Is the RCBS Turret Reloading Press Worth Buying?

You are staring at a list of turret presses and wondering if the speed is real or just marketing fluff. You want to know if spending more on a turret model is justified for your shooting habits.

What a turret press actually does for you

A turret press is a single-stage press with a rotating head. Instead of pulling one die out to change it, you turn the head to the next die. It helps to understand rcbs rebel press discontinuation before going further.

On a RCBS turret press, the head usually holds six or seven stations. You can set up one caliper for your 9mm and another for your .223 on the same press.

This is not about reloading one round faster. It is about staying in the flow when you switch tasks or manage multiple calibers without cleaning the press down.

Think of it like a car’s transmission. A single-stage press is a manual stick shift; you must disengage and engage every gear manually. A turret press is like an automatic. It handles the gear changes for you so you can focus on driving.

How the mechanic works: positive stop and alignment

Turret presses rely on a positive stop mechanism. This ensures the turret clicks into the exact same position every time you load a case.

If the alignment is off by even a fraction of a millimeter, your crimping or seating will vary. The RCBS design uses a detent system to keep the turret aligned.

You do not need to check a straight edge every time you switch dies. The mechanism does it for you, provided the press is bolted to a heavy bench. The other half of this decision is setting up the turret for speed.

The compound linkage on most turrets amplifies the force from your handle. This is vital for case mouth expander dies, which need significant downward force to stretch the metal. Without this mechanical advantage, you would have to muscle the handle with both hands.

When the extra cost makes sense for you

Buy a turret if you load more than two different calibers regularly. The time you save not having to tear down dies and clean the press body adds up.

It is also worth it if you reload for competition or long-range work, where you might use 5 to 6 operations on a single case.

If you only load one caliber, say .45 ACP, a single-stage press is simpler. You only need three dies, and you never have to worry about turret detents failing.

Consider the cleanup factor. Turret presses have many crevices where brass shavings and lube can collect. A single-stage press is a smooth tube. After a day of reloading, wiping down a single-stage press takes two minutes. Wiping down a turret can take ten. We cover budget press options in a guide of its own.

Common myths about turret reloading presses

• Myth: Turret presses are faster than single-stage presses.
• Fact: You still perform the same number of strokes. A turret just removes the time of swapping dies. The cycle time per round is the same.

• Myth: Turret presses are heavier and harder to move.
• Fact: Most modern turret presses are cast iron and weigh about the same as a high-end single-stage press. They are heavy, yes, but not excessively so.

• Myth: Turret presses are only for high-volume commercial loaders.
• Fact: Recreational shooters benefit from the convenience of not having to reset dies when switching from varmint cartridges to deer cartridges.

Choosing the right press for your setup

Look at the die capacity. A standard turret holds 6 or 7 dies. If you use a case trimmer and a chamfer tool as separate stations, you are using 4 of those slots just for prep.

If you use a coaxial design, your dies do all the work in one stage. A turret gives you flexibility to add specialized tools like a bullet bell crimper or a specific expander.

Check the ram stop. A positive ram stop prevents the ram from going too far down, which protects your bullets from being crushed or your dies from being damaged.

Check your bench space. Turret heads are physically wider than single-stage bodies. Ensure you have enough room between the press and the wall or case tray to swing the handle fully.

RCBS vs other brands: what changes

RCBS turret presses are known for durability. The cast iron construction is standard across the industry, but RCBS tools are widely available.

Lee Precision often includes a turret head in their kits, which can be cheaper. However, some shooters prefer the detent feel of the RCBS system.

Frankford Armory makes modern, lightweight turret presses. They are a great alternative if you find cast iron too heavy for your bench setup.

Price is the main variable. A Lee turret kit is often the budget option. An RCBS 6 Station is mid-price. A Redding T-7 is premium. Choose based on how much you care about the tactile ‘click’ of the detent.

The bottom line

Frequently asked questions