Turret press question

[jason8251]

I'm fairly new to reloading and wanted to speed the process up a bit by going to a turret press. My question is that I cant really figure out how a turrett presss is that much faster. I am reloading for .223 and .308 auto-loaders.

1. I tumble cases after I resize (full length) to remove any lube.
2. I trim and chamfer after I tumble.

Since I have to remove the cases from the press to do this where am I saving the time in the process by using a turrett press? Am I doing too much everytime as in trimming cases and tumbling after I resize?

 

[HBARLeatherneck]

Re: Turret press question

well, for one you dont have to keep reinstalling dies. for example i have a rcbs rockchucker and a dillon 650. on my rockchucker, i have to decap and size. then unscrew the die, rescrew in the seating die, then adjust it, check it etc. and then repeat the next time. with the turret you can install your dies and leave them once they are adjusted. (of course depending on brand you may have to switch between calibers.) the Dillon BL 550 Basic Loader
is $259. and has switchable toolheads, that would speed you up, and is reasonably priced.

 

[zuke]

Re: Turret press question

Yep, what he said!
Set'em up and when you want to use then again you just pop in the turret.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Turret press question

But...that is just in the changing of the dies. The reloading time is not changed. With a Coax press, which is not a turret, the dies are set, then slide in and out in a second or two. I'd consider a Dillon 550 if you want more speed. JMHO

 

[LR-WSM]

Re: Turret press question

Take a look at the Redding T-7 Turret press

7 die holes equal the abiltiy to have a head loaded for 3 different cartridges with 1 hole left for a powder dispenser. All this coupled with a primer feed tube (quick change from Lg to Sm primers) but the process is pretty speedy. The trick is finding a powder that will meter consistantly through your chosen powder dispenser. For your .223 & .308, IMR-8208XBR will fit that bill.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Turret press question

The turret is not really faster than a single like the Rock Chucker. The only "speed" advantage is about 5 minutes swapping the die. If you are only running ten rounds to test a load it is nice to just turn the head to the die you need. One of the best time savers I can give you is large batch preping for brass. I did 700 cases last week from once fired GI to primed and bagged. Now when I want 53 for a match it'll take about 45 minutes to add powder and seat bullets.

My process is probably similar to yours:
1. Tumble 250 pieces of 5.56 brass or 175 7.62, run about one hour to clean off range dust and dirt.
2. Put them in a gallon bag spray lube then size and deprime. (I used to deprime before I tumbled but I didn't gain anything this way.)
3. Trim.
4. Ultrasonic to remove lube and clean. (Just started with the ultrasonic used to Tumble here.) Let cases dry, added time but I don't have to brush out primer pocets before I deswage them.
5. Deswage primer pocket if needed. (I reload a lot of military brass.)
6. Prime, I use an RCBS hand seater.
7. Powder, I have a Pact scale dispenser combo.
8. Seat bullets, I can't seat as I dispense powder because my bench vibrates and disturbs the dispenser. I've considered a seperate tabe like a car table for dispensing powder.

The nice thing is I can break it into nights. 1 and 2 can be a night or two for big batches, size about 350-400 an hour. Trimming can be a night or two depending on how much TV I watch while I trim, 120-180 an hour. The ultrasonic cleaner is four 6 minute runs for 100 shells. Then about ten minutes to fish them out, rinse, shake in a towel to get the water off and dump on a cookie sheet to dry. Either start in a warm (170 degree) oven or just set out over night. Deswage watching TV a couple hundred an hour. Priming is just as fast. Most of the time I can be social or watch TV doing all this. After preping and priming shells it takes about 40-45 minutes to dispense 50 rounds of powder. If you can seat while the dispenser runs it keeps up with you. If not it's about 10 minutes to seat the bullets. As you can see the press and die time isn't as important as the process.

EDIT: I run the T-7 for production but still have my RCBS Rock Chucker on my bench with a collet puller in it. I've thought about trying it for priming.

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Re: Turret press question

am trying to decide between T-7 and Coax--understand the turret
press and having more turrets but how is it on the Coax that you do not have to adjust die each time--isn't a single-stage like
the Rockchucker?

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Turret press question

with the co-ax you can go from die to die in less than 2 seconds, and NEVER lose its adjustment, the dies simply slide in-n-out and float front to back, no shell holders are required, the shells float side to side, the co-ax has alot more mechanical advantage v T7, and has the best spent primer retention system in the industry, if I didn't have a co-ax I would have a T7

 

[polish handgunner]

Re: Turret press question

I use both a Dillon 550B and a Redding T-7.
My t-7 is set up for 6.5 Grendel and 6.8SPC.
This is a convenient set up for reloading 5-50 cases.

The first step i resize and prime all the cases for that sitting.
Then i drop powder in the case from a bench mounted powder measure.
The next step i seat a bullet in the case.
I am done.

If i change caliber i merely have to change a shellholder.

 

[glocksig40]

Re: Turret press question

I use Redding T7 and the benefit of having 7 holes in the top is like what has been mentioned in not having to stop and change dies, plus you can set up both the .308 and the .223 you mentioned without having to remove either of the dies. You can switch from one caliber to the other in a simple turn of the head and shell holder change. I used a rock chucker before and just the ease of being able to swap easy is worth the little extra cost of a new press. If youre trying to save money or not in a hurry to buy, shop around places like the hide and Craigslist or ebay for a used one. You will understand the difference once you get one no matter which you choose. Keep the single die press for dedicated Lee auto-prime or something else, you will use it again for something.

 

[fw707]

Re: Turret press question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> if I didn't have a co-ax I would have a T7 </div></div>

I had a T7 and recently replaced it with a Co-ax press. No complaints on the T7, but I like the quick die change and the shell holder on the Co-ax. I like the primer seater too. It's slow, but seems to be very precise.
After a Rockchucker, a Lee, and a T7, the Co-ax is the last press I'll own.