Originally posted by DirectDrive
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I have a T-7 turret, a RCBS Turret, a Hornady Lock-N-Load auto progressive, two Dillon 450's (their first model), a Bonnanza Co-Ax, and a Lee single stage (used to pull bullets).
Here are the nuances of each.
The T-7 is basically a single stage press with a tool head. It is big, heavy, and is the best single stage press I have owned. I use it for well over 90% of my rifle ammo. However, you won't go spinning the turret around in order to load one cartridge from start to finish. Single stage press with a tool head.
The RCBS Turret I have is a true turret in that you spin the turret for each stage and end up with one loaded cartridge. Nuances are that it's primer feed and seating device is constantly failing to function or to seat primers deeply enough. And when you put a powder measure on it and spin, it settles the powder unevenly so your charges are very inconsistent. It is not big and heavy enough for long brass like .308 and over. I size the brass then hand prime using a RCBS hand priming tool. Then I spin the turret to charge and seat. It is ideal for pistol, 5.56, and Grendel but would be a serious pain sizing down .308 length cases. Basically I use it as a single stage press with a tool holder just like the T-7 and since the T-7 is so much better, it sits and gathers dust.
The Hornady Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive is quite good. It is big enough for rifle cartridges and you can change out calibers faster than with the Dillon 550. Its primer feed is more reliable than the Dillon 550 (but not the 450) and its powder measure is probably more precise than the Dillon when using extruded powders. However, it will bridge periodically, just like any measure I have used on a progressive so the powder dumping sequence requires attention for each cartridge. You may have to turn down the shell plates in order to get primers seated into rifle brass deeply enough.
The Dillon 450's are IMHO superior to the 550's because their primer feed system is simple to adjust, you have to work it so you can feel the primer seat, and most importantly -- it works. The powder measure is also manually operated so you know by feel if it bridged or not. It does not have removable die holders and I think this is a plus because it is stronger as a result. You can adjust ram alignment with them too. It is slower to use than the Hornady and Dillon 550 but it doesn't fail to function as regularly so I think they are better overall.
I use the Co-Ax for one or two cartridges only because I am too lazy to buy another turret for the T-7. The Co-Ax is probably the best single stage press but only because it has a floating die holder that self aligns. Its primer mechanism is single load by hand which means you prime using a bench or hand primer.
The Lee 'Classic' single stage uses a very innovative design but it springs back way more than the other presses I own so I use it to pull bullets.
I have also owned in the past the Lyman turret, Dillon 550, and a RCBS Rock Chucker. I regret selling the Lyman as it is a superior turret compared to the RCBS.
LR55
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