Best Turret Reloading Press: Reviews and Comparison Guide 2018

If we were to rank the three most popular reloading presses, the turret press would come second.

This is to say that the best turret press acts as an intermediate between the two other reloading presses—the single stage and the progressive models.

In simpler words, if you want to upgrade from the slow single stage press to a faster model and at the same time avoid the high cost and complexity of the progressive press, then a turret press should be your go-to option.

With that in mind, this post will take you through the 6 best qualities, top-performance models that you might want to consider if you’re a first-time reloader or looking to upgrade your current model.

Why Use a Turret Press?

The reason why you should use the turret reloading press is that it comes with a load of remarkable benefits that will make your reloading life easier and more convenient.

One of these top benefits revolves around its reloading speed. The model works pretty faster compared to the single stage reloading press and can meet your reloading needs if you do around 200-300 bullets in a single hour.

The model is also extremely affordable for any reloader on a tight budget or beginner. This is quite understandable, given the fact that it lies between the single stage and progressive presses.

Above all, the turret press is completely easy to set up. It’s a less complicated model that even the absolute beginners will have an easy time putting up and operating.

With this bunch of info in mind, now we can take a look at the 6 top-rated turret presses on the market today…

6 Best Turret Press Reviews:

1. Lee Precision Classic Turret Press (Red):

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Let’s kick off our turret press reviews with the Lee Precision Classic Turret Press (Red). As you already know, Lee is a respected name in the reloading equipment and supplies industry for its top-notch products.

We don’t expect anything less in this turret press, which presents you with a list of features found in an award-winning press.

One such feature involves the 4 stations that help hold the reloading die sets for various calibers you’ll be filling. You can quickly change the turret plate to enable you to load other calibers as well.

This Lee product comes with auto indexing feature as well. This means you don’t have to manually rotate the turret in between the reloading steps. Instead, the turret automatically rotates each time the handle goes to its original position, making your reloading processes run even faster and become less tedious.

Other notable features include primer arms, durable, long-lasting design, and a large clearance area which enables it to work on the largest rifle cases available.

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2. RCBS Turret Press:

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RCBS is also synonymous with top-of-the-line reloading equipment, all of which are engineered for longevity and durability. The RCBS Turret Press, in particular, features the sturdy cast iron construction— enabling it to work under pressure for longer than most of its competition.

Unlike the Lee model above, this RCBS product comes with up to 6 stations for holding different die combinations. And yes, it also allows you to change the turret head to match the specific type of caliber you’re loading.

Unfortunately, the model lacks an auto indexing feature. This is a non-issue, however, given that it still delivers an efficient reloading performance which earns its popularity from across the globe.

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3. Redding Reloading - T-7 Turret Press with Primer Arm:

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The Redding Reloading - T-7 Turret Press is also a top-rated turret reloading press that lest you reload your caliber with the ultimate precision.

It boasts of a 7 station turret head that you can easily turn to set the next die. And just like our previous models above, you can also interchange this head to suit the different calibers without necessarily readjusting the depth.

It also comes with a heavy-duty cast iron construction which gives it the strength and durability it needs to resist wear and last a lifetime. Don’t forget it also comes with a stout compound linkage that facilitates easy loading of magnum cartridges.

Amazingly, this turret press works with all the standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies as well as the universal shell holders, making it an incredibly versatile model that can reload just any caliber you have in mind.

Above all, it comes with a Smart Primer arm with drop tube primer disposal for a mess-free priming experience.

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4. Lee Precision Classic Turret Press Kit:

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This Lee Precision Classic Turret Press Kit provides you with all you need to do your first reloading session. It’s a great buy that will help you load up to 250 cases in a single hour.

Inside the package, you’ll get a Pro Auto-Drum powder measure plus riser which help you make the most accurate powder measurements for safe, successful reloading. As for the priming, the kit also comes with a safety prime tool for safe, easy priming.

With its 4-hole turret head, you can trust this press to hold enough dies need to finish reloading a bullet.

Because it also comes with the auto indexing feature, it speeds up the reloading process, saving you more time and energy.

The complete kit includes: chamfer tool, cutter, lock stud, small and large primer pocket cleaner, and Lee case sizing lube tube.

Apparently, this reloading turret press kit will save you from buying the additional reloading accessories and tools while providing you with everything you need to start reloading your cases instantly.

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5. Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index:

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For the reloaders on a tight budget, this is your part. The Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index comes at a pocket-friendly price while providing you with all the features of a premium model.

The most interesting bit about this Lee model is its unique design with compound leverage. No springs are used in its design, unlike in the other turrets. The turret is simply locked into a solid steel ring using big rifle bolt type lugs this minimizes chances of the press tipping during operation.

It’s also a 4 station model that provides you with the auto indexing feature. Like we have said earlier, this feature promotes faster reloading speed while making the entire task less tedious and more exciting. If you wish to reload larger cases, over 4” long, you can easily deactivate the auto index to facilitate that.

Note that this press also comes with a built-in primer catcher, more hand clearance, longer stroke, and a comfortable hand grip.

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6. Lyman 7040781 Reloading Press T-Mag Turret Press Review:

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The last product on our turret press reviews goes to the Lyman 7040781 Reloading Press T-Mag Turret Press. This model is simply an upgrade of the previous model from Lyman. It has been re-engineered and upgraded to deliver unrivaled power precision and versatility.

One of the most notable improvements in this press involves its new Hi-Tech iron frame with the in-fashion silver hammertone powder coat finish for maximum durability.

It also comes with an improved turret retention system that facilitates smooth indexing as well as rock-solid turret support. The new handle ambidextrous makes your indexing job even easier as you can operate it using either your right or left hand.

Because it comes with a 6 station head, it lets you mount up to 6 dies simultaneously. And just like all the other models above, this Lyman also lest you interchange its turret head to work with different calibers. Changing the head is extremely easy and doesn’t require any tools; you simply use the turret handle which doubles as turret removing wrench.

Above all this, this brand new turret press comes with a flat machined base that easily mounts to any reloading bench.

The package includes—primer catcher, universal priming arm, and the turret handle.

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Turret Press Buying Guide: What To Look For?

Like the other two reloading presses, there are all sorts of turret press models you can find on the market today—with varying levels of quality, performance, and cost.

When shopping for the best turret press, therefore, you should take extra care to you choose a model that truly resonates with your needs.

Let the following factors guide you into your shopping process:

Construction quality

It goes without saying that you should look for a press with heavy duty construction.

This will ensure that your new investment will hold up to tough usage for a longer time, with no cases of wearing or breaking down.

Some of the most common materials you’ll find in a durable model include cast aluminum, steel, cast iron, etc.

Auto-indexing capabilities

The modern turret presses come with auto indexing feature which eliminates the need for manually indexing your turret in between the reloading steps.

As such, this feature helps you a great deal of time while making the entire process even faster, less tedious, and even more fun.

While you don’t expect all the models to come with this feature, if you come across one with auto indexing, go for it.

Brand

Some experienced reloaders may already have their brand of choice that they’ve trusted all over the years for their quality, reliable products.

If you’re a newbie, I’d also recommend you to shop for you reloading press by brand to ensure you get quality equipment that matches your expectations.

Some of the top companies include RCBS, Lyman, Lee, and Redding.

An added advantage of buying from top brands is that most of them offer you support and warranty programs which give you peace of mind when operating your press.

Budget

Just like in all the other reloading presses, turret models come with varying costs.

With that in mind, you should consider coming up with a budget or the amount of cash you’re willing to spend on the equipment.

This will help you narrow down your choices to only a few models that match your expectations.

Besides, setting a budget will ensure you don’t spend too much on the reloading equipment.

How a Turret Press Differs From Other Reloading Presses?

You might be curious to know what sets the turret reloading press from the other types of reloading presses, right?

In this section, we’ll look at the KEY ways in which a turret model differs from the rest…

While the single stage press is designed to hold only one die at a time, the turret press model holds multiple dies at a time, which explains why it reloads cases faster than the single stage model.

However, you don’t expect it to be faster than the progressive model.

Despite holding multiple dies, you’ll still need to do a number of strokes for successful loading of each case. This is unlike the progressive reloader which completes everything in just a single stroke.

The table below shows you the key differences between the turret, single stage, and progressive presses.

Final Verdict

Buying the best turret press comes with a list of benefits for all reloaders. It can act as an upgrade from your single stage model— giving you a faster reloading speed. It also helps you get something close to the progressive press but at an affordable cost.

And yes, it’s a great entry-level model due to its medium complexity and ease of setup/use.

As I told you in the above post, getting a good quality turret press can turn out to be a nightmare for you since the market has models of varying levels of quality and performance.

However, you can avoid the mind-wrecking shopping process if you directly buy from our list of the 6 best qualities, top-performance models that we’ve reviewed in this post.