First Press (Single vs Turret)

AK4900PA

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 25, 2013
501
362
Looking to purchase my first reloading press. I decided on the Redding Big Boss II, but then I started looking at the T-7. Other than my wallet being $140 lighter is there any disadvantage to going with the turret over a single stage.
 
I would buy the T7. I started with a single stage decades ago. Bought a Dillon 550 for pistol ammo. About every month I find myself wishing for the T7. Changing dies is tedious to me.

-john
 
  • Like
Reactions: simonp
get the T7… have a rock chucker and beat myself up for not going turret.

i’ll go turret in future, but not in cards right now
why? I have a zero press and used a single stage for a long time. there isn't one advantage, except that you can change dies a little quicker.
 
I have very limited space and I'll never shoot enough to justify a progressive press. The T-7 seems like the best compromise to me. I can essentially run it like a single for precision rifle rounds and still have a bit higher production rate for handgun cartridges. Not that I have any hands on experience at this point, but I feel like it'll best suit my particular needs. I just wanted to confirm that I'm not sacrificing anything other than the extra $140.
 
why? I have a zero press and used a single stage for a long time. there isn't one advantage, except that you can change dies a little quicker.

absolutely hate resetting dies.. even though i have lock rings, it’s never perfect. much rather have turrets and “set” dies i do t have to mess with
 
get the T7… have a rock chucker and beat myself up for not going turret.

i’ll go turret in future, but not in cards right now

Don't you have a row of dillons? 🧐

I'd agree to go with the turret - one less thing to muck with is one less error point and one smidge of time saved. If you're entertaining handgun loading at all, you'll hate it on a single.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 99mpower and simonp
Don't you have a row of dillons? 🧐

I'd agree to go with the turret - one less thing to muck with is one less error point and one smidge of time saved. If you're entertaining handgun loading at all, you'll hate it on a single.

i do… i don’t have the time to load precision right now. which is why my rock chuckers are not set up. i have one automated 1050 not even hooked up right now, as all the other machines keep me busy constantly

i don’t load precision on my Dillons
 
I started with single stage presses and hate resetting dies. I wound up with three singles lined up doing pistol. I then got a T-7 and a Zero. I could have stopped at the T-7 and all would have been right in the world. The Zero while very nice is unnecessary.

Get the T-7.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 99mpower
I have a Lyman Turret press and the primary advantage is in being able to resize and flair pistol cases at the same time. For rifle you do have the possibility of not having to change dies, just change heads but if you load multiple cartridges of the same caliber you will need separate dies also to take advantage of the turret.

In theory the single stage should produce more consistent ammunition but I haven't seen any clear evidence that this is the case or that the results show up on paper.
 
I have a T7 and like it quite a bit. I use different turrets for different calibers. My 308 and 300 PRC are on one turret. My 6 BRA and 37XC on another, and 45 LC on another. For rifle rounds, you have enough die spots for two calibers sizing, seating and mandrels. My only beef with it, and I've mentioned this multiple times on this site, is that when changing turrets, you have to be very careful because the ball bearing that acts as the detent isn't captured, meaning it can slip from its spring and disappear into your reloading room somewhere.

For this reason, I have ordered one of the SAC presses to do all my sizing. I already use an arbor press for seating, so that just leaves mandrels and pistol dies. I'll be setting up all my mandrels on one turret, and keep pistol turrets as-is. This means I'll only have to change turrets when I decide to load pistol - which is not very often.
 
I would go T7 or the Lyman 8 (essentially a T7 with 8 places vs 7). It's just easier to leave dies set up and it's not just a sizing die... mandrels, decaping dies, ect... leaving them on the press just makes things easier so why not? I have 3 presses and have had several others, and I personally wouldn't bother with a reg single as I see no benefit. My Lyman 8 has virtually zero slop or movement (though I did do a little work to make that perfect) and my zero has none. The other is a dillon so.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 99mpower