If you are constantly frustrated by the slow and obnoxious process of reloading ammo on single-stage presses, and you are not yet ready to invest the big bucks on a progressive reloading press, then a turret press is pretty much the right answer for you.Â
And today, we’ll share with you everything about the best turret press models of the moment, and what you need to pay attention to when looking for a good model.
Top 5 Best Turret Reloading Presses
One thing is for certain, there is no shortage of turret press models on the market, each with its own significant pros, as well as note-worthy cons. And with so many options out there, it can be quite a chore to go through each one, and determine whether it can boast high quality. Thus, we’ve decided to do thorough research, and determine what are the top 5 best turret presses:
| Product | Auto-indexing | Dimensions | Weight |
| Lyman All American 8 Turret Press | No | n/a | 28 pounds |
| Lee Precision Classic Turret Press | Yes | 17 x 6 x 6 inches | 20 pounds |
| RCBS Turret Press | No | 16.5 x 5.5 x 6 inches | 19.44 pounds |
| Redding Reloading T-7 Turret Press | No | 24 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches | 11 pounds |
| Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press | Yes | 15 x 8 x 6 inches | n/a |
Lyman All American 8 Turret Press
When it comes to manufacturing turret reloading press, Lyman is a highly regarded brand, with a long-term reputation in the field. The company has a well-known reputation for making reloading presses for rifles, and the All American 8 is one of their most acclaimed models. This is also the best turret loading press for a budget, featuring a primer fee with both small and large primer tubes, as well as a resilient cast iron body. This turret press comes equipped with 8 stations that you can easily remove, and it’s also the best product in terms of capacity to hold dies.
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Lee Precision Classic Turret Press
The Lee Precision Turret reloading kit has to be one of the best models these days. It’s available in several different editions, including a deluxe one, which is also the most popular model due to its complete list of accessories. The Lee Precision Classic features both a riser and a powder measure that is compatible with long-range and short firearms alike. This top reloading press has both small and large primers and the priming process is almost as easy as with progressive reloading press.Â
Other than that, this best turret press is equipped with an auto-indexer that is perfect for 3.13-inch cartridges, and that can also be easily disabled.
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RCBS Turret Press
The RCBS classic turret press is considered by many the best turret press for beginners. It utilizes one of the simplest operating systems out of all products present in the current guide, making it extremely accessible even for beginner reloaders. All you have to do is pull the hand lever once, and you will be able to work on 3 distinct stages of the reloading process. We are talking about sizing, priming, and depriming. As you move on, the powder gets added, and the bullets will be seated, thus completing the reload.Â
Other than that, this model features 6 stations, that work on various die combinations. You can use the turret ball handling for indexing, and you can also position it both on the right and the left side, depending on the hand you normally use.
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Redding Reloading T-7 Turret Press
Redding is another one of the huge reloading companies that has been around since 1946. With decades of experience in the field, it’s no wonder that their products are so popular and sought-after. Plus, the T-7 turret reloader press is considered by many the Redding’s crown achievement. This is an extremely durable and sturdy press that features a robust, yet simple design. It’s made entirely out of cast iron and has 7-stations. It also incorporates a diameter ram of 1-inch, and it’s the perfect choice for 7/8 inch and 14 threaded dies. And yes, this includes longer competition dies as well. The dies will fall into place on the disc very smoothly and easily remove and exchange the turret head.
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Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole Turret Press
If you are looking for a cheap turret press that offers equal value for the money, then you might want to consider the 4 Hole model from Lee. Made of cast aluminum, this press is considerably lighter than the other models from our list, and it’s also pretty easy to move from one place to another. Granted, aluminum is a much cheaper and less resilient material, but for casual reloaders, this shouldn’t pose a problem. There’s also the auto-indexing feature that can speed up the process considerably. Most turret press reviews from users agree, that the Lee Cast Aluminum 4 Hole model might not be the best auto indexing turret press from the current top 5, but it’s definitely the most affordable one.
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What is a Turret Loading Press?
The turret loading press is very similar to single-stage models, with the sole difference being the fact that you will be able to use multiple dies simultaneously. It can be used by both beginners and experienced reloaders, and besides the comprehensible manuals that come along with each product, there are also numerous turret press reviews available on the Internet, which can get you familiar with each product in part. Â
How Does the Turret Reloading Press Work?
It’s fairly easy, turret presses feature rotating heads (aka the turret) that feature several die mounting holes. Then the turret will rotate to align the chosen die with the ram. A basic turret reloading press will feature only two dies, while a top reloading press can go up to seven dies.
Turret Presses Types
There are two main types of turret presses available on the market nowadays. The first type is the traditional one, which features manual indexing. What this means is that the turret reloader is positioned in the middle, working on-axis for all the dies.
Then there’s the auto-indexing model, which is a very nice feature that will save you a lot of time and effort. On the downside, this can only hold four dies at a time.
Turret Press vs Progressive Press
The main difference between a progressive reloading press and a turret one is the fact that the first will utilize all the dies with every single pull of the handle. Turret presses can only work with one round at a time, and also has fewer moving components.
Turret Press vs Single Stage Press
If you will do a turret reloading press comparison against a single stage press, you will most likely conclude that the two are actually very similar. Each of them allows you to use one single case at a time, the difference being that turret presses allow users to place multiple dies on the disk. With this comes the freedom of rotating the dies quickly. The maximum is of 7 dies, but this depends strictly on the model you choose.
Turret Reloading Press Overall Benefits
All things considered, a decent turret press will definitely make your life easier and will speed up the reloading process significantly. And here are some of the main benefits of using the turret reloader:
- Much faster than single stage presses
- Users can do 200-300 bullets per hour
- Affordable prices
- Easy to set up and operate, even for beginners
What to Consider when Choosing a Turret Press?
When you want to choose only the best turret press for beginners and experienced users alike, you need to pay attention to:
Construction Quality
Turret press that features heavy-duty construction is clearly the more durable and resilient option. They will last longer, and won’t break down as easily. And usually, the best turret press is the one made from cast iron, sturdy steel, and lastly, cast aluminum.
Upgrade Options
Many of the products enlisted above come in several variants. As a beginner, you can always go for the standard turret press model from a particular manufacturer, knowing that as you progress, you can always upgrade to the deluxe version for a reasonable price.
Automatic Indexing
Why spend a lot more time and effort doing manual work when you could just as easily go for a turret press that automatizes the process for you? It’s a good question, and one of the only reasons that spring to mind is the reduced price. Luckily, most of the top reloading press models featured in this article have auto-indexing, and also come at affordable prices. This is quite a handy feature that will make the reloading process a lot less tedious, and considerably faster.
Brand
Expert reloaders are already familiar with the best turret press brands and models available in stores, so they won’t have any difficulties in choosing the best model for their needs. However, as a beginner, you should aim for the oldest and most acclaimed brands in the field. Here is where we have to mention huge names like Lyman, RCBS, Lee, or Redding. You simply cannot go wrong with either one of these experienced turret press manufacturers.
How to Use a Turret Press
Even if you are a complete newbie to the reloading process, you only need a couple of tries to ace using a turret reloading press. Here are the main steps that will help you load ammunition safely, and properly:
- Locate Station 1 and place your case into the shell holder, preferably with your left hand.
- Pull the handle in order to resize the case, preferably with your right hand.
- Index the turret one position to Station 2. If you have an auto-indexing turret press, the pull of the handle will move automatically.
- On average, Station 2 is the expander die. After moving it over the shell holder, your case can be returned to the expander die.
- Prime your cases with either a hand primer or with a tool seated on a portable reloading bench. Don’t forget to lubricate the case!
- Locate Station 3 and place your primed case inside the shell holder, then pull the handle in order to charge the case.
- After your case will clear the powder measure, index the first turret position to your right.
- Place the bullet on its case, then run the cartridge in the seat die.
- Remove the finished round.
- Repeat the process for the remaining cases.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several factors to consider to determine the best turret press 2023. All models presented in our buyer’s guide share advanced and highly useful features, but there are also differences.
- For instance, if you’re looking for a product with lifetime warranty, then the Redding T-7 Turret Press is the best choice for you.Â
- If auto-indexing is a must-have for you, then we highly recommend the Lee Precision 4-Hole Classic Turret Press.Â
- Looking for the maximum number of stations in a product? Take your pick between the Lyman All American 8 and the Redding T-7 Turret Press.Â
- Aiming to reload very large cartridges? Look no further than the Lyman All American 8. This is also the go-to product for ambidextrous users, right next to the RCSB C-frame 88901 Turret Press, and the Lyman T-mag II model.
But regardless of the press that you will end up choosing, you must always follow the safety guidelines for that particular press, and always protect yourself and the others around you. So stay safe and good luck!