T-7 Turret reloading press

[Elmer Fudd]

Any one have experience with this press. I am starting to re-load my ammo, it's just getting to expensive and with a 338 AX in it's infancy i best get some experience with the weapons I already own. I'm leaning towards this unit because of the turret and it's ability to hold multiple dies, my only concern, does the turret have any play in it when resizing my brass or seating bullets, especially for my 300 WM and the soon to be born 338. I will be reloading the following and i'm aware of the fact i will need multiple turrets: Rifles are 338 AX, AR15, 300 WM, and 7MM STW. Handguns are 45 ACP, 10 MM, 9 MM, 38 SP, and S&W 500. S&W 500 is in my cross-hairs, don't own it yet.
Any help is mucho appreciated, heck if there's a better turret spit it out, let me know!
gun) here's a link: http://www.redding-reloading.com/in...view=article&id=49:t-7-turret-reloading-press

 

[boomtube]

It's certain the T-7 is the "best" of the common type turrets but it's still a turret; IF it didn't have some vertical "slop" in the center pivot bolt you couldn't turn it! If it's tight enough to eliminate most of the slop it will be difficult to turn and still get it to index precisely at each die station.

Don't know why you are interested in a conventional turret but, in my experience, such turrets have no valid up-side, especially so if you load for more than two or three calibers, but they do have several down-sides.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

Thanks Boomtube, I think I will stick with the original plan of getting a single stage press. Plus they're cheaper and apparently more reliable too!
Favorite Press?
gun)

 

[flashhole]

The Lee Classic Turret is a different design. I have two Redding Ultramags and a Lee Classic Cast single stage in addition to the Lee Turret. I load for 45-70, 7mm Rem Mag, 25-06, 223 Rem, 221 Fireball, and 40 S&W. Ammo made on the Lee Classic Turret is every bit as accurate as that made on the single stage presses.

 

[Scout1]

Fudd, never let yourself be talked out of something by someone who doesn't own or use one. I have had the T-7 for about 9 months now and absolutly love it. If there is any slop in mine, I cant see or feel it and my ammo is just as accurate as it was on a single stage Rock Chucker.
The time savings alone have given this press an A+ in my book, and like I said it's rock solid. I bought the priming system as well. That does take a little getting used to as the feel is totaly different.

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss144/tofu122/Custom500SW026.jpg" border="0" alt="New T-7"></a>

 

[Elmer Fudd]

Thanks guys, after much thought and deliberation I decided to go with the T-7. If for some reason the turret design does not work for my rifles I will have no issues with using it on my pistols. At that point I'll just get a single stage press or the Lee turret.

gun)

 

[Broz]

Been using the T-7 for over two years now. It is an awesome press and produces the truest ammo I have ever loaded, when used with the Redding Bushing dies. I have my total indicated runout down to .0005" average.

There are some special ways to set dies up for the T-7. The directions that come with dies (even redding dies) do not always apply when using the T-7 press. I learned a lot in a conversation with Robin from Redding. Great Guy!! Once you get to doing this you will be in love. I set all my dies up to contact the shell holder with a light camover. This actually slightly lifts the turret head so it can come to rest on the machined stop oposite the ram. Doing this brings the turret into perfct squareness to the ram. This also allows perfect repeatability for changing dies and getting back to the same point.

By usng the cam over method the press is less sensitive to how you lower the ram handle in respect to seating depth of a bullet too. It will amaze you how they all will be the same length.

Using this method to full length size requires a set of stepped shellholders to adjust the amount of shoulder bump-back. But, once you find the correct amount of step in the shellholder, you will be able to remove and replace the die and get it rightback to the exact same amount of sizing. This is repeatable because you are bottoming the die against the shellholder and their is no room for air in adjustment up or down. As long as you are camming over and using the same stepped SH you will be spot on each time.

Aother tip is to leave the die lock ring loose until you are cammed over and have pressure on the die and turret. Now that all is square to each other, lock down the ring.

Good luck with that new press and if anyone has one they don't like, I would like to have a second one.

Jeff

 

[bigngreen]

I know of some mighty fine ammo made on turret presses, one of the nicest things about them is you can get them set and leave them set, no swapping out a die every process which I find a pain in the hind end, unfortunately the old man hogs the turret press and I have to bum the RCBS, I really should get another turret for myself!

 

[Elmer Fudd]

Broz, that is some great info thanks for taking the time to write it.

gun)

 

[flashhole]

I think you will be very happy with your choice.

 

[MrMajestic]

I have a T-7 and a Big Boss. I use the turret for pistol and .223 size cases and the Big Boss for the .308 and up. I just feel like I am abusing my turret with the big stuff. they both are fantastic presses as with all things Redding!

 

[LewisH]

I've been loading on the previous iteration of the T7, the model #25, for close to 40 years now, and it stills work just fine, e.g. minimal run-out, same OAL, etc.. I use the #25 as a single, or multi-stage press, as needed.

The newer T7 machine looks to be the same, except for the primer feed (the old one works beautifully), but the price has increased by several hundred percent.

I do all my reloading on the #25 and an aging Dillon 450. Once you use a multi-stage or progressive press, the dedicated single stage press seems slow and awkward.

 

[DrMike]

I've used a T-7 for over two years. It was an excellent move on my part. I reload for a variety of rifle cartridges ranging from 223 to 375 Ruger and quite a few cartridges in between. There is no "slop" in my unit, and it is used almost every day.

 

[boomtube]

I'm not trying to talk anyone into or out of anything, really don't care what anyone else does, I was just pointlng out the obvious. Certainly the T-7 works, as does any other press. There has to have some amount of slack in the head or it couldn't turn. That's a clear mechanical fact, not an unjustified slander against the T-7 and I'm sure it won't make a bit of difference for some tasks.

Fact is, all presses have some amount of deflection and anyone with a dial indicator on a magnetic stand can easily measure it. It's up to the user to decide if the extra amount of a turret's head deflection makes any difference to him.

The Lee turret mechanism is a truly unique and excellant design but Lee wasn't the question.