Turret Presses - Redding T-7 vs Lyman T-Mag II vs RCBS vs Lee Classic

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Rosco19

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Background
I'm looking at getting into reloading and am currently evaluating my options. I would primarily be reloading pistol ammunition (9mm, .45ACP) and some .223 rifle ammunition. The most ammunition I could see myself using in a week is maybe 200 rounds.

Based on the research that I've done I think a turret press would be the best "middle of the road" solution. It is marginally more expensive than a single stage press, but allows for greater output as I would be spending less time swapping dies. I had investigated progressive presses as well, but I really don't think they are for me as a first press. Too great an expense, especially when switching calibres, and too finicky.

My primary concerns are:
1) Saving money - the press should not be so expensive that it would take me years to recoup the cost through reloading.
2) Simplicity - I don't want to constantly having to adjust the press and play around with it. I want to set it and forget it.
3) Quality - I want a press that is durable and will last a long time. I want a company that will stand behind their product.

Turret Presses
So I've looked at several different turret presses and have found the following options that seem to fit the bill.

Redding T-7
~ $400
Seems to be the best engineered press of the bunch. Not surprisingly it is also the most expensive (approximately $100 more than the others). May be overkill as I'm only loading small pistol/rifle rounds.
7 holes for dies, while the others only have 6.
I would have to piece together the remaining components to build a complete kit (scale, powder measure, etc).

Lyman T-Mag II
~ $300
Also available as a kit (Lyman T-Mag Master Kit) that seems to offer a lot of value for the money.

RCBS Turret Press
~$300
Based on feedback from this forum, RCBS seems to be known for having the best warranty in the business.
RCBS also has a kit that includes this press.

Lee Classic Turret Press Kit
~$300 for a complete kit. Cheapest of the bunch.
Questionable quality (some seem to love it, others say it's very finicky).


Are there any other options I should be considering?
 
Hollywood super turret, if you want tough, capable, and the cool factor all in one.

All kidding aside, I don't think you can go wrong with any of those you listed. I would probably buy the redding if it was me, simply because the only redding tool I have and not loved is the flash hole deburring tool. I have never used Lyman, so I can't comment there, RCBS makes great equipment with an incredible warranty, and the Lee classic presses are the only presses they make that I would consider buying as I find the rest to be of poor quality when compared to anything else.
 
A Dillon RL 550B isn't much more expensive than the Redding T-7 and will allow for much greater output while still being relatively simple to operate and switch calibres. A progressive press can be operated just like a turret press, handling one case at a time, until you are comfortable with operating it as a progressive.

I think that at 200 rounds/week, you will not regret going with the Dillon.
 
Buy the Dillon, you are going to end up there anyways. The time you will save on loading will pay for the difference. Don't be intimidated by the 550, it isn't an auto advance so it only goes as fast as you want to.
 
The 550 should be on your list. It is definitely a turret press. Another option worth considering is the Hornady SS L&L or any other SS press, (Redding, RCBS) that will accept the L&L conversion set. The conversions are cheap and the bushings provide 1 x die setup and loading speeds similar to a turret. Every die I own , including my RCBS bullet puller, has a L&L bushing on it. I love those things.

Should you later decide to acquire a progressive press, you're SS press will remain part of your arsenal. There is always a use for SS presses.
 
Lee Classic Turret Press Kit
Questionable quality (some seem to love it, others say it's very finicky).
Click to expand...

Rock solid. Put around 30K through mine before I sold it for near what I paid for it. Moved to a Dillon 650
It was an awesome piece of kit and I''d do it all over again.
Highly recommended.
 
HKMark23 said:
The 550 should be on your list. It is definitely a turret press. Another option worth considering is the Hornady SS L&L or any other SS press, (Redding, RCBS) that will accept the L&L conversion set. The conversions are cheap and the bushings provide 1 x die setup and loading speeds similar to a turret. Every die I own , including my RCBS bullet puller, has a L&L bushing on it. I love those things.

Should you later decide to acquire a progressive press, you're SS press will remain part of your arsenal. There is always a use for SS presses.
Click to expand...
HKMark23 you present a compelling argument for saving a bit of cash and going with the SS and L&L conversion kit. Especially with Prophet River offering a complete kit for $300 right now... Seems like I couldn't really go wrong with any of these options... Which makes the decision that much more difficult!

Is there a big benefit to progressively working through all the stages versus working in batch mode? With a turret I'd be able to go with either workflow option, but with the SS I'm stuck working in batch mode.

Also does having the powder measure setup on the press save a lot of time, versus working the measure manually? I imagine that it would be a large time saver.
 
Rosco19 said:
HKMark23 you present a compelling argument for saving a bit of cash and going with the SS and L&L conversion kit. Especially with Prophet River offering a complete kit for $300 right now... Seems like I couldn't really go wrong with any of these options... Which makes the decision that much more difficult!

Is there a big benefit to progressively working through all the stages versus working in batch mode? With a turret I'd be able to go with either workflow option, but with the SS I'm stuck working in batch mode.

Also does having the powder measure setup on the press save a lot of time, versus working the measure manually? I imagine that it would be a large time saver.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't consider anything other than batch mode for reloading. The difference with a turret, is the batches can be small, and the dies are set up and easy to switch.

However the LnL bushings are almost as quick.

As a powder measure, I have always used a loading block, 50 primed cartridge cases, and then fill them all up in a minute under a powder measure (without removing them from the block)

I don't have a turret, a couple single stage, and a couple progressives.

If you are mechanically inclined, and have a little patience to fiddle and tweak things, the Lee Loadmaster is a great progressive for handgun cartridges. You can get them from the US for a bit over $200 including one set of reloading dies. However I would get a single stage (or turret) first, to get the "rhythm" and learn the details of reloading before going to a progressive.
 
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However I would get a single stage (or turret) first, to get the "rhythm" and learn the details of reloading before going to a progressive.
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Very good advise. X100.
I started on a single, then turret, then progressive. If I had no idea what I was doing, the 650 would be very.....complex. You need to understand the various stages and what to look for and how to set dies up....etc
Once you have this knowledge you can set up a 650 progressive in no time, because you know what you're doing.
I still have my original single stage Lee, use it for rifle.

I would recommend a turret press setup for you (any make). It will not be too much to understand and learn on from a new reloader perspective. You'll gain the knowledge and confidence in reloading and can sell it down the line for good cash if the time comes to move on to a progressive.
You'll know when it's time.
 
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Rosco19 said:
HKMark23 you present a compelling argument for saving a bit of cash and going with the SS and L&L conversion kit. Especially with Prophet River offering a complete kit for $300 right now... Seems like I couldn't really go wrong with any of these options... Which makes the decision that much more difficult!

Is there a big benefit to progressively working through all the stages versus working in batch mode? With a turret I'd be able to go with either workflow option, but with the SS I'm stuck working in batch mode.

Also does having the powder measure setup on the press save a lot of time, versus working the measure manually? I imagine that it would be a large time saver.
Click to expand...

With the L&L bushings everything, including the powder measure, is virtually drop in (with a 1/4 twist). I still do rifle cartridges in batches, one or two tray loads at a time, because its just more efficient. The main thing with turrets and the L&L system is you don't have to fiddle about threading, UN-threading and setting up your dies between operations like you would with a standard SS press. This saves a hell of a lot of time. With the T-7 you can preset 7 dies and accessories. With the L&L bushing system, the number of dies and accessories you can preset for any number of calibers is unlimited. Just buy enough bushings to fit everything. I have a L&L AP which I use for pistol and .223. For other rifle calibers, bullet pulling, swaging, etc. I have a Redding Ultramag set up with the L&L bushings. In the interest of versatility, I would suggest a Redding or similar press with a L&L conversion installed over a Hornady L&L SS press. That way, if for any reason you prefer to thread a die or accessory directly into your press, you'll have that option available.

Biggest advantage I can think of for installing a powder measure on a SS press vs a stand is saving the cost of a stand, which isn't much. I'd get a separate stand for the measure so you don't have to deal with moving it, spilling powder and disturbing its setting which is somewhat sensitive to powder settling. If you happen to acquire a L&L AP from Hornady later, it will come with another powder measure anyway.
 
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Thanks guys you've given me a lot of good information. I think the Rock Chucker press kit and a Lock & Load conversion kit is what I will purchase. It seems to give me all the speed I would need, plus a dependable press that won't break on me. As much as I'd like to get a Dillon, I'm thinking it's more money than I'd like to spend on a first press.
 
Rosco19 said:
Thanks guys you've given me a lot of good information. I think the Rock Chucker press kit and a Lock & Load conversion kit is what I will purchase. It seems to give me all the speed I would need, plus a dependable press that won't break on me. As much as I'd like to get a Dillon, I'm thinking it's more money than I'd like to spend on a first press.
Click to expand...

You'll have no regrets. Just make sure the model of RCBS press, (I'm not personally familiar with the line), that you get has the screw out bushing on top that allows you to replace it with the L&L conversion bushing. That's all there is to the conversion ;).
 
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