Anyone have experience with the Lee turret (old) and the lee classic turret (new)??

[Vitamin G]

How do they compare? DO they compare? I'm going to be ordering one in the next few days, and it seems as though the old styles comes with significant savings in the kit form, since it includes the autodisk and a set of dies. I've been loading single stage, and want something faster, but i'm not interested in a progressive. I want the auto-indexing feature also. Is there a difference in the efficiency of the primer catcher? I know the contruction is a little more solid in the classic (new), but are there any major differences other than that?

 

[cracked butt]

I'll watch this thread too. I have an almost overpowering desire to order a Lee classic turret press, not a single store in my area carries them yet, which seems kind of silly considering that Lee Precision is 15 miles from my house. My neighbor's father works for Lee and raves about the new press everytime I talk to him.

 

[bfox]

Hi
I have both would definetly buy the classic cast .
The original is good but the CC catches all the primers .
The safety prime is great also .
If you do go that way get a riser so it
doesn't hit the powder measure .

Bill

 

[Vitamin G]

Are you saying that the riser is basically pretty mandatory for the classic cast turret, even if I'm using LEE dies?

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Vitamin G,

"How do they compare?"

The Classic Turret is a superior product.

"DO they compare?"

Yes in that they are similar in operation. But the older model lacks design improvements (such as spend primer handling and cast iron construction) the new one has. Therefore, the new one is cleaner and due to it's heavier construction, has a much greater range of cartridges it can load, including large rifle cartridges.

"I'm going to be ordering one in the next few days, and it seems as though the old styles comes with significant savings in the kit form, since it includes the autodisk and a set of dies."

You'd be better off taking your time and selecting a bit better stuff. If you do so, your reloading experience will be much more positive. There's a sticky for new reloaders listed at the top of the page that lists quite a bit of the product line offerings of the various manufacturers and talks about them. Were I you, I'd use the list of "stuff" in the Lee turret kit to help me pick out the items I didn't already have, but I'd buy the Classic Cast turret with all it's goodies, since it's just a much better press for not much more money.

"I've been loading single stage, and want something faster, but i'm not interested in a progressive."

Once upon a time, I upgraded from a single stage to a Hornady Lock N Load progressive. Had they had the Lee Classic Turret available then, I would have purchased it. It offers lots of inexpensive versatility as a die set and a turret is all you need to change most calibers over.

"I want the auto-indexing feature also. Is there a difference in the efficiency of the primer catcher?"

The auto indexing appears to be a bit more durable on the Classic Cast and the primer catcher has a tube that directs spent primers into a bucket or trash can, thereby keeping your press much cleaner than the older turret, which lacks this feature.

"I know the contruction is a little more solid in the classic (new), but are there any major differences other than that?"

The Classic Cast is of course, cast iron. The older turret is aluminum. The big advantage though, is the compound linkage the Classic Cast offers. This allows you to handle much larger cartridges. In addition, the press is cleaner and the auto advance mechanism tends to be much less problematic.

"Are you saying that the riser is basically pretty mandatory for the classic cast turret, even if I'm using LEE dies?"

If you purchase the Lee Safety Prime (which gives you a significant speed advantage and you should get it, regardless of which press you end up with, it'll work on both) you'll need to get a riser (a $6.00 steel part) in order to raise the powder measure up higher to clear the safety prime.

BTW, speaking of powder measures, the kit comes with the Lee Auto Disk powder measure. The Lee Pro Auto Disk is a much better powder measure and is the one I'd advise anyone to get.

Here's a list of stuff (the luxury list, not the basic) for the Lee Classic Cast with Lee part numbers:

90064 Lee Classic Turret press
90997 Lee Safety Prime Kit, for large and small primers
90269 Extra four hole turret
90195 Double Disk Kit (for large powder loads, luxury item)
90429 Pro Auto Disk powder measure
90041 Auto Disk Riser
90762 Adjustable charge bar (luxury item)
A set of dies of your choice. You'll need a extra four hole turret for each set of dies (unless you just love setting up dies).

Since I don't know what you already own, I'm not going to list any of the extraineous reloading equipment, but the sticky should help you pick that stuff out.

I hope this helps,

Dave

 

[wolfe28]

Pistol and double disk kit?

I am going to throw my hat in the ring with those that are seriously considering the Lee classic turret as their next press (the classic cast is on there as well). Speaking to Dave in FBGA (but anyone else is more than welcome to chime in);

Is the double disk kit necessary if the press is going to be used for pistol reloading only?

This was listed as a "luxury item", and I'm not opposed to getting this, but if I'm just going to reload 9mm, 40 SW and 45 ACP for the time being, I was just wondering if it was necessary for pistol.

Thanks a bunch.

D

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you are going to load only pistol/revolver ammunition you need only the single disk kit.

 

[cobra1414]

Well...if no big bore stuff you'll be fine w/ the single disk kit. I use the doubles for hot 44mag, any 454, and of course the 500mag.

 

[revolverman357]

I have the 4-hole turret press. I haven't had any problems with it, have loaded thousands of rounds on it and I am happy. But....my friend bought the classic cast turret press and asked me to set it up for him. I was impressed. The classic cast is the way to go, very solid and strong. Primers go right down a plastic tube into your trash or whatever container you choose to use.
I wish they had made the classic when I bought my turret press, although I may still buy one, I like it.

 

[benedict1]

Auto Disk Riser Required

Yes you need the Auto Disk Riser--it is to clear the Lee Safety Prime tray. That is why it is necessary.

+1 for the Classic Turret Press, Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure and the Safety Prime. About as foolproof as it gets, plus auto indexing.

Edited--Oops--didn't see Dave's response re this in his long, very good reply. Sorry for the redundancy.

 

[ranger53]

I know that a Lee turret is next on the agenda. I wondering if they have refurbished turrets!
tommy

 

[RidgwayCO]

Lessons I've learned using my Lee Classic (cast) Turret:

1) The press is a well-made piece of equipment, and worth the $75 from MidwayUSA. The indexing system is very smooth and controlled.

2) The best decapping/disposal of used primers I seen. I use an RCBS universal decapper, and the burned primer mix (it's abrasive) goes down the plastic disposal tube along with the primer cup. No mess. If you don't move the handle all the way back to the top after decapping, the turret won't index and you're ready to decap the next case.

3) Get the Pro Autodisk powder measure. If you load rifle or extremely large pistol cases (.500 S&W or .454 Casull), you'll need to order the disk doubler kit. If you load very small powder charges (less than 3.2 gr of Accurate #2 for example), you'll need to order the microdisk kit. I ordered the adjustable charging bar, but doubt I'll use it much, as the fixed cavity disks seem to work better for me. The universal charging die is also a necessity for rifle cases (it does not shape the case mouth). Flake powders do not work very well in the smaller charging disk cavities. I'm standardizing on spherical and extruded (VihtaVuori) powders.

4) The powder measure riser is needed if you are using tall dies along with the auto priming system.

5) I find I can load about 200 rounds per hour comfortably.

Hope this helps!

 

[benedict1]

Decapping on the Lee Classic Turret Press

When I want to decap a whole bunch of cases I use the Lee Universal Decapper, but I just remove the index rod from the press. The turret just sits rock still while I decap.

If you leave it connected there is a slight possiblity that you will go back down a little too far with the ram and the square indexing gear that causes the rod to rotate might get dinged up. If that happens it won't index right. So to be safe I just remove the rod--a one minute job.

Edited: Here is the link to the Lee Recondition/Seconds page--didn't see any Classic Turrets there but watch this page

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1159267838.5642=/html/catalog/surplus.html

 

[RustyFN]

What Dave and RidgwayCO said. I bought the Classic setup a couple of months ago and am very happy. I was also looking at the kit but with the advice of Dave, Benedict and a few others I went with the classic. That was the best advice I got. The classic setup is well worth the few extra $ in my opinion. It is the first press I have owned or loaded on and it was very easy to setup and opperate. You can buy the complete classic setup with one caliber for around $200. Without the charge bar under $200.
Rusty

Lee Auto Disk Powder Measure Riser.
Lee Adjustable Charge Bar Auto Disk.
Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure.
Lee Safety Prime Small and Large Primer Feeder.
Lee Classic Four Hole Turret Press.
Lee Deluxe Handgun Four Die Set 9mm Luger.
Lee Safety Magnetic Scale.
Total was $207 including shipping
MidwayUSA.com

 

[PsychoKnight]

Double Disk good for magnum revolvers

Beyond increased capacity of the double disk kit is the ability to use two smaller cavities to fine-tune the total cavity size.

Let's say you like to use 8.5gr of 2400. Assuming the volume chart is correct for 2400, you can't do that with either of the auto disk measures. You have to settle for either 8.2, or 8.9. People into handgun hunting or precision target shooters wouldn't settle for that and, previous to the double-stack option, would use a fully adjustable benchrest measure on their turrent presses and manually drop the charge.

Through the use of two smaller disks, I get to use a combination that increments usually by as little as .1 or .2gr, depending on the type of powder. The only problem is the smallest combined volume is two .30cc for a total minimum of .60cc, which is about 5.6gr of Bullseye. Too much volume for most pistol cartridges, except maybe the 10mm or .357sig. But for revolver cartridges like .357, 44 spl, 44mag, and all the newer bigger bore magnums like .480, .500, etc, its great to have the flexibility to more precisely tailor the charge weight.

But then, couldn't you just use the adjustable charge disk instead of the double disk kit? Yeah, that's what I do, because I'm down to a single powder and load combination for a single cartridge. But if I were shooting a variety of bullet weights, shapes, and/or cartridges, I wouldn't want to keep a separate adjustable disk for every load combo, and re-adjusting this disk is a pain.

When I had multiple calibers, I would just keep a record of which doublestack combo gave me the charge I wanted for a particular powder in each caliber (verified by scale of course). It only takes 10 seconds to pop out the two disks, recombine and push in the new pair. A lot quicker than readjusting the adjustable disk w/ a scale all over again each time I change caliber, powder or bullet. Its quick and less prone to mistakes. Of course I'll weigh the charge just to verify I didn't pop in the wrong disk combination, but weighing the charge once, is better than weighing the charge 4-7 times while fine tuning the charge bar through trial and error.

None of this would apply to the orig poster, but for all others who shoot magnum revolver loads, or 10mm or 357sig, or rifle loads, on any turrent or progressive (not just Lee), the double disk kit could be a great convenience and safety option.

 

[Liberty4Ever]

Here's a nice article on the Lee Classic Turret press.

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

I have the Lee LoadMaster progressive press and the Lee Classic Cast press for all single stage operations, but the Classic Turret press looks very good. The improved primer feeder would easily be worth the difference in cost. The Lee Safety Prime System is getting rave reviews. It's about time. In my opinion, priming has been the weak link in Lee presses. I wish I could retrofit the Lee Safety Prime System to my LoadMaster.

 

[bchannell]

Well, I just bought a Load Master and a Classic Turret press and can't say enough good about them both. I had a Classic Cast press earlier and gave it to my son-in-law with every intention of getting another one, but chose the turret instead. It is much stronger and more precisely fit than the standard turret press, which is a darn fine press. One big plus on the Classic Turret is the primers are ALL caught in the hollow ram, so you don't have them flipping all over the floor. Also, with the more precise fit of the press, the auto index is very, very smooth. You really can't go wrong with the Classic. The safety prime is a good idea too. I haven't yet got mine adjusted to be 100% reliable, but I think it will be a matter of fiddling with it.