Turret Presses

[smoothshooter]

I have no experience with turret presses.

What is the proper method for use?
Put a brass hull in the shellholder and run it up and down as you rotate the various dies around to size, expand case neck, dump powder, etc., then remove the hull from the shell holder, or run all the brass through for one function at a time, and only rotate the turret when moving on to the next operation?

I guess I should say that I know either method will work, but what is the most common method?

 

[castleadslinger]

I have no experience with turret presses.

What is the proper method for use?
Put a brass hull in the shellholder and run it up and down as you rotate the various dies around to size, expand case neck, dump powder, etc., then remove the hull from the shell holder, or run all the brass through for one function at a time, and only rotate the turret when moving on to the next operation?

I guess I should say that I know either method will work, but what is the most common method?

Either way will work. I do both methods. You can ask 10 reloaders and everyone will have a different method.

I have a Redding T-7 Turret Press and use it allot to do load development. Also, I have a Dillon RL550B progressive press for large run of batches and sometimes I get "bored" running my progressive press.

So, I set my turret head up to run as a turret press. Most of the time, I will just turn out a few hundred.

I also use my turret to load for my lever action rifles. As to a turret press, there is just so much that it can do. I can even size lead bullets on it after I get done casting.

I have a few turret heads, so change over take very little time. But, there is one thing that I don't due on my turret press that I have read and seen others on youtube do. I will never have two different caliber of dies on my turret at one time. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I use both methods depending on the process.

Deprime and resize in one action. Hand prime then case flare/powder drop, seat bullet and crimp bullet.

I do have multiple Cali res in one head but only rifle deprime/resize as only one die at a time is required.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I run two Lee Classic Turret presses and generally keep the Auto Index feature engaged to run a piece through from raw case to finished round in 4 strokes. This method produces 4 rounds/ min or 150-160 rounds/ hr (with breaks for replenishment, coffee refills etc) .
The issue with running a batch of brass through one station at a time is that you end up handling each piece of brass 6-8 times. That takes time and robs efficiency. Still, Turret presses are versatile and it is nice to have that option for experimentation /small batches.

If your Turret press has Auto index (or if you rotate it by hand between strokes) you only handle the case twice ( unless you decide to interrupt the cycle.) Also, it is much easier to get into a rhythm this way. It goes much faster and still gives you the control that Turret presses are famous for.

If you go to U tube and search "Turret Presses" you'll find some good Demo video's there. Lee's website has some too.

 

[joeintexas]

I have different turrets for each caliber I load so changing from one to another is a matter of seconds. For handguns I use the 4 die sets. Being retired now I'm not really in a hurry so the turrets work fine. For rifle loads I still use the RCBS Rockchucker.

 

[1sailor]

I use the same methods as wee hooker and joeintexas. To me the biggest advantages are speed and safety. With the auto indexing method you are much less likely to throw a double charge since you are running one round at a time through start to finish. My production rate is the same as wee hooker's with 150 to 180 rounds per hour at a relaxed pace. I am very tempted to purchase one of the new Lee progressive's but my Lee turret works so well it's hard to justify. I do shoot quite a bit though so maybe one day.

 

[cds43016]

I also use the auto index on the LEE Classic Turret Press.

The only addition I have is a case kicker from Inline Fabrication. It works great and eliminates the need to remove the finished round from the press.

 

[mikld]

As you can see from the members' posts above, there are those that prefer "semi-progressive" loading on an auto-index press. I prefer to "batch load" with my turret (Lee with the auto index disabled) and I normally keep a couple hundred cases processed/primed waiting powder and bullet for each cartridge I load a lot. I feel more control this way, but some like to insert a case, pull the handle a few times and remove a finished cartridge. This is one process that is entirely personal choice, what one is comfortable doing (and each side can easily justify their opinion)...

 

[kraynky]

But, there is one thing that I don't due on my turret press that I have read and seen others on youtube do. I will never have two different caliber of dies on my turret at one time. Just not my cup of tea.

I started to agree with you, then recalled doing that exact thing while following an online video of making 45 acp shot shells from .308 brass. It requires 2 or 3 different dies from different calibers, which a turret press was great for.

And they work & feed just fine.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I process my brass in steps. Then keep primed brass in containers ready to load.

In the turret I keep as many as 5 seating dies ready to go. I can replenish my loaded round supply at anytime.

 

[gwpercle]

I like method #2 .
Gary

 

[mtgianni]

What works for me with rifle brass is to deprime and size, clean and reprime. Then place primed clean brass in the turret and charge, bell cases and seat. I shoot 60% lead in rifles.
With handguns I try for all at once. The main help here is a Lyman DPS 1200 that has the charge electronically weighed and is ready when I am, if I pushed the button. If I throw from a measure I prefer to weigh one of every 10 at minimum and that slows the process some.

 

[k22fan]

The Lee Classic Turret's auto indexing option makes it a different animal than the turrets made by Redding, Lyman and all the other manufactures I'm familiar with. Lee's is the inexpensive way to almost buy a progressive.

I use my Redding turret one die at a time. Both of my turret heads usually have dies for multiple cartridges installed. It's for efficiency loading different powder charges every 5 or 10 cartridges while working up loads and for rifles that I only shoot small amounts of ammo through. My Bonanza Co-Ax's leverage makes full length sizing effortless but its long handle arc is a nuisance seating bullets so the seating die is left in a turret press head.

I have progressive presses for large lots of pistol cartridges so I do not load complete pistol cartridges one at a time in my turret press. Owners who do not also own a progressive have more motivation to speed up turret press loading.

Speeding up turret press loading reminds me of a C-H (brand) H press I owned before I owned my first turret press. The H press used 4 shell holders on a bar that went up and down under a top piece that held 4 dies. Between handle pulls 4 cases were advanced through the shell holders. Dillion and common ownership of progressives was still off in the future.

 

[AJ]

I started with a Lyman SparT press, then went to a Dillon, and now a Lyman Turret. Like the Lyman Turret as I can put two sets of pistol dies in each turret head. I have three turret heads and can use them to load .38 Special, .357 Mag., .45 ACP, .45 Colt, 9MM, .38 ACP. and .38 Super.

 

[Wee Hooker]

So all this discussion brings up a good point. Different folks prefer to use their presses in different ways. Some of that may be driven by user preference . Some by their press's features. So, rather than try to adapt a tool to a task, it is likely better to determine how you want to use your press and then pick the right tool to do it.
At the risk of repeating some of the above, Turret Presses differ slightly but generally offer good flexibility, dependability and control ability. For me the right tool is the LCT but for you (the OP), a different press might fit your needs better. A search here (and on the Net) of any of these models will lead you to lots of discussions on their benefits and drawbacks.
In any case, get one and get started!

 

[trapper9260]

My first press was a Lyman T press back in the mid 80's and use it one stage at a time for all the brass I load. that way less time to have to move the dies around.It works for me. I also have a single stage press also mainly use it for depriming and sizen the case.Also doing one stage at a time you able to keep track of what is going on with each case easyer.

 

[rockquarry]

Use a turret press as you see fit.

Many handloaders are experimentally inclined and try a variety of loads in search of of accuracy, velocity, etc. In this regard, the simple versatility of turret machines is equalled only by the slower single stage tools but unmatched by the faster progressive presses.

I've used four progressive presses over several decades of handloading and always seem to return to my 1960s Texan turret press for loading all handgun cartridges. I guess a turret press would work fine for rifle cartridges, but for one loading less than a few hundred rifle rounds per month, my single stage Co-Ax is sufficient.

For one doing no experimental load work and needing to produce thousands of rounds of ammunition per month, a turret press may or may not be the best choice, something the operator will have to decide. Other advantages for the turret press user are the capability of closer examination of cases and primer seating depth as well as general overall condition of loaded cartridges.

 

[g8rb8]

I also use the auto index on the LEE Classic Turret Press.

The only addition I have is a case kicker from Inline Fabrication. It works great and eliminates the need to remove the finished round from the press.

I use the Lee Classic Turret press and use the auto-index feature. I use different 4-hole turret heads set up for different calibers so it's very simple to change to a different caliber.
I picked the most efficient brass cleaning method for me. I do NOT de-prime before cleaning. Some people don't clean their brass.
Step 1. Place brass with used primer in shell holder and de-prime and size on the upstroke and re-prime on the down stroke.
Step 2. Powder. Charge the empty brass with powder and bell the mouth of the brass on the up stroke. Eyeball for powder in the case on the down stroke.
Step 3. Set bullet on top of brass at the start of the stroke and seat bullet at the top of the stroke.
Step 4. Crimp the cartridge on the up stroke. The cartridge automatically ejects on the down stoke because I am using an Inline Fabrication Case Ejector System.
Anywhere between step 2 and step 4 I am picking up another brass shell to be ready to place in the shell holder.

I agree with cds43016. I use a Lee Classic Turret press and I am satisfied with it. The Inline Fabrication Case Ejector System makes reloading more efficient by not having to remove a finished cartridge and is relatively easy to set up. I also use the Inline Fabrication Ergo Roller Lever which saves wear and tear on the elbow. Both additions make reloading easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable. I agree with the other posters regarding the rate of reloading with the Lee Classic Turret (about 150 per hour with pauses/breaks). I would estimate the Inline Fabrication additions improve the rate to about 175 per hour.

Welcome to InLine Fabrication. – Inline Fabrication

 

[fredj338]

The most efficient way to run a turret is one round thru the entire process. Same number of handle pulls as a ss press, just less brass handling, so about twice as fast. Before reliable progpressives I yhink thete was a good argument for the turret, but today, the turret is sort of a tweener. Same amount of work as a ss with less production of a good progressive.

 

[1sailor]

I don't entirely agree with fredj338. With a turret press you manually insert the case and the bullet. Other than that it's just 4 handle pulls. With a single stage you are constantly changing dies, weighing charges, and performing one step at a time. I was never able to produce 150 to 180 rounds an hour with a single stage press. I was never even able to get half that amount. For those who prefer a single stage just remove the auto indexing rod from a lee turret press and you have a single stage press without the hassle of changing dies all the time.