Help choose my next press.

Status
Not open for further replies.
thomas15 said:
See post #56

He has decided on the LCT!!! The lucky guy will get to pull the lever a measly 31,200 times per year on his new LCT. By making the wise purchase of the LCT he avoids pulling the lever a whopping 7900 times per year on a decent progressive. Good exercise, great value and you get world class control over the whole process! Another win for the LCT!!!
Click to expand...
If I infer your intent correctly, it misses that the cost of a full progressive outfit is pretty intimidating, so I expect many, like me, kind of worked up to the idea after realizing how tedious reloading could be any other way. But that's only for heavy volume cartridges. The miscellaneous in small batches is better taking advantage of the turret's much easier changeovers.
 
A couple years ago I decided to get all of (our) ammo needs loaded before winter. In 9mm for me, my better half and son I decided that 6000 rounds from September 1 to April 30 would be enough with a little bit to spare. I started in July, second or 3rd week of July and proceeded to assemble in 3 lots of 2000 rounds each. Since I have other obligations I wanted to have the ammo done before labor day. All this on a turret press.

Before I finished the first lot of 2000 I was beginning to think a progressive would be nice, by the time I was half way thru the 2nd lot of 2000 I was looking at prices and before I finished the last 2000 pc lot I had an order in for my progressive. That was around the end of October.
 
LOL! Yeah, loading in huge batches like that is painful. When I was supporting my USPSA and other shooting habits with only my LCT, I found it was better just to chip away at it ~100 rounds at a time. It's not as mentally taxing, once you get familiar with it, as single-stage loading, so you can put on some music or even a tv show/game (that you can listen to, while you mostly watch the press and ammo) and just do 30 or 45 minutes at the end of your day. That's actually how I picked up reloading as a hobby... with an infant in the house, I needed a hobby that I could do at home and that could be enjoyed in small chunks, often in the time between my kid's bedtime and mine!

Endurance reloading sessions are.... less enjoyable.
 
RealGun said:
If I infer your intent correctly, it misses that the cost of a full progressive outfit is pretty intimidating, so I expect many, like me, kind of worked up to the idea after realizing how tedious reloading could be any other way. But that's only for heavy volume cartridges. The miscellaneous in small batches is better taking advantage of the turret's much easier changeovers.
Click to expand...

Well I agree with you the cost seems intimidating but the OP is by his own admission shooting 150 rounds/week which is 7800 rounds/year. By using factory ammo his bullet bill is around $2K/year already. I think all of us who are volume users have to go thru that learning experience.
 
I did it. I pulled the trigger on the Lee classic turret press and the stuff I listed in post 56.

I looked at my local Cabela's, and they had everything on the list except the Auto Drum powder measure. The cost of buying the other stuff locally, plus buying the drum online, was within $2 of buying everything online, so I'll get a bunch of Cabela's points to put toward components.

All-in for $276.05, and the powder measure will be here Thursday.

I did go take a look at the Dillon website, but their base model progressive press was $479 with no accessories or dies, and those things are expensive on a Dillon. I set my budget at $400, and I usually have a problem staying within a budget. Considering how much I've spent on shooting this year, I really needed to stay within that budget this time.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
I did it. I pulled the trigger on the Lee classic turret press and the stuff I listed in post 56.

I looked at my local Cabela's, and they had everything on the list except the Auto Drum powder measure. The cost of buying the other stuff locally, plus buying the drum online, was within $2 of buying everything online, so I'll get a bunch of Cabela's points to put toward components.

All-in for $276.05, and the powder measure will be here Thursday.

I did go take a look at the Dillon website, but their base model progressive press was $479 with no accessories or dies, and those things are expensive on a Dillon. I set my budget at $400, and I usually have a problem staying within a budget. Considering how much I've spent on shooting this year, I really needed to stay within that budget this time.
Click to expand...
That's excellent! Congratulations! You didn't spend $276, you INVESTED that money in a cost reducing, performance enhancing drug that will last a lifetime if used properly.
 
thomas15 said:
Since today is January 2 I suspect you have spend $276.05 on shooting this year.
Click to expand...
Touché. You got me there. I also spent $900 on a gun in November, $200 on a gun club membership, and, thus far...$400 in ammo since November.
 
So...I kind of screwed up. I ordered the powder measure from Midway because Cabela's doesn't carry it, but I went in to the local store to buy everything else, they also didn't have the powder scale. Had I known that, I would have just bought it all rom Midway. Now I'm stuck.

I can't cancel or amend the powder measure order, so I already paid the shipping on that. If I buy the F.A. scale from Midway, I'll have to shipping on that as well, which will make cost more than the Lyman 1500 that is at my local Cabela's. Kinda pisses me off, but I can only blame myself.
 
1. Press - $98
2. Powder Measure - $34
3. Priming tool - $26 + $3 for shell holder
4. Die set -$30
Click to expand...



Would suggest the riser for the powder measure, About $10 nice to have.
Order a couple extra rachets (plastic dohickies) for the advance,you can break them
I have three scales, GEM 20, small measures to like .02gr accuracy, Frandford DS750, is what is I use most of the time measures to .1gr accuracy. Both are batteryand are less than $40, But not he best to trickle charges to. If I am trickling charges I use my RCBS 5-0-5

I like to hand prime cases using the Lee hand primer, (haven't tried the bench mount one but it looks neat) gives be another chance to inspect the brass before loading and I can prime while watching TV.
If you do go that route with the calibers you mention I believe most (if not) of the shell holders you would need for it are in the priming tool shell holder kit. (note different shell holder than the press uses)
I like have primed case when I go to load on lees thing to worry about.

slows things down but I break it into two passes, deprime and clean, hand prime then load.,but is nice loading the primered case one less thing to worry about.
Sort of started that way on my old 3 hole Lee turret, and still do the same thin on my LNL progressive.

Shell holder kit 11 holders ~$15
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/566058/lee-auto-prime-hand-priming-tool-shellholder-pack-of-11
Has #1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,19
1 .38/356
2 ,45 ACP / 30-06+ others
4 .223/380 (Lee say 19 for 380 but most of the time #4 work better
11 .44 Special
19 9mm Luger
and others
You can check on Lees stie for what easc shell holder will do, same size number as the press holders but again for the hand primer only, won't work on the press.
Lee dies come with a shell holder for the press

I did it. I pulled the trigger on the Lee classic turret press and the stuff I listed in post 56.

I looked at my local Cabela's, and they had everything on the list except the Auto Drum powder measure. The cost of buying the other stuff locally, plus buying the drum online, was within $2 of buying everything online, so I'll get a bunch of Cabela's points to put toward components.

All-in for $276.05, and the powder measure will be here Thursday.

I did go take a look at the Dillon website, but their base model progressive press was $479 with no accessories or dies, and those things are expensive on a Dillon. I set my budget at $400, and I usually have a problem staying within a budget. Considering how much I've spent on shooting this year, I really needed to stay within that budget this time.
Click to expand...

Congrats I think you will like it, great little press.
 
Last edited:
I use a lee classic turret for some of my reloading like case sizing but i use my RCBS Jr. For seating and a Lee priming tray type tool for priming.
 
Don’t forget Amazon and Titan reloading for future orders!
 
D.B. Cooper said:
So...I kind of screwed up. I ordered the powder measure from Midway because Cabela's doesn't carry it, but I went in to the local store to buy everything else, they also didn't have the powder scale. Had I known that, I would have just bought it all rom Midway. Now I'm stuck.

I can't cancel or amend the powder measure order, so I already paid the shipping on that. If I buy the F.A. scale from Midway, I'll have to shipping on that as well, which will make cost more than the Lyman 1500 that is at my local Cabela's. Kinda pisses me off, but I can only blame myself.
Click to expand...
Amazon
 
D.B. Cooper said:
Titan's shipping rates to Alaska were astronomically high. I probably won't going back to that site.
Click to expand...
Priority Mail rates are the same for Alaska (and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, et al.), so maybe that can be arranged or is actually an option in the checkout process..
 
RealGun said:
Priority Mail rates are the same for Alaska (and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, et al.), so maybe that can be arranged or is actually an option in the checkout process..
Click to expand...
I think they only ship FedEx. It was over $100 in shipping whereas Midway was like $45 or something.

US Mail is the only reasonable option for shipping to AK. Midway ships US Mail, but they add a "location surcharge" to every order.

I'm realizing now that I could've just bought the entire kit, which comes with the auto drum measure, and would have still been ahead.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
So...I kind of screwed up. I ordered the powder measure from Midway because Cabela's doesn't carry it, but I went in to the local store to buy everything else, they also didn't have the powder scale. Had I known that, I would have just bought it all rom Midway. Now I'm stuck.
Click to expand...

There are numerous ancillary items for this hobby that you will find that you really need or perhaps well intentioned forum members will convince you that you should get. Example: a few weeks ago there were several competing threads that discussed in fine detail the wonders of universal decapping dies. Of course every resizing die on the market has a decapping pin but you gotta have a universal! My advice, prepare yourself, actually prepare your wallet, to lose some weight over the next few months.

Anyway, I'm feeling a little bit guilty because I didn't suggest getting the riser for the powder measure Dudedog mentions. I thought about it, but actually I don't have the LCT on my bench and never will have one because of the over bearing testimonials on the web forums. Maybe I'm being a just a softie for admitting it but the only reason I know about the riser is because the LCT crowd post messages about this press in it's fine detail as if it were a cure for cancer or could end world hunger.

Some people, like me, tend to have in stock in excess of the immediate needs. I'm one of those people. I have enough spare parts on hand to rebuild any of my 4 presses, enough reloading components to last several years of heavy shooting and enough books on the subject to answer just about any question that might possibly come up. Other people are content to have enough to last the week and to obtain spare parts only when something breaks. Diversity I suppose.

Anyway enough about my shortcomings, since you need to place another order for a scale consider spending a tiny bit more for something a bit nicer as the buttons on the Frankfort scale are a bit smallish. I have a collection of scales and even an RCBS Charge Master but for general use I always seem to use the RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale. But the digitals are fine. Check your LGS should have something on the shelf.

Just buy 1 pound of powder for now to see how it works. Make sure the primers you select are the right ones. If you need any 9mm brass send me a PM and I will gift you some. Also if you want to try some plated round nose 9 mm bullets tell me what weight and I will get enough to you to get you started. I have 115, 124 and 147g if you want some.
 
DB sorry I forgot you are loading 44 special, a caliber I don't load. But if you need any plastic 100 round ammo boxes I will give you some just let me know.
 
thomas15 said:
There are numerous ancillary items for this hobby that you will find that you really need or perhaps well intentioned forum members will convince you that you should get. Example: a few weeks ago there were several competing threads that discussed in fine detail the wonders of universal decapping dies. Of course every resizing die on the market has a decapping pin but you gotta have a universal! My advice, prepare yourself, actually prepare your wallet, to lose some weight over the next few months.

Anyway, I'm feeling a little bit guilty because I didn't suggest getting the riser for the powder measure Dudedog mentions. I thought about it, but actually I don't have the LCT on my bench and never will have one because of the over bearing testimonials on the web forums. Maybe I'm being a just a softie for admitting it but the only reason I know about the riser is because the LCT crowd post messages about this press in it's fine detail as if it were a cure for cancer or could end world hunger.

Some people, like me, tend to have in stock in excess of the immediate needs. I'm one of those people. I have enough spare parts on hand to rebuild any of my 4 presses, enough reloading components to last several years of heavy shooting and enough books on the subject to answer just about any question that might possibly come up. Other people are content to have enough to last the week and to obtain spare parts only when something breaks. Diversity I suppose.

Anyway enough about my shortcomings, since you need to place another order for a scale consider spending a tiny bit more for something a bit nicer as the buttons on the Frankfort scale are a bit smallish. I have a collection of scales and even an RCBS Charge Master but for general use I always seem to use the RCBS 5-0-5 beam scale. But the digitals are fine. Check your LGS should have something on the shelf.

Just buy 1 pound of powder for now to see how it works. Make sure the primers you select are the right ones. If you need any 9mm brass send me a PM and I will gift you some. Also if you want to try some plated round nose 9 mm bullets tell me what weight and I will get enough to you to get you started. I have 115, 124 and 147g if you want some.
Click to expand...
The riser IS necessary if you're using the safety prime.
 
Lee Classic Turret Press is the only way to go until you want progressive. it works as a single stage all the way to an auto index with auto eject with some ordered parts.
 
There are a number of relatively inexpensive digital scales that will work for reloading pistol cartridges. And they are vastly superior, IMO, to beam scales in their speed and ease of use. One of the most overlooked uses of a digital scale, not easily matched with a beam scale, is zeroing with a primed, empty case on the scale. Zero it that way, put that case back in the press, throw your powder, and then weigh the combined case and powder charge... the scale will just show the weight of the powder, and you didn't have to mess with pouring a charge of powder back and forth onto a pan and then back into the case.

I use the MTM one, but there are a number of them that are sufficient for pistol loading. Maybe if you're trying to do benchrest or 2 Mile shooting, they're not good enough. Maybe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

LiveLife
  • Locked
Replacing single stage with Classic Turret press?
Replies
17
Views
2K
RustyFN
R
Y
  • Locked
Help me choose my first press
Replies
8
Views
428
under_dawg
U
N
  • Locked
Case length too long for press.
2
Replies
30
Views
952
NotSoFast
N
B
  • Locked
Lee Hand Press
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
wrangler5
W
ArchAngelCD
  • Locked
Which Press for Rifle Rounds?
Replies
11
Views
695
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
Back
Top