RCBS Turret Reloading Press
Are you considering purchasing a turret reloading press and unsure which one to choose? In this article, we’ll share our experiences with a top-tier model from the renowned RCBS brand.
A turret reloading press is generally considered to be somewhat of a middle ground between a single-stage press and a progressive press. It features a rotating head, where you can mount all the necessary dies and a powder measure. While you still need to cycle the lever for each operation, all tasks on a cartridge are performed sequentially without removing the brass case from the shell holder or changing dies. Simply cycle the lever and rotate the turret head until the cartridge is complete. The advantage of such a system over a single-stage press is that you don’t need to constantly swap and adjust dies, which results in greater productivity. Personally, I can comfortably reload 9x19mm cartridges at a rate of about 210 rounds per hour, which is more than double the speed I achieved with a single-stage press. On the other hand, unlike most progressive presses, a turret press is robust enough for reloading larger rifle calibers and is technically less complex.
The domestic market offers a wide range of turret presses, including the Dillon BL550 Basic Loader (CZK 12,592 – reloader.cz), Redding T7 (CZK 12,250 – reloader.cz), Lee Classic Turret (CZK 7,454 – strobl.cz), Lyman Brass Smith All-American 8 (CZK 10,171 – strobl.cz), and the RCBS Turret Press (CZK 14,332 – strobl.cz). This review focuses on the RCBS model based on long-term experience. It is worth noting that I can directly compare it with presses from Lyman, Redding, and Lee.
Title photo: RCBS Turret Press
Exceptional Durability
The RCBS Turret Press is a classically designed representative of its category, featuring a solid base, a primer system, and a rotating turret head with six die stations. First and foremost, it must be noted that this is an exceptionally high-quality, heavy-duty press. Its body is made of solid cast iron, highly robust, with functional surfaces smoothly machined. Everything is somewhat overbuilt, and the tolerances of the moving parts are within optimal levels. No cost-cutting is evident in its construction. Only certain parts of the priming system, which are not heavily stressed, are made of aluminum alloy, while the lever knob and spent primer catcher are made of plastic. The package includes both large and small primer feed assemblies – essentially two sizes of primer tubes and seating mechanisms. Assembly is straightforward, quick, and accompanied by a clear and comprehensive manual.
The rotating head provides space for mounting six dies. Additional heads can be purchased and swapped as needed without having to handle the dies themselves.
It is worth highlighting that the press is robust enough to handle high-power calibers such as the .338 Lapua Magnum without any issues – something that cannot be said for certain other turret presses. The cartridge clearance window is 12 cm high, providing convenient access and accommodating almost all cartridge lengths, including extra-long ones. Only owners of .50 BMG cartridges will be disappointed. At the time of writing this review, I’ve loaded an estimated 3,000 rounds on this press: one-third 9x19mm, slightly more .223 Remington, and the rest a mix of .44 Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, .444 Marlin, and .300 Win Mag. So far, there are no signs of wear on any functional components.
Of course, the turret head has a certain degree of play to allow smooth rotation, and this can be felt during reloading. However, the design ensures that everything aligns perfectly under load. I measured the concentricity of finished cartridges and found the results practically identical to those produced by a single-stage Lee press, and even slightly better than those from the Lee Classic Turret. The press's quality is further demonstrated by a shooting test, where I loaded a set of 6.5 Creedmoor and .223 Remington cartridges on a single-stage press, reloaded the same with the RCBS Turret Press under identical conditions, and compared groupings. I can confidently say that any differences were negligible and can be attributed more to the shooter than the press itself.
The operational window is spacious and clear, allowing for hassle-free handling.
The press is robust enough to reload even larger calibers, such as the .444 Marlin shown here, which requires considerable force for resizing.
The priming system is excellently designed and functions exceptionally reliably.
Excellent Operation
One of the advantages is the ambidextrous operation. The main lever and the priming system assembly can be installed on either side. The same applies to the rotation of the turret head. Overall, I must praise the ergonomically favorable and intuitive layout. I reached my maximum reloading speed in just about an hour of work. The only minor quirk involved the metal baffle that is meant to guide ejected primers into the catcher. However, simply tilting it slightly resolved the primer alignment issue immediately. This brings us to the priming system. Priming involves pouring primers onto a tray with their anvil side up. Then, you take the primer tube and “pick up” the primers by simply pressing the tube over them—no need to handle primers with your fingers. The tube can hold about 150 primers, which are then secured with a pin. After that, you flip the tube, insert it into the primer assembly base, remove the pin, screw on the cap, and you’re ready to go. You then operate the priming system by moving its handle side to side while simultaneously cycling the main lever. In my opinion, this is the best-designed manual priming system on the market and certainly the best I’ve ever used. And it works flawlessly. Adjusting the primer seating position was only rarely necessary, which is something I can’t say about the Lee presses (at least based on my experience).
As a user who regularly reloads four calibers (.223 Rem, .444 Marlin, 9x19mm, and 6.5 Creedmoor), I found a configuration that works well: four stations are reserved for de-capping/sizing dies for each caliber, one station for the powder measure, and the final station is used for a seating die that I swap as needed (I don’t need to crimp or expand the neck for any caliber). Each user can customize the station layout to their preference, and for those reloading a wider variety of calibers who want to avoid swapping dies, it’s possible to purchase additional turret heads and switch them out as needed. Using the handle for rotating the turret head, you can also remove the central bolt, and swapping the turret head takes just a minute. It’s worth noting that the press can also be used as a single-stage press if desired.
Higher Price and Flimsy Primer Catcher
Advantages/Disadvantages
+ Top-notch quality
+ High precision
+ Thoughtful design
+ Capability to reload even large rifle cartridges
- High price
- Design of the spent primer catcher
The only technical complaint worth mentioning is the somewhat “flimsy” design of the spent primer catcher.
The RCBS Turret Press can be purchased from the store STROBL.CZ s.r.o. For more information, visit strobl.cz or the manufacturer’s website at rcbs.com.
Photo Sources: Author’s archive. Manufacturer materials – rcbs.com
Author: Tomáš Prachař
The article was originally published in the magazine Lovec by Extra Publishing.