[NotSoFast]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=114080

I just added one of these to my Lee Auto Disk powder measure. Until now I have been taking off the powder measure every time I wanted to change a die. But now I can leave it on while unscrewing the die. Life is good. :)

[rondog]

If you have a Lee turret press, why are you changing dies? Just buy a turret for every set of dies. I load for 10 calibers, and have each set in it's own turret ring. Changing calibers is quick and easy.

[NotSoFast]

Until I could afford separate turrets for each set, I had to. Now I can afford more than one. But this also makes it easier.

Remember, there are still guys out there who are on a shoestring budget and need all the help they can get as cheaply as they can get it. I was helped when I first came on and I feel I can pass that along to others as well.

[ArchAngelCD]

That riser is definitely a good addition to your turret press. I use one and wouldn't want to be without it... I'm glad you are finally able to afford one for yourself.

[Rule3]

If you have a Lee turret press, why are you changing dies? Just buy a turret for every set of dies. I load for 10 calibers, and have each set in it's own turret ring. Changing calibers is quick and easy.
I have the turret plates for each caliber but you still need to unscrew the powder measure each time you change calibers to screw it into the powder through flaring die. You also need it to use the Lee Safety prime system. So it is a must have IMHO.

[dbb1776]

What's the typical output of a turret press? Right now I'm on a single stage, at about 50 rounds in a little over an hour. Thats from deprime to bullet seating. I don't feel the need for a progressive, but I think the turret press is the next logical upgrade.
I mostly load .38 and .44, may move into rifle calibers.

[RustyFN]

What's the typical output of a turret press? Right now I'm on a single stage, at about 50 rounds in a little over an hour.

On my Lee classic turret I can load 200 rounds in one hour. I usually sit down for three hours and when I'm done I have 500 rounds. I like to load at a comfortable pace and not rush, that includes filling the primer tray, double checking OAL and powder charge once in a while. I have been loading on mine four years now with zero problems.

I just added one of these to my Lee Auto Disk powder measure.

Yes that is a great thing to have. With the extra turrets and being able to change calibers in seconds the classic turret is a hard press to beat.

[EHL]

dbb1776, a turret press would GREATLY speed up your production output. I started out with a single stage as well, and I averaged around 50-60 pistol rounds in an hour. With my Turret press loaded with the Safety Prime system, Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, Lee Disk Riser for the Powder Measure and the Swivel for the Powder Measure all equipped on the Turret, I could easily crank out about 170-200 rounds in an hour! Check out this video to see it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQI2sGeJh0&feature=related

[dbb1776]

I think I will be looking at upgrading. I like the price and simplicity of the turret press over the progressives.
even 150 rounds an hour is fine for me.

[Rule3]

150 to 200 per hour is pushing it pretty fast. Not saying it can't or isn't being done. After all is set up and double checked a a more relaxed output
figure 100+ per hour.

I was almost as fast doing batch loading on the single stage breech lock but you have to handle each piece of brass 3-4 times which was a pain.

The video show 5 rounds in 1:06. Round that off to 5 per minute which would equal 300 per hour!. Sorry, no way it will produce that. I have gone as fast as I can and also at a slow relax pace and it is still 100 to maybe 150. I do stop and breath once and a while.:)

But regardless, the amount of money I saved buying the whole Lee set up has allowed me to buy all the dies and turrets for almost every handgun caliber and 3 rifle calibers. I do not need mass quantities of ammo but do need a lot of calibers. It meets my needs. Works great

[dbb1776]

I plan on using my 9 yr old as the case feeder, 5 yr old to use the primer dohickey, and my 13 yr old for the lever, I'll drink coffee and shoot to the product. Summer vacation is coming!
J/K

[rondog]

After looking it over and reading the reviews, I thought maybe I should have one. I have an open shopping cart at Midway already, I just tossed one of these in too. Thanks for the tip! You only need one, right? Not one for every set of dies in a turret ring?

AFA speed - I'm kind of an oddball, I guess. I prefer to prep all my brass by depriming, cleaning, polishing, then priming. When I start loading a caliber I'll have at least a 2 gallon bucket full of shiny, primed brass ready to go. I just resize, fill/flare, set/seat a bullet, then into the Factory Crimp Die. I haven't measured output, but at a comfortable pace I can crank out quite a pile of 'em. Did a buttload of .40's this weekend, over 1000 easily. Plus some .44 mags. The Classic really works great once I've got everything set and adjusted.

That Safety Prime thing and me have never gotten along though. Mine is too flimsy and unreliable. I've worked out a method for priming with the press that's works good for me and doesn't irritate my arthritis.

[Rule3]

After looking it over and reading the reviews, I thought maybe I should have one. I have an open shopping cart at Midway already, I just tossed one of these in too. Thanks for the tip! You only need one, right? Not one for every set of dies in a turret ring?
Yes, just one, but there is another extension you may need if you also load rifle cartridges and use the Lee Primer on the press. It raises the Powder measure up higher for the longer rifle cartridges

[ljnowell]

I've worked out a method for priming with the press that's works good for me and doesn't irritate my arthritis.


Well, do tell! We are all waiting in suspense.

[RustyFN]

150 to 200 per hour is pushing it pretty fast. Not saying it can't or isn't being done. After all is set up and double checked a a more relaxed output figure 100+ per hour.

Yes good point. Everybody won't load at the same rate. Like I said I sit down for three hours and load 500 rounds. That is a relaxed comfortable pace for me. I keep a bowl of brass and a bowl of bullets next to the press on the bench. After primimg when the case is headed for the powder/expanding die I am reaching for a bullet. When the case is done being charged I look in the case for the powder level and then set the bullet on. When it is finished I take it out and while I am putting it in the ammo box and feeling for a high primer I am grabbing a case with my other hand and putting it in the shell holder. I am not rushing to do any of this but I am also not making any wasted moves. That will increase your out put quite a bit without having to rush. Three hours for 500 rounds includes filling the primer tray, checking OAL every so often and checking the powder charge every so often.

[NotSoFast]

I plan on having one on each set of dies. The knurled knob on the powder measure is easier to put on and take off for me than the extension. Since I only use that powder measure for pistols, I only have three turrets to fill. I use a RCBS Uniflow measure for my rifle reloading and have a different drop tube setup entirely for that.

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm also safely loading ~180-200 rounds an hour without rushing. Some calibers go faster than others but all are fairly quick... (with a 4 hold Classic Turret Press)

[Jeff H]

I can easily hit 200/hour without rushing, but I should point out that I only use 3 dies. The use of the FCD will slow you down a bit. Probably closer to 150/hour.

[editingfx]

Biggest speed bump for me on the turret is getting an ugly primer pocket (where it doesn't go in 1st time, might need reaming), or a bullet that doesn't want to fit in the bell properly, or a high primer that needs a 2nd "umph". Those things pull me off that 200/hr down to about 150.

[Rule3]

I can easily hit 200/hour without rushing, but I should point out that I only use 3 dies. The use of the FCD will slow you down a bit. Probably closer to 150/hour.
Yes, that will make a difference. I am so used to the 4th FCD I just use it on everything. So that extra pull will slow down production a bit. I was thinking about getting some 3 hole turrets for my 38spl and 44 as I really do not need the FCD for those.

[rondog]

Quote:
I've worked out a method for priming with the press that's works good for me and doesn't irritate my arthritis.

Well, do tell! We are all waiting in suspense.

Ain't no secret. I just take the turret and drive rod out, lower the ram until the primer seating thingie pokes through the shellholder, put a primer in it, raise the ram, insert a case, lower the ram to seat the primer, and repeat. Never said it was quick, but this is how I do it. I'll sit there listening to music and prime up a bucketful of cases.

It works for me because I have arthritis in my thumbs and bad carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, so the hand primer contraptions cause me mucho pain. And that Lee Safety Prime causes me mucho stress. Damn plastic p.o.s......