Need help with Reloading equipment.

[Nickbowen5]

Hello,

I am a new member on this forum and have been pretty interested in guns for a long time now. I recently purchased a new Remington 700 in .308 and have decided to begin reloading for it. I kind of have my mind made up of the press that I want (RCBS Turret Press), but was hoping that other members could assess why certain other presses would be better for my situation. With that in mind though, I would like to stay within turret presses to allow me familiarity with the reloading process, but also be able to turn out large amounts of accurate ammunition.

On another note: I will be receiving another gun soon, so that will also factor into my decision. When, I choose this gun I will update the thread.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[chango17]

well if you are looking for accuracy and cconsistency in your loads then a turret press may not be what you want unless you are using a scale to weigh out each powder charge and not a powder dispenser especially with rifle rounds. I load for my .30-06 and when using the powder dispenser the charges can come out to as much as +/- 1 gr because of the larger cylindrical shaped pellet powders you are using. it is great for small rifle calibers like .223 and practically all pistol calibers because the powder is much finer and fills the dispesery reservoir very consistently.. also if you are just learning it will be more difficult to learn on a turret press because you are doing all the steps of reloading at once and can cause confusion and mistakes. it would be much better to learn on a single stage that way you can focus more on one step at a time and become familiar with it. good luck

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Yeah, turret presses are great! Plus, if you decide to get a progressive press later, you'll still be able to do small runs of ammo still on your turret press, if you don't want to do a caliber change on your progressive. In other words, I think your approach in starting with a "single stage" press is the correct approach.

There's nothing wrong with the RCBS press, and their customer service is equal only to Dillon, so I personally lover RCBS. However, I will say that if you've ever worked with a Redding press, you will be impressed! The tolerances are very tight, and they are fantastic machines, so consider the Redding T-7 before making up your mind.

Also, if the lowest price point is what you're after, don't overlook the Lee turret presses.

So, in summary, if you want the best quality and are willing to pay a bit more for it, get the Redding T-7. If you want a solid unit, backed by a reputable (California based) business, get the RCBS Turret press. If you want a good, versatile unit that will not "Break the bank", get the Lee Classic Turret press.

well if you are looking for accuracy and cconsistency in your loads then a turret press may not be what you want unless you are using a scale to weigh out each powder charge and not a powder dispenser especially with rifle rounds. I load for my .30-06 and when using the powder dispenser the charges can come out to as much as +/- 1 gr because of the larger cylindrical shaped pellet powders you are using. it is great for small rifle calibers like .223 and practically all pistol calibers because the powder is much finer and fills the dispesery reservoir very consistently.. also if you are just learning it will be more difficult to learn on a turret press because you are doing all the steps of reloading at once and can cause confusion and mistakes. it would be much better to learn on a single stage that way you can focus more on one step at a time and become familiar with it. good luck

I think you're confusing "turret press" with "progressive press". A turret press is simply a single stage press with a turret, so that you don't have to change out dies every time you want to switch calibers. You would charge the cases the same way you would on a Single Stage.

[Nickbowen5]

Thanks to the both of you on the feedback so far. I have noticed that many recommend the Lee Classic Turret Press, but also many bashing lee. Why is that? I do have the Redding T7 in mind and have also though about a single stage, but am thinking that if I personally plan on buying one press for the time being, which would be the most efficient in making large amounts of rounds while being accurate or favored by my gun. I am someone that likes to get a lot of bang for my buck, but am huge on the fact that what you pay for is what you get. With that being said, when I go to the shooting range every weekend I like to get my money's worth and try to fire upwards of 120 rounds (despite being a bolt-action). Which explains my mentality of Turret over Single stage, but please continue with any thoughts or opinions, because I may be influenced to change my mind.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Thanks to the both of you on the feedback so far. I have noticed that many recommend the Lee Classic Turret Press, but also many bashing lee. Why is that?

"Haters wanna hate." I own equipment from Lee, RCBS, Redding, Dillon, Lyman, and even Herters (now out of business) and with a few exceptions, all of their products work okay. Some people just like to bag on guys who buy the cheap stuff. Seeing as how I have a Dillon 650 and a Lee hand press, you can tell exactly how much I care about what they have to say.

I do have the Redding T7 in mind and have also though about a single stage, but am thinking that if I personally plan on buying one press for the time being, which would be the most efficient in making large amounts of rounds while being accurate or favored by my gun. I am someone that likes to get a lot of bang for my buck, but am huge on the fact that what you pay for is what you get. With that being said, when I go to the shooting range every weekend I like to get my money's worth and try to fire upwards of 120 rounds (despite being a bolt-action). Which explains my mentality of Turret over Single stage, but please continue with any thoughts or opinions, because I may be influenced to change my mind.

Well, I don't know if it matters but the T-7 does have one extra spot, as opposed to the RCBS, and 3 more than the Lee classic turret. So, on the Redding, you can put 2 rifle calibers and one pistol set on one turret. You'd be one die short on the RCBS. This is one of those "more is more" kind of things.

...and, it's only 60 more than the RCBS. I really like that press.

[Nickbowen5]

Now are Redding Products generally more expensive than RCBS? Do they have a kit similar to RCBS? How is customer service with regards to Redding?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Now are Redding Products generally more expensive than RCBS?

Yes, but as I said, the T-7 is only about $60-$70 more than the RCBS, the quality is much better, and you get one more position on the turret, so it's not as if that extra money didn't get you anything.

Do they have a kit similar to RCBS?

Yup! Just check on midway for availably. Come with either 2 die, or 3 die sets.

How is customer service with regards to Redding?

Never had to deal with them. I've never had a problem with a piece of redding equipment yet...

[Nickbowen5]

I believe, you sir, have sold me on the Redding T7 especially after looking at the spent priming system and all that. Thanks for the info

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I believe, you sir, have sold me on the Redding T7 especially after looking at the spent priming system and all that. Thanks for the info

That's a nice feature, for sure! My brother has that on his Big Boss 2. I love redding presses, from what I've seen so far.

[0321jarhead]

I believe, you sir, have sold me on the Redding T7 especially after looking at the spent priming system and all that. Thanks for the info

I'm not trying to confuse you or any newbie when it comes to reloading. In fact I'm a newbie to reloading. I have followed this forum on reloading and have read some very interesting suggestions. So, to update my experience with reloading kits is that I bought and am already using the Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit. I bought the 2nd edition book from Lee as well. I have found some very interesting info in it and it is written in a way a 10th grader could comprehend. I am going to be reloading 7.5X55, 30-.06 and .308 using the Deluxe Dies. The kit was at a very good price to get started in this adventure and as time goes on I can then up grade. Further more the warranty could not be beat for the price. The kit has more goodies in it than the others I found. I'm not knocking the other reloading companies for I have not any experience with them. But, as a consumer, I want to get more for my dollar as one that has little to no experience in reloading.

[chango17]

CEDaytonaRydr- thanks for the correction ... ive been using a single stage for quite some time now and never looked into getting something faster until i started loading pistol cartriges about a week ago so just starting to look into the upgrades myself a couple days ago. I didnt know there was a difference between turret and progressive. Ill have to look more into that thanks again!

[stand125]

If you only plan on loading 308 for your bolt action rifle then spend $30.00 total and get a LEE CLASSIC LOADER. It will make excellent ammo and if you use the powder recommended for your bullet weight you don't even need a scale. I would get a scale anyways to broaden your range of loads but that kit does have everything but the mallet that you will need to load extremely accurate ammo. Since it neck sizes only you will have ammo fire formed to your rifle.

You will eventually upgrade to a turret or single stage once you start reloading more calibers, but why spend a few hundred bucks on equipment when you can learn the hobby for $30.00.

I just threw together a youtube video of my really old 308 classic loader. I will be making a better video soon and keep in mind that it really only takes about 40 seconds once you get going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_zD6B6Ph60&feature=youtu.be

[chasjr1]

If all you are loading is .308 then buy a single stage press,and a scale. if you are new to reloading this is the best way to learn, then buy a progressive press when you feel you are ready,you may not need the volume you think you do for a bolt rifle. that being said rcbs has excellent customer service,lee clasic is good too,it is cheap enough to learn on,just my thought on it i have been loading for 40 years now and still have my rcbs rock chucker i started on and have had may progressive presses , now only have the dillon 550b and the 650 progressivethey are some of the best

[stilly]

Hello,

I am a new member on this forum and have been pretty interested in guns for a long time now. I recently purchased a new Remington 700 in .308 and have decided to begin reloading for it. I kind of have my mind made up of the press that I want (RCBS Turret Press), but was hoping that other members could assess why certain other presses would be better for my situation. With that in mind though, I would like to stay within turret presses to allow me familiarity with the reloading process, but also be able to turn out large amounts of accurate ammunition.

On another note: I will be receiving another gun soon, so that will also factor into my decision. When, I choose this gun I will update the thread.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I think that that RCBS or that Redding T-7 or whatever they are called would be good in this case. If you got a Rem 700 in .308 then you aint a plinker by my definition. I think that is a fine decision. But then again, I am a noob who likes to think a lot...

The only downside is that for quick change operations it will run you $70 per caliber.

[nothing4u]

Honestly I don't see the reason for a turret press unless it can be upgraded later to a progressive press. A turret is a half way between a single stage press and a progressive at double/triple the price. And half the price of a progressive press. Your not going to increase your reload speed anywhere close to justify double/triple the price over a single stage press. What a turret press does offer is the convenience of reloading single stage style without dealing with changing 3-4 dies especially when your only doing low volume reloading. Since your only reloading for .308 right now. A a cheap single stage from Lee or RCBS will work. If this is going through your head, "Hmmm I can reload pistol and other calibers too on that turret and just change out the heads." Once that's done. It will progress to "Man I wish I could reload plinking ammo faster" and that will lead you to a progressive press.