A Lee Classic Turret Press Purchase for the Beginner

Status
Not open for further replies.

strat81

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
3,912
Location
Nebraska
Lee Classic Turret - Basic Gear

I wrote this with the hope that someone could write a companion piece on what you need for single-stage reloading. The Classic Turret is probably the most recommended press on the forum, but posts addressing new reloaders are often a bit of a mess with regards to recommendations. I appreciate and anticipate your feedback, and I hope this becomes a sticky, much like DaveInFloweryBranchGA's has. Dave's post is great, but it is ambiguous and I know it left me with just as many questions when I started.


One question that pops up constantly is "what do I need to start reloading?" There are dozens (if not hundreds) of threads like this and everyone has their own opinion and advice is generally very good. One of the most commonly recommended presses is the Lee Classic Turret Press. This thread is specifically for people interested in starting out with that press, along with specific item recommendations. The specific items mentioned are geared towards those with a limited budget. They may not be the cheapest choices, but they are not the most expensive and represent in an excellent value. All of the items described are available from MidwayUSA.com, but they are not the sole vendor and it would be wise to shop around.

Stuff you Need for pistol:

-Reloading Manual (Modern Reloading, by Richard Lee)
READ THIS FIRST. Read it before you open all of the other boxes. In fact, you might want to purchase it before you get everything else. The first part of the book deals with the mechanics of reloading. After reading it, if reloading doesn't sound good to you, send your stuff back. This manual also has a vast amount of load data in it. As a beginning reloader, you should follow the load data as gospel. A reloading manual is an important safety item. Speer, Lyman, and Hornady also publish excellent manuals, but I included the Lee manual here since it focuses a lot on Lee equipment and will make things a little easier for a novice.

-A sturdy reloading bench
A heavy work bench is ideal, but a portable "Work Mate" bench can be used if space is tight. If possible, bolt the press to table and bolt the table to the floor.

-Lee Classic Turret Press (4-hole)
The focal point of your reloading setup. This is an auto-indexing press meaning that the turret head will turn with each stroke, bringing a different die in line with the ram. On older single stage presses, you only had one die in the press at once, requiring you to readjust the die every time you placed it into the press. In my hands, I can turn out approximately 175-200 pistol rounds per hour with the Classic Turret.

-Scale (Frankford Arsenal Micro Electronic or RCBS 505 Beam)
You absolutely, positively NEED to measure the charges thrown by your powder measure, regardless of the brand you choose. Over- and under-loaded cartridges both pose serious safety risks to your gun, your face, your hand, and your life. Reloading is not cooking: eyeballing it is not enough. 1/7000th or 2/7000ths of a pound can be the difference between a safe and unsafe load.

-Calipers (Frankford Arsenal Digital)
Much like your scale, calipers are the next step in the safety equation. The OAL (OverAll Length) or COL (Case Overall Length) is important because it influences pressure (i.e., safety) as well as reliable feeding in your firearm.

-Check weights (RCBS Standard Scale Check Weights)
Your scale is useless if it's not accurate. Do not use a bullet, as these can vary in weight from one to the other.

-Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure
This is how you dispense powder into, or charge, cases. It works in conjunction with a powder-through die, and dispenses powder as the case is raised into the die. The pistol die (included in the Lee 4-die set) also flares the case mouth for bullet seating. The measure uses a series of disks with small holes in it to measure powder.

-Lee 4-die set in caliber of your choice
Includes your sizing/decapping die, powder-through/expanding die, seating die, and factory crimp die. A *very light* coat of CLP or similar product on the exterior of the die will keep it from rusting.

-Lee Large & Small Safety Prime set
This device allows you to prime your cases on the press. It's cheaper to buy the large and small at the same time than to get them separately. They accommodate large and small primers, both pistol and rifle, standard and magnum.

-Lee Auto Disk Powder Measure Riser
This is necessary if you are using the Safety Prime and the Auto Disk Powder measure. This is nothing more than a tube that raises the height of the Auto Disk so it does not hit the Safety Prime while you operate the press.

-Safety Glasses (shooting glasses work fine)
In the unlikely event your pop a primer while reloading, safety glasses will minimize the chance of getting debris in your eyes.


Highly Recommended

-Lee Adjustable Charge Bar for Auto Disk
This replaces the disk in the Auto Disk powder measure with an adjustable bar with a micrometer-like setup, enabling you to fine tune loads that can not be obtained with the standard disk sizes.

-Tumbler and Media Separator (Frankford Arsenal)
This device will clean your brass. Clean brass can prolong the life of your dies and can feed more reliably in your firearm. Plus, shiny brass looks nice!



Nice to Have

-Plastic Ammo Boxes
The cardboard and styrofoam boxes from factory ammo wear out. For a $1 or $2 each, these make a handy addition for separating and storing loaded ammo.

-Miscellaneous jars and containers
You have to store brass and bullets somehow, right?

-Bullet puller (RCBS)
Everyone makes mistakes, especially in the beginning. A bullet puller is an "eraser" and will save you money so you don't have to discard perfectly good powder, cases, primers, and bullets just because you didn't charge or seat correctly.


By now you're thinking, that's great, but what about rifle? Well, here's the additional stuff you'll need/want for rifle.


Additional stuff you need for rifle:

-Lee 3-Die rifle set
Includes the full-length sizer/decapper, seating die, and factory crimp die.

-Lee Rifle charging powder die
This is not caliber specific. It enables you to charge using the auto disk powder measure.

-Lee double disk kit
This essentially doubles the powder throwing capability of your Auto Disk. You will need this to charge most rifle cases.

-Case lubricant (Imperial Sizing Wax)
You need case lube for sizing bottleneck cases. Failure to use case lube (or not enough of it) will result in cases becoming stuck in your sizing die. I recommend Imperial Sizing Wax due to it low cost and ease of use. It feels like Chap Stick on your fingers and comes off with a simple rag or paper towel. Other options include lube pads and aerosol lubes.

-Lee Zip Trim
This acts like a lathe, spinning the case so you can trim them.

-Lee Case Length Gauge (caliber specific)
Determines the trim-to length of your cases and attaches to a Lee cutter. Cases will generally need to be trimmed after a while due to case expansion during firing and sizing. Failing to trim cases can result in failures to chamber.

-Lee Case Trimmer
Attaches to your case length gauge and actually cuts the mouth of the case to length.

-Chamfer/Deburr Tool (RCBS Chamfer and Deburring Tool)
This is used after trimming to chamfer and deburr the case mouth. Can also be used to remove a primer crimp.



Highly Recommended

-Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
Clean primer pockets enable more consistent and reliable seating of primers.

-Stuck Case Remover (Hornady)

If you get a case stuck in your sizing die, this will help you get it out. It's not much more than a drill bit, tap, and screw set, but can be very useful.


Once you are done shopping, these pages will help you get started:
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1168400221.3478=/html/HelpVideos/video.html
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp
http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm
 
Last edited:
great list....

I've been at it for almost a year and though I have most of the items on your list, I don't have the stuck case puller, the adjustable charge bar or a digital scale. I also just bolted my 'rig' to an old office desk being disposed of at work.

I had the $$ to blow on getting what I consider to be a really nice set up (yes, yes....it's not the best that money can buy....I don't have anything to prove), but I think all this may well be cost prohibitive for a lot of guys.

Seems to be that there's been hundreds, if not thousands over the years who go into the game with a $20 investment in a Lee Loader.....so I can't help but think that publishing this kind of list as 'must have' equipment may wind up discouraging guys with little money to spend from getting started.

my $.02
 
For a solid O frame press such as the Lee Classic Cast press, a Redding or RCBS RockChucker I would recommend either an RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure or a Redding or Hornady. However the good ole Lyman #55 is great too.

cw
 
so I can't help but think that publishing this kind of list as 'must have' equipment may wind up discouraging guys with little money to spend from getting started.
Point taken, however, this is for folks who have decided on a Lee Turret. I wouldn't expect a similar list for a Dillon 550 or 650 or Hornady LnL to be cheap either. If people want cheap, there's always the Lee Anniversary Kit.
 
I agree with everything except the bullet puller. How many mistakes do you have to correct for it to "break even" -- when the cost of the components not wasted equals the cost of the puller? Do the math, I think you'll agree its pretty easy to get along without one of these unless you are really sloppy.

I also didn't find the adjustable powder bar to be worthwhile either, maybe with a denser powder than Unique or Blue dot, but biginners should be using bulky powders so a double charge overflows the case and can't be missed!

--wally.
 
There are a number of Lee "enthusiasts" on this site, and we generally seem to avoid getting into Blue-Green-Red wars with advocates for other brands. Those of us who are advocates of the Lee products probably have one common denominator--we probably enjoy the reloading experience , particularly when we can have a high benefit / cost ratio, and we have enough intrinsic mechanical "curiosity" to have learned how to make our Lee products work well--or are willing to trouble-shoot to do so.

Strats81, I suggest that you consider editing your list to provide some good graphics with it--bold for the headers, that kind of thing. Further, if you can still do it, why don't you re-title it something like "Lee Reloading--basic gear". Further, if you incorporate comments about the Classic Cast Single Stage Press, then your information can include both kinds of prospective press users. (That's just the English Teacher in me speaking up, not the Reloader.) Personally, I agree with your assessment of the Classic Cast Turret Press, and unless a newbie is ONLY planning to load 'accuracy ammo' for long-distance shooting, the same gear would apply to both press types.

In addition to the comments for press and reloading gear, it could also become a repository for "tips" for Lee products. Any one who wanted to add a comment would simply type the product name for the title, then add the tip / hint in the text--

Moderator, what do you think about this becoming a sticky?

Jim H.
 
How many mistakes do you have to correct for it to "break even"
When I was a n00b, I loaded up some rounds with Hornady XTPs that were underpowered and wouldn't cycle my autoloaders. I shot 3 and pulled down the other 47. (Yes, I was stupid for loading that many to begin with). I occassionally seat a bullet too deep and they help for that.

But you're right, I'll move it to Nice to Have.

Strats81, I suggest that you consider editing your list to provide some good graphics with it--bold for the headers, that kind of thing.
Done.

That's just the English Teacher in me speaking up, not the Reloader.
Me fail English? That's unpossible. :)
 
That's a good list you've put together. One thing I might add is an LED light that hangs over the press so you can confirm that powder is being dropped correctly. Not necessary but maybe a "nice to have".

I don't have any check weights for my RCBS 505 scale and I have no idea how you would calibrate it if it were off anyway. I just make sure it is zeroed out when empty. I still have all my fingers so far.

For rifle you are going to need some form of powder thrower bigger than a double disk setup for just about anything larger than a .223. If you are loading for a bolt action I prefer a Collet Neck sizer die over any form of Full Length sizing too.

This is starting to get complicated.:D
 
One thing I might add is an LED light that hangs over the press so you can confirm that powder is being dropped correctly. Not necessary but maybe a "nice to have".
Do you have a picture of one and where to buy? Not quite sure I get it...

I don't have any check weights for my RCBS 505 scale and I have no idea how you would calibrate it if it were off anyway. I just make sure it is zeroed out when empty. I still have all my fingers so far.
No clue how to calibrate it either. My cheapie scale has check weight that works, and several guys recommended them when I started.

For rifle you are going to need some form of powder thrower bigger than a double disk setup for just about anything larger than a .223.
The double disk can throw some decent charges. Otherwise, you can raise the ram twice on one cartridge. (Not ideal.) What do you suggest for large charges, both hardware and process? That's why I'm posting this, for feedback.
 
Last edited:
I agree with everything except the bullet puller. How many mistakes do you have to correct for it to "break even" -- when the cost of the components not wasted equals the cost of the puller? Do the math, I think you'll agree its pretty easy to get along without one of these unless you are really sloppy.

If you don't have a bullet puller, how are you going to dispose of your dangerous mistakes?

Also, I recently spent an evening pulling apart a hundred 9mm cartridges that I had just loaded with 5.0 grains of powder when it should have been 4.5. Five grains of powder was for 124 grain bullets, but I was loading 135's. I caught the mistake when I was putting the label on the box. It was a terrific waste of time, and I hope I learned my lesson from it. (the lesson was "check your load data twice *before* you load a whole bunch of ammo, not once before and once afterwards") The cost of the components was negligible, but the lesson was valuable.
 
Do you have a picture of one and where to buy? Not quite sure I get it...
Sorry, I don't have a pic of my setup but I could try to get on later. It's basically a penlight style LED that I just taped on the press to shine into the cases so you can confirm it's been loaded properly. IIRC Walmart sells them.
What do you suggest for large charges, both hardware and process
I use an RCBS Uniflow and trickler as a separate step. The double pump method would sure be faster though.

One other thing you may want to add is some info on how the press is used. IMO these articles and videos from Lee's website are pretty informative.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1168400221.3478=/html/HelpVideos/video.html

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm
 
Quote:
One thing I might add is an LED light that hangs over the press so you can confirm that powder is being dropped correctly. Not necessary but maybe a "nice to have".

Do you have a picture of one and where to buy? Not quite sure I get it...
You can buy this one at Grainger for around $35.

47b7ce35b3127ccebdeb0ec6a06100000026100DZOGblm4Yo.jpg

47b7ce35b3127ccebdeb0ecb215c00000026100DZOGblm4Yo.jpg

47b7ce35b3127ccebdeb0eb6a01100000026100DZOGblm4Yo.jpg

It works off three AAAA batteries and will last for 60 hours on a set of batteries.
Rusty


Edit: and yes, I love my classic turret press.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top