Single stage vs turret for my first press

I just got back into loading six years ago after about a ten year hiatus. So I naturally purchased a Lyman Crusher like my old Orange Crusher since I was familiar with it and it worked great. I wish I had done more research because if I had I would have purchased the Lee Classic Cast Turret. But since I already had the Lyman I just added the cheap little Lee C-press and use it to charge cases to help speed up the process. Now for volume loading I have a Lee Loadmaster for 9mm, .38, and .357. But for rifle and my .41 Mag I still use single stage since I shoot these at a lower volume.
 
I have had a "few" presses and the Lee Classic Turret 4 hole has been my favorite, do-it-all, press.

Faster than single but can still be ran like one. The powder measure system has been uber accurate.

I am going to go run a few 380, 9mm, 40, 45, 223 and 308 just for giggles. Change the turrets and primers...off to the next caliber.
 
mikejonestkd said:
The Lee classic turret is a great press - you only have to set up dies once, caliber changes are as simple as swapping turret heads, you can run it with or without auto indexing, and its built like a tank.

I've had mine for about 6 years and its the best press for a person that loads a few hundred rounds of multiple calibers on a regular basis.
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+1
No better entry-level press available. I seriously don't understand why people continue to buy the green boat-anchors.
 
I'm another who started with a Lee Classic Turret, with no regrets. I didn't disable the auto-index as some did - I just started slowly, and watched each step so that I understood it. For me, connecting the steps by seeing them in sequence helped me understand it better. Different folks minds work in different ways, though, and some people have told me mine is more different than some. :D

The caliber changes are fast and easy, and it takes me around 20 minutes to make a box these days.

I got a kit from Kempf Gun Shop. It is not the standard Lee kit - it is something the Kempfs put together themselves. You get the LCT press, primer feeder, and your choice of powder devices (mine is the AutoDisk Pro, before the drum measure came out), and your choice of die sets, all at a reasonable price. They throw in a couple of ammo boxes and leave out the Lee scale, which doesn't get uniformly good reviews. Pick your own scale, add a caliper and some components, and you can be up and running with just an evening or two of setup and tinkering with adjustments. Adding a caliber costs the price of a die set and three or four bucks for an extra turret.
 
I agree...but

TailGator said:
The caliber changes are fast and easy, and it takes me around 20 minutes to make a box these days.
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Sounds about right. I did 100 rounds in 47 minutes my first time out and that includes filling the powder measure and primer feeds and boxing and labeling the finished product.

I got a kit from Kempf Gun Shop. It is not the standard Lee kit - it is something the Kempfs put together themselves.
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I had dealings with Sue Kempf. She is a good person.
You get the LCT press, primer feeder, and your choice of powder devices (mine is the AutoDisk Pro, before the drum measure came out), and your choice of die sets, all at a reasonable price. They throw in a couple of ammo boxes and leave out the Lee scale, which doesn't get uniformly good reviews. Pick your own scale, add a caliper and some components, and you can be up and running with just an evening or two of setup and tinkering with adjustments.
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And that was a brilliant marketing move. Many people prefer a different scale. The Lee scale is accurate as any, but using its vernier takes some care and education. Plus the vernier is hard to read unless you put the scale up at eye level.
Adding a caliber costs the price of a die set and three or four bucks for an extra turret.
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??? $10 to $14 is the prices I have seen. I would buy a couple just on speculation I would add more calibers in the future if I could get them for $3 or $4.

Lost Sheep
 
I have a turret; it is a Herter 6 position turret. There is no down side, in the beginning I used it to form cases. I also have a two ram press, ideal for case forming; form on one ram and size on the other. If for some reason I do not get the results I want I am not required to start over.

And then there are advantages to the old Herter presses, Herter presses are cam over presses; cam over presses were referred to as being bump presses before the Internet. and now 'bump' is used for the immediate acceptance on reloading forums, something like mowing your lawn.

F. Guffey
 
??? $10 to $14 is the prices I have seen. I would buy a couple just on speculation I would add more calibers in the future if I could get them for $3 or $4.
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You are completely correct. Brain cramp on my part. Thanks for the correction.

And yes, everyone I dealt with at the Kempf shop was kind and helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely a firm I would (and have) used again.
 
Adding dies and quick changes; My Herter turret is a 6 position 'sort of' quick change. Additional a turret was not necessary; for those with a few shop skills. The turret could have been sent back to Herter to have an additional 6 positions added with detents.

F. Guffey
 
I have a 550 Dillon, an old Rock Chucker I upgraded to in the mid to late 1970's,a Lee Classic Cast Single Stage, and an old Lyman Spartan T set up in my reloading room.
I have the Spartan T set up to load my 357 Maximum ammunition for my Contender. I have 5 RCBS dies in it, and a spare hole. Sizer, Case Bell, Seater Die, Taper Crimp, and Roll Crimp. I prime on an RCBS Bench Tool, and throw the powder charges on my old Uniflow. I guess I could Bell on a Powder Through die and throw the powder at the same time I bell and save a step.
I have loaded more ammo on the Spartan T in the last month, than has been loaded on it the last 20 years. I think I gave $30 for it. I have been working up loads using both 360 Dan Wesson brass, and 357 Maximum brass. The more I use it, the better I like it.
The Redding T7 mentioned above is probably the Cadallac of new T's. I would have no problem with a new Lyman T either. The Lee Classic Tee with the cast iron & steel frame is probably the best buy however. Additional tops are around $14. I would rather it had 5 or 6 holes, but most can live with only 4 holes.

Bob
 
I ended up getting a Hornady Lock and Load single stage press. I may upgrade to a turret press later. I have enough room for more than one press.
 
Based on your requirements, look at a Dillon Square Deal. Ideal for all pistol calibers. Nothing says you can't learn on a progressive. They can even be used as a single stage if you like. Since you shoot a lot, you will quickly tire of a lesser unit.
 
The best advice given to me, when I started loading yrs ago, was by an OLD timer who reloaded EVERYTHING, at one time or another! He said start with a Single Stage press, you'll learn WHY/HOW the actual process works. Time will tell you when to graduate to Progressive press! 100% worked for me!
 
I've Been reloading for over 25 years on a single sage RCBS Rockchucker. Great press, but I don't reload more then 50 rounds per week. If I were shooting more to save time, would have went with something else. For my needs the Rockchucker is perfect.
 
My first press was a RCBS RS Single Stage, it has served me well and is still working strong. From there I graduated to a Dillon XL650, while the expense was high, it served me well till I kinda walked away from the hobby. After a 10yr hiatus I came back and started again with my RS, I liked the simplicity of it over the tinkering i felt i had to do with the Dillon (mind you I decided to work up my loads again). Well that got old and instead of going back to the Dillon I decided to get the Lee Classic Turret.
Love the thing, it gets me plenty of speed, and as I've gotten older helps me make sure I'm not screwing up. All my calibers are set up for the LCT, 8 in total.

I've also picked up a Lee Classic Cast Single stage press. In comparison to the RCBS RS... there is none. Everything is heavy duty and the leverage is incredible. For my Rifle reloading I generally only do about 20 to 50 loads at a time, so a single stage is perfect.

Now that I have my loads where I want them and plenty of brass (I'm talking thousand plus for most of my calibers) the Dillon will be set up for 9mm, 357mag and 45ACP. I can easily do 500 an hour on it, and all quality loads.

So in many ways I've gone full circle... started with single stage, went to progressive back to semi progressive, single and now back to progressive. Mind you, that's a 28yr span.
 
There is no reason to start with a single stage...anyone ( who can read an understand an instruction manual ) can learn to reload safely and consistently using a progressive.

Picking a press is a budget issue.../ I prefer the Dillon 650 with a case feeder for handgun ammo ( volume is very good - at about 20 boxes an hour ).../ or the Hornaday LNL is a solid press as well .../ my 3rd option would be the Dillon SDB if all you want to do is handgun ammo ( no case feeder, no powder check option and they use a proprietary die for that press ) --- but its a solid choice.

Beyond budget ...consider a press that allows a "powder check" die option ..so you're into the Dillon 650 or Hornaday LNL.

My oldest son is going thru this now....and he just bought the Dillon 650 ( no case feeder yet to save some money ) but because it has the powder check its a solid long term option. He saved a few bucks by not buying options that he wanted - but that come later as well ....strong mount, roller handle, etc ...
 
I have the Lee Cast Turret, and over the past 3 years I've had it, have loaded many thousands of handgun rounds. I can usually load 150 or so per hour, at a "casual" pace where I can still see everything going on (powder charge, etc). I probably shoot enough to justify a progressive, but I have more time than money. Besides, I started to reload to save money, and the turret has done that. It has paid for itself several times, and I'm likely to never wear it out. Realistically, for me anyway, a progressive is a "want", not a "need" and if I bought one, it would have to do a lot of work to pay for itself, when I already have a press that has. I would recommend that press to anyone without hesitation.

I remove the indexing rod and use it for rifle reloading as well. The cool thing there is, when I'm ready for the next die, I simply spin the tool head and it's right there, already adjusted.........
 
Lots of good things to be said about both style of presses.

Myself, I started packing shells in April '63, but not with a press.

I got my first press I think during 1966. Been there ever since that time.

We used to shoot close to 1200 rounds per month, but as age crept in have slowed down quite bit.

I had a progressive once, a Green Machine. Traded it for a Rock Chunker. Never regretted that one.

I have and still use RCBS Jr and Rock Chunker presses exclusively for all this time. They make first quality ammunition.
 
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