Dillon RL550B vs LEE Classic Cast Turret vs ???

[lgbloader]

Hey Highroad Members,

I have a dilema, I have a couple of 650's and a couple single stage presses (1 x turret, and 2 single stage). That's not the dilema.

I have tried several other progressive presses (including the 550b) from friends of mine except the LEE Classic cast Turret. I don't know anyone who owns one so that I can try it either. Just how good is this press, really??

Here is what I want to do.

I only need to load aprox 200 - 400 rounds/month for 38 spcl and 357 mag, 44 mag and possibly maybe load for .223 (haven't decided if I want to go progressive with 223 or not) so caliber changes should be short and sweet.

I like my blue presses and had pretty much decided to add the 550b to my bench (I was recently told I am a member of the blue buffoon batallion and to the guys credit, maybe I am) since caliber changes are much easier on the 550b than XL650. (I have two 650's for that reason so caliber changes are out of the question on these machines) but I would like to get more imput on this. I don't like to change calibers on machines all that much but I am getting sick and tired of loading the above calibers on single stage :banghead: so what do you think would be the way to go???

Dillon RL550B vs LEE Classic Cast Turret vs ???

ALL opinions from ALL members welcome.

 

[ear-ingun]

LEE Classic Cast Turret is not a progressive, it is a turrit press which holds a single case at a time while the turrit rotates, get your facts strait.

Although I liked my 550b and xl650, but sold them because the Hornady LNL Auto was so much better.

 

[.38 Special]

That's probably what you get for encouraging opinions from ALL members. Lol.

At any rate, I've had poor experiences with the few Lee bits that I've fooled with, while Dillon has never let me down. There are certainly people here who have had good luck with Lee, but in your shoes I would buy the Dillon and never look back.

 

[hotwheelz]

If your getting a 550b caliber changes are very easy to do it looks like most of .223 38-.357 are all small primer so youll only need to change the shell plate wich is 2 screws and a tool head wich is 2 pins. You can get a micro meter adjuster bar from uniquetek and only use 1 powder measurer with there set up you can repeat loads easy. When you want to load 44mag youll have to change the primer bar and its easy. JMHO from another BLUE KOOLAID DRINKER


http://www.uniquetek.com/

 

[lgbloader]

I hear ya, 38...

Thanks for your input...

P.S. For the love of GOD... Can someone teach this poor fellow (Mr. ear-ingun) how to spell!!!

 

[lgbloader]

Hot Wheelz...

Thanks for your input.

Score:

550b - 2
LEE - 0

plus

one member who can't spell

 

[Redhat]

The Lee Classic Turret could easily meet your stated needs and cost less.

I have had one for a year with zero problems. Loaded .223, 45 ACP, 270 and 30-06. Oh and please ignore rude comments. We aren't all that way here.

 

[lgbloader]

10-4 to that, Redhat.

Thanks for your post.

Score:

550b - 2
LEE - 1

 

[Uncle Chan]

Igbloader,

Lee Classic Turret will meet your needs. I've loaded thousands of rifle and pistol on mine and never had a single problem, not one. Changing caliber literally takes seconds. Turret plates cost $6.00 + shipping if you buy the "seconds" from Lee. And, you can load 200-300/hr.

As I've said before, I have a 550B. It is a darned fine machine. But for ease of use, maintenance, cost, etc., NOTHING will be a LCT.

U.C.

 

[JDGray]

I load on my Lee single stage, and old style Turrit I dont know what I'm missing, cause I've never used anything else. I batch size my cases, and hand prime, and fire up the turret, for some serious production. I usually have enough cases pre primed to load, till my fingers tingle, which is 200 or so cartridges. (1/2 hour) Lee equipment works for me.

 

[lgbloader]

Uncle Chan, Thanks again for your input, it is what made me start this post in the first place.

JDGray, Your method is what I am doing now but I load 9mm and 45 on a progressive and my other pistol/revolver calibers seem more of a chore than fun. (I love reloading my rifles in single stage mode, though) but that's what is great about this wonderful world of reloading. There are so many different ways of doing things and they all end up at the same place - down range.

 

[aerod1]

I just bought a Lee Classic Cast Turret and am hoping it is a good press. I am retired and have time so I don't think I need to load massive amounts at this time.
I have heard good things about the LCT.
I am in the process of tricking it out now with the Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure and the Safety Prime Set, etc.
I have read a couple of reloading manuals and I am hanging around here to learn more about reloading.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[strat81]

For perspective, I can load about 175 pistol rounds per hour on a Lee Classic Turret and caliber changes literally take seconds. For 200-400 rounds per month, the Classic Turret sounds ideal. You can also remove the indexing rod and use it as a single stage for sizing, decapping, or whatever.

 

[mek42]

The Lee progressive turret is called the 1000.

 

[CU74]

I load 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Mag and .30 Carbine using a Lee Classic Turret. For 400-500 rounds a month I think it would be more than adequate. I don't own any Dillon presses, but as I recall back when I was looking around to get set up in reloading, Dillon was substantially more expensive than Lee. I went with Lee as the best value for my "needs" - I am not a high volume reloader.

 

[stephpd]

more presses

I'm really new to reloading and don't know squat but,.... why, when you have 5 presses and only reload 4 different cartridges would you need another? Doesn't say much for the 650's if changing dies takes so much time.

Makes me glad I passed on the blue presses and got a hornady. Once the dies are set, a slight turn of the lock and load collets and start on a different caliper. Can't believe that set up on the dillions takes so much time. Seems to me you should only need 1 press to do ALL your reloading. Isn't that what the presses were designed for?

I know if I ever get a shotgun (where is that rebate check) that I'd need a different press but I can reload almost all metallic cartridges on the lnl. Change overs only take a few minutes.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I have a Hornady LnL. I've owned a Dillon 550 and load regularly on my buddy's 650. I also own a Lee Classic Cast Turret press. If I had bought the Lee Classic Turret press first years ago, I probably would never have needed the progressives.

For cost, performance, ease of use, simplicity, effectiveness, caliber conversion savings, NOTHING and I mean NOTHING, beats the Lee Classic Cast.

Is it a progressive? No

Is it a turret in the classic sense? No

Does it load good ammo at a reasonable clip for those caliber conversions you don't load enough of to spend the money to buy a progressive conversion? Absolutely.

Are you stuck with only the Lee powder measure? No, you can add a Hornady case activated powder drop and a RCBS Uniflow easily.

My vote: The Lee Classic Turret.

Regards

 

[CBS220]

The Lee Classic Cast (Or 4-hole turret) is very fast, cheap, and very sturdy. Great press.

I hear ya, 38...

Thanks for your input...

P.S. For the love of GOD... Can someone teach this poor fellow (Mr. ear-ingun) how to spell!!!

No need to be such a jerk to the guy. You referred to what is obviously not a progressive press as a progressive. At least he made only three significant mistakes. You, on the other hand...

Hey, Highroad Members,

I have a dilemna, I have a couple of 650's and a couple of single stage presses (1 x turret, and 2 single stage). That's not the dilemna.

I have tried several other progressive presses (including the 550b) from friends of mine except for the LEE Classic cast Turret. I don't know anyone who owns one so that I can try it either. Just how good is this press, really??

Here is what I want to do.

I only need to load aprox 200 - 400 rounds/month for 38 spcl and 357 mag, 44 mag and possibly maybe load for .223 (haven't decided if I want to go progressive with 223 or not) so caliber changes should be short and sweet.

I like my blue presses and had pretty much decided to add the 550b to my bench (I was recently told I am a member of the blue buffoon battallion and to the guy's credit, maybe I am) since caliber changes are much easier on the 550b than XL650. (I have two 650extra apostrophes for that reason so caliber changes are out of the question on these machines) but I would like to get more input on this. I don't like to change calibers on machines all that much but I am getting sick and tired of loading the above calibers on single stage so what do you think would be the way to go???

Dillon RL550B vs LEE Classic Cast Turret vs ???

ALL opinions from ALL members welcome.

That's not even bothering with the sentence structure, or the run-on sentences! People who live in glass houses...

 

[hotwheelz]

alot going on here .. The guy is just trying to get some info if your not gonna help let it be

 

[.38 Special]

"It's not 'dilema', it's 'dilemna'"

LMAO.

FWIW, I don't think it was the spelling so much as the "get your facts strait" business that caught "ear-ingun" some flack.

Now, can't we all get back to a nice, civil "Dillon vs. Lee" thread?

 

[lgbloader]

Thanks for having my back, 38. I was in the garage loading 38 spcl and 357 mag (100 rounds each) and doing some brasswork while I tumbled some 9mm brass and I saw some of the posts. CBS220 doesn't know the whole story behind why said what I said and I'm not going to take time to tell it.

So... how about those Dodgers...

 

[CBS220]

I merely stood up for a member who offered his opinion- and was jumped on by you. If you'll notice, I have also offered my opinion- which you asked for.

"It's not 'dilema', it's 'dilemna'"

Pretty sure it's a rule of grammar nazism, that you will make a mistake upon correcting a post. The point, however, is still valid. The OP's post was far and away worse than that of the other poster, and yelling at him was uncalled for.

As I said, the Lee Classic Cast Turret is not a progressive, and it is therefore not even a good comparison, but it is still a great press, and at a really good price.

 

[stubbicatt]

I use the Classic Cast when all I need is a couple hundred rounds or when case prep is involved. Ferinstance, if I should wish to uniform flash holes, or maybe clean primer pockets, trim, chamfer... these sorts of things. This is because I can readily remove and replace the shell casing from the shell holder on the ram. I also use it because my Dillon powder measure doesn't like extruded powders as well as does the so called Perfect Powder measure. When I used to handload for 5.45, I would run the bullets through a sizing die held in the Classic Cast Turret press, and it worked wonderfully.

I like mine a lot, and use it frequently. Lube points are provided for ease of use. It is a really good press. If I really push it I can get a production rate of about 200 rounds an hour, and I can remove the indexing rod should I wish to only use it as a single stage press.

The Super 1050 is set up with 223, and it will remain that way for a long time due to the difficulty of changing the dies and shell plate etc. experienced with that press.

I haven't tried the 550, although it looks like it could be a pretty cool setup.

 

[sadlsor]

I'll admit that I haven't used a single-stage in years, and doubt I've ever used a turret. I went straight to Dillon 550B - I bought a package deal, used, and still buy used whenever possible. Vehicles, guns, computers... whatever. That is the program that works for me, but it will obviously require at least a working knowledge of what you're after, which doesn't appear to be an issue in your case.

I'm cheap, and will be the first to admit it. At the same time, I don't want to buy anything trying to save a dime, only to learn later I should have spent more to get what I want.

Never had an experience with a Lee press, but Dillon's tech support, on the rare occasion I need to call, have been more than I would have asked. In the end, it appears to me that with the fairly small number of rounds you'll load each month, you could very well be satisfied without spending for the more expensive loader.

I've never regretted buying the 550B. I do generally prefer using Dillon dies, tho, over my Lee or RCBS dies, even if all fit the machine.

FWIW, I use it primarily for .45ACP (IDPA matches). Also .38, .357, .223, .308, .30-30, 22-250, 6mm x 55, 7.62x39 and occasionally 9mm. I trust y'all will overlook any misplaced periods or punctuation in my caliber countdown.

 

[Galil5.56]

The flexibility of being able to use a 550B as a full out progressive, all the way to a single stage press = versatility. Say you are just starting out and want to learn the ropes, then use it as a single stage, get more experience and you can turn the shellplate multiple times per round, get where you are comfortable with the process and go fully progressive.

Want to weigh every charge, screw in and out dies in the first stage, and hand inspect every round, then you can do this. Nothing says that you have to use a 550B as a rabid max cranking ammo factory. What getting the 550B does do is easily allow you to tailor the press to your needs, and not have a piece of equipment hold you back/limit you as your needs/skill progress. Having a no B.S. warranty that nearly all other makers were forced to adopt that really has teeth is just icing on the cake, and even if you hate the press, resale for 550B's is extremely strong.