Advice on upgrading from single stage to turret press

bhhacker · Mar 9, 2018

Hello all.

I have been ruining my hands trying to reload 9mm with a single stage and it's driving me crazy. I have been mulling over a turret to increase my speed.

To leave my single mounted and start with a Lee Classic turret, what all do I need to make my life easier? The turret, powder through expander and powder thrower and some sort of priming system correct?

I'm seeing these full blown kits that come with everything but I didn't think I need it all. I can piece together stuff but shipping is the bane of my existence living up in Alaska so if I could get it all at once that would be best.

GW Staar · Mar 9, 2018

You may speed up a little, but only a progressive will lessen your wear on your hands with fewer strokes. Check out the new Lee progressive a few threads down....pretty cheap, coming out in April.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-auto-breech-lock-pro.832974/

Whiterook808 · Mar 9, 2018

You will pull the handle the same number of times, but you will handle the brass much less, so it will make things easier. Since you already reload, you will need the press, power through expander die, and one of their powder measures, probably the auto-drum. I don't know if your are correct about the primer feed since my Lee turret is really old, but I am sure someone will be along that can answer that. The suggestion to look into a progressive is a good one. You pull the handle once, and you get a loaded round. That can also run into much more money, though.

Hokie_PhD · Mar 9, 2018

How much do you shoot?

How much you load will determine if you need a progressive or if a turret will work well.

I have the LCT and love it.
I deprime and prime by hand and I like doing it that way as it allows me to do something when I’m goofing off in front of the TV.

If you go the LCT route you can get the press, and a powder drop if you already have a hand primer or a Lee press that you’re the press mounted primer.

The rest of your gear will still work. You just have to figure out the work flow that works best for you.

Gottcha · Mar 9, 2018

If you go with the LCT get the drum powder drop. I have the disk and while if works OK the drum seems more accurate ( i have a friend that loads .223 and it holds his weights really well) i can pump out about a 100 rounds in about 30 minutes but i am very picky and watch everything.

Hokie_PhD · Mar 9, 2018

Oh and get spare turrets for each caliber you plan to load plus a few extras!

santacruzdave · Mar 9, 2018

I've been reloading for a couple of years now. Started with a single stage press (Forster Co-Ax) and quickly realized I was shooting more 9mm than I could keep up with even though I'm a retired guy with more time than money. I knew I wanted more speed, but I was unwilling to jump to the complexity and cost of a progressive press. So enter the Lee Classic Turret Press. Went with the Lee Auto Drum powder measure. I decap and prime off press and wet tumble. My reloading bench is in a spare bedroom and I want everything to stay relatively clean. I use my single stage press to decap with a Lee universal decapping die, wet tumble and prime with an RCBS bench priming tool. I've a stock pile of ready to load brass in a number of handgun calibers. It's easy for me to crank out 150 rounds a hour without stress and while being careful - like visual verification of powder in each round. I also check for power measure drift every 10 or 20 rounds depending on what powder I'm using. Flake powders more often, ball powders less often. Over all a great experience and many enjoyable hours reloading. The Classic Turret Press has been a gem. I've extra turrets set up for each caliber I reload each with its own Auto Drum. Very satisfied with this setup.

kidneyboy · Mar 9, 2018

santacruzdave said:
I've been reloading for a couple of years now. Started with a single stage press (Forster Co-Ax) and quickly realized I was shooting more 9mm than I could keep up with even though I'm a retired guy with more time than money. I knew I wanted more speed, but I was unwilling to jump to the complexity and cost of a progressive press. So enter the Lee Classic Turret Press. Went with the Lee Auto Drum powder measure. I decap and prime off press and wet tumble. My reloading bench is in a spare bedroom and I want everything to stay relatively clean. I use my single stage press to decap with a Lee universal decapping die, wet tumble and prime with an RCBS bench priming tool. I've a stock pile of ready to load brass in a number of handgun calibers. It's easy for me to crank out 150 rounds a hour without stress and while being careful - like visual verification of powder in each round. I also check for power measure drift every 10 or 20 rounds depending on what powder I'm using. Flake powders more often, ball powders less often. Over all a great experience and many enjoyable hours reloading. The Classic Turret Press has been a gem. I've extra turrets set up for each caliber I reload each with its own Auto Drum. Very satisfied with this setup.

^^^^^^^
This is pretty much the way I do it.

splattergun · Mar 9, 2018

Here is my rig; the LCT, the Lee safety prime (older type with round tray), a turret for each caliber set up with 4 dies including the powder-through die and crimping die. FOr charging powder I use the Auto Drum, one committed to each turret and die set plus a few extra drums for different loads. With this rig I can easily load 150 rounds per hour at an easy, comfortable pace. If I push it, I can load 200 RPH. I am considering getting a powder check die and dropping the crimping die, seating and crimping in one step.

IMO, if you're a high volume shooter and need to load more than 150 rounds per hour, or f you will in the future, you should start looking at progressives. Otherwise, the LCT is a grand little press and a pleasure to work with.

9mmepiphany · Mar 9, 2018

GW Staar said:
You may speed up a little, but only a progressive will lessen your wear on your hands with fewer strokes. Check out the new Lee progressive a few threads down....pretty cheap, coming out in April.

This would also be my suggestion. You can dip your toe into the progressive game without a huge investment. The biggest time saver is that you produce one completed round for each pull of the handle.

On my Hornady LNL, I can usually crank out 100 rounds in 12-15 mins...so I don't have to set aside a large block of time...or I can take an evening and load up 1k rounds in a couple of hours.

I was thinking about adding a turret press for when I needed smaller runs, but since hearing about Lee's new progressive press, I'm holding off to see if it is a viable alternative

LiveLife · Mar 9, 2018

GW Staar said:
bhhacker said:

I have been ruining my hands trying to reload 9mm with a single stage and it's driving me crazy. I have been mulling over a turret to increase my speed.

Click to expand...

You may speed up a little, but only a progressive will lessen your wear on your hands with fewer strokes. Check out the new Lee progressive a few threads down....pretty cheap, coming out in April.

9mmepiphany said:
This would also be my suggestion ... since hearing about Lee's new progressive press, I'm holding off to see if it is a viable alternative

I agree.

For high volume 9mm production, it's hard to beat Pro 1000 but with Pro 4000 coming out in April, I would suggest you wait to see how the new press works out.

WestKentucky · Mar 9, 2018

I just did exactly what you propose. I mounted my new Classic Turret about 18” away from my Classic Cast. I haven’t done much on it due to bronchitis and family matters, but I can already see that I’m going to love my new press. If for no other reason I can just stop where I’m at and start again as opposed to the batch loading scenario I am accustomed to where I always got really nervous stepping away from charges cases.

To answer the question of what you need, the LCT press, or the new “value” version which has a shorter ram travel and therefore shorter throw. If your only doing pistol rounds get the value press. An auto drum is 40 bucks and is my next purchase. Aside from that your good to go, just use your current dies and crank out ammo with the benefit of not having to handle the case several times.

GW Staar · Mar 9, 2018

bhhacker said:
Hello all.

I'm seeing these full blown kits that come with everything but I didn't think I need it all. I can piece together stuff but shipping is the bane of my existence living up in Alaska so if I could get it all at once that would be best.

I should address the "bane" of your existence comment. I have two outfits I do most of my ordering from, Midway USA, and Grafs.

Piece your stuff together just how you want it, into your OWN kit, order it one time, from one company, one shipping fee.

Before you click "order" go to another site like Midway USA
and put the same items in their shopping cart.....go to the cart and add shipping...to keep Grafs honest.....then go with the cheapest.

Update: I went to Grafs just now and found out your bane is real.....they charge actual shipping outside the 48. But still order once from one company and its got to be cheaper, because they will package it in one box.

thomas15 · Mar 9, 2018

What die(s) for 9mm are you currently using? May we assume you already have a working powder scale and powder measure?

Dudedog · Mar 9, 2018

Bass Pro and Cabelas are in Anchorage maybe get it from one of those stores and have them ship it to you?
Sportmans Warehouse is at your location but does not seem to have the Lee turret listed on their web site don't know they they have in the store.
Amazon maybe, but I don't know about shipping to AK from them.

I have an old 3 hole Lee turret and loaded 10000s of round on it. I have a Hornady LNL now as well, but I still use the turret for some calibers and smaller batches.
Using round numbers but you should be able to get the Lee turret with a measure and priming attachment for < $200 by the time you move to a Hornady progressive your up around $500 Dillons a bit more.
So yes a progressive is faster but quite a bit more money. Lots of people like and use Lee Pro 1000s but I really want more than three stations for a progressive.
On my LNL powder drop one station, lockout die 1 station, bullet feeder one station.....
The new little Lee 4000 progressive looks interesting but isn't in the wild yet and looks like it might not do larger rifle rounds. Might be just the thing for you and 9mm if it works out well.
Almost everyone who has the Lee Classic turret is really happy with it. I am happy with my older Lee turret.
Depending on the volume you need it just might fit.
A progressive will be faster but it is also quite a bit more money.

I like to deprime then wet tumble my brass then I prime off press so I have primed brass ready to go, whether for the turret or my progressive.

I deprime and prime by hand and I like doing it that way as it allows me to do something when I’m goofing off in front of the TV.

This is what I do as well. (wear safety glasses!)

So the 2 questions are volume and how much you would like to spend.
PS: Rocky Mountain reloading has great bullets for 9mm, offers THR members a 5% discount with the code, and I am pretty sure has free shipping to AK.
PM me if you need the discount code.

bhhacker · Mar 10, 2018

thomas15 said:
What die(s) for 9mm are you currently using? May we assume you already have a working powder scale and powder measure?

My 9mm dies ar rbs and includes a powder through die. I have a powder thrower and sliding scale as Well as am electric scale for redundancy

bhhacker · Mar 10, 2018

Dudedog said:
Bass Pro and Cabelas are in Anchorage maybe get it from one of those stores and have them ship it to you?
Sportmans Warehouse is at your location but does not seem to have the Lee turret listed on their web site don't know they they have in the store.
Amazon maybe, but I don't know about shipping to AK from them.

I have an old 3 hole Lee turret and loaded 10000s of round on it. I have a Hornady LNL now as well, but I still use the turret for some calibers and smaller batches.
Using round numbers but you should be able to get the Lee turret with a measure and priming attachment for < $200 by the time you move to a Hornady progressive your up around $500 Dillons a bit more.
So yes a progressive is faster but quite a bit more money. Lots of people like and use Lee Pro 1000s but I really want more than three stations for a progressive.
On my LNL powder drop one station, lockout die 1 station, bullet feeder one station.....
The new little Lee 4000 progressive looks interesting but isn't in the wild yet and looks like it might not do larger rifle rounds. Might be just the thing for you and 9mm if it works out well.
Almost everyone who has the Lee Classic turret is really happy with it. I am happy with my older Lee turret.
Depending on the volume you need it just might fit.
A progressive will be faster but it is also quite a bit more money.

I like to deprime then wet tumble my brass then I prime off press so I have primed brass ready to go, whether for the turret or my progressive.

This is what I do as well. (wear safety glasses!)

So the 2 questions are volume and how much you would like to spend.
PS: Rocky Mountain reloading has great bullets for 9mm, offers THR members a 5% discount with the code, and I am pretty sure has free shipping to AK.
PM me if you need the discount code.

When it comes to volume, nothing crazy. Maybe a couple thousand rounds a year. I work two weeks on, and two weeks off but have one Kiddo and Another on the way. I have about an hour a night I have been dedicating to reloading to get up to par. I'm just trying to increase my efficiency if. That makes sense.

Seems the older I get the more money I have but less free time. When i was younger it was the opposite!

ArchAngelCD · Mar 10, 2018

I always suggest the LCT press kit from Kempf Gun Shop.

It contains the LCT press, a set of Lee dies of your choice, the Auto-Disk powder measure, the Lee Safety Prime set, the Auto-Disk Riser to clear the Safety-Prime system when rotating and six MTM plastic ammo boxes.

For only $4.95 you can upgrade to the Drum Powder Measure using the pull-down box near the bottom.

The total is $204.90 for the kit which is a good price and it will save you shipping since its all in one box. Extra turrets are $12.95 and added to the box so no separate shipping there either.

https://kempfgunshop.com/Kempf_Kit_w/_Lee_Classic_Turret_Press_-90064Kit-6575.html

You said you have an hour at night, I can safely load 180 to 200 handgun rounds most times in an hour.
I hope this helps you...

bhhacker · Mar 10, 2018

ArchAngelCD said:
I always suggest the LCT press kit from Kempf Gun Shop.

It contains the LCT press, a set of Lee dies of your choice, the Auto-Disk powder measure, the Lee Safety Prime set, the Auto-Disk Riser to clear the Safety-Prime system when rotating and six MTM plastic ammo boxes.

For only $4.95 you can upgrade to the Drum Powder Measure using the pull-down box near the bottom.

The total is $204.90 for the kit which is a good price and it will save you shipping since its all in one box. Extra turrets are $12.95 and added to the box so no separate shipping there either.

https://kempfgunshop.com/Kempf_Kit_w/_Lee_Classic_Turret_Press_-90064Kit-6575.html

You said you have an hour at night, I can safely load 180 to 200 handgun rounds most times in an hour.
I hope this helps you...

This looks promising. 66 dollars shipping though with an extra turret set. It's probably the best bang for buck I've seen so far though.

ArchAngelCD · Mar 10, 2018

bhhacker said:
This looks promising. 66 dollars shipping though with an extra turret set. It's probably the best bang for buck I've seen so far though.

Unfortunately where you live shipping is outrageous. The only ones who have it worse than you are those who live in Hawaii.

Yes, their kit is very well priced and has been for about 15 years.

Hokie_PhD · Mar 10, 2018

If OP has someone in the mainland that is willing to ship it to him and if it fits in a large USPS flat rate box it can be shipped for less than $20.

It might require some logistics and planning, and the kit and/or items might have to be taken out of the original boxes and possibly partially disassembled but it could be a way for OP to save on shipping if the press fits.

Dudedog · Mar 10, 2018

Seems the older I get the more money I have but less free time. When i was younger it was the opposite!

Free time? What is that?

With your volume the turret sounds like it will work well for you. A progressive would be faster but again is probably double or triple the $

Press seems to get free shipping from Amazon (other bits shoudl get free shipping also)
Titan reloading is on their list of sellers

Order with Free Shipping by Amazon
All orders of $25 or more of eligible items across any product category qualify for FREE Shipping. Some items may have additional options for qualifying for FREE Shipping. These will be shown at checkout.

With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days after all your items are available to ship, including pre-order items.

To place an order online, do the following:

Add at least $25 of eligible items to your Shopping Cart. Any item with "FREE Shipping" messaging on the product detail page that is fulfilled and shipped by Amazon is eligible and contributes to your free shipping order minimum.
Do one of the following:
- To place the order using the shopping cart:
  1. Proceed to checkout.
  2. Ship your items to a single U.S. address in one of the 50 states.
  3. Select Group my items into as few shipments as possible as your shipping preference

Hokie_PhD · Mar 10, 2018

The only problem with Amazon is they’re extremely anti 2nd Amendment. Especially Jeff Bozo or however you spell his name.

WestKentucky · Mar 10, 2018

Usually the FREE shipping is lower 48 only. Very rarely would it apply to Alaska.

thomas15 · Mar 10, 2018

Not trying to tell you what to do or how to think but going from a single stage to a turret is not much of an upgrade and as mentioned you still have the same number of pulls of the handle for each round made.

I have a set of 9mm RCBS dies and the case mouth expansion die (on mine at least) isn't a powder thru device. The Lee expansion die has a way of allowing you to attach a powder measure to the die and lets the powder fall through to the case below but then you have to use Lee powder measures.

Too bad about the cost to ship to Alaska. Reminds me of horses, a free horse or a million dollar race horse both cost the same to feed or shoe and if they happen to die inside their stall, it cost the same amount of money to remove from the barn. Once had to help the owner of the farm that we kept our horses at cut a fairly large hole in the side of the barn and set up an elaborate rig to drag the animal outside. Took most of the day and then he still had a large hole in the wall to repair. My point: Seems the shipping cost on a $100.00 or $600.00 press are almost the same.

Advice on upgrading from single stage to turret press

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