.223 and lee turret press.

I have the new cast classic Lee turret and my 223 dies work ok

Kid

They should. Why wouldn't they?

I've loaded up to 800 rnds of .223 ammo out of my Lee Turret per week for several years & am very pleased with it


Dave

deciple-of-keith,

What is your procedure for loading 223 on the Lee Turret? What do you start with - prepared case or primed case? How do you prime, drop powder, etc.

I've thought about reloading on the turret but have been just doing it on the single stage.

Thanks,
Paul

Well, for your .223 rifle die the 'powder through' function is just not available like it is for your Lee handgun dies. What you need to do in order to use your Auto Disk Powder Measure while reloading your .223 cartridges is a Lee Rifle Charging Die (scroll down just a bit on the link below):

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1152912425.2897=/html/catalog/powhan1.html



Another Lee alternative for auto powder charging your .223 cases is the Lee Universal Charging Die along with the Lee Perfect Powder Measure:

Lee Perfect Powder Measure and Lee Universal Charging Die



Neither of these items do anything more than charge your cartridge case - does not flare or manipulate your brass in any way.

G'day Paul . My methord of loading .223 on the Turret is that I have the 4 hole Plate. I have my Powder thrower set up on the press . I prime with the existing primer arm (though I'm led to belive the new Classic Turret has a primer tray included ) I tend to find that The expander plug on the neck sizing die I use opens the neck enough to take jacketd bullets . With larger rounds like the 45-70 I tend to find that I remove the auto index & turn the Die Plate by hand .

Dave

Nortonics & deciple,

Thanks for the information. I have a 3 hole turret. Let's say I start off with a prepared, primed case (I like to prime as a separate step). Okay the powder measure/die go in the first hole and the bullet seater goes into the next hole. I would have the third hole empty and a wasted pull of the handle. That's my problem with the turret press.

If you have a 4 hole turret it looks like you have 2 wasted handle pulls.

Right now I have my Redding 3BR powder measure attached (with an RCBS powder measure mount) to the seating die of a single stage press. I grab a primed case, dispense powder, put the case in the caseholder, set the bullet on top and pull the handle once. I've been trying to figure out how I could do better with the Turret or Loadmaster I have.

I think you have to buy the new primer "dispenser" separately from the new deluxe turret press.

Paul

I see you reasoning here I envisioned you were using a single stage O type The only advantage to yu would be if you were using a Tapper crimp die in the 3 hole plate ! Thanks for the Heads up on the primer dispenser I'll look intothat & see if they can be fitted to the standard Turret .


Dave

put the crimp die in the extra hole....no wasted pull

Well, I don't crimp bottlenecked rifle cases. I guess a 3 hole turret would work well if I did. I've read where others are using progressives but it just doesn't work for me since I start with a primed case. Here's my setup.

Paul

Deciple, you may also have to buy and extension that fits between the powder die and powder measure so it clears the top of the primer tray of the primer dispenser that extends above the turret top. I saw something like this at the Lee site.

Paul

Cheers for that Paul ! I like your set up. It's the Old cry isn't it? If it ain't broke why try & fix it? I've got a good mate & mentor who still uses a Old Simplex turret Press that takes 5/8 dies & has done for near 40yrs! I asked him some years ago why not catch up with the rest of the world & got the Look reserved for naughty small children & Morons & the answer of .........Why?


Dave

I'm always willing to learn. If someone finds a better way I'm for it. I've never been able to figure out if I'm efficient or lazy!

I used to have the Redding powder measure on it's own stand away from the press. Recently I saw a picture of someone with the same setup I have in the picture above. I found that little metal bar with a few holes in it (it also has small screw holes for mounting it to a bench). I learned it was made by RCBS so I call them up and ordered one. They sent it to me for free. Operating with the measure right by the press makes it a little easier.

Cheers to the Land Down Under!

Paul

2 Hole Turret!

PaulTX - sweet setup!

Should be christened as the "2 Hole Turrett". I can see you personalized plates on your vehicle now........ 2HOLTRT

Excellent idea.

Well, as I was pondering the possibilities of using the turret for .223 that's what I visualized - a two holer that flipped back and forth.

I can't take credit for mounting the powder measure on the single stage as I saw it in another person's picture.

Paul