[B yond]

Howdy Y'all!

I've been reloading on a single-stage press for about 2 years, and and just sick and tired of devoting so much time to it. I'm ready to move up to a better press and I want some advice about what to get, particularly from Lee.

I don't have a lot to spend, so I'm focusing on Lee equipment here. I'd like to have everything I need for under $200.

Here's what I want
-needs to be able to load 45 ACP, 380 ACP, .223
-needs to feed powder, seat primer, seat bullet, resize case, crimp without changing dies (obviously not in that order)
-I'd like to have a finished round with every pull of the lever.

I'm leaning towards one of the 4 hole turrets. Any recommendations?

[RandyP]

Started with the Anniv single stage, just bought the Classic 4-hole turret. In the last two days I've had about 400 rounds generated of 9mm and .45 ACP in short order. This however is NOT a true progressive.

I am a rookie reloader but like this new unit a lot. Four handle pumps and you have a completed round. I like the ability to watch and feel each operation separately rather than the more complex progressives (especially since I'm still low on the learning curve)

The Classic is one beefy summbyatch too.

[TIMC]

Can't go wrong with the Lee classic turret press. I have been using mine for several years now. I love having turrets set up with the dies and powder measure ready to go, takes just a fes seconds to change between calibers.

[B yond]

I was leaning towards the classic. Thanks.

[RustyFN]

-I'd like to have a finished round with every pull of the lever
Your only choice then is the Pro 1000 or load master. I load on the classic cast turret and load 200 rounds per hour with one round every four handle pulls. I love the classic turret press. I load 9mm, 38 spcl, 45 auto and 223. It is very fast and easy to change calibers. If you have been loading on a SS then you should already have dies, scale and most everything else you need. Check out the kits at www.kempfgunshop.com or Cabela's. You should be able to get either for just under $200. If you buy it from Kempf get the upgrades for $22. The Kempf kit comes with dies and the Cabela's kit comes with the scale.
Rusty

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8da27b3127ccec398914a0e3000000010O00DZOGblm4Yg9vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Eric F]

rusty fn in correct its on to the lee progressives. For 223 you might want to go on to the load master. Consult the brian enos site to defeat all the illusions of "lee dont work" They have many tips and tricks for setup and trouble shooting.

[benzuncle]

The LCT is the best deal on the market. Very easy learning curve and can still be used as a single stage if necessary. As already aluded to, it is a semi-progressive, not a true progressive but a very cost effective loader that will meet your needs unless your needs are such that a couple hundred rounds per hour will not get you there. I load 3 calibers with mine: 45acp, 380acp and 357sig. The parts and accessories are very affordable. The Pro Auto Disk Powder Dispenser is worth the extra money as is the Safety Prime system. Adding the $10 charge bar to use where the disks won't take you is money well spent as the disk hole sizes work perfectly for some types of powders but not as well for others. I do use mine as a single stage to size the 357sig casings to the 40 S&W dimensions before dropping in the 357sig turret and dies. It was cheaper to buy another $10 turret and install the 40 S&W sizer die in it than to buy another press, even a single stage. I am way pleased with the LCT.

[lgbloader]

I think the Lee Classic Turret is the ticket for you too. Even though I don't now own one, I had my buddy's LCT here for about a month and I used it for 40 s&W and a couple of other calibers and I think it is totally cool. Plus, if you do like Rusty (Hey Rusty, How you doin' Mate) did, you too can have one of the coolest looking presses around.

LGB.

[marsofold]

I bought the bare bones LCT setup to avoid paying for all of the extras I didn't want (mechanical scale, etc) and to get the Lee Auto Disk Pro instead of the non-Pro powder dispenser. For various reasons many people disable the auto-indexing feature on this press. I did so that I could use Lee's "auto prime 2" on my old single stage press to install primers. The safety-prime system designed for the turret press is too plastic and cheesy for my tastes and I'd prefer not have to squeeze them in with a hand tool. I do recommend using the Lee Factory Crimp Die in the fourth turret hole to get superior crimps. I bought my walnut media at a local automotive painting supplier store in a 50-Lb sack, a lifetime supply for me. The way I load:

1) tumble the brass in my Harbor Freight Rock Tumbler ($20),
2) decap and full length size the brass in the first turret die,
3) install primer on my single stage press with the "auto prime 2",
4) bell the case mouth and drop powder into it through the second turret die,
5) insert bullet and seat with third turret die,
6) crimp case with the Lee FCD in the fourth position
7) twist a cloth around mouth of case to remove any stray bullet lube.

[homeyclaus]

I have a lee classic, and a lee load master. The classic is a single stage, and is what it is.

The load master is your ultimate test whether you're able to follow instructions. It's a quirky, rubenesque contraption that cranks out a surprising quantity of surprisingly good reloads if, only if, you want and can, read and follow instructions.

I load 9mm, 380, 223, and 308 on it - all have been great. The documentation is scant, but the online FAQ's actually do take care of all issues. 5 stations, and no tweaking required. Of all the accessories the bullet feeder is the least useful, but even that can be made to work, given patience and following instructions. For some, manually placing the bullets, with the right workspace layout is still faster.

For the price, it's hard to beat, and is certainly better than a Lee 1000.

[bullseye308]

I love my Loadmonster and after you figger out how she likes it, she will do you fine. Look at the loadmonster viseos site and watch the movies. Once set up and running and un-quirked, you can crank it out. Plus that fifth hole comes in handy. :) If you plan on doing volume and are a little technical, it is the one for you. If I am only doing a hundred or so, I use a Reloader press, any more that that, I unleash the Loadmonster on them. :evil:

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press and I'm very happy with it. I can safely turn out ~180-200 .38 Special rounds per hour without rushing. Same for the 9mm and .45 Auto rounds I reload. When reloading rifle rounds (mostly 30-06) I remove the auto-index rod and use the turret press as a single stage press.

It works well for me and without a big price tag.

[krs]

Lee Loadmaster is OK if you don't mind having to fiddle with it and keep spare parts always on hand. Quirky it is, and for me it was TOO quirky even after all the time and video help that's out there I went back to my trusty Redding six hole turret with a single stage Lee on the side.

Most of the video folks claim success with the LM by eliminating functions that it purports to do. Auto feed bullets? Good luck. great fun when a primer doesn't go straight down the slough or gets sideways or flipped on the ram; Whee! There goes the cheap plastic indexing lever again - no problem, I've got five more in stock. The case feeder is a really neat thing especially with the four tube case bucket on top. No kidding, it was the only part that came close to working reliably after spending hours getting the slider thingy timed just so, and hope those screws stay tight in their soft plastic holes.

I got no time for that nonsense, if I go progressive again it'll be Dillon or Hornady gets my bucks.

Some people will defend anything as long as it's cheap.

[RustyFN]

(Hey Rusty, How you doin' Mate)
Doing good LGB how are you doing? Glad you finally got a chance to try the LCT.