Need opinions (pro's and con's) on a press.

[Rugerfanboy]

I'm looking at buying the Lyman T-Mag 2 Turret Press and I'm looking for any advise that you all might have on this particular press. It's so purpose will be for load development mainly. Probably use it for other things as well, but mainly for working up load data for all of my pistols or anything that shoots a pistol cartridge like lever guns. Even thou I'm looking for advise and opinions, if you got any beef about this press, I'd like to hear about it as well.
Thanks in advance.

Sale Price: $169.99
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/169077 ... rret-press

Sale Price: $159.99
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lyman-T- ... 731759.uts

[JEBar]

interesting reading, thanks for posting the links .... it isn't a press I've ever used or even seen .... Lyman is a good company, if it is the style of press that you like, is should do well .... looking forward to your use reports

[clovishound]

I also have never seen or used this turret. I have a lot of experience with a Lee classic turret. It has a four hole turret plate and auto indexing.

I don't believe the Lyman has auto indexing. This is fine if all you want to do is batch process. I batch occasionally, but over 95% of the time I use mine in continuous mode. This mode makes for a huge increase in speed over SS presses, without going to the 4 or 5 operations going on at once with a progressive. In non auto indexing mode all you gain is speed in die changeout. If you look at the videos on you tube of this press it has a hole for in the side of the turret to insert a handle, and rotate the head. It doesn't look like something you would be able to put a single case in the press and easily rotate the turret from die to die.

For me, that would be a deal killer. You could do nearly as well with a SS that has quick disconnect bushings.

[ditto1958]

I don't know anything about the Lyman press, other than that Lyman generally makes good products. I can vouch for the Lee turret press mentioned above. It works well and is reasonably priced. Parts and accessories are readily available and won't break the bank. Lee has excellent customer service.

[BigAl52]

Im sure this is a good press. Maybe its not important to you but I like to prime with my press. Im not a big fan of those hand held priming tools. Its nice to have all of your dies in a turret. But I dont see anyway a guy could use this press with a auto prime feature like you can on an RCBS rock chucker. Its all what one gets use to but I prefer to use the auto prime. Al

[Rugerfanboy]

Im sure this is a good press. Maybe its not important to you but I like to prime with my press. Im not a big fan of those hand held priming tools. Its nice to have all of your dies in a turret. But I dont see anyway a guy could use this press with a auto prime feature like you can on an RCBS rock chucker. Its all what one gets use to but I prefer to use the auto prime. Al

I feel the same about using the priming system on my presses. I have three current presses and two of them....I use the priming system on them. I have a Dillon RL550B progressive press that I use for high volume runs and I have a Forster Co-Ax press for precision ammo that I hand load for. My third press is a Lee Breech Lock press that I use for sizing my cast bullets that I cast from wheel weights and from range scrap or from vendors that I order lead from like rotometals. I've decided against the Lyman turret press because of the priming system and from the play in the turret. I've watched several youtube videos today and finally decided to buy a higher quality turret press from Redding called the REDDING - T-7 TURRET PRESS. I just placed my order from Brownells tonight. The soul purpose for this press will be for ladder work, working up load data and for building rounds for chronograph testing. Once this press helps me determine what load data my guns like. I will use that load data on my Dillon progressive press. Also, this press will not be used for processing brass. I do that on my Forster Co-Ax press. I might try processing some brass and see how it goes. But for now, that's what my Forster Co-Ax is used for along with helping me build precision ammo. What has driven me to do this. This past few months, I've been working on some load data for 38 Short Colt. I shoot this in my Ruger SP101 357 Magnum revolver with a 2 ¼" Barrel. There is no load data for the 38 Short Colt being used in a 357 Magnum revolver using a 2 ¼" barrel. So I had to do my own load data testing and ladder testing. My next project is for 44 Russian in a few of my 44 Magnum revolvers. So, a turret press will help me speed up my process for doing load data and for ladder testing.

Redding - T-7 Turret Press - On Sale
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/relo ... 38307.aspx

[pshort]

Howdy,
I went with the Redding T-7... Also have a few extra plates so I don't have to redo all the dies every time...
Also have a couple of single stage presses for odd work..
You might want to look into the Hornady press with the lock rings.. Haven't studied or seen one, but worth looking at...

YMMV,

Paul

[Rugerfanboy]

Thanks everyone for there opinions, there knowledge and wisdom. I've already ordered the Redding T-7 Turret press from Brownells and received it. But, I cant use it yet cause my reloading bench is setup for Inline Fabrication quick change press mounting system and I had to order a quick change top plate to bolt the new press to. I just ordered the quick change top plate and a few more things tonight. Shipping will take about a week and half cause of snail mail. I got free shipping....so I cant complain. Wont be able to use the press this coming weekend, but hopefully I'll be able to use it the following weekend. One thing....I haven't seen on the internet....Dillon powder thrower being used on a Redding T-7 Turret press. Been told it won't work without major modifications. Told Dillon I'll set the powder thrower up the old way Dillon used to set there's up. Was told....it was not a reliable way and hence the reason Dillon changed the setup for there powder thrower. Guess well find out. Now waiting two weeks to use the new press....is gonna drive me nuts...!!!

I'll post a follow up once I get to use the new press.

[JEBar]

I'll post a follow up once I get to use the new press.

outstanding .... really looking forward to your reports

[Rugerfanboy]

I'll post a follow up once I get to use the new press.

outstanding .... really looking forward to your reports

Welp....here goes my report. I searched the top sights that I order from and Brownells had the best price...so I ordered the press from them. Buying this press from Brownells was a easy task and the best option since I had a coupon code ($25 off when you spend $250) and they was also running a sale at the time of me wanting to buy this turret press.

Btw...this turret press is still "ON SALE" at Brownells. http://www.brownells.com/reloading/relo ... 38307.aspx

After getting the press and setting it up. I installed a roller handle from Inline Fabrication. http://inlinefabrication.com/collection ... redding-t7 The large roller handle makes reloading more comfortable during extended reloading sessions. Plus the large roller allows your hand to relax...which is a plus.

As for the powder measure. I wanted one that was gonna be auto charge when the cartridge case was run inside of the powder die. I choose a Dillon Precision powder measure. http://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-r ... 23599.html In the 3rd and 4th picture...you can see how I set it up to function correctly. I used a screw and a nut to secure the linkage together and used 2 return springs to return the powder bar which is all done auto mechanically through the linkage. As for the screw and the nut....I used blue loctite 242 for safety measures. But....I still look inside of the cartridge case for the powder and the powder can be seen rather easy on this press.

The picture don't show it (4th and 5th picture)....but I wanted to use Dillon Precision die lock rings (gold in color) cause of the size on all of the station dies. The lock rings are easy to tighten using a Dillon die lock ring wrench. http://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-w ... 24577.html Two of the dies, I use Hornady lock rings (grey in color) cause I ran out of Dillon die lock rings...I have since ordered some more Dillon die rings from Dillon Precision. http://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-5 ... 24511.html

As for dies that I used.
Station 1: I use the Lee Precision full length carbide sizing die in station 1. http://leeprecision.com/carbide-die-only-44sp44m.html
Station 2: is the Dillon Precision powder measure. http://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-r ... 23599.html
Station 3: is the Redding competition pistol seating die. http://www.dillonprecision.com/redding- ... 24512.html
Station 4: I use Lee Precision factory crimp die. http://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/ ... crimp-die/

Press pro's and con's.
Pro's
The press is built with tight tolerances which is critical for top quality and superior performance. Even thou I'm using a Redding competition pistol seating die....the Redding T-7 Turret Press aided me in keeping the bullet run out to a minimum. You can see in the picture....that 44 Magnum round has .0005" run out (concentricity). The turret rotates rather easy and is smooth during it range of motion. When you rotate the turret from station to station, the ball bearing locks with a positive seat. The turret is a precision piece and it's built heavy. The main body of the press is made out of cast iron and is built like a tank (heavy)....can't see a way that it would crack at any places on the press. The linkage is thick and built heavy as well. The ram is 1 inch thick and when you deprime, the spent primer fall down a machine hole inside of the ram. The debris also falls down the machine hole in the ram...keeping everything clean (shaweeeet ). There is a tube at the end of the ram that catch's the removed primer and the debris. And it works like a cats meow...!!! I did not order the auto primer feeding system....so I can't comment on it. I used the priming bar that come with the press and in my opinion...it worked like it should. Could there be a problem...sure...but that would be caused by "operator error" in my opinion. The primers seat rather easy using the priming system that comes with the press. The auto primer feeding system will only allow you to prime somewhat faster. Maybe a second or two faster. In my opinion....I consider the auto primer feeding system an option rather than a need. The ram will take a industry standard shell holder. One thing that I really like. The press is not complicated to disassemble to clean and regrease/oil.

Cons
I only have 2 complaints. The handle and the ball at the end of the rod is rather small in my opinion. This handle and ball is what's used to rotate the turret (you can see the small rod and small ball in some of the pictures). I'd like to have a ball the size of what the press handle has on it (about a 2 inch ball). That way, I don't have to close my hand around the ball so much when rotating the turret. My 2nd complaint is...the turret doesn't have enough holes drilled into the side of it. These holes are what you use when you want to rotate the turret. Other than that....I'm Happy with my purchase of the Redding T-7 Turret Press.