Lee Classic SS vs Lee Classic Turret

If you remove the index rod from the Lee Classic Turret (LCT) press you will be able to do one process only, such as decapping or priming. With the index rod installed you move through all 4 processes of decapping and priming, powder charging, bullet seating and crimping on each round, completing a round before moving on to the next round. So, the Turret press may eliminate your need to purchase a single stage press. That decision is up to you. I chose the LCT 4 years ago. I load 4 calibers on it and have never regretted the choice. YMMV

For loading what calibers, pistol or rifle? Most every press out there is built stronger than it 'needs' to be, and most every press out there will last a lifetime if properly used and maintained.

There are MANY reloaders who have run many tens of thousands of rounds thru their Lee turret, Deluxe and the beefier Classic models. The press does not care if it is used in auto-advance or manually advanced mode. With the Lee it is a 20 second task of removing or leaving in place 1 spiral metal rod.

RE the strenght of LCT:
I can't imagine doing anything the LCT wont handle. I have never seen a weakness in mine.

Lee Classic Turret for me, unless I'm going to load 50 BMG.

If y'all could get only ONE press, would you get the SS or Turret?

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Classic turet for me. I have had mine six years. I know a few guys that load 30-06 on their classic turret's with no problem.

Classic turret. While I do run it as a single press for batch operations at times, it really speeds things up when you want to do 2 or more operations in a row. Even without the auto-index, just twisting the turret to manually move to the next die is much faster.

Another thing I really like about the turret press is once my dies are setup, they're set. Not a big deal for many people I'm sure, but to me it's nice. For an extra $8 I can get a turret ring with a new die set. Once the dies are all set up, when I'm done with that caliber, I just remove the whole turret & shell holder (tool-less, 10 seconds total which includes putting it away). When I go back to it, another 10 seconds & I'm all set. I *think* I get better consistency from batch to batch of the same thing because I'm not resetting each die every time.

AK Gun Man 88 said:

If y'all could get only ONE press, would you get the SS or Turret? Time put into reloading isn't a factor for me, I have plenty of time.

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Bought a Lee ss breech lock as my first press and into to reloading. Used it for a month and bought a Lee turret. Not because there was anything wrong with the SS, it just didn't keep up with my consumption in 2 pistol calibers. If you're getting just one, it's a no brainer for the turret.

Turret. I've never used the index; pulled it first thing. I prefer to batch 50 through each stage, and with the turret, I just rotate to the next die. When done with loading that cartridge/caliber, just pull the turret head and insert a different one for the next (different) cartridge you want to load for.

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True. I came this close to getting another SS (hiatus from reloading for some time) as I was under the mistaken assumption that all turrets were manual.. it really didn't click, even with all the raves, for me until I watched a utube video showing the auto indexing. Done.

Would the turret work well if I set up one turret with 3 dies...the depriming die and the RCBS Primer Pocket Swager (x2 one large and one small)? I have a great deal of 5.56 that needs to be prepped.

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Yes it will work fine. What I did with a four hole turret and three die's is I would pull out the completed round with my left hand, while I was putting it in the bin and grabbing a new case I would cycle the handle with my right hand to get past the empty hole in the turret. worked very well.

Personally l like the turret for handgun and the SS for rifle. Be sure you check out lee's clearance/refurb area. you can usually find a SS there, and shipping is only $5. you will not ever find a classic turret there though.

AK Gun Man 88 said:

If y'all could get only ONE press, would you get the SS or Turret? Time put into reloading isn't a factor for me, I have plenty of time.

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Classic Turret hands down.. If you have any doubt about them just try to find a used one!!They are scarce as hen's teeth.

Another vote for the LCT.

Would the turret work well if I set up one turret with 3 dies...the depriming die and the RCBS Primer Pocket Swager (x2 one large and one small)? I have a great deal of 5.56 that needs to be prepped.

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Sure. You can put whatever dies you want on the turret. One turret of mine has a couple of two-die sets, 7.7jap and .223 if I remember right. My universal decapper shares a turret with one of my 3-die sets. I have never used the auto index feature on mine either. Instead I use it in batches single stage, as described by Legionnaire.

Get a few extra turrets, you'll wind up needing them.

Sure. You can put whatever dies you want on the turret. One turret of mine has a couple of two-die sets, 7.7jap and .223 if I remember right.

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Yea good point. I forgot that I even have a turret set up with my Lee bullet hardness tester set up in it. The classic turret really is a very versital press.

Lee does have one in their closeout section but it doesn't say classic or delux turret. I got one last year and got the classic turret press, but other than a die plate, that's all you get. No instructions, no primer tray, no powder funnel - just the press.

http://leeprecision.com/reconditioned-4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index.html

With regards to the RCBS primer pocket swager on the LCT, you will have to remove the whole plastic clamp on top of the press ram, not just the indexing rod to use it (because of the sleeve that goes over the ram to remove the swaged brass). It only takes a minute, plus whatever time I need to find my screwdriver, though I do worry about stripping out the threads someday as it is a metal screw into plastic.

I too have a turret plate set up with dies that I only use in SS mode. The universal decapper is there as well as the full length sizers for some of my rifles, as I usually only neck size except for range pickups.

With all the LCT love in this thread, can anyone tell me why my regular 4-hole turret likes to turn 1.5 stations almost every time I bring down the ram? It really drives me crazy, and I have to watch that I do not go too far, plus it means I can't use longer cases with it as it limits my overall ram travel.

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You need to adjust it. Also, if it hurts your shoulder when you rub the top of your head, don't do that.

Only one press??

The CLASSIC turret press!
If you buy a Lee Turret press, make sure it's the CLASSIC.
It's beefier than the their so called -"Deluxe".

And the spent primer elimination system is light years better.
With the Classic 99.9% of the spent primers end up where they're supposed to be.
With the deluxe, it's more like 50-60%, the rest get spit all over the place.

With regards to the RCBS primer pocket swager on the LCT, you will have to remove the whole plastic clamp on top of the press ram, not just the indexing rod to use it (because of the sleeve that goes over the ram to remove the swaged brass). It only takes a minute, plus whatever time I need to find my screwdriver, though I do worry about stripping out the threads someday as it is a metal screw into plastic.

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Keep in mind the Lee has a bigger ram. If the sleeve will not fit, call RCBS. They sent a fella on another site a (free) bushing that fits his Lee. Good folks in Oroville, just sad they live in anti gun, anti business taxafornia.