4 hole turret vs classic turret

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lgbloader

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What press for 38 spcl, 357 mag, 44mag only and why. I am covered for everything else and have all neccessary accessories. I am only trying to get info on the machines.
Let the madness begin... and Guys, lets keep the peace on this one, please. We are here for fun so lets act like friends, okay? Thanks :cool:
 
Get the classic cast turret; it is a better long-term value than the standard / old turret with the 4-die configuration. I say that as an owner of the latter.

Now, use google to do a search in this forum for all these kind of discussions.

Jim H.
 
The Lee 3 hole works well if you only want to seat and crimp at the same time. The Lee 4 hole works well if you want to seat and then crimp with separate die.

For casual everyday shooting the 3 hole is all you really need.

I own both, and a Dillon Progessive and an RCBS Rockchucker.
 
I bought a Lee 4 Hole Turret press and within a few weeks sold it off to buy a Classic 4 Hole Turret press and here's why:
-The Cast Iron base on the Classic press is better and more stable to work with.
-The Classic press has a ram which is twice as thick as the non-classic.
-The linkage on the Classic press is MUCH heavier than the non-classic.
-Reloading rifle rounds is much easier with the Classic press since the base, ram and linkage are so much heavier.
-With the Classic press the spent primers fall through the ram into a collection tube whereas on the non-classic press the spent primers fall into the base. (sometimes) When the base is full you have to unbolt the press to empty the base.

You can see the differences I mentioned in the pictures of each press on the Lee site. Here is the link for the Turret Press and here is the link for the Classic Turret Press When you look at both the difference in the linkages is quite evident.
 
Sounds good so far, keep it coming boys.
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You can adjust the handle length some amount on the classic cast. I shorten it up for pistol for a shorter throw. Started with the 3 stage a long time ago, converted to a 4, now I have the classic turret that does it all. Costs more but a better value. - Phil
 
I have the four hole press and should have bought the three and $25 lee book / single stage press kit. I reload only for .357 but my routine is:
1. deprime / size
2. tumble
3. prime with Lee Handprime
4. flare/charge with powder
5. seat bullet
6. factory crimp
7. give extra pull on the lever to advance press past the depriming die

The single stage press would work for depriming. I have one but usually use my Lee Handpress so I can do it outside. The extra pull in step 7 above becomes automatic and I do it as I'm taking the completed round from the press to the box but if I had just bought the three hole press it wouldn't be necessary.
 
Because the classic turret looks better with a three ball handle than the deluxe turret, and all the reasons mentioned above.
Rusty
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For best results

I prefer to seat bullets and crimp in separate stages, so I'd go with the four-hole version.

I used one of the early turret presses until I stripped the screw threads out of the main body. I upgraded to a Dillion XL650 and am very happy with the results. Didn't mean to derail the thread, but feel it worth mentioning.
 
I load all three of those rounds as well as .40 S&W and .45 ACP with a Lee Classic Turret (4 hole) press with auto indexing. I can do 100 in 30 minutes if I really move it. I like the machine except for the little stupid plastic square washer that goes on the indexing rod and causes it to index. It faithfully strips out at around 500 rounds. They cost about 1.25 each from Lee and I keep a half dozen on hand. Why they didn't just make that thing out of something metal, I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't allow the movement in the index rod??
 
The Lee 3 hole works well if you only want to seat and crimp at the same time. The Lee 4 hole works well if you want to seat and then crimp with separate die.
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One alternative is to skip the in-press priming system altogether, and get a 3-hole and a single stage. Use the single stage press for resizing and depriming, prime using a hand priming tool. Once you've got a good number of sized, primed cases, use the three-hole with belling/powder charging, seating, and seperate crimp die to load 'em up one at a time.

That's the setup that I'm strongly considering, anyway. For now, I usually take out the auto-index and resize/prime batches of 100, then take out the sizing die, replace with a crimping die, and put the auto-index back in.
 
I have loaded many more than 500 rounuds and have never had any problems stripping the ratchet square. I don't lube and I never advance the turret with the ratchet down on the index rod.

Might check your for a burr or something on the index rod.
 
shootallatime:
I load all three of those rounds as well as .40 S&W and .45 ACP with a Lee Classic Turret (4 hole) press with auto indexing. I can do 100 in 30 minutes if I really move it. I like the machine except for the little stupid plastic square washer that goes on the indexing rod and causes it to index. It faithfully strips out at around 500 rounds. They cost about 1.25 each from Lee and I keep a half dozen on hand. Why they didn't just make that thing out of something metal, I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't allow the movement in the index rod??
Click to expand...
I would be curious to see your reloading technique. I have loaded thousands of rounds on mine and never had to replace a ratchet. Make sure you don't short stroke the press and when you change turrets raise the ram a few inches before you remove the turret and hopefully that problem will go away.
Rusty
 
So as not to confuse the OP, I did not interject my own technique, but now that a number of others have, I will also.

I have separate turrets for each caliber I load. I have all of the sizing/ depriming dies in one or two turrets. I use the turret containing the caliber I am working on to decap and size the brass. If it is rifle I run it through my tumbler to clean the lube off. If it is pistol, I put primers in on the upstroke.

I have the powder charging die, the bullet seater die and the crimp die in the three holes in the three hole turret. If I am doing rifle, I prime the brass, charge the brass, rotate, seat bullet rotate, crimp round, repeat.

I have the auto advance and did not have a nylon nut go bad in many thousands of rounds. Now I simply advance by hand. It seems to me to be smoother that way.

I just got a deal on the four hole, and will likely use it for rifle exclusively.
As much as I used to like my Dillon for high speed production 12-13 years ago, I now enjoy the reloading simply for it's own sake and am not in a hurry anymore.
 
re the indexing ratchet:

First, this is a failsafe part: It's intended to fail if you attempt to force the indexing on a short stroke.

Second, it has to be inserted properly--i.e., with the flange on the square hole down. (Or is it with the flange up?)

When I updated my standard turret to four-die, I had the first two ratchets fail--each one at about 500 rounds. After that--which was about the time I finally got the rhythm down for the press, the next one lasted about 10,000-12,000 rounds.

Keep some spares on hand and you'll be good to go, no matter which (Lee) turret you have. Check your indexing rod for burrs, and keep that lubricated, and you'll have no problems. I also routinely do a cleanup and re-lube every 300-500 rounds on the press--Gun Scrubber rinse and wipe, clean out the primer drop slots (on the Standard turret), relube the ram, and wipe down the rod--that seems to have solved the problems.

Jim H.
 
RustyFN

that 'wire' atop the turret from 6 to 9 o'clock.....a lite to aid in checking powder? remember where you got it? with a little fiddling mine runs fine and to work up a load or make a fast few 100 rounds it sets up fast and is as consistant as my dillion. just much slower. +value for the $.

 
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