too many separate operations...looking for an accurate turret press. Is there any such thing? Opinions please.

[yankee outlaw]

T 7
with extra turrets

 

[milo-2]

our family currently have a dillon 650xl progressive and a rcbs single stage lil partner press. With the added operations of full length S die, then inserting the mandrel to set neck tension, then powder drop bullet seating and crimp with a Lee FCD.. I'm thinking hard about a rcbs T-7 turret press. With this add inaccuracy to my reloads?
Maybe a different turret press? Just trying to save time

Correct me if I am wrong, it sounds like you want a 7 station turret press to be operated in progressive press fashion?
If so, someone again correct me, but I think with the 419 zero, you need to loosen a screw to rotate the turret, then lock it down again.
I have a T7, at one point 4 turrets, I no longer use it other than to decap if needed and pull bullets. I found, by storing my dies in drawer type storage directly underneath my press's, coax's suit My needs the best. Though you will never drop powder from a coax.
No matter what you buy, looks like it is one stroke of the handle for each process.

 

[milboltnut]

That's what I like about the turret, you can drop powder with the rest of the dies once you get the load you want. I like it primarily for pistol cartridges.

 

[Kansaswoodguy]

I had an RCBS turret and wore it out. I now have a Redding T7 and a Forester Co-ax I like them both.

 

[Shawn Carverelli]

I really like the area 419 but not enough to plunk down a stack of cash that large. The T-7 is a sturdy and more than capable of making bench rest quality ammo. Recently, Creedmoor Sports has kicked it up a notch with a newly designed and built a turret upgrade.

my thought prexactly..just ordered the T-7 from midway

The Dillon 550 or 650 are great options too. I know you bought one already but for next time

we have a dillon 650 as well

 

[RED MIST]

I bought a Area 419 press, expensive yes. But is an amazing press and very well built. If you get a chance to play with one, it may follow you home like mine did.

 

[memtb]

our family currently have a dillon 650xl progressive and a rcbs single stage lil partner press. With the added operations of full length S die, then inserting the mandrel to set neck tension, then powder drop bullet seating and crimp with a Lee FCD.. I'm thinking hard about a rcbs T-7 turret press. With this add inaccuracy to my reloads?
Maybe a different turret press? Just trying to save time

I guess that it depends upon what your expectations are!

I use a Lyman Turret, and assume it's no better than the RCBS, and without extreme measures can produce rounds capable of well under 2", 3 shot groups @ 300 yards from my 9 pound, large'ish caliber hunting rifle.

If your goal is 1000 plus yard competitive shooting or very long range hunting....it may not meet your needs! I do neither! memtb

 

[milo-2]

I guess that it depends upon what your expectations are!

I use a Lyman Turret, and assume it's no better than the RCBS, and without extreme measures can produce rounds capable of well under 2", 3 shot groups @ 300 yards from my 9 pound, large'ish caliber hunting rifle.

If your goal is 1000 plus yard competitive shooting or very long range hunting....it may not meet your needs! I do neither! memtb

Doesn't the Lyman have that anti flex post on the back end? Flex is why my T7 sits idle. I only know of one RCBS turret, that thing looked weak.

 

[Mike D Texas]

The only complaint I have about my T7 is there is some play in the turret head. I find some inconsistencies in seating depth when using it. I don't or at least very rarely have that issue on my Co-Ax.

I do have it set up to load pistol Ammo with the Hornady Bullet feeder dies and tubes as well as a powder drop station. Makes the monotony of loading pistol rounds way less painful.

 

[Arkansasdad]

Just do the Forester Coax and don't look back, what happens when you have more than 7 operations for the T7? The dies on the Coax are quick change and floating so you get the best of both worlds, plus no shellholders seems to add accuracy IMO.
I had the same idea and ran out of slots on my Lyman. Also the head does flex a little. The coax is so much faster to change and way more accurate. I keep the American 8 for my niche calibers like 44mag and 30-30

I have 4 turret plates that can be changed in about 2 minutes, you never have to change out the dies and they never need adjusting from taking them out of the plate. These are for the cartridges I load for myself and have dedicated loads for each of the cartridges, when I am building a load I have to start from scratch like always but after I get a recipe set up there is no more adjusting. Never have I had a problem with shell holders just snap in the one you need and get after it. I check my turret at intervals and for 20 years the
T-7 is within .003" with 30 lbs. on the handle, that is miraculous when a RCBS is around .017". Happy shooting.

 

[Arkansasdad]

The only complaint I have about my T7 is there is some play in the turret head. I find some inconsistencies in seating depth when using it. I don't or at least very rarely have that issue on my Co-Ax.

I do have it set up to load pistol Ammo with the Hornady Bullet feeder dies and tubes as well as a powder drop station. Makes the monotony of loading pistol rounds way less painful.

I have never seen a T-7 with much slack in the turret plate. Take it apart and check for grime, clean it and retorque to 35 in/lbs if there is still excessive runout send if back to Redding they are very good about standing behind their products. The way I check a turret press is; put a indicator on the back of the press out to the edge and hang a 30 lb. weight on the handle at the 90° angle on the handle the indicator should not move more than .005" if it does and the mating flanges are clean and the retaining bolt is torqued something is not machined correctly. Happy shooting.

 

[Beluebow]

I bought the Area 419 press a few months back.....unfortunately it's still in the box. I like hearing the good feedback.

 

[Wrenches]

I have a T7 and just recently installed a Creedmoor Sports turret head. I believe the runout is 0, but I have not mounted a dial indicator and checked yet but I will. I noticed the thread fit of the dies is much better and the detents are more positive when engaged. So far I have only loaded 500 rounds of 30-06 for my match M1's. I will post more as I use this combo on other cartridges'. So far I'm impressed.

 

[GrayCreed]

Here is another option, so you are loading on the XL650 why not just have a head for brass prep? I am looking at doing the same thing for my XL750. I will tumble the brass then anneal. Them the stations will be set up as follows.

Brass prep head:
1. Sizing/decaping
2. Swaging
3. Empty
4. Trimming (I'm trying to figure out how to use the lee trimmer since the Dillon is so expensive)
5. Empty.

More wet tumbling will occur after brass prep.

Loading head:
1. Neck mandrill (instead of sizing)
2. Prime/charge with powder.
3. Bullet feeder
4. Seating
5. Crimping

If I am not crimping or decide I want a powder check I'll advancing seating and the bullet feeder to stations 4,5 and maybe combine seating/crimping.