

 

[richeyo2]

I'm going to do some more looking at the Lee. I just like the fact of the 7 holes turret but I'm open to cheaper if it's just as good.

I like my buds Dillon but just to complicated for caliber swap for me right now. I plan to start out w/.223, 45acp, & 9mm at first. Then get .308 win, .380, 40 & 10mm die sets a little at a time.

Another question, what do you guys recomend as far as decap/deprime? Why or why not?

I have one friend that does it on a seperate single stage the friends press I'm using does it all on same press.

 

[Cdog]

I use the decapping built in the sizing die. No point in adding another pull on the ram for me.

I have a decapping die that I did use when I was prepping brass to run on a progressive press. Using a manually indexed turret type press there's no reason I see to use it.

 

[richeyo2]

I use the decapping built in the sizing die. No point in adding another pull on the ram for me.

I have a decapping die that I did use when I was prepping brass to run on a progressive press. Using a manually indexed turret type press there's no reason I see to use it.

Thanks man, didn't know if there were any pros & cons.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When I'm working with case necks that only get resized 1/2 of the neck length, I deprime seperatly. This is a trick to get a little more accuracy out of a SAMMI chamber on bolt actions only! Ivan

 

[Rockets]

I think you would get a lot more mileage from a Lee Classic Turret. Caliber change out is done in seconds. It won't even break you if you want a Pro Auto powder measure left on each turret. I won't talk bad about the T7 as it looks like it may be the best turret made. I just find it odd that if you want precision ammo made then nothing will make it better than a single stage where you can go nice and slow to ensure everything lines up the tightest. And I wouldn’t think benchrest long range ammo would be best made on anything Dillon makes. And that’s not a knock on Dillon either. It’s just a reality that a solid build single stage press like a RCBS Rock Chucker, Redding Big Boss, Lee Classic Cast, or similar cast iron “O” type press is always going to offer the best base for using the best dies that will make the highest grade ammo. But if you aren’t looking for minute of fly wing accuracy then the same quality ammo that any Dillon will poop out can be made just as well on the Lee Classic Turret for a whole lot less money. You don’t really beat the Lee Classic Turret until you start demanding higher volume and that’s when something like the Dillon or Hornady progressive come into demand.

I will have to agree.. I find myself using the Lee turret more than my Dillon. Calibers are a breeze to change when compared to Dillon. My Dillon is much faster than the Lee Turret when when making 300 - 500 at one seating.

I use my RC for all my rifle ammo

 

[Maximumbob54]

I only recently started to load rifle on my Lee Classic Turret press. There is so much case prep involved in making good rifle ammo that I didn’t bother for a long time to do anything but load rifle ammo on a single stage. This is my list of steps for how I’m loading .223 on the Classic Turret lately:

Tumble clean all the cases
Using Imperial case sizing wax, lube the cartridge body and run it through the sizing and depriming die.

Trim to length, chamfer, and if needed debur case mouth.

If you want to this is the time for flash hole and primer pocket uniforming.

Tumble clean to remove lube and this also gets rid of any shavings.

All the grunt work of case prep is now complete. The Classic Turret head has station one empty.

Empty and prepped case in the shell holder, raise the ram, engage Lee Safety Prime to load primer in the cup, lower ram to seat primer.

Station two has Lee Rifle Charge die with Pro Auto disk loaded with Double Disk Kit to drop rifle volume of powder. (I prefer Win 748) Raise ram to drop powder, lower ram.

Station three is the bullet seating die. Set bullet in case mouth and use fingers carefully guide bullet and case mouth into die body. Case neck tension will hold bullet but…

Station four is the Lee Factory Crimp Die. While most rifle ammo won’t need a crimp I use it just to bump down the edge of the case to take the square edge off to further minimize any possible feeding issues. This is only a light crimp and it’s set by the FCD’s collet and not a roll so case life is only minimally effected.

You now have one loaded cartridge with four easy swings of the press’s arm. I don’t think I forgot anything but if I did someone correct me, please. And trust me, it’s a heck of a lot faster doing it than it is even saying it much less reading this or typing it…

 

[richeyo2]

Good info Maximumbob54, I appreciate it.

 

[Dmaxboy08]

I love my T-7 press. Reload .40S&W, .45ACP and .223. Very solid

 

[KLNC]

I can't imagine a better press than the T-7. I do have an extra turret, but actually find it easier to just switch dies when needed. I also hand prime with a RCBS primer tool--don't use the Redding primer system on the press. I think it's worth every penny--you'll never need another one.