redding t-7 a good press?

[Duck45LC]

I am looking to get a turret press for rifle and bpcr. I have looked at all of the current turret models and to me the t-7 looks to be the sturdiest of all of them, however there is a pretty disturbing thread on this forum that has me a little scared of this press and reddings customer service. So to the point: Does anybody own this press and are you happy with the quality of operation and the quality of your ammunition?

[shooter93]

It's a good press and for me, I own a ton of Redding dies and equipment and have never had a single problem with Redding's customer service.

[Lotec]

I've owned many presses in my time and have settled on three. Reddings T7 and their
Ultramag. The other is a P-W Metal-Matic P-200. They all are top self in every way in my opinion.

[Butler Ford]

I have no idea of their customer service, I've had no occasion to use it. Great press!!

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I've had two of these for around 6-7 years and they have worked hard for me without any kind of problem. That is really understating it; They are massive beasts. Seven hole turrets that are interchangeable, plenty of leverage and strength; you can case form and swage and the spent primers go down the ram into a tube. What I thought would have been good for me as a lefty would have been a LH hole in the swing linkage, but it isn't there. Lots of clearance up front where you can see everything that is going on. Its a good solid press that will last a very long time. Mounts solidly to the bench; just keep it oiled/greased. LLS

[August]

My only regret about my T-7 is that I own only one of them. Seriously!! I'd love to have another. Great press.

I have found Redding customer service to be responsive and professional. No complaints.

[dromia]

I have the Redding T7 and the Ultramag which I have found to be both very fine presses. I use the T7 a lot for loading low velocity fullbore loads using 4-5 gns fast pistol powders.

I neck expand (Lyman M die), seat primer and drop powder (Lee Pro Disk, RCBS Little Dandy or Lyman Accumeasure) on the T7.

I'm not usually a fan of press mounted priming systems but I do like the one on the T7.

I neck resize and boolit seat on a Forster press.

The trick in getting best value from any turret is to use it as a turret press and not as a single station with a die storage facility.

I cannot comment on Reddiings customer service as I have never used them much, the only time I did contact them was for a shell holder retaining spring which I knacked when removing the ram for cleaning, they sent a repalcement FoC by return along with instructions for fitting.

My Redding experience and kit is at least 5 years old now.

[cbrick]

If you get the T-7 make very sure that the ram and the dies line up, mine does not. Redding refused to honor their own written warranty and then sent out an email that slandered me. How's that for customer service?

Buy Redding at your own peril and only if you can afford to be out the money with nothing to show for it.

Rick

[1hole]

No matter who made a conventional turret press or how massive it might be, the turret head has more "spring" to it than is ideal for precision reloading. If not, that head couldn't rotate. And the "C" design can't possibly be as rigid as an "O" press. Second thing, the die head registration can't possibly be as precise as a single stage.

I started reloading with a turret six station press. Soon locked it down hard on one of the best two registred holes for loading rifle stuff; just made it a funny looking single stage. Later I got a proper single stage and I only use the old press for handgun ammo because its natural limitations don't really matter for that duty.

[Firebricker]

I have a T-7 and really like it have'nt had any problem's. I have never had to call customer service so I have no input there. FB

[Ozark Howler]

A while back on the the TFF forum there were some major concerns regarding the Redding T-7 quality not being what is expected (alignment issues), plus Redding Customer Service didn't get very high marks either.

Thought I'd pass this along...

[cbrick]

And there are a few here that are convinced it's just me.

Buy Redding at your peril!

Rick

[MtGun44]

My T-7 has been a fine tool for about 10 years or more.

Bill

[Silvertipgrizz]

I've only had mine about 6 months now but i love mine zero problems out of it

[quasi]

you can't buy better quality than Redding. Why don't you phone Reddings service tecs and ask about the specs and Guarantee , you might even get the other side of Cbricks story.

[twocool4u]

I would not be without mine. It is the only press I use. I love not having to swich dies all the time, just set 'em and forget 'em. I also have not had to contact Redding in the 4-5 years I have owned it.

Turret presses have long been know as "pistol presses" because they have to have a certain amount of slop to function. That being said, I have my dies set to take out all of the "give" it is possible to take out of the turret head. I am sure a Co-Ax is more accurate, but Wilson dies and an arbor press are more accurate than a Co-Ax and my T-7 is certainly easier and faster to use then either of them.

[cbrick]

you can't buy better quality than Redding. Why don't you phone Reddings service tecs and ask about the specs and Guarantee, you might even get the other side of Cbricks story.

When you call ask for Robin Sharpless.

Rick

[August]

I'm really interested to hear these reports of the T-7 being "springy" and ill-suited to precision loading.

My experience is that, loading .308 for 1000 yard competition, the press holds bullet seating accuracy to .001 tolerances with a Redding Competition seating die.

I guess I'm just not particular enough about this stuff....

[quasi]

Precision Shooting had an article on testing the flex in presses, one of the most rigid was an old Lyman C press with a massive back support.

[1hole]

"I'm really interested to hear these reports of the T-7 being "springy" and ill-suited to precision loading."

August, no one has suggested the T-7 is an inferiour press, we simply pointed out the inherent facts of such a turret design. Seems maybe you missread what I meant.

It's a mechanical fact that a typical turret press is more springy than a single stage, can't be otherwise. It's also a mechanical fact that no multipule series of die holes can be consistantly located precisely or the head be precisely turned and indexed repeatedly in line with the ram. Whether or not any of that makes a difference to anyone is a personal thing but they should be aware of it before buying such a costly device.

Being a long range competitor is one thing, being a winner can be another.

[Duck45LC]

thanks for all the great input guys. it seems to be that overall people like the t-7 and like anything there are a few lemons out there.

[Southern Son]

Duck, I have had one for about 12-18 months and for loading BPCR, it is great. You can compress the powder, put a boolit in place and then seat and crimp without removing the case from the press. When I size, I can immeadiately expand the case neck, halving the number of times you have to handle the case. It makes loading much easier, reducing the number of times you have to remove the case from the press and then replace it.

I have modified the spent primer tube. I put a cable tie around where the tube is secured to the ram and then I cut the tube off at about 6 inches long. I then hung an old pill container on the end of the tube with some wire. It is more compact and easier to empty.

Redding may have made some lemmons, but mine ain't one of them.

[msp2640]

Duck45LC - I was just about to post the same exact question. Thank goodness for this site and all of the forum catagories. I just saw that Midway has posted them on sale for a bit under the Midsouth regular selling price. I really have no need for a new/ another press, but I very much like the idea of having multiple dies sets all set up and ready to go. I never thought much about "needing" a press, such as the T-7, but then I read the article about them in Handloader magazine (maybe a year ago) and that started the thought process/ urge to buy one. Thanks for asking the question and to all that responded - Bill L

[old_haidouk]

The T-7 is not as springy as a Lyman or RCBS turret. Actualy there is no noticeable tilt back. It does reload great rifle ammo.

[scb]

I used one for years and had no complaint. Redding's customer service is as good as RCBS's in my opinion. Only contact has been about seating stems not matching a particular bullet and they sent me the proper ones free.

[newrugersafan]

I just picked up one today. I have not mounted it yet but just in playing around with it a bit it seems very tight and well made. I'm not into precision benchrest shooting so I'm sure it will be fine.

I needed a single stage type press to do some of the things you can't do on a progressive such as the GRX die. I think that some of the rifle cartridges are also tough on a progressive this will prep the cases much easier and give my LnL a break.

This press will give me the ability to do those things and still be able have additional die mounted and ready to go when needed.....I think I'm going to like it.

Mike

[Southern Son]

I am off to load some .44mags to test some different loads. When you are doing 10 of this and ten of that, turret presses are fantastic. When I settle on a load, I might gear up the Dillon and make 500 or so.

[Bradley]

I'm sure you'll like the Redding press. And their customer service is great. Redding, Lyman, Hornady, Dillon. In my experience all the major manufacturers make very nice products and have excellent customer service.

[1hole]

"The T-7 is not as springy as a Lyman or RCBS turret. Actualy there is no noticeable tilt back. It does reload great rifle ammo. "

Properly put a dial indicator on it during FL sizing, you'll notice the spring then. But, if it doesn't bother you, it doesn't mean a thing.

My RC 2 press springs/deflects about 3 thou when sizing 30-06 while my cheep little Lee "Reloader" press doesn't deflect enough to measure! But I sure can't notice any of that with my old Mk-1 Eye-Balls.