Tips on using Lyman all American turret press

[RickinTN]

Hello all,
I recently purchased a Lyman all American 4-hole turret press. I have noticed the turret does not lock into position. I'm thinking about using it as a dedicated 45 ACP press which is a good thing as it came with the #2 shellholder, a design specific to this press.
Does anyone have any experience with this press that can lend some operation tips?
Thanks,
Rick

[smithnframe]

Mine locks into position!

[smithnframe]

I’ve been using mine for 50 years!

[Paper Puncher]

It should index at each station. If memory is correct there is a ball bearing under the turret above the small support ring.

Be careful if you have a decapping die in the rear most position. When you raise the ram it gets very close to that die. A long decapping pin can make contact.
I am still using mine bought around 1970.

There is a shell holder adapter so you can use "standard " shell holders.

[Paper Puncher]

http://https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356190-Noobi-Questions-Lyman-quot-All-American-Press-Turret-quot (https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356190-Noobi-Questions-Lyman-quot-All-American-Press-Turret-quot)

[gwpercle]

CH4D had a shell holder adapter for the wooden handled A-A I picked up at a Flea-Market in dire need of some TLC ... early 70's it looks to be .
The turret moves into each position and holds firmly until I move it to the next station .
Maybe yours is worn if it wont stay in place during operation like sizing .
I have it set up for a dedicated 357 Magnum loader right now , leaving the dies set up and adjusted .
I use it like a single stage ... sizing a batch of 50 or 100 ... then moving to the next station ...etc.
CH4D had a replacement priming arm / cup / spring so I could prime on the press .
I like it ... but I also pick up stray kittens and lost puppies and bring them home too !
Gary

[RickinTN]

Thanks everyone, and keep 'em coming. This press seems to be in very good condition and used very little. I'll have to check into the detent ball.
Thanks again,
Rick

[rbuck351]

I bought mine used around 1970 and it is still one of my favorites. I never could get the primer feeder to work well so I don't use it. Mine has the adapter for rcbs shellholders and longer primer primer punches. I hand feed the primers and fully load one round at at time rather than batch load. The four station heads make it perfect for this. I assume your detent ball is gone.

[Green Frog]

RickinTN, your All American press should definitely lock in place for each station. I’m guessing someone took yours apart and lost or left out the detent. I would be afraid to try to use it without the detent for fear of hitting the shell crooked and damaging it.

I believe you should be able to find a schematic somewhere on the InterWeb and figure out from it what’s missing and needs to be replaced. Trust me, these presses are worth the effort to get it working.

Froggie

[Green Frog]

PS to last; I set mine up as a dedicated unit for loading 327 Fed Mag. They aren’t really all that hard to change, but if you can leave it set up for one caliber, you can load up a bunch of them very well and very quickly. Setting up a dedicated 45 ACP press sounds good to me. :bigsmyl2:

Froggie

[rboeser]

I agree there is either a stuck/frozen steel detent ball in the compressed position, a broken index detent spring or a detent ball somehow missing. All turret style presses have some method of holding the die in alignment after Indexing.

[too many things]

pm me will tell you how to fix

[too many things]

sent him info the problem he has is the black ring under the turret . the set screw is loose.

[Pressman]

Thanks for helping him. That turned out to be a new problem area I would not have thought of. Good Work.
Ken

[Green Frog]

And the collected experience and wisdom of the forum works again! When you stop to think how long it has been since Lyman introduced this press and how long it’s been since they discontinued it, we shouldn’t be surprised that some are exhibiting age induced problems. I’m just glad this one was solved so quickly and this old warrior was able to be put back to work doing what it should. I just love a happy ending.

Froggie

[RickinTN]

With the help of too many things I now have the press apart, at least for the most part. The lower ring hasn't been removed but I did recover the detent ball and spring so reassembly should go smooth.
I just have a couple of questions about the press. The rod on the rear, which seems to support the turret from the rear.....Is it a support column of sorts? Also the short, maybe 1" tell piece which seems to be threaded into the rear of the press, just in front of the column....any ideas on what it is and what it does?
Thanks everyone for the help,
Rick

[RickinTN]

I have also just noticed the center shaft rotates. It won't screw out and I didn't measure how much it turns but a good guess is a full rotation. I can't see the detent ball system working with it rotating.
Rick

[RickinTN]

I found the short knurled bolt in front of the column is a stop screw, used to adjust primer seating depth.
Rick

[TNsailorman]

If someone has a set of the original instructions with a parts list, it would be great if they would reproduce it in a PDF form so AA owners could run a copy. That would be a valuable aid to their fellow reloaders. james

[metricmonkeywrench]

Timely thread, I’m working on setting mine up for .38 wadcutters my first challenge after getting the turret to turn and lock in the detents was to align with the shell holder/die. Took a bit of trial and error with the black ring/setscrews to get it right.

For the primer depth stop/decapping die interference I flipped the screw to come up from under the ram and that seemed to help, but I’m likely going to take it off and store it away as I’m never likely to use the press priming system.

[Char-Gar]

I have three of these presses and never had a problem with any of them. I keep on set up for the "Short 45s" (45 ACP, 45 AR, 45 Cowboy Special). I keep another set up for 45 Colt and the last for 44 Mag. I load 38/357 on a six hole Redding Turret.

[Green Frog]

My early All American press is just about permanently set up as a dedicated 327 Fed Mag press. It has a Lyman TC decapping/resizing die, a through the die case belling and powder die with an Accumeasure powder measure on top and a standard bullet seating and crimping die mounted in three of the stations. There is also a taper crimp die available for the fourth stage, but it is seldom used.

One bonus is that since the 32 family of revolver cases all use cylindrical case bodies, the first stage can be used with no adjustment to process 32 S&W, S&W Long, and H&R. I like to batch load these shorter cartridges on my TruLine Jr or a 310 tool, so doing this initial case prep step with the AA speeds things up and gives me cases that are very easy to finish up.

Everyone’s reloading situation is different, but this works for me.
Froggie

[ShootingJack]

sent him info the problem he has is the black ring under the turret . the set screw is loose.

How can I take the turret apart to clean and lubricate as it has not been used in over 20 years. The Turret is difficult to turn and will not lock or at least I don't know how to lock it. I saw the set screw on the turret knob that appears to be for locking the turret in place. I've looked everywhere I could to find any literature on care and maintenance. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Mike W1]

If needed I would scan original for whoever needed it.

[Green Frog]

Glad to see this thread resurrected. Apparently Lyman made quite a few of these under appreciated presses back in the day, and for those of us “in the know” they just keep chugging along. They are often found at bargain prices at gun shows and on auction sites, and even when a little TLC is required, they usually go on to give great service to folks wanting a good basic Turret Press. Be sure to get the official Lyman shell holder adaptor and Special-T priming punch assembly from them if you don’t want to chase J-type shell holders! [smilie=2:

Froggie

[salpal48]

I see the Lyman AA threads keep being Posted. I have 4 mounted On my Benches LP, SP, LR, SR. All using original shell holders These will work Flawlessly when Used with Original shell holders. There Push Button Prime system is also Flawless when set Up properly I keep each machine set up so there is no changeover . The only Place to get Original shell holders are Used either @ Gun shows or ebay.
Enclosed Mini set up

[Green Frog]

If needed I would scan original for whoever needed it.

Mike, since this is turning into something of an archivable thread, it would be nice to scan and post that literature here if possible. Just sayin'... :bigsmyl2:

Thanks in advance!
Froggie

[Mike W1]

I'll give it a try on posting the instructions.

Is there a limit on file size as my uploads aren't working?

Looks like no way to do a pdf. I'll rescan and try jpg and maybe they'll go.

[Mike W1]

We'll see if jpg's will show up! 3 sheets as 6 jpg's.

297528

[Mike W1]

#2

297529

[Mike W1]

#3

297530

[Mike W1]

#4

297531

[Mike W1]

#5

297532

[Mike W1]

#6

297533

[Mike W1]

Hope those will help somebody. Between file type and sizes that is about as good as I could do with my limited skill on computers.

[Bentstick]

Been using a All American from day one which was about 5 yrs ago, set up and use as single stage, its been a great press, I dont load for quantity, and have 2 single stage, for different processes on different calibers, I will be loading up my book shelf, here soon and when I come across the manual for the AA can scan and upload as a PDF, please dont hold your breath as a time frame been way busy at work and time is slacking for fun. Cheers

[Mike W1]

Been using a All American from day one which was about 5 yrs ago, set up and use as single stage, its been a great press, I dont load for quantity, and have 2 single stage, for different processes on different calibers, I will be loading up my book shelf, here soon and when I come across the manual for the AA can scan and upload as a PDF, please dont hold your breath as a time frame been way busy at work and time is slacking for fun. Cheers

Let us know if you're successful on uploading a pdf. Don't think they're accepted uploads on here.

[Bentstick]

Still trying to find The manual, and trying to upload one. Not much luck yet

[Mike W1]

Still trying to find The manual, and trying to upload one. Not much luck yet

Try posts 29-34 above.

[Bentstick]

Try posts 29-34 above.

No no was misunderstood I have the original manual here in a box with all my reloading stuff, when I get it unpacked was going to scan and put a copy of it up, my bad for not explaining.