[PennsyPlinker]

Greetings all

A few years ago I almost got started reloading, but stuff got in the way. I bought an RCBS Rockchucker kit with all sorts of goodies to get me started. Now that I am preparing to really start, I am lusting after a turret type press to maximize my time, of which free time is little. The Piggyback for my Rockchucker is over $300. :what: I can buy the Lee Classic Turret Kit for about $150 from Cabela's. I see the Lee gets very good marks from a lot of people here, and the dies seem to be significantly less expensive.

My question is this - will the dies I got for my Rockchucker fit the Lee and vice versa? I have .44 mag and 9mm for the Rockchucker. They came in sets of three, but I am looking at the four die sets from Lee for pistol loads. I am thinking of starting out with .45 LC for my new Taurus Judge, and then maybe .40 S&W. But the three and the four dies thing is a little confusing right now. If they do fit, is it a good idea, or should I buy dies specific to either machine?

Oh yeah, one more question - I am going to search, but does anyone have a URL handy for components?

Thanks.

[DogBonz]

But usually, yes. Most dies use a standard thread size. I'm sure that someone will be along soon to clarify.

[Walkalong]

7/8 by 14 thread is standard for most all dies .22 to .45 ish. They will fit all equipment. The .50 BMG is a bigger thread though. :)

[SASS#23149]

IMHO,a turret press sin't all that much faster than a single stage if you 'batch process'..ie:size 100,prime 100,bell 100,etc.
I could be wrong but when I had a singel stage I could get going at a pretty good clip.Only takes seeconds to change dies.okay,several seconds.:)
just something to consider is all,ans since you already have a GREAT press....

the fourth die is a crimping die.doing it seperately lessens the chance of shaving lead or copper jacket off and into the die,affectiong seating depth sometimes.
thus,you can use the dies you have by only seating with your seat/crimp die and then use a crimp die like the Lee FCD for crimping.

dies are very interchangable amongst presses built in the last ,oh,15 years I"d say.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"A few years ago I almost got started reloading, but stuff got in the way. I bought an RCBS Rockchucker kit with all sorts of goodies to get me started."

You've got a good single stage kit with a good powder measure there. I'd suggest doing a couple things. One, adding a HOrnady Lock N Load bushing adapter kit to your Rock Chucker to speed things up. Two, buy a Hornady or RCBS CAPD so you can use it on the Classic Turret when you get it.

"Now that I am preparing to really start, I am lusting after a turret type press to maximize my time, of which free time is little. The Piggyback for my Rockchucker is over $300. I can buy the Lee Classic Turret Kit for about $150 from Cabela's. I see the Lee gets very good marks from a lot of people here, and the dies seem to be significantly less expensive."

You'd be well advised to go with the Lee Classic Turret kit over the Piggyback. Wise choice in my book. You'll get an easy 200 rounds an hour the same day you set it up if you use the Safety Prime and the Pro Auto Disk.

"My question is this - will the dies I got for my Rockchucker fit the Lee and vice versa?"

Yes, both use the same thread size, so you lose nothing there.

"I have .44 mag and 9mm for the Rockchucker. They came in sets of three, but I am looking at the four die sets from Lee for pistol loads."

Your dies will work on the Lee, but you can sell the RCBS sets on ebay and have enough money to pay for the Deluxe four die sets from Lee. Not too long back, I bought a couple of the Lee 4 die sets and I've been very impressed. They've worked better than my RCBS .30 Carbine die set.

"I am thinking of starting out with .45 LC for my new Taurus Judge, and then maybe .40 S&W. But the three and the four dies thing is a little confusing right now. If they do fit, is it a good idea, or should I buy dies specific to either machine?"

I own both RCBS and Lee dies. Either will fit either machine. After using the Lee four die sets, my plan is to buy a Lee set of dies for my .30 carbine and sell my RCBS dies. That should tell you something.

"Oh yeah, one more question - I am going to search, but does anyone have a URL handy for components?"

Depends on what components you're looking for. There's a lot out there, so you need to be more specific.

Regards,

Dave

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

SASS#23149,

"IMHO,a turret press sin't all that much faster than a single stage if you 'batch process'..ie:size 100,prime 100,bell 100,etc."

You obviously haven't taken a hard look at the Lee Classic Turret. I'm fast on a single stage, but my Classic Turret times smoke my single stage. It's not like a conventional turret press (such as a Redding T-7 or Lyman T-Mag.), it's has automatic turret rotation, quick on the press priming with feed and case activated powder drop. 200 rounds an hour are a piece of cake and with a little practice, 250 or better can be gotten at with a bit of ergonomic setup. You might want to check it out.

A good single stage and a Lee Classic Cast turret are an ideal combination for 90% of the reloaders out there is my opinion. BTW, I also own a Hornady LnL, so I know what a progressive can do and where itcan be overkill.
Regards,

Dave

[PennsyPlinker]

Thanks for the responses guys. Cabela's was out of stock on these things at the local store as well as on the website, so I made out a little better I think. I just ordered the Lee from Kempf's. Their kit does not duplicate some of the things I already have, and adds in one die set for just a little less than I would have spent at Cabela's.

Dave, I appreciate the detailed response, as well as all the other information you have provided here. If you could indulge me just a bit further, what does CAPD stand for, and if you could, could you elaborate on what you wrote:

One, adding a HOrnady Lock N Load bushing adapter kit to your Rock Chucker to speed things up. Two, buy a Hornady or RCBS CAPD so you can use it on the Classic Turret when you get it.


Now I need to get some stuff done. I have a great bench already in existence, but it is usually covered with sawdust, and that stuff doesn't mix with gunpowder (well, it does, it just isn't a good idea!). :p So I have to build another bench.

[Shoney]

PennsyPlinker
In case you were expecting to get a loaded shell per pull as the Cabela's add states:
Turns out a round with each pull of the handle
it does not.

The ram holds only one shell case, which requires 4 pulls in order to complete the cycle of deprime/prime, bell, charge, seat/crimp.

[Idano]

PennsyPlinker,

You have to excuse Dave, his DNA isn't quite right so when you mention Turret presses his eyes go kind of glassy:what: , otherwise his advice is very accurate.

I have to disagree with Dave on the buying a turret press since you already own a Rock Chucker. My advice would be learn to reload on what you have first, then determine how much you will really be reloading in the future. Quite often people fall into two main groups those that only occasionally reload and those of us that need to check ourselves into the Betty Ford clinic for rehabilitation.

If you hadn't bought the RCBS Rock Chucker then yes I have to agree with Dave the Turret would be a good choice too. If you really get into reloading and do a lot of it, you will most likely end up purchasing a progressive and will be glad you saved your money instead of buying the turret.

I am not a big turret fan, they are okay and a good deal for some one who consistently loads 100-200 rounds a month. The only one I even endorse is the Lee Classic Turret the others are way too over priced for what you get. Most turrets try to pass themselves off as a progressive but if you have to manually index then it is not a progressive.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

PennsyPlinker,

"Dave, I appreciate the detailed response, as well as all the other information you have provided here. If you could indulge me just a bit further, what does CAPD stand for, and if you could, could you elaborate on what you wrote:"

CAPD stands for case activated powder drop. Both Hornady (less expensive) and Hornady (more expensive) offer these and they work with the RCBS Uniflow powder measure. They will fit on a Lee Classic Turret press and work fine there, which is where I have them for rifle reloading for low to medium volume milsurp stuff I do.

You probably already have a Uniflow. If you bought one CAPD, you could then just buy a CAPD powder die for each turret at $13.00 apiece and have a really nice measuring system for rifle cartridges. This would eliminate the rifle charging die from Lee.

For pistol on a Lee Classic Turret, I would still go with the Pro Auto Disk.

BTW, ignore Idano, he's still got sparkles in his eyes from his pimped out Hornady LnL (I have one, so I can talk about him.) and doesn't realize what he's saying.:neener: One day, when he's wanting to buy half a dozen molds and a bottom pour casting pot and is loading for 30 or so rifles & pistols, he'll realize he may want to investigate the mysteries of the Lee Classic Turret press he hasn't yet realized isn't like the other turret presses, which is why I like it. (grin)

Because:

200 rounds an hour X 5 hours a month = 1000 rounds. Quite a lot of shooting vs. 100 rounds in several hours for a single stage. No, not as fast as a progressive, but fast enough for most shooters. Unless, of course, they're reloada ho's who buy components for no other reason than to reload. :evil:

Regards,

Dave

[Idano]

Aw Turret press are so minor league :barf: The way Dave defends those turret preses it would make you think he has a 550 stowed away in the closet next to his RCBS 2000:banghead:

I am just kidding it is the one thing I can rib Dave about!


Seriously kid save your money and buy a progressive and get 650 if you want to tweak Dave :neener:

[RidgwayCO]

I usually just read these exchanges with a wry smile on my face and then move along... but I have to comment on this one.

I agree with Dave that the Lee Classic Turret is not your average turret press, and the auto indexing is why. After 15 years of using a single stage RCBS Rockchucker, I was seriously considering the purchase of a true progressive (Dillon). The problem for me was the constant mention by those who use them of the occasional "missed powder charge", or "stuck primer", or some other potentially serious mishap. I'm not good at watching five things happen simultaneously... Plus they're seriously expensive (especially after you add the "extras").

But with the Lee, everything happens in order, right in front of you. Including being able to observe the powder in the case just after it's been through the powder-through expansion die. Two hundred rounds an hour is easily accomplished, which meets my needs to a "T".

The only secret for me was cleaning the cases, and then priming them by hand before starting them on their trip through the press (which then sizes them, expands the neck and drops the powder, seats the bullet, and finally crimps the case).

I like this new Lee Classic Turret Press so much that I've purchased extra turrets for all of the cartridges I reload (nine in all), and I won't be going back to the single-stage again (except maybe for the .30-06, and that's still negotiable). Call me backward, but I'm sleeping well at night...

[TooTaxed]

Consider a "poor man's progressive"...that's two (or more) single-stage presses set up side by side, each set up for a different reloading operation. You can pick up used presses very inexpensively at gunshows and some gun shops...or EBAY.:p

[PennsyPlinker]

Thanks for the continued responses everyone, and Dave, for clearing up the abbreviations. The Lee is already on the way since before some posts, but looking at the price of even another Rock Chucker, I don't think this is a bad deal at all. I will be sure to post a picture when I get my set up, uhhh, set up. :rolleyes:

[PennsyPlinker]

Seriously kid save your money and buy a progressive and get 650 if you want to tweak Dave

Yeah, but for the price difference, I could buy a whole nother gun! :D If I had to predict, I would say I'm going to be in the group that loads a couple hundred rounds a month, since that is about what I get to shoot right now. Once the last kid is out the door and college is done, I might think about increasing that volume somewhat, but for now, this is what I get to do.

[FieroCDSP]

I'd agree with the die-set sell-off. Lee dies are easy to use, plus the crimp die makes everything easier. Seat to depth, then crimp. Maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of the bullet-seat/crimp die.

[Idano]

Yeah, but for the price difference, I could buy a whole nother gun! If I had to predict, I would say I'm going to be in the group that loads a couple hundred rounds a month, since that is about what I get to shoot right now. Once the last kid is out the door and college is done, I might think about increasing that volume somewhat, but for now, this is what I get to do.

You are correct if you go with the Dillon or the Hornady progressive you will spend more for it then some guns. I couldn't wait until the last kid was out the door, but he is close only three more years of college then I'll begin knowing what it feels like to have money, maybe. You'll enjoy your your new Lee it a good press. I would recommend selling your Rock Chucker on eBay and take the money and purchase a RCBS Uniflow power measure with two cylinders; they go for about $40-$50 on eBay which is a good deal. The powder measure will definitely increase your throughput and as Dave said if you purchase the Case Activated Linkage you can use it on your Lee now and any of the progressives later on. I have both the RCBS linkage and Hornady linkages and I recommend the RCBS Case Activated Linkage over the Hornady because there is less slop in the RCBS linkage.

[Snagglepuss]

I just picked up a PiggyBack 4 for my Rockchucker supreme at Midsouth for $232. It did take a while to set up but after that I was churning out 300 rounds an hour. Some have posted they do not like the Piggyback and I can't figure out why. It has worked flawlessly for me. The catch 22 is that the shell plates are about $25 and the die plate about $15. The cost of extra die plates can get expensive if you want the ease of a 3-5 minute caliber change.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Hey Idano,

Can you do powder through expansion for pistol with the RCBS CAPD? I'm looking at adding either a new style Hornady or RCBS CAPD to the older style CAPD I already have.

Regards,

Dave

[Idano]

Dave,

I can't tell you whether it can or not since I don't do the expansion with the powder measure but I don't see why it wouldn't. The linkage appear to be nearly identical, however the shoulder bolts on the RCBS are much tighter tolerance then the shoulder nuts on the Hornady so there is no slop in the linkage. I did grid down the shoulder nuts on my Hornady and it appears to have removed nearly all the slop. I suspect the may be contributing to the problems some of the folks have had with the expansion dies. I don't use the powder cop and my powder measure has to be in station #3 because of the low primer alarm. Also it is a lot faster to twist in a die then change out the expander on the powder measure especially when I do two caliber changes in an evening.

[PennsyPlinker]

Any of you guys want to buy a set of RCBS dies for .44 mag? :D Never been used, still in the box.