A Used Lyman T-Mag Press

downwindtracker2

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I wanted a cheap press for some messy case forming work, to save my good press from the crap. And I found a used Lyman T-Mag at a sporting goods store. It's an orange one, not the current hammerfinsh charcoal. It is a 6 hole turret press,basically for pistol reloading.Within 30 seconds of getting it home, it was boy this is sloppy. Across from the loading station there is a post. On this one, there was at least .025 thou between the turret and it. I put a .020 thou brass cap on it, the thickest shim stock I had. It could be this one was wore out, or simply a poor design. But don't pick up an orange one for precision rifle reloading. An aluminum Lee O-frame is much better press. It was cheap and it will work for me.
 
I had the latest version that had a similar amount of clearance between the post and the underside of the turret. I found a automotive feeler gauge worked well for removing the flex.
 
That was how I measured it. I thought they had a screw for adjustment on the newer ones ? If I was more ambitious I would have drilled and tapped the post for a brass set screw. I would have had to make one. Set screws are too hard, brass is soft .
 
It's been a few years since I had that press so don't remember but I think you're right. I wanted enough clearance for the turret to turn freely but didn't like the flex in it so I used to use a feeler gauge to take up the slack.
 
Looking up the T-Mag, the Lee Classic Cast turret got a a lot of recommendations. But for rifle reloading, it's a Forster Co-Ax, everything else is second or third rate. I couldn't afford one, so I'm traveling 2nd class.
 
Totally wrong tool for reforming cases.

The original orange T-Mag doesn't even have decent compound leverage and would require a 4 foot piece of pipe on the handle for any serious case reforming.

Your first statement was correct: "It is a 6 hole turret press,basically for pistol reloading." For reloading straight wall cases it will work as designed. Anything more challenging however will see parts break.
 
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