Lee Turret press
- Thread starter StanDe
- Start date
Outlaw75
Member
The classic turret is a stouter press and better suited for rifle rounds. Lee does not recommend loading rifle rounds on the value turret.
American_Fusilier
Member
This is correct.
Thank you guys. I thought that might be the case. I have had a Classic Cast quite a few years and it is a great press. About 5 or so years ago I bought a Breech Lock pro which I don't care much for so I was thinking about picking up another turret and retiring the Breech Lock. I'm not in a big hurry anyway and 2 or 3 hours reloading is enjoyable to me. I'lll just get another Classic Cast I think. I have turrets set up for several calibers so all I would have to buy is the press. Thanks againl
Stan
kmw1954
Member
I have an old red base 3 hole turret and a new model 4 hole Value turret press along with a number of other presses. I still use the old 3 hole the most and use it a lot for loading 223.
The Classic Cast turret is larger, taller and heavier. Also has a much larger diameter ram shaft. They will both use the same turrets. My opinion is if only loading pistol or short rifle like 223, Grendal, BR., PPC, then it will work great. If loading 308 base or larger cases it may struggle a bit. Also just my opinion, it is a nice press for the money.
The Classic Cast turret is larger, taller and heavier. Also has a much larger diameter ram shaft. They will both use the same turrets. My opinion is if only loading pistol or short rifle like 223, Grendal, BR., PPC, then it will work great. If loading 308 base or larger cases it may struggle a bit. Also just my opinion, it is a nice press for the money.
sparkyv
Member
I reload for 11 calibers on the older Value 4-hole turret press, from 9mm to 308 Win. It works fine, but has some annoying quirks. In retrospect, I should have gotten the Classic Turret Press, but the Value Press just keeps going and going.
American_Fusilier
Member
Lee makes good presses. I used to work for them.
LV Gun
Member
If you are only reloading pistol/revolver cases the Value will serve you well, I have a old red base Value press that is 28 years old I am going to replace it with another Lee Value press it is just worn out. I also have the Classic Cast Turret which I really like it is built like a tank the main difference is just it is heavier built but I do like the primer catcher tube better on the Classic Cast Turret versus the new Value mainly because of the way it’s attached to the bottom of the ram .
LiveLife
Member
There are many differences but main difference is auto index on the Value Turret is capable of loading cartridges to 2.313" OAL and Classic Turret is capable of loading cartridges to 3.313" OAL. (Anything longer for both presses would require the turret to be manually advanced):
Value Turret - https://www.leeprecision.com/turret-press
- For pistol cartridges and short rifle cartridges to 2.313" OAL like .223/7.62x39/.300BLK
- Uses flat base/linkage/handle from Auto Breech Lock Pro and 2023 Pro 1000
- Through ram spent primer capture uses clip on adapter to tube
Classic Turret - https://www.leeprecision.com/4-hole-classic-turret-press
- For pistol and rifle cartridges to 3.313" OAL
- Cast iron base
- Uses ram/linkage/handle from .50 BMG Classic Cast and Six Pack Pro
- Through ram spent primer captured directly to tube
wild willy
Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2008
- Messages
- 634
The old red base Lee turret is the Deluxe the newer gold colored base press is the Value. Like others have said if you don’t plan on loading rifle cases on it it works fine.
rdnktrkr
Member
I have an old 3hole and a LCT, I use the 3hole for case prep and the LCT for reloading, I cut a hole in the bottom of a 2x8 then mounted the 3hole over it to catch the primers (old style primer catcher), this way my LCT stays cleaner and works smoothly. If I was purchasing a new turret press, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another LCT.
I guess I really could get by with just a value press as I only load pistol calibers on the turret anyway. I load rifle cartriges on an RCBS single stage . I just really like the Lee Classic Cast Turret. Boy the price of reloading equipment and components has changed. I have been reloading for 63 years and it's hard for me to believe. I doubt the prices will go down anytime soon so I might as well just suck it up and buy what I want.
Stan
Stan
1KPerDay
Member
Make sure the one you get has primers going through the Ram and into a catch tube. Used to be that the classic cast just dumped them into the base of the press. The LCT has them dropping through the Ram and it’s way better.
Zendude
Member
Is the distance between the ram and the turret on the downstroke the same? In other words, can the turrets be used on both presses without having to reset the dies?
JohnMc
Member
Comparing Lee's Value Turret Press to their Classic Turret press
#LeePrecision In this video I do a side by side comparison of the Lee Value Turret Press and the Classic Turret press. I am a big fan of the turret press so...
www.youtube.com
About the Breech Lock Pro, is that the Auto Breech Lock Pro? Is it the progressive nature or the press? If I had two presses, which I do, it'd be a Lee Classic Turret and a progressive, which it is. In today's reloading world, the progressive would probably be the Lee Six Pack Pro, though I'm perfectly happy with the LNL AP.
Dave P
Member
FYI: there is an adapter kit for the red Classic, that shortens the stroke - great for reloading just pistol ammo. I think mine is great !
JohnMc
Member
The guy in the video in post #18 discusses this at about 12:30.
kmw1954
Member
The new revised press is a good deal refined from the original red base press.
I actually purchased a new model Value press as I wanted to see if I could retro-fit it with the 3 hole turret but with all the changes made that won't happen. I use my 3 hole to load 223 with just 2 dies. One for the powder drop and the seater die.
I actually purchased a new model Value press as I wanted to see if I could retro-fit it with the 3 hole turret but with all the changes made that won't happen. I use my 3 hole to load 223 with just 2 dies. One for the powder drop and the seater die.
Yes it is the Auto Breech Lock Pro. It is not so much the press as it is my lack of coordination. There just seems to be too much going on at once for me to keep track of. I finally started resizing, decapping and priming and then just loading the case tubes with primed brass. That works pretty good but I do a lot of load development so I also do a lot of weighing and removing and reinserting cases is a bit cumbersome. I'm just more comfortable with the slower pace of the Turret press. Anyway I went ahead and ordered another Classic Cast Turret press today from Titan Reloading. I never ever got a squib load until after I started loading on the Breech Lock pro.Comparing Lee's Value Turret Press to their Classic Turret press
#LeePrecision In this video I do a side by side comparison of the Lee Value Turret Press and the Classic Turret press. I am a big fan of the turret press so...
About the Breech Lock Pro, is that the Auto Breech Lock Pro? Is it the progressive nature or the press? If I had two presses, which I do, it'd be a Lee Classic Turret and a progressive, which it is. In today's reloading world, the progressive would probably be the Lee Six Pack Pro, though I'm perfectly happy with the LNL AP.
Stan
JohnMc
Member
I hear you.
FWIW, I only had a squib with the LCT, trying to go too fast. I made a few "pepper shakers" on the LNL AP (powder but no primer), also going too fast - for me.
I learned to just slow down to my pace. I figure it's better not impressing anyone my speed than negatively impressing someone with crap ammo or a kaboom.
Folks can get over 200 rounds per hour on their LCTs, I keep it to around 100. I go slow on the progressive too, probably under half of what it's capable of.
I mostly do load development on the LCT because it's easier on that.
sparkyv
Member
Yes. The shellholder height allows this.
