I guess I'm a bit of a loading press junkie. I still have the Lee Challenger press I got started with and use it mostly to pull bullets if I get them seated too low and don't want to mess with removing the die I'm working with. I got a Lyman All American 4 station turret press when a friend's father passed. It's normally set up with either 9mm or 45 ACP dies. My main press for the last decade or so has been a RCBS Rockchucker IV. It's a workhorse, smooth and strong. I've loaded many thousands or rounds on it, but started thinking about a multi station turret press when working up ladder loads and screwing and unscrewing dies endlessly. I've coveted the Redding seven station turret for several years, but the price put me off. I noticed this Lyman 8 station press around the first of the year and found it and an extra turret for a good price at Optics Planet. I just got it set up a couple of days ago and have used it to load some 22 Hornet, 32 H&R mag, 45-70 and 444 Marlin.
Plusses:
The turret is easy to turn from station to station and is simple to change with the second one.
Eight stations is awesome. I have one turret set up with four 444 dies and four 45-70 dies. The other turret has 9.3 x 62, 22 Hornet, 327 Federal, and a sleeved 22 seating die I like. I see at least one more turret in my future.
Minuses:
The spring clip prevented any shell holder from being installed. Had to remove it and do a little file work. OK now.
Not a fan of the the primer feeder. It mounts permanently front and center and is in the way making it hard to get to the shell holder and see what you are doing while trying to keep a bullet in the case while seating it. On the old 4 station Lyman you could swing it out of the way when not using it. Additionally the primer cup springs up too far and I have to push it down each time in order for a new primer to be put in place. I removed the whole mess as I really like my Lee hand primer and will continue to use it.
I think I'm really going to like this press. It's currently not a smooth as the Rockchucker, but is wearing in nicely. A few more thousand pulls of the handle should make them even. The Rockchucker isn't going anywhere. It's currently set up for depriming and is my go to for reforming cases.
![835430]( "835430")
Plusses:
The turret is easy to turn from station to station and is simple to change with the second one.
Eight stations is awesome. I have one turret set up with four 444 dies and four 45-70 dies. The other turret has 9.3 x 62, 22 Hornet, 327 Federal, and a sleeved 22 seating die I like. I see at least one more turret in my future.
Minuses:
The spring clip prevented any shell holder from being installed. Had to remove it and do a little file work. OK now.
Not a fan of the the primer feeder. It mounts permanently front and center and is in the way making it hard to get to the shell holder and see what you are doing while trying to keep a bullet in the case while seating it. On the old 4 station Lyman you could swing it out of the way when not using it. Additionally the primer cup springs up too far and I have to push it down each time in order for a new primer to be put in place. I removed the whole mess as I really like my Lee hand primer and will continue to use it.
I think I'm really going to like this press. It's currently not a smooth as the Rockchucker, but is wearing in nicely. A few more thousand pulls of the handle should make them even. The Rockchucker isn't going anywhere. It's currently set up for depriming and is my go to for reforming cases.
