Turret or Progressive??

czechitout

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
Rating - 100%
68   0   0
Location
Alberta
Hey guys .. although I love reloading for my 700 P and M14, my SIG will be in my hands within the next two months and I am thinking that I will start to reload for it as well. All i have at the moment is a single stage Rockchucker. It is a bit tedious when reloading large quantities (M14), so I was wondering what most of you would suggest for an upgrade .. a turret press or progressive?

I need a little more speed, but really don't feel that I need a progressive. Any thoughts or opinions on this topic would be greatly appreciated!

:D
 
Last edited:
I use a three hole Lee turret press. If the brass is already clean and primed, I can do approx 100 or shells in and hour. It would probably go faster if I had electronic scale (I have the Lee safety scale). This works for me. YMMV.

-Jason
 
You could get a piggy back unit for your RCBS press. Although according to RCBS, the piggyback will only do .223 rifle, no larger :confused: . For the same $$, you could probably get a Lee turret, a digital scale and have $ left over. The new classic turret looks sweet.
My $.02.

(E) :cool:
 
Get a progressive press, the Lee Pro 1000 works great once its set up and you have your loads worked out .. with clean brass you can load easy 200-250 rounds an hour
 
hoochie said:
+2.
The buy in is higher, but the quality and backup is worth it.
I have TWO 550's...one set up for large, one for small primers...
With this set up, and a with die sets mounted on separate toolheads, calibre swaps are quick and painless...unless you're burning through rounds like Todd Jarrett, this setup is plenty!
I know a lot of people use, and have faith in the Lee progressives, but my experience is that the buy in is cheaper, but they are 'fiddly' and fragile.
I have nothing but respect, and heartily recommend the Lee single stage or turret presses.
A cheaper, and slower option, would be any of the turret presses + digital scale
I recently purchased an RCBS turret and use it for my low volume rifle calibres and my 'new' antique Webley and French Ordnance revolvers...
 
I'm running a Hornady Projector (predecessor to the Lock 'n Load) for high volume pistol, and an RCBS Turret for low volume pistol and rifle. I like the Hornady progressives since you can use a regular drum-type powder measure. I have both the Hornady and the RCBS set up with Uniflow case-activated kits, so I can just move the measure back and forth as needed. I'm happy with the RCBS Turret, but if you want a turret that's absolutely built like a tank, look at the Redding. Very similar in design to the RCBS (who I think copied the Redding), but more overbuilt.

One nice thing about progressives is that you don't have to use them as full progressives all the time. I use my Hornady in semi-progressive mode a lot if I'm working up pistol loads. I only install the sizing and belling dies, and remove the powder measure. That way I can size/prime/bell the cases, and then charge them separately. It's a pain fiddling with the measure on the press if you are only loading 5 rounds and then changing powders. After the cases are charged, it's back into the press for seating and crimping.
 
the lee 1000 only goes to 223- and for the m14 in the turret you have to remove the auto-index unless you have the new 4 holer- however, the dillon will do it all, but changing the shellholder is time consuming compared to the lee turret- p/s if you get yourself a 45 , you use the same shellholder/plate as the 308- something else to consider
 
stormbringer said:
Hornady Lock N Load AP is the best deal going. Not to mention some of the side deals they have now almost make it FREE!!

Can you explain 'side deals'? I'm interested in getting a LNL, but not sure where the best place to get one...
 
wow .. good responses! thanks a ton guys. I am really leaning towards the Hornady LnL AP. Saw it in action (video) .. read some good, indepth review info from acrashb that described what he thought was good and bad regarding the Hornady, Lee and Dillon. He has had them all!!

thanks to every nut that responded!

:)
 
stormbringer said:
Hornady Lock N Load AP is the best deal going. Not to mention some of the side deals they have now almost make it FREE!!
I thought the deals were only available to USA? I know my next loader will be the LNL AP, just wasn't happy when I went on their web site, to find "deals only valid in USA".
 
I am also considering purchasing a turret press to load handgun ammo. I do not like the Lyman, I used a borrowed one for a while and found that there is far too much flex in the head for my liking. When the time comes for me to get one I think it will be the Redding. This unit looks far superior to any other turret press I've seen.
 
Back
Top Bottom