zenshootist
Member
All: Posted this review on reloaderhub a few weeks ago - wanted to share my additional thoughts as I pass the 1,000 round mark:
Notes after 1,000 rounds - I did wear out the plastic index gear at about 400 rounds. I took this press apart several times and discovered that when putting this press back together it's important to remember that the square plastic gear goes back in LIP DOWN. 600 rounds later I'm still using the same replacement gear (costs .50 cents for a new one) and auto index *totally rocks* I can make about 150 rounds per hour without hurrying. For $214 off ebay this was a great buy.
One other thing: I find myself constantly looking for good deals in ammo supplies 'so I don't run out' - can't stop - want to shoot more than ever, life is good ;-)
Initial review:
Lee Classic Turret Kit
Bought this kit because I want to save money and I figured if this kit was a wash-out, I could still go back and justify buying better gear to the wife. As I read all the comments on various equipment, this particular press seemed to have the fewest real complaints - plus a few passionate Lee users got me to seriously looking at this kit.
My first look:
1. Instructions could be a lot better. OK, they pretty much downright suck: especially the instructions on how the powder measure works. Without this forum, youtube and a buddy on the east coast talking me through the OAL setup on my dies, I'd probably still be shaking my head. It might be that way with the other kits too - but this is what I bought.
2. I was pleasantly surprised when the package arrived from the 4 sportsman store on ebay - because I ordered the Lee Kit and the 4 die 9mm kit from them, I got 4 crisp new dollar bills and a note that this was money saved for combined shipping - more money for my reloading table ...
3. The turret press is very strong. No play in the linkage like I saw that in comments about the T-Mag. I think the auto index is a huge advantage but I wish it was metal instead of plastic. The linkage was initially pretty stiff but it loosened up with some wd40.
4. I was concerned about the scale, looks kind of flimsy so bought a franklin forge digital scale to double check. The scales both work just fine but I like the digital because it can quickly check the weight of my bullets after crimping them.
5. I decapped about 500 shells of range pick ups (mostly mine, I've saved about 1,500 shells over the last year). Had a run of bad shells and averaged a stuck shell in the decapper about every third shell for about 100 casings or so. I'm thinking I picked up a bad run on one day as they all came from the same container ... I cleaned the shells before loading them. I like the idea that I can put casings through the whole process at one time but was concerned about primer seating.
6. I followed the die installation instructions that came with my dies - my first reload was a midget with the shell stuck into the casing below the ogive ... another call to my buddy on the east coast and got walked though the proper way to set up dies ... I later found that same process on page 55 of my Lee manual that ends with a statement on the instructions that come with the die are less detailed because of 'space considerations' - what? Why couldn't the instructions that came with the die refer the (new) user to the reloading manual or a more complete set of instructions on their web site?
7. The primer loader works fine. no issues with it but again, wish there was more metal in it.
8. The powder measure is hard to understand because Lee uses a cubic centimeter measurement that has to be converted into grains with a formula based on the size of the powder particles. Another issue is that for WSF powder, I only have one powder measurement available with the disk setup that comes with the powder measure. The setting for WSF with 115 grain jacketed bullets is number four on the disk - measured consistantly 4.1-4.3 grains last night. I would like more flexibility in measuring powder so I'll probably buy the optional adjustable charge bar (about $10).
So after reloading about 100 rounds, I have learned that I have some flexability in the OAL - (again, from articles I've read on the Net and in conversations with my reloading buddy on the east coast). I am happy with my purchase but I'll go on the record as stating that there are some things I'd like to see different in this kit but for just over $200 off the internet, this is one hell of a good buy. I'll be shooting my reloads this week and if you don't hear more about this kit, it's because I'm happy and busy loading more rounds ...
Notes after 1,000 rounds - I did wear out the plastic index gear at about 400 rounds. I took this press apart several times and discovered that when putting this press back together it's important to remember that the square plastic gear goes back in LIP DOWN. 600 rounds later I'm still using the same replacement gear (costs .50 cents for a new one) and auto index *totally rocks* I can make about 150 rounds per hour without hurrying. For $214 off ebay this was a great buy.
One other thing: I find myself constantly looking for good deals in ammo supplies 'so I don't run out' - can't stop - want to shoot more than ever, life is good ;-)
Initial review:
Lee Classic Turret Kit
Bought this kit because I want to save money and I figured if this kit was a wash-out, I could still go back and justify buying better gear to the wife. As I read all the comments on various equipment, this particular press seemed to have the fewest real complaints - plus a few passionate Lee users got me to seriously looking at this kit.
My first look:
1. Instructions could be a lot better. OK, they pretty much downright suck: especially the instructions on how the powder measure works. Without this forum, youtube and a buddy on the east coast talking me through the OAL setup on my dies, I'd probably still be shaking my head. It might be that way with the other kits too - but this is what I bought.
2. I was pleasantly surprised when the package arrived from the 4 sportsman store on ebay - because I ordered the Lee Kit and the 4 die 9mm kit from them, I got 4 crisp new dollar bills and a note that this was money saved for combined shipping - more money for my reloading table ...
3. The turret press is very strong. No play in the linkage like I saw that in comments about the T-Mag. I think the auto index is a huge advantage but I wish it was metal instead of plastic. The linkage was initially pretty stiff but it loosened up with some wd40.
4. I was concerned about the scale, looks kind of flimsy so bought a franklin forge digital scale to double check. The scales both work just fine but I like the digital because it can quickly check the weight of my bullets after crimping them.
5. I decapped about 500 shells of range pick ups (mostly mine, I've saved about 1,500 shells over the last year). Had a run of bad shells and averaged a stuck shell in the decapper about every third shell for about 100 casings or so. I'm thinking I picked up a bad run on one day as they all came from the same container ... I cleaned the shells before loading them. I like the idea that I can put casings through the whole process at one time but was concerned about primer seating.
6. I followed the die installation instructions that came with my dies - my first reload was a midget with the shell stuck into the casing below the ogive ... another call to my buddy on the east coast and got walked though the proper way to set up dies ... I later found that same process on page 55 of my Lee manual that ends with a statement on the instructions that come with the die are less detailed because of 'space considerations' - what? Why couldn't the instructions that came with the die refer the (new) user to the reloading manual or a more complete set of instructions on their web site?
7. The primer loader works fine. no issues with it but again, wish there was more metal in it.
8. The powder measure is hard to understand because Lee uses a cubic centimeter measurement that has to be converted into grains with a formula based on the size of the powder particles. Another issue is that for WSF powder, I only have one powder measurement available with the disk setup that comes with the powder measure. The setting for WSF with 115 grain jacketed bullets is number four on the disk - measured consistantly 4.1-4.3 grains last night. I would like more flexibility in measuring powder so I'll probably buy the optional adjustable charge bar (about $10).
So after reloading about 100 rounds, I have learned that I have some flexability in the OAL - (again, from articles I've read on the Net and in conversations with my reloading buddy on the east coast). I am happy with my purchase but I'll go on the record as stating that there are some things I'd like to see different in this kit but for just over $200 off the internet, this is one hell of a good buy. I'll be shooting my reloads this week and if you don't hear more about this kit, it's because I'm happy and busy loading more rounds ...
