I am presently using a single stage Lee Challenger press that I have had for about 10 years. I want to upgrade (though I'll still keep the Lee) to a turret style press. High on my list is the new Lee 4-hole turret press, but, my brother works for ATK (which owns RCBS and others) and I could get a good price on an RCBS Turret Press. Does anyone have any experience with the RCBS Turret Press?

Nope, I've got a Lee. Actually I've several Lees. Will the RCBS turret come off with a twist of the wrist? Are they inexpensive enough that you can have a turret for each set of dies you own? It's your money. Pepe Ray

Based on the fact your brother works for the parent company, I think I'd look at buying the RCBS Pro 2000 progressive rather than the RCBS turret. I think long term, you'll be happier with it than with the RCBS turret.

Now if affordability is an issue when it comes to buying additional turrets, I'd just check the cost of a Pro2000 shellplate vs. the price of a Lee turret and make my decision from there. Most people that buy upscale turrets lately tend to buy the Redding. I haven't heard of anyone that owns the RCBS version.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help,

Dave in Oakwood, GA

Don't play around with any other press, get a Dillon. The RL 550B is a real nice unit for about $330, if you don't need auto priming or powder filling take a look at the AT 500 for a little under $200. (You can always go back and ad the auto primer and / or powder system's later and turn the AT500 into the RL550B) Iv either owned or used a lot of presses over the years, and Iv yet to find anything better than Dillon.

Ignore the Dillon religion and look at all the presses and make your own decision. I had a Dillon 550 and it's nothing more than an overpriced semi automatic turret. The primer feed is problematic and the powder measure does a poor job of handling extruded powders.

I own a Hornady Lock N Load, it's a awesome press, better than the Dillon 650 for less money than the 550. But the RCBS Pro 1000 also has a good powder measure system and an awesome primer feed system, probably the best around.

With your brother working there, go for the best deal for you and your budget or get just exactly what you want, even if it's a Lee. They'll all get the job done and you'll be happy with what you pick out, rather than simply being a "cow in the herd chanting the mindless mantra."

Just my .02,

Dave in Oakwood, GA

I have RCBS products for years, threir c/s is 2nd to none. I use my Rock Chucker for rifle reloads. I ordered a Lee turret press for pistols. I weigh every round, and I am a casual shooter. The turret press from lee looked to be the answer. I wouldn't say that $ was an object to go to Lee products. My set up works for me and the girls I go with.
jim

My brother quoted me a price for the RCBS Turret Press this week. It was not as good as I had hoped. I can actually buy it for less from Midway USA. After having perused several websites (including Lee, RCBS and Midway USA) I have decided to order the Lee Turret Press (the 4 holer) and a few extra turret plates since most of my loading is with pistol rounds. I do intend to also get a cast iron single stage press for loading rifle rounds and for other small batch projects.

Thanks for all the input, it has been much appreciated. Happy shooting and reloading!

JimNIowa wrote:"My set up works for me and the girls I go with."

Dude... you da man.

Clifford,

Sounds like you made a good decision to me. I've only seen the cast iron press on midwayusa, but I'd also call bose's guns and see if they can get if for you, they have killer prices.

Dave in Oakwood, GA

I bought the Lee and after a week,I sent it back.
I ordered the powder dispencer and the dies that allow powder to be dispenced.
1st. The primers must be placed by hand -one at the time -on the primer holder.I called lee and they said the oil from your fingers was not a problem???????????????
The powder dispencer was scattering powder all over the desk.
Also,I called Lee about the accuracy of the powder dispencer and they said it was an approximate measure not precise.
There is a reason Lee sells for $54 and a higher quality Redding T-7 is a lot more money...
You get what you pay for...
Lee makes a good product for the money, but you are not paying much money..

Its how you manage your loading. I will start with a RCBS decapping dies( on order)size or neck size,use a Rcbs hand primer and so on. I use a Pact dispensor/ digital scale for powder. I use Lee crimp dies for pistols, and I am considering crimp dies for 223 and 243. My production is small but its a hobby and I can shoot what ever I can load.
Jim

I bought the Redding T-7 turret press and I love it. Its heavy duty and will last forever. I use a progressive for pistol ammo but the turret press works great for working up my rifle loads. I read the reviews on Midwayusa on what others said about that press and I was sold on it.

“I bought the Lee and after a week,I sent it back.”

That is a great thing about Lee, a human being always answers the telephone and you can return what you don’t like. If you like Lee Precision equipment you can use their service to your advantage. They offer returns (as seconds) and factory repaired/remanufactured equipment at considerably reduced prices. Do check those prices against an outfit like Boses to make sure you are getting a good deal. They do not recycle returned dies.

“I ordered the powder dispencer and the dies that allow powder to be dispenced. 1st. The primers must be placed by hand -one at the time -on the primer holder. I called lee and they said the oil from your fingers was not a problem???????????????”

This just goes with Lee’s experience to never use a primer feeder that feeds from a tube. It is unfortunate that they have figured out a feed for the turret press based on the Auto-Prime II. Oil from your fingers shouldn’t be a problem if you keep you hands clean. I wear cotton gloves while I reload. I use the Auto-Prime to prime all my pistol and rifle cartridges.

“The powder dispenser was scattering powder all over the desk. Also,I called Lee about the accuracy of the powder dispencer and they said it was an approximate measure not precise.”

Why didn’t you try adjusting the rotor? It’s a great feature to be able to adjust the rotor for the type of powder used. Other powder measures break or crunch grains of powder with their drums. The elastomer wiper and adjustable rotor will not allow this to happen.

Any powder measurer is not a “precise” device. Only a scale can be precise. The micrometer on metering chamber assembly is the most accurate measurer I’ve found on any powder measure. I have only used the Hornady and RCBS measures and they were purchased a number of years ago. With the cc scale on the micrometer and the VDM formula or Lee’s charge table you can initially adjust the chamber assembly to drop an accurate charge. It’s takes minimum fine-tuning with a scale to arrive at an accurate drop of powder. The only variable is between lots of a given powder.

’“There is a reason Lee sells for $54 and a higher quality Redding T-7 is a lot more money... You get what you pay for... Lee makes a good product for the money, but you are not paying much money..”

Yep, there is. It’s based on their volume of sales. I’m happy that the leading supplier of reloading products can maintain such a customer-oriented business. They do make a good product, one that produces time after time for me.



Here are three shots at 100 yards from my 444P with the Lee C430-310-RF cast bullet prior to starting the Beartooth slugging and lapping procedures. It was shot as a record to see what happens during the lapping process and the rifle was actually sighted in with different ammo but this wasn’t a light load. It’s from 43.0-grains of Reloder 7 traveling at 1925 FPS. The case was full length sized with the Lee Pacesetter dies and crimped with the Lee Factory Crimped mounted on a Lee Turret Press. The powder was delivered through the Lee Perfect Powder Measure after it was calibrated with the Lee Safety Scale. All three of my Marlins shoot this good with the Lee produced ammo. If they didn't, I would get rid of the rifle. This is what I expect from my Lee equipment.

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Michael

Clifford

I think you will be happy with the Lee Turret. I bought one with mixed thoughts and after loading a couple thousand 10mm's and .40's I feel it's the best press for the money bar none.


NWA

Ranchdog
You are eloquent.
Some need to put some foot on the left rudder!!
Jim

Ranchdog,You took the words right out of my mouth

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good article

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I have the Lee 4 hole turret press, and I use it for reloading for hand guns. I was going to get a RCBS or Redding Turret press for bottle neck case's. I only load 4 calibers in rifles so the RCBS with a extra turret was my plan as I use the lee factory crimp dies. Then I discovered the Hornady "Lock n Load" conversion for my "Rock Chucker" so my rifle loads are doing fine with the old RCBS. This system works for me as I am not loading for volume, just tinkering with loads looking for the magic formula.
Jim

The consistent theme here is guys who learn, use, and know their systems get good results. It takes a little time and patience to get there but in the end there are lots of solutions that will work.

I only handload center fire rifle. My preference is to have multiple single stage presses set up for the specific cartridge. I like the Redding Ultramag press. Some might think my setup overkill but I went the turret route, didn't like it, I went the Hornady die bushing route, didn't like it. Now I have a system that does everything I need it to do........the way I want to do it.

Just think it through, if you get into it and decide you need to make a change, do it. Experimenting is half the fun.

You made the some choice I am going to make. Lee Turret four hole Press. I am ordering this month from F&M Reloading.

30-30 Man