New press - Lee

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shooter1 said:
There will always be a place on my bench for the LCT press! It's permanently mounted on my bench along with my 650. I have my old (40+ years) Rock Chucker under the bench that I use on occasion for specific jobs. The turret is used for small batch loads of handgun and rifle cartridges. As others have stated, it's easy enough to knock out 100-150rds an hour on the LCT. By all means, get the Safety Prime. It really speeds things up. For rifle cartridges loaded on the LCT, I use my old RCBS Uniflow powder measure with the rifle charging die and adapter. The Pro Auto Disk works OK for most handgun cartridges and powders. Haven't tried the Lee Drum. Even if you move on to a progressive later, you'll find a lot of uses for the LCT. IMO, that's the best of the Lee press line.
str1
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I could have written that post!! My LCT is used to work up loads, as my primary high output loader is the XL650. Having said that the LCT gets plenty of use with 45 Colt and 44 Mag. I use the Auto-Drum and get very good loads out of it. It's made my life a lot easier and is very consistent for the price.
 
SARuger said:
I love my LCT as well! Best advice given and taken 9 months ago when my reloading journey began.

I make full use of the fast change outs, short run or long run capability. I loaded 300 .223 rounds today in about 2 hrs. Then loaded 20 .380auto for some practice this coming weekend.

My set up, I have posted it a few times, I have added more to it since this photo. The whole LEE system just works as it should!

IMG_20160909_173559668.jpg
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SARuger knows how to do an LCT up right!

Make sure you click the picture to get the full size one to show up.
 
LEE will send you a set of plastic index bushing no charge. I always give them a light coat of epoxy glue let it dry and install they will last a long time.
 
I like to prime off press for both my Lee turret and LNL.
I can wear my safety glasses and prime cases while watching football etc.
I do a quick clean, deprime, clean then prime and have the primed cases ready to go when I load. (Wally World plastic tubs with lids come in handy about $3 ea , 7qt are a nice size)
That way I have the cases inspected and primed so I can just concentrate on loading.
 
thomas15 said:
Since the OP's goal is just a little bit more speed over a single stage, the LCT is the economical choice. Not sure how the addition of the auto drum (over any other powder measure) will aid in the speed of the thing.
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It's cheap, and it automates the powder dropping process, combining it with the case bell.
 
No, the Auto-Disk measure does, as well. There are ways to get other measures to work on powder through expander dies, too, it's just that those two Lee measures (auto disk and auto drum) are plug n play.
 
thomas15 said:
What are those other ways you speak of and is the Lee gear the fastest?
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Midway sells linkage kits (i believe one is made by Hornady, and the other by RCBS) that will turn several different manual powder measures into ones that'll work with powder through dies. The problem with using those on a LCT press is clearance with the Safety Prime system. I'm not sure if the riser (used to make an Auto Drum or Auto DIsk work with an LCT that has the Safety Prime system on it) will work with the linkage kits. I'd guess that they would, but I've never actually tried it.

As for speed, any measure used with a powder through die is going to be as fast as you can pull the handle, for the most part.

Edit: found links to them at Midway.. .still on one of my Wish Lists there...

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/802477/rcbs-uniflow-powder-measure-case-activated-linkage-kit

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/591344/hornady-case-activated-powder-drop
 
@thomas15, reading back over this, I realize you were totally pulling my leg. Well played, man. Well played.

I hope you bit your tongue as you pulled it out of your cheek. ;)
 
SlowFuse said:
My real question is for people that use this Lee turret press: what accessories/extras do you use or which do you consider a good match for this press? And if you were to do it all over again, what would you buy from the start? I'm really torn on the powder delivery system. The Lee drum looks like what I want to go with but I've been reading info on the disk system also.

Also curious if most people prime on the press or hand prime. I've always hand primed and dont mind it, on-press would be new to me.
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Buy the Lee Classic Turret Kit. Get the Lee 4 die set for whatever it is you're wanting to load. Get the Auto Drum powder measure.

Prime on press using the safety prime.

Get a better scale than the Lee scale, if you think you might want to weight anything over 100 grains (like, for example, some random bullets that came to you unlabeled).

IMHO & YMMV, but based on 3 years experience with the Classic Turret.
 
I do need a better scale. Ive been using the lee since I started loading in 2010. Those RCBS scales on midway for $40 have been tempting, but i've read the thread saying they're not the same quality as the old 505's and other models.
 
SlowFuse said:
I do need a better scale. Ive been using the lee since I started loading in 2010. Those RCBS scales on midway for $40 have been tempting, but i've read the thread saying they're not the same quality as the old 505's and other models.
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I bought the RCBS scale that Midway has on sale right now for 30 bucks. It showed up today. I bought it because my son and I often reload at the same time... him on the LCT while I run the 1050. Having to share a scale was a pain in the butt.

I haven't used the scale extensively yet, but first impressions are that it's ok. The magnetic dampening is a bit slow to dampen out all the rocking, but it does get the job done. I checked it at various weights with an RCBS check weight kit I have, and it was right on.

It feels like a cheap scale, and it is. Yet for 30 bucks, you can't go wrong.

As long as your old Lee scale still works, is accurate, and doesn't take forever to stop swinging, I'd stick with it. I don't think the sale priced RCBS will be much of an upgrade for you, unless your current scale doesn't have some sort of dampening system in it.
 
SlowFuse said:
I do need a better scale. Ive been using the lee since I started loading in 2010. Those RCBS scales on midway for $40 have been tempting, but i've read the thread saying they're not the same quality as the old 505's and other models.
Click to expand...

You should factor in the cost of a dust cover and a set of check weights with any scale purchase. I'm generally not one to endorse any product but I have an RCBS 505 that I have used for over 3 years and this scale does everything I need and I prefer it to my digital scales (I have 3 digital scales). Every time I use my check weights the scale is exactly correct. But that is just me. The scale is easy to use and settles down quickly.
 
The Lee scale has served me well, the main thing I would like about one of the RCBS scales is the ability to measure over 100 grains. Could be useful as someone said earlier for the occasional unidentified projectiles or for matching case/projectile weights for accuracy rifle loads.
 
SlowFuse said:
The Lee scale has served me well, the main thing I would like about one of the RCBS scales is the ability to measure over 100 grains. Could be useful as someone said earlier for the occasional unidentified projectiles or for matching case/projectile weights for accuracy rifle loads.
Click to expand...

In that case just buy a $20.00 digital scale
 
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