Anybody else here made their turret press more automatic?

[daddySEAL]

I have a Hornady that works with cast boolits...and am working on the smaller RCBS to work with cast boolits.
Anyone else use those on a turret press?

This guy has modified some things and made his own system, like I have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5mP4P7hOSU

With my auto-indexing turret press, the only thing I touch (besides priming the case)...Is adding the case to the shell holder. Everything else, including removing the finished round is automatic.

[urnoodle]

I have all the components to make mine more automatic (with exception of the primer setup) however my press isn't currently setup that way yet. I'm fairly new to reloading so I wanted to have the hands on until I am confident in my process. Not to mention I am one of those women that is not very mechanically inclined.

My friend's husband who taught me how to reload has one of his presses setup similar to the guy in the video. He said the most complicate thing to figure out was the primer feed. He was working on a foot pedal type thing to push the cases in press but I think he gave up on that after his wife let him have it after he "borrowed" her sewing machine pedal.

Maybe this winter I'll put everything on it. I don't know that I'll put the primer thing on since I typically auto prime anyway.

[daddySEAL]

I have all the components to make mine more automatic (with exception of the primer setup) however my press isn't currently setup that way yet. I'm fairly new to reloading so I wanted to have the hands on until I am confident in my process. Not to mention I am one of those women that is not very mechanically inclined.

My friend's husband who taught me how to reload has one of his presses setup similar to the guy in the video. He said the most complicate thing to figure out was the primer feed. He was working on a foot pedal type thing to push the cases in press but I think he gave up on that after his wife let him have it after he "borrowed" her sewing machine pedal.

Maybe this winter I'll put everything on it. I don't know that I'll put the primer thing on since I typically auto prime anyway.

Good for you...You really should start by being very hands on.
Later you can go for more automatic.
Have fun~!
(he is right, btw)

[Jumping Frog]

I am using a progressive, not a turret.

But it has a case inserter, an auto prime system, auto powder system, and a bullet feeder. One crank of the ram equals one new round of ammunition. Every now and then I have to refill the cases, primers, powder, and bullets.

[daddySEAL]

I am using a progressive, not a turret.

But it has a case inserter, an auto prime system, auto powder system, and a bullet feeder. One crank of the ram equals one new round of ammunition. Every now and then I have to refill the cases, primers, powder, and bullets.

Great...I know that is how those work.
I wish I had a progressive...but only have a turret.
Enjoy~!

[urnoodle]

I'd like to eventually have a progressive press but I'm not in a big hurry. My need for a new firearm always overrules my need for a more expensive press. My turret serves me well and I'll think I'm flying when I add the automated stuff to it. My friend has a couple of dillons with all the bells and whistles. He'll be the first to say that it will take him a long time for the savings on the ammo to pay for the cost of the equipment. But saving money was not his objective when he bought them. Automating his turret was more of proving that he could do it rather than a necessity.

[daddySEAL]

I'd like to eventually have a progressive press but I'm not in a big hurry. My need for a new firearm always overrules my need for a more expensive press. My turret serves me well and I'll think I'm flying when I add the automated stuff to it. My friend has a couple of dillons with all the bells and whistles. He'll be the first to say that it will take him a long time for the savings on the ammo to pay for the cost of the equipment. But saving money was not his objective when he bought them. Automating his turret was more of proving that he could do it rather than a necessity.

It'll be a long time for me too, when I ever have the money for a progressive too.
And now, since I have sped up (eliminated) 2 of the steps with my turret, I may never get one~!!

After you get really good at the all hands on learning stage...if you get the 2 things I've added, you may feel the same and keep just using the "near progressive" turret press too.

Have fun...and stay safe

[Jumping Frog]

Doesn't have to be as expensive as you think.

I've loaded over 25,000 rounds on my Lee Loadmaster.

Full progressive press kit setup for one caliber, including die set/shellplate, case feeder, primer system, powder system, and bullet feeder. I paid under $250 for mine retail.

I could sell it for not much less than I have in it, should I ever decide to upgrade to a Dillon.

[daddySEAL]

Doesn't have to be as expensive as you think.

I've loaded over 25,000 rounds on my Lee Loadmaster.

Full progressive press kit setup for one caliber, including die set/shellplate, case feeder, primer system, powder system, and bullet feeder. I paid under $250 for mine retail.

I could sell it for not much less than I have in it, should I ever decide to upgrade to a Dillon.

Well, that's expensive too me...especially since I have a near progressive modified turret press already, friend.

[Don2]

Well, I'll tell ya what I did to my Redding T7 turret press to make it a little faster.
Maybe it would apply to other turrets?

First I am using an RCBS Uniflow powder measure with a Hornady case activated powder drop kit.
Plus installed the other Hornady parts for the case activated drop like the PTX and the adjustable linkage.
All works just fine.
Next I'm looking at the RCBS tube feed bullet feeder die. May get the Hornady because RCBS has plastic fingers that may break...But rcbs says it WILL work with lead lubed bullets???? I understand the Hornady die must be modified to work with lead lubed bullets................

I just added that stuff to my T7 "Just Because" I could...No real other reason.
I like trying to do things that they say won't work

HAve fun
Don2

[daddySEAL]

Well, I'll tell ya what I did to my Redding T7 turret press to make it a little faster.
Maybe it would apply to other turrets?

First I am using an RCBS Uniflow powder measure with a Hornady case activated powder drop kit.
Plus installed the other Hornady parts for the case activated drop like the PTX and the adjustable linkage.
All works just fine.
Next I'm looking at the RCBS tube feed bullet feeder die. May get the Hornady because RCBS has plastic fingers that may break...But rcbs says it WILL work with lead lubed bullets???? I understand the Hornady die must be modified to work with lead lubed bullets................

I just added that stuff to my T7 "Just Because" I could...No real other reason.
I like trying to do things that they say won't work

HAve fun
Don2

Ya like the challenge...cool~!
No, RCBS never said anything about it's bullet feeder working with lead boolit (lubed, or otherwise), and I know what there answer would be anyway, if I'd asked about that..."It's Not Made For That". They are Very uncooperative (even defensive) in discussing using their products other than the way they dreamed up~!
I got around the the plastic fingers possibly breaking buy trimming the thin tips off...the plastic below them are thicker.
And I don't use the rubber bands. There is a tiny raised band inside that hold the next boolit from dropping until another case flares the fingers open again.

You have more holes on the Lyman, and so, more options...good for you

[Don2]

Well, I'll tell ya what I did to my Redding T7 turret press to make it a little faster.
Maybe it would apply to other turrets?

First I am using an RCBS Uniflow powder measure with a Hornady case activated powder drop kit.
Plus installed the other Hornady parts for the case activated drop like the PTX and the adjustable linkage.
All works just fine.
Next I'm looking at the RCBS tube feed bullet feeder die. May get the Hornady because RCBS has plastic fingers that may break...But rcbs says it WILL work with lead lubed bullets???? I understand the Hornady die must be modified to work with lead lubed bullets................

I just added that stuff to my T7 "Just Because" I could...No real other reason.
I like trying to do things that they say won't work

HAve fun
Don2

Ya like the challenge...cool~!
No, RCBS never said anything about it's bullet feeder working with lead boolit (lubed, or otherwise), and I know what there answer would be anyway, if I'd asked about that..."It's Not Made For That". They are Very uncooperative (even defensive) in discussing using their products other than the way they dreamed up~!
I got around the the plastic fingers possibly breaking buy trimming the thin tips off...the plastic below them are thicker.
And I don't use the rubber bands. There is a tiny raised band inside that hold the next boolit from dropping until another case flares the fingers open again.

You have more holes on the Lyman, and so, more options...good for you

NOT trying to argue, but got the info about using cast lead bullets from RCBS website and Midwayusa's web site.
Maybe they are not telling the whole story...Looks like you have used it, maybe they are stretching the truth some???

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/560110 ... in-bullets

http://www.rcbs.com/whatsnew/#newproducts

These are the links I read it at...Was hoping it would work

Don2

[daddySEAL]

NOT trying to argue, but got the info about using cast lead bullets from RCBS website and Midwayusa's web site.
Maybe they are not telling the whole story...Looks like you have used it, maybe they are stretching the truth some???

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/560110 ... in-bullets

http://www.rcbs.com/whatsnew/#newproducts

These are the links I read it at...Was hoping it would work

Don2

That is their very new set up, that RCBS mentioned selling for $36 of their website...Midway has it for $27 something.
Midway has only had it for sale for about 2 weeks.
If you get THAT new one...you are good to go.
I bought my die kit about 3 weeks ago when the die was only for the long metal one with electric collator, before RCBS came out with the new on.
My bad luck
The die I bought was

[urnoodle]

I'm just curious about something... not that I'm intending to buy a new press but I would really like to know what the true differences are between the makers in the final product. This is how I see it; Dillon is toted as having the best progressives, Hornady progressive users like their machine but still tend to push towards a Dillon, RCBS users don't like Lee much but would progress to Hornady or Dillon and Lee users tend to be generally happy with them but getting to Dillon is always the dream.

I have a Lee Classic Turret. I am generally happy with it. It's not a progressive but I'm ok there. If I wanted a progressive my next logical step would probably be the Lee Loadmaster.

I've heard Dillon has exceptional customer service and warranty. Hornady as I hear it has a similar customer service experience but I don't know about the warranty. RCBS has been toted as being high quality machining but customer service kind of lacks. I don't know if this is true or not but RCBS also doesn't have a full self indexing progressive like the other makers and I'm not sure about their warranty. Lee has people that call themselves customer service and lets not even mention a warranty.

Dillon, Hornady and Lee I've read about the learning curves to setup the presses. Dillon offers assistance via a DVD but you have to buy it. With Dillon everything is an add-on so its easy to spend $1500 on the press without dies. Hornady's LNL Ammo plant costs around $1300 without dies but the buyer will get a bullet feeder and a few other standard features of which a Dillon buyer would have to pay additional money for. Lee is by far the cheapest at about $350 but the user will sacrifice the automatic case and bullet feeders but the cost includes a set of dies.

Now all that being said, I load on the turret so I can't compare the production time however I can compare the final product. As I said my friend does own Dillons, two XL650 and a Super 1050. He also has the same Lee I do with upgrades. We've loaded a few rounds with the same components and weights using the different presses. When we took several apart to compare them, I did have a few rounds that were +- 0.1 grains in powder but the length and everything else was exactly the same. They all shot the same in the same gun.

When I asked him why Dillon his answer was "because they are the best". He noted the customer service and warranty. Seems like the standard answer I get when I ask that question. I haven't been told anything concrete that IMHO supports the cost. Now I can tell by looking at the Dillon that the manufacturing is better. Its like a pro shop custom 1911 compared to a regular 1911. The tolerances are much tighter in the construction but how this impacts the rounds I don't know. I realize more rounds can be produced in less time with a Dillon, Hornady, RCBS or even Lee progressive. If I'm getting practically the same rounds out of my inexpensive Lee with sloppier manufacturing what makes Dillon the best? Since I don't know anyone with a Hornady or RCBS what is the benefit in paying more for those too? To me, on the surface it seems like a Rolex/Timex thing. A Rolex is classier, more expensive so only the elite can afford them which brings a higher perception of importance to the wearer but it tells time just like a Timex. As you probably can already tell I also don't own a Rolex.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject. I really can't find anything on the interweb that compares them to support the differences in costs.

[Don2]

urnoodle , here is my 2¢ on the subject.

It's pretty simple to me or maybe I'm just simple?

I feel that it all boils down to money and time.
If you have plenty money to spend and not much time, I would think you would want a GOOD and FAST auto-progressive press.
If you have more time than money, I would think you would want a press that costs less, but still makes good ammo but is slower.

Some more expensive presses do hold tolerances better, but for most ammo needed, any of them will do a good job if the operator does his job well.

I have had many presses over the years, I really like the hands on feel you get from a single stage press....Thats why I like the turret presses mainly the Redding T7. It's built to last several lifetimes and does a great job with 7 die holes in the turret to add a few calibers at a time or other accessories you want handy.
I have looked at the Lee Classic turret press and never bought one but may just because I kind of like it and would like to try one, plus the price is right and gets good reviews.

I dont load as much as I use to so I traded my Dillon to a friend and just use my T7 now.
Plus I load 3 gauges on MEC shot shell loaders too....So I keep busy enough.

Don