Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best reloading investments

Who has the best Turret Press for the $


I see a lot of good reviews of the Redding T-7 Turret press but what about the RCBS Turret press? They are 40% less that the T-7 but How does it rate?

Anyone say chronograph yet? Been using a Caldwell but may get a ProChrono as per JB's recommendation.

Good reminder. I've been using an Oehler 35 for almost 20 years now. Amortizing the cost over that length of time I'd call it a great investment.

Love my Magnetospeed. Will never go back to a screen chrono

This and my Dillon 550b press.

personal experince and knowledge , [bleep] the internet

Sinclair Ultimate Case Trimmer & Lyman Case Prep Center seem to make my reloading a bit more enjoyable!

Your eyes and common sense.

For years, I've read on this and other boards about problems associated with dies and related equipment. It doesn't matter which manufacturer you choose, make sure you read their instructions. If you do not understand, read them again. Die adjustments seem to be a problem for many people.

Most companies have websites these days. Gotta question? Ask the manufacturer. Some aren't the quickest to respond, but they will get you the help you need.

Many manufacturers have videos. Watch them.

+1

Yep, far and away the best tool I've bought in years. It saves wear and tear on the body. Less fatigue on the hands allows you to prep a lot more brass. I've always hated the prep work, it's kind of like 4 play in reloading. All the other chit the OP suggested, doesn't even compare to this piece of equipment. I can weigh my charges on a scale or drop powder from my uni-flo powder measure. That chit is painless, easy and fast with simple equipment like a good beam scale, powder measure and trickler.

Components.

JDS Quick Measure and Sinclair hand priming tool.

Reloading Dies, a SET cost the same price as a box of premium bullets...

and lasts a lot longer!

Recently bought a Dillion Super Swage 600, for primer pocket crimp removal

Don't know how I've lived without that thing all these years....

$100.00, but if you reload 223, what a simple idea and it seems well built.

Thanks to Higbean for the suggestion....

Everyone needs a concentricity gauge to measure bullet runout. Everyone, no matter if you are just starting to reload or been doing it for years.

I have a Sinclair concentricity gauge. I use it on occasion, as needed. It isn't something I use all the time. It can be very revealing of bad dies, or bad practices for sure. And when you need it, you really need it.

Magnetospeed is great too. No way would I go back to a chrono with skyscreens. Life is too short for that crap. Painstaking setup. Finicky light. Missed shots. I went through several different models with skyscreens. Never again.

Knew of a priest who turned out amazingly accurate ammunition while dressed for work.

Proof positive that the Lord looks out for Catholics.

Lee loaders and an auto-prime, plus an electronic powder scale. They combine to make load development at the range simple.

Ditto.

Somebody else was bragging on how much time the Frankford T&P Center saved on trimming and chamfering brass. Then I told him my Gracey trims and chamfers 15-20 a minute, and he was astonished.. (The Giraud may be even faster than the Gracey, since it has a more powerful motor. I dunno, having never timed one.) Many of the tools handloaders choose are indeed an upgrade from what they had before, but are only comparisons of two tools, not several.

A lot depends on your purpose in handloading. Are you after precision or speed? Or are you looking for the best compromise for both? I've tried several progressive presses, and haven't found one that consistently produces precise enough rifle ammo for my purposes--but one of the same models may be fine for somebody else. In fact I know they can be, because a friend uses one and is very happy. But he doesn't desire as much accuracy as I do.

Many people have told me how much faster their loading is with an electronic scale/measure, since they can be seating a bullet while the next charge is dropping. But I've done a bunch of time/motion handloading tests, and a correctly used mechanical measure beats any electronic scale I've tried in speed, by a wide margin, and with the right powders and techniques in precision as well. Plus, none of the popular electronic scales I've tested have been as accurate as a good balance scale, though properly used they're close enough for most handloading.

It also depends on how much you want to spend. I got a good deal on a used Gracey trimmer, but with shellholders it still cost twice as much as Frankford. It was worth it to me, however, because I do considerable trimming of some cartridges, often batches of several hundred.