Which Press (Poll)

[308sc]

Alright...Alright I know what you guys are thinking "not another Thread/Poll from this guy"

I am going to get a new press that should last me awhile. I am looking for something that produces rounds at a faster speed than a single stage press.

I will maybe be producing 500 pistol rounds and 250 rifle rounds per month...maybe a little less

308sc

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I like the Turret press's, with the dies, you'll spend around $130 and get 200 rounds/hour when its properly set up.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

For the quantities you're talking, a Lee Classic Turret would be ideal and do you a great job, along with being affordable. Don't waste your money on a progressive (overkill for you) or an old style turret press or the H presses (this won't be enough of an improvement to make it worth while and are expensive) or another single stage (again, very little production improvement.)

If I were you, I'd get and own these two presses: A Lee Classic Cast single stage (for accuracy work at extreme long ranges) and the Lee Classic turret press (for anything up to 300 yards and pistol). These two presses combined with a RCBS powder measure (for rifle), a Hornady case activated powder drop (for rifle on the Lee Classic Turret combined with the RCBS powder measure) and a Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder measure (for pistol) will load anything and everything most reloaders will want to load and give great results. The Lee Classic Turret will easily produce 200 rounds per hour and the Lee Classic Cast single stage is one of the better featured single stages out there right now. About the only single stage out there that's better is the Bonanza Coax (under new owner ship now, but same press).

With the above described setup, I can practically guarantee your needs will be met and you'll be very happy with price and performance.

BTW, Presses I've owned: Dillon 550B, Lyman T-mag turret press, RCBS Rock Chucker, RCBS partner press

Presses I own: Hornady LnL progressive, Lee Classic Turret and Lee Classic Cast single stage.

Other presses I've used and have regular access to: Lee Pro 1000, Lee Loadmaster, Dillon 650 and Bonanza Coax.

Just my .02,

Dave

 

[wally]

Progressive for pistol, single stage for rifle. See little advantage to a progressive for rifle unless you have a Dillion Aero progressive unloading machine

--wally.

 

[Eric F]

for that amount the lee clasic cast is all you will need. Progressive would be nice sit down for a day and load your whole years worth of pistol. take a day to convert over to rifle and load the 3rd day for a years worth of rifle. its what I do between Christmas and New Years.(well for the most part any way)

 

[mallc]

Dillion & Redding

For your volume, you need two new presses; A Dillon for pistol. And a Redding T7 for rifle. Oh, and a RCBS for sizing and trimming.

I too, have had several presses. LEE makes a great product at a great price. But its not the best product or the highest value. I currently have a LEE Anniversary set up with a dial comparitor.

Reloading equipment is a lot cheaper that boating equipment!

Scott

 

[Eric F]

Reloading equipment is a lot cheaper that boating equipment

boat
break out another thousand!

 

[Walkalong]

If you are watching expenses, get a Lee. It will work fine and save you money. If not, take a hard look at the Hornady LNL or RCBS progressive.

 

[308sc]

Good information from you all, I already have the Lee anniversary kit, I just want something a little bit faster.

 

[snuffy]

I voted "turret press" but only if it's the lee classic turret.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=814175

Don't be confused by what the others call theirs, while technically correct, the lee turret is totally different.

The Redding T-7 is actually a "C" type press with a mushroom top that rotates. To sequentially load a single shell you would have to rotate that top for each stage of the process, to present the proper die to the shell. That means the top must be loose enough to allow it to be turned, that introduces deviation of the dies to the centerline of the ram.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=588482

The lee can be set to automatically index with each ram stroke or be used as a single stage by removing the indexer. It also has a primer feed available as well as a powder measure activated by the shell.

Lee turret, $86.99
Redding turret, $211.99
Extra turrets for the lee $9.19
Extra turrets for the Redding, $49.99

No I don't work for Lee. But the classic turret fits your needs exactly.

I own a Dillon XL650. I just bought the lee classic turret. Why? Because I needed to set up to load for a new pistol. I could buy the lee turret for what it would cost for a caliber conversion for the dillon!

 

[308sc]

I think you are right Snuffy

 

[RustyFN]

Sorry double.

 

[RustyFN]

I voted for the turret ( Lee classic turret ) because I know you will be able to get close to 200 rounds per hour. I don't think the other brand turrets without the auto index will get close to that. I can load 200 RPH on mine at a comfortable pace, I don't like to rush when I'm reloading. I am not saying the other brand turrets aren't any good, I'm just saying if you are looking for more speed they aren't the way to go. I have talked to a few people that own other brand turrets and they have told me that they aren't much faster than a single stage press. Go to youtube and you will find many videos of the classic in operation.
Rusty

Edit:
Snuffy have you had a chance to use it yet? just wondering what you thought of it.
Rusty

 

[Ala Dan]

If you don't have an RCBS "Rockchucker Press", its time you get one~!

True, it won't compete with the progressive press; or even a turret; but
it gives you peace of mind, cuz you get to check each individual cartridge
from all stages of handloading~! Just my $.02 worth.

 

[rbernie]

Lee Classic cast turret press. You can set it up like a single stage, or you can use it as a turret press complete with auto-indexing.

It's also a hoss, and will likely be around long after we are all long gone.

 

[308sc]

I already have single stage press, so I am pretty sure that the Lee Classic Turret Press is exactly what I am looking for hanks guys you have all been of great help.

 

[snuffy]

Edit:
Snuffy have you had a chance to use it yet? just wondering what you thought of it.
Rusty

I sure have Rusty. In fact I just finished a box of the shells I bought it for, the 7.62 X 25 Tokorav for my CZ-52. I'm having some trouble with the safety prime, it sometimes fails to release a primer, but I need to let it break in a bit more. Maybe try to tweak the adjustment a little.

Later, I'm going to set-up a new turret with 45/70 dies, and commence loading some lead boolits for my buffalo classic.

I already have .223, 9mm, and .308 on other turrets. Plus one turret with a cast boolit expander, universal decapper, and .308 neck die in it.

Like rbernie said, it's a hoss! it's built every bit as heavy as a rockchucker, but is ten times faster.

 

[BullsEye10x]

Get a Lee Classic Turret, run the heck out of it, and don't look back!

snuffy - I had the same issue with my Safety Prime at first. It smoothed out after the first 50-100 rounds I made. There is also a bit of a learning curve to the way you have to press the trigger on the dispenser. Finally, make sure the dispenser is lined up perfectly with the primer arm on the ram and you should be good to go!

 

[distra]

Blue Kool-aide tastes good......550b kool-aide is tasty.

 

[Clark]

Once you go co-ax, you can't go back.

 

[lev83]

Lots of good presses on market today but for my money you just cant beat a single stage RCBS rockchuker.

 

[threefeathers]

The Lyman T Mag II is a great press from a great company.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

At 250 rifle rounds per month, I'm going to assume that bench rest accuracy is not needed, so a progressive could be used to speed up your pistol and rifle ammo production.

For a comparison of Dillon, Hornady and Lee progressive presses, look here: http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

I think the Hornady is better suited to rifle reloading than the others. Its PM is better suited to extruded powders, and individual dies can be removed/replaced easily (say for adding a shoulder bump die, or switching from neck to FL sizing, etc.)

Andy

 

[BullsEye10x]

That's a great article! Very informative and less opinionated than most of the other reviews I've read.

 

[Oberleutnant]

308sc

U want the facts on a new press.Well the best 4 the least outlay,is the Lee turret,or if U
want 2 go that xtra mile,The Loadmaster.Lee has,2 my knowledge the best variety of deis 4
loading,molds 4 casting ur own bullets,even lead ball 4 the blak powder reifels. Chek their
seite,es c 4 urself.No I'm not a Lee rep.,or salesperson, but they'v an xcellent product line,
es reputation,4 baking their equipt.The cost won't break ur bak or piggy bank,es u'll hav
many years of use frm them.I'm just a truthful user.-Charlie