Turret Presses

00bullitt

Online Training Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 15, 2011
428
35
49
United States
Looking to get a turret press. Curious as to which you guys would recommend.
The RCBS and Redding T7 both look nice but there is also a $70 price difference.

My RockChucker has been good to me so I was leaning toward the RCBS.
 
I would go with the Redding T7. It is on my "to do" list in the near future. I feel that the turret on the Redding has the least possible flex and therefore will produce the most consistent ammo. My gunsmith who is a record holding benchrest guy uses one and that speaks volumes to me.

The Capn'
 
Brownells sent me a T7 by mistake last month. Strange I ordered some solvent and a cleaning rod and ended up getting a 37 pound package that included what I ordered and the Redding.

I struggled with my conscience as I checked out that fine peice of iron but the day I received it I called and got an RMA from them.

I didnt get to use it but that press looked really well made.
 
Absolutely love my T7. Thing will survive a nuclear war. It is my favorite piece of reloading equipment, just in front of my Chargemaster. No experience w/ the RCBS turret press, but I can absolutely recommend the T7 as 'worth the investment.' Good luck!
 
I had planned on a Ty for a while. They are very solid, very nice presses.

As fate would have it, however, my father passed away in April, and left me an RCBS Turret. I have used it a little, and, while I think the Redding is probably a little beefier, the RCBS is a nice press. I particularly like the on-press priming system.
 
Nope, no test data...the quality difference is obvious without the scientific method. If the cheap press works for you, then by all means, rock on....but for most of us, that simply isnt so.
 
I'm more than happy with my T7. The spent primer system works good with probably 98% of the primers going down into the tube. I cut some rubber to fill the slot in the ram and its 100% of spent primers in the tube now. The side bar priming system works great, no need to handle cases again to hand prime. Changing turrets is simple. I made up a couple turret stands out of delrin. Would recommend to anyone
 
There is nothing cheap or chinsy about the Lee Classic Turret press. It is one of the best presses on the market today. The Lee ring capture design is radically different from the center post design used by Redding. Both are good presses but for someone to say the Lee design/prduct is inferior is BS. I have both Lee and Redding presses on my bench. I like both and appreciate both for their godd qualities. If I didn't like them I wouldn't own them.
 
There are reloading snobs just as there are firearm snobs, each to their own. I've ran a Lee Classic Turret for a couple years now and it gives very consistent results (for me). The OP ask about 2 certain presses is why I hadn't responded to this thread before though. I'm not saying it's better or maybe even as good (as I've never tried either of the two mentioned) but I will say it's a dang good piece of equipment for the money!
 
Last edited:
I use a harrels turret. Awesome piece of equipment. As far as the lee goes you do get very concentric ammo on a lee and i attribute that to the fact that you dont get the deflection of the center post design as the turret is fully supported and has just enough play to self center the die
 
I have the T7 and a Lyman Tmag. Both are well made with the Redding being a bit better. Interesting I tend to use the Tmag more probably because turrets were set up first. Both produce quality ammo with little run out.
 
I have a T-7 and i would highly recommend it. build strong and made to last, also their customer service is A+ in my book. Loaded also 20,000 rounds on my press so far and its still going stong.
 
I have loaded tens of thousands of rifle and pistol round on my Lyman Tmag with no complaints. And its still as solid as it was new. Having said that, I believe the reputation of the T7 is that its a cut above the Tmag. As far as the Lee, I've seen broken linkage on the Lees. While the baseplate seems solid, it feels like the linkage is made of pot metal. I've spent too much time tryin to get the Lee progressive press to run for a friend who got one for free. He replaced all the worn parts with new and it was still garbage. Not worth the hassle.
 
Why a turret press?

To me, they are neither fish nor fowl.

I have a single stage Lyman and a Dillion 650. Makes more sense to me.

For me no die swapping. I have two calibers set up on one turret, T7. Full length, neck size, and competition seating dies in .308 and .223. Universal decapper for the odd time I run stainless to clean range brass (used one session). I have not had a measurable dimmension change on any of my dies or the press in four years. I have a second head for .30-06 and .270 but haven't loaded them yet. To be honest I'll probably pull the Universal and .223 neck sizer and put a .30-06 sizing and seater on.

I still have my RCBS Rock Chucker set up for odd caliber and bullet pulling and a Lee Loadmaster for pistol. I've considered a second Loadmaster so I don't have to change primer size but I don't load as much pistol ammo as I used to. My first 1000 or so .45 ACP rounds were on the RCBS as were my first 100 or so rifle rounds.

I've seen the turret pistol method but it seems like progressive would be better there.
 
There is a huge advantage of the turret over a 550B because the Dillon powder measure sucks with extruded powders. I seat the bullet while the Chargmaster throws the next charge. super fast and accurate.
 
I run the T7 and I can't think of a better press for my needs. I have owned a Harrells single stage, and loved it, and many Redding single stage presses, and loved them too. I have the Lee 50 BMG kit, but have yet to break it out of the box. This winter will be 50 BMG brass prep.
I think that if one has confidence in a certain brand, then carry on. But if your the kind of guy that gets off on buying the least costly tool to do the job, then carry on as well. Pride of ownership is a factor for me, so I run my T7. Best of luck OP!
 
T7 loaded to the top, have 3 calibers set on it, .308, 7.62x54r and .338LM, full size and seater dies (Redding, RCBS and Lee), I use the 7th hole for decapper and bullet puller, whatever is needed at the time. Only good things to say about it, no issue.
Good shooting.