[j21blackjack]

I've been using a Lee Hand Press for about a year with great success. I reload .45 and .380, and I'm about to try my hand with .40. I would really like a new press to make loading faster. I'd like to stay with Lee based on my price range being well less than $200. The Lee 4-hole turret kit has a lot of stuff I already have, but I'm not sure what all I need if I bought it separately. I've also looked at the Pro 1000 press for .40, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to change between the 3 calibers. What do you guys recommend?

[warnerwh]

The four hole Classic Turret is what you want. Make sure it is the Classic. This is an excellent press and a very good price. I don't know how much you shoot but 150-200 rounds an hour is easy with the Classic Turret. There are two four hole turrets presses and the Classic is only a little bit more but is well worth it. It has to be the best deal in reloading presses. Very fast and easy to change calibers.

[rfwobbly]

I'm not a big Lee fan, but I see lots of rave reviews of the Lee Turret. I have owned the Lee Pro-100 and would definitely guide you away from that model due to numerous issues I and others have had with the entire primer mechanism.

[j21blackjack]

If I buy the Lee Classic 4-hole, what accessories would you recommend? I like the idea of priming and adding powder on the press, so do I just need to buy Auto Disk Powder measure and the Lee Safety Prime?

[jmortimer]

You can prime on the press and Lee sells add on to compliment the simple on that comes on the Classic Turret. I really like the Auto Prime hand held primer but there is a video on the Lee web site showing the four hole turret in full auto-index action mode cranking out the rounds with the primer add on. I use the press as a glorified single stage with a powder funnel and Lee powder dippers and the auto-index deactivated. Check out the video.

[Walkalong]

I'd like to stay with Lee based on my price range being well less than $200.
The four hole Classic Turret is what you want.

Agreed. Anything better is also over your target price. Lots of happy Lee Turret press owners. I would stay away from the Pro 1000 based on all the posts concerning its little quirks. The Loadmaster may be an option.

[Floppy_D]

If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have gone Classic Turret. I run a Dillon progressive and an RCBS single stage, but for what little I get to shoot nowadays, a turret would have been plenty fast and less hassle. A good friend of mine runs the Lee turret, and I'm impressed with it.

[j21blackjack]

Just watched the youtube videos and had all my questions answered. Now I just need to find the money to buy it. :D

[RandyP]

My suggestion is to get the large & small safety prime feeders, the auto-disk riser, the Pro auto-disk dispenser and IMHO pick up both the adjustable charge bar and the micro-disk kit. You'll never need the standard sized disks that come with the dispenser using the adjustable bar.

I ended up getting a spare turret for each caliber I reload to really simplify changes.

It sounds like a lot of stuff but Lee prices are pretty hard to beat.

http://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/powhan1.html

http://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/primtool.html

[helg]

Some aspects of the Lee Pro 1000 are well described here

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=497331&page=2

You can not jump into high speed reloading in your price range without using either Lee turret or pro 1000 progressive.

On progressive you can make batch of a 100 in 10 minutes, while with turret it would take almost half an hour. Caliber change on a progressive requires more operations than on turret. Both stay well within 5 minutes though.

I use Lee Loadmaster with great success. With $220 for full set for one caliber it does not fit into your price range though.

If you consider either Lee progressive do not forget to buy "case collator" - the red plastic plate that sits on top of case feeder tubes. It does not come with the press. Having it significantly increases productivity - the case tubes are filled within seconds.

[greyling22]

I don't get the speeds other folks are getting with a turret press, but then I'm watching movies at the same time. I get about 100 rounds an hour.
Lee's turret presses are great, but if you want a progressive press press I would get a dillon (but good grief they're expensive!) the lee 1000 progressive presses have issues. (I have first hand knowledge there, not just passing on internet opinion) make sure you wind up with an autodisk if you go with a turret press, I like the pro version better, and get a turret for every set of dies.

[j21blackjack]

So, if I have it right, I need the Lee Classic Turret Press, the Lee Safety Prime Lg & Sm, Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, Lee Auto Disk Riser, and extra turrets. Did I miss anything?

[RB98SS]

Just watched the youtube videos and had all my questions answered. Now I just need to find the money to buy it.

Best price anywhere.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7033&dir=210|212|237

[j21blackjack]

Thanks for that link, that's cheap!

[j21blackjack]

Of course, some of the pieces I need are out of stock.

[RB98SS]

Thanks for that link, that's cheap!

That's where I bought mine. You're welcome.

[j21blackjack]

I think I'm going to order from here https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=630&category_id=190&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41.

Seems to be a pretty good deal for $200.

[rfwobbly]

BlackJack -

Are you absolutely sold on "new" ?? I ask because a lot of good used high-end progressive systems are coming on the market and you have a good chance to pick one of these up in that same price range.

[greyling22]

Wobbly, where are these high end machines to be had? I want a dillion on the cheap.

[Floppy_D]

Wobbly, where are these high end machines to be had? I want a dillion on the cheap.

Watch the classifieds, hit estate sales, troll craigslist, watch ebay, etc. On craigslist, I found a shooter getting out of the sport for good. He asked $250 for a Dillon 450, an RCBS RS2, 50lbs of brass, 10 sets of dies, a rolling lockaway full of assorted tools and gauges, two tumblers, 4k primers, several pounds of powder, etc. Well, I had to sweep the garage when I was done loading, that was part of the agreement. Just keep your eyes open on the available channels. :)

[rfwobbly]

Exactly. I was conversing with SWMO here on THR within the last 2 months who had found not 1 but 2 Dillon Square Deal presses for ridiculously low prices. One of them, complete with dies, was $200.

Let that soak in. A Dillon press with Dillon dies with a Dillon lifetime warranty for whomever owns it for $200.

And here's the proof.... Click Here (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=463035&highlight=Dillon+square)

[greyling22]

wow. I want a deal like that. I've been trolling craigslist. no luck in central texas so far.

[j21blackjack]

Just checked the Jacksonville CL, but no luck.

[rfwobbly]

Just saw another one on Brian Enos for $225 with 38/357 dies.

[flashhole]

I have a Lee Classic Turret and like it a lot. I don't use an automatic powder dispenser as I just can't bring myself to trust them. I outfitted mine with a funnel assembly and use the Lee Dipper Cups when charging. No, I don't care to get any greif from folks who use powder dispensers, I just don't do it. Here's a pic of mine set up for 45-70. It should be noted I size my brass with a single stage press.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/FunnelforClassicPress.jpg

[helg]

Exactly. I was conversing with SWMO here on THR within the last 2 months who had found not 1 but 2 Dillon Square Deal presses for ridiculously low prices. One of them, complete with dies, was $200. Dillon Square Deal B has proprietary die threading. This hurts when considering to try another caliber - you are stuck with the Dillon dies.