single stage vs turret?

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • OLM-Medic

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    May 5, 2010
    6,588
    Years ago I reloaded on a single stage press that wasn't mine, but only a small amount. After reading reloading books, I'm going to get my own soon and I'm not sure if I want to get a single stage or a turret.

    From what I'm understanding, the turret is the same except that it rotates dies so you can, deprime, resize, prime, charge, and seat bullet all with the same brass in the holder, right?

    When I used single stage, I deprimed several hundred rounds at a time. I kind of liked being able to this less critical activity in bulk, and charging later when I felt like it. I like the speed of the turret though, but I'm also not used to going from charging to seating bullet so quick. I liked to inspect strictly to make sure it was a proper charge.

    Thoughts?
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,731
    Socialist State of Maryland
    A turret press will save you all kinds of set up time. Additionally, you can buy extra heads and have all your calibers set and ready to go. I have a Dillon 550 but I also have a Lyman Tmag press with several extra heads for the rifle calibers that use lead bullets. You can still prime on the down stroke and still do bulk processing of one process at a time. Or, if you want to make some test loads, you can just turn the head and use the dies in series. You will still have to use a separate powder measure though.
     

    SKIP

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 5, 2009
    3,248
    Glenwood/Glenelg
    I have an old Lyman SPAR-T (1970) set up with 5.56 and 30-06 and one position open for one of the many other caliber I reload.
     

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    I have a Dillon 550B, but this isn't about progressives....

    I have an ancient Lyman Spar-T as well. I used to use it because it'll hold 6 dies, and saved me a lot of setup time going back and forth between calibers.

    I quit using the turret press when I converted my single stage press (RCBS Rockchucker) over to take the Hornady Lock-nLoad bushings. 1/4 turn to instal, and 1/4 turn to remove makes dies setup real simple. I have over 30 calibers set up in the bushings now. Basically anything I don't shoot in enough volume to justify the Dillon gets set up in Lock-n-Load bushings, and is ready to go.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,880
    Turret .

    If you want to use it as a single stage, you can , and still have the advantage of not having to change and adjust dies .

    Or if you wish to rotate, and produce complete rounds as you go , you can also .
     

    Neutron

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 20, 2014
    1,532
    severna park
    I really like my Lee Turret Press. With the addition of the Auto Drum powder measure and the Safety primer, it makes reloading pistol caliber rounds much faster. I hated having to measure each powder charge by dipping and putting it on a manual balance scale and adding or subtracting powder until it was just right. Once the Auto Drum is dispensing the correct load, it is very consistent and only needs to be checked occasionally to ensure that the loads are exact. Like others have said, changing calibers is fast and easy and you can still use it as a single stage press if you want to.
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Turret presses just make it more convienient to swap dies, LnL bushings do the same. Personally I can pump the handle on my big RCBS Rock chucker faster than the Lee cast turret I used to use, doing each step on a single for a batch of ammo went about as fast than doing single rounds start to finish, especially when I had to pull the ammo to tumble the lube off between sizing and charging. Also not a fan of the Lee powder measures, so charging on a bench top Hornady with loading blocks basically only let the turret run like a turret for the flare,seat,crimp on pistols or just seat and crimp on rifle calibers. A progressive does run way faster, even as a single stage, being the shell feeder and dump box just run brass through, and I only need to pump the handle. In the end my single stage and progressive both do their respective jobs better and faster than a turret coulddo either, so I gave the turret away.
     

    ted76

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 20, 2013
    3,151
    Frederick
    I have a Lyman TMag that I use 99% of the time. I set up all of the dies for my reload setup and run a few test cases thru, to make sure I have it set up the way I want it.

    I then run my cases thru in batches, with going thru each stage at a time before turning the turret to the next station.

    I prime all of my cases with a Lee auto Prime and throw my pistol loads with a Lyman 55 and my rifle loads with a RCBS Auto Scale/Powder dispenser set up.

    I also have a Rock Chucker as a back up.
     

    kalister1

    R.I.P.
    May 16, 2008
    4,814
    Pasadena Maryland
    I have a 4 stage turret press. I have Size, Flare, Bullet seat and Lee Factory Crimp all loaded into the carrier.

    First operation size (De-prime), rotate and flare. Now I store them. When I have enough I dump powder in a block of cases and Seat the bullet, rotate and crimp.

    That is a lot faster than doing 4 separate operations on a single stage.

    I also have a Dillon 650, that is FAST.
     

    PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    If time spent swapping dies is a consideration for you, you can still go single stage by getting a press that can use Lock-N-Load bushings. Other than Hornady LNL presses, the Rock Chucker, Lee Classic Cast, Big Boss/II, and Ultramag are a few examples that have (1-1/4"-12) threads that be adapted (with $8 female adapter) to use lock-n-load (LNL) bushings.

    The Redding T-7 Turret is on sale at Midway USA right now along with many other presses. You cannot go wrong with this one.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I started with a Lyman Spar-T. My Dad still has it.

    If you are thinking of going progressive in the future, I would go with a single stage. If not (don't shoot enough), I would do the turret.

    The reason is, a single stage is a bit more stable with less flex and play for precision rounds. Not a huge amount, but a consideration.

    My bench today has a Lyman Orange Crush single stage and a Dillon 650.
     

    nedsurf

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 8, 2013
    2,204
    I started with a Lyman turret with six die positions. It didn't save me much time over a single stage when I was doing individually measured rifle loads but it sped things up a bit when doing bulk loads for pistol and the one rifle round I shoot regularly. It does bulk loading quick enough to stock up for my current practice needs. If work and family ever gives me a chance to shoot more, I'll fork out the green for a Dillon.
     

    OLM-Medic

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    May 5, 2010
    6,588
    My primary concern is safety. How would you know if you double charged a load while operating the turret? Just curious about this part.
     

    OLM-Medic

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    May 5, 2010
    6,588
    Also, precision. I've heard some say that the single stage is better for that. I'm not one to shoot for the smallest groups. I just like to have at least 1MOA accuracy and make hits on steel at long range. Would turret do the job okay?
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,880
    Yes.

    Redding T7 is the best . The original( aluminium) Lee is insane value.

    Speed comparison all depends upon how organized you are doing large batches with a single stage . For me, I'm quicker with turret .


    But the other difference there , when doing large batches with single is you have to do the whole batch to get any loaded ammo . With turret you get loaded ammo as you go . Ie if you have to break off half way through a batch of 200 with a single, you have zero usable ammo. Half way through with turret, you have 100rds .
     

    LGood48

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 3, 2011
    5,959
    Cecil County
    Been using a Lee turret press for years now. If you want to do batch sizing/depriming then load later its very easy. Can remove the indexing rod and will function just like a single stage. Biggest advantage is set your dies once in the turret insert and forget. I still use a single stage w/ a universal depriming die then clean, lube, resize then hand prime in batches.
    Using the Auto drum or Auto disk powder measure when you're ready to finish the rounds is pretty much double charge fool proof. As you raise the handle the turret moves to the bullet seating die so you can't double charge.
    My auto disc measure consistently drops within .1 grain of the charge I set (I use an adjustable charge bar from Lee).
     

    DaemonAssassin

    Why should we Free BSD?
    Jun 14, 2012
    23,970
    Political refugee in WV
    Also, precision. I've heard some say that the single stage is better for that. I'm not one to shoot for the smallest groups. I just like to have at least 1MOA accuracy and make hits on steel at long range. Would turret do the job okay?

    Bail on the single stage and turret idea. Get a progressive that manually indexes, like the 550. The 550 can be run as a single stage or a progressive. As for accuracy, I make ammo on my 550 in progressive operation, that is just as good as what my dad makes on his RockChucker.

    If you want to get some press time on a 550 to see how it feels, let me know and we'll get something set up.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,731
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Also, precision. I've heard some say that the single stage is better for that. I'm not one to shoot for the smallest groups. I just like to have at least 1MOA accuracy and make hits on steel at long range. Would turret do the job okay?

    Lyman's current turret press is rock solid and you will always have some movement in shell holders. A good seating die will align the bullet and case neck to give you god accuracy.

    I suggest that you be realistic in your expectations. If you are not a MOA shooter, loading a cartridge that will shoot MOA will not make you any better.
     

    teratos

    My hair is amazing
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Jan 22, 2009
    59,775
    Bel Air
    Bail on the single stage and turret idea. Get a progressive that manually indexes, like the 550. The 550 can be run as a single stage or a progressive. As for accuracy, I make ammo on my 550 in progressive operation, that is just as good as what my dad makes on his RockChucker.

    If you want to get some press time on a 550 to see how it feels, let me know and we'll get something set up.
    Yep. Go right for progressive. I started out with a 550. Took two days to really get to learn it. Used it as a single stage until I was comfortable with everything. You won’t be sorry.
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,919
    Messages
    7,258,926
    Members
    33,349
    Latest member
    christian04

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom