Best Turret Press

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How much harder would it make it to use a non Lee powder meassure? That is, to dispense and pour from a Lyman #55 or something like that. Seems like it could be pretty negligible, and still a hell of a lot faster than single stage.
 
The Lee Pro Auto Disk works great for me. As long as I use powder other than Unique. With No.7 (what I'm using right now for "high" volume .40 S&W) its dead nutz on every time.

I've also never had a single issue with any powder using the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I have two.
 
How much harder would it make it to use a non Lee powder meassure? That is, to dispense and pour from a Lyman #55 or something like that. Seems like it could be pretty negligible, and still a hell of a lot faster than single stage.
Sure, you could mount a 55 in place of the Auto Disk if you wanted to. I think it would need an adapter, but those are easy to come by. But I have a Lyman 55 and there's no way that it would work as good as my Pro Auto Disk does for pistol loading. That setup is really nice with the Lee Classic turret working with the Auto Disk.

And lest anyone get down too much on the Lee Perfect Powder Measure, I will say that I have one of those as well. Mine always worked very well and I still use it a lot. For certain powders like H-1000 and IMR-7828, the Perfect Powder measure works a whole lot better than my Lyman 55. The Lyman is not consistent with those long stick powders and bridges the drop tube shut every throw, whereas the Perfect Powder measure will throw the long powders to within +/-0.2 gr every time.
 
Yes, I use it for pistol rounds. That is all I presently reload. I have not had the need to find out just how heavy a charge it will dispense of the Win 231/HP-38 powder I use. It handles my 9mm and .45 load demands without issue.

For .380 I will usually switch over to use a micro-disk instead for the tiny loadings.
 
A couple of pics to clear up the mystery.

The adjustable charge bar in place;

7-19-11%20003.jpg


The standard 6 hole disc;

7-19-11%20004.jpg


The lee turret, auto disc and both types of measures. It's on top of a 9mm expander-beller and the riser die.

7-19-11%20005.jpg


This system just plain works!:D I usually accept whatever the fixed discs will give me, as long as the powder thrown is over minimum and not over max. If I'm trying out a new powder and bullet, I may trickle a test batch, then choose a disc that's close to the best combo.

I also have the double disc set-up, so you can fine it down better by combining two smaller discs.

Hope this helps clear up the questions.
 
I started with Lee equipment and have been happy with everything. I did add the Redding Turret press so that I can leave my 45acp and my 30-06 dies in place and never have to adjust them. I mostly load .357, .44, .454, 30-6 and .458winmag. I use a variety of powders and have never had a problem with the Lee perfect powder measure or any Lee equipment and have never had a problem with my Redding Turret press. I give all of them a thumbs up. Oh, and I use some RCBS dies and love them too.
 
I started with Lee equipment and have been happy with everything. I did add the Redding Turret press so that I can leave my 45acp and my 30-06 dies in place and never have to adjust them. I mostly load .357, .44, .454, 30-6 and .458winmag. I use a variety of powders and have never had a problem with the Lee perfect powder measure or any Lee equipment and have never had a problem with my Redding Turret press. I give all of them a thumbs up. Oh, and I use some RCBS dies and love them too.

One thing I notice there is you are doing pretty big loads. I did get better results loading 10mm over light 45 target rounds. And I got better consistency with 223 too.


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OP - The Lee Classic Turret is a highly versitile press and you just can't go wrong. Factory Sales has the best price < $90. I bought my second one recently and set up a portable system I haul to the range. All I have to do is swap out turrets between the protable rig and bench mount rig for loading.

Snuffy - Excellent post. Thanks for the pics. What is the need/advantage of the riser die? I'm contemplating getting a Pro Disc Measure for loading 40 S&W but I use my Classic Turret for just about everything, including large caliber rifle.

FWIW - The only thing I have had a problem with on the LCT is 221 Fireball and I think it is a shell holder issure more than a press issue. Slightly off center for sizing is what I experience.
 
Snuffy - Does that disc slide forward when it dumps the charge? If yes it explains why some folks recommend lapping the surfaces to prevent it from "leaking".
 
Too Pure,

Ya, true. I once read that if you jiggle tap the powder measure each time as you rotate the drum, you will get a consistent full charge to the drum. I've never chrono'd a lot of 30-06 or 458 loads to check deviation, but for the kind of work I'm doing, it works great. If the steel plate makes noise, I know I'm in the kill zone and I'm happy.
 
Snuffy - Excellent post. Thanks for the pics. What is the need/advantage of the riser die? I'm contemplating getting a Pro Disc Measure for loading 40 S&W but I use my Classic Turret for just about everything, including large caliber rifle.
The riser is to raise the Autodisk powder measure up enough that it does not hit the Lee Safety Prime device (specifically the primer flipper tray). Some people use two. The swivel adapter is a big help, too. It will let you put the center of gravity of the AutoDisk over the center of rotation of the turret.

snuffy said:
This system just plain works! I usually accept whatever the fixed discs will give me,
It is fairly easy to ream out a too-small hole to make just the right size powder drop. Spare disks are easy to come by. Just be sure to modiify mark the modified disk/hole.

Good Luck
 
Just added the charging bar and swivel adapter to my order. I have a full shopping cart on Midway just waiting for me to click "Checkout Now". Upgrading all reloading equipment, except dies. I can't frickin wait to get all of this stuff set up and running :)
 
I believe Snuffy is correct. That's why I now have 2 swivel adapters. I wanted to make sure I got it and it turned out to be included in the Pro model. You might want to think about buying 2 risers though. I just use one of them, but sometimes the powder measure still hits the primer tray if I don't have the measure pointing in the perfect orientation.
 
I believe Snuffy is correct. That's why I now have 2 swivel adapters. I wanted to make sure I got it and it turned out to be included in the Pro model. You might want to think about buying 2 risers though. I just use one of them, but sometimes the powder measure still hits the primer tray if I don't have the measure pointing in the perfect orientation.

Thanks for the tip.


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I have the T-Mag II also. I like the versatility of 6 holes. I use an RCBS Uniflow powder measure in one of the holes with the case activated linkage and the micrometer screw.

I have not purchased any additional tool heads for it though.

It didnt speed me up as much over single stage as. Had hoped, so once we are done moving to our new house I'm going to buy a Hornady LnL progressive.
 
I like the Classic turret too but I always wondered why Lee didn't design a recess into the base of the press to accept and steady the indexing rod.
 
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