Help choose my next press.

[thomas15]

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.

-Case ejector with reversing rod & catch bins $65.00
-ultramount $75.00
-universal double bullet tray $48.00
-bin barrier (2 pcs @3.75) $7.50
-ergo handle $50.00

total $245.00 plus shipping

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

If RCBS made a turret like Lee does, I expect you would not be suggesting a single stage for handgun ammo. The turret is just too easy.

I own the Redding T-7. I only use it for sizing and belling, it carries dies for .38 SP, .45 ACP, and 45 Colt full time. Each morning I load 30 rounds of ammo I will need. I then prime with an RCBS bench priming tool. Back to the single state for bullet seating. As I said before you can't have a problem when shooting competition.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

If RCBS made a turret like Lee does, I expect you would not be suggesting a single stage for handgun ammo. The turret is just too easy.

Not a struggle. Precision ammo and every caste loaded properly. Not quantity, quality. When I am manning the unloading bench in Cowboy Action and I ask a fellow competitor (who has just eaten several rounds) what type of press he or she is using and they say progressive. I rest my case.

 

[ATLDave]

I have loaded and shot a heck of a lot of handgun rounds in competition on a LCT. I assure you, they go bang as reliably as any other ammo.

And I have definitely seen people make squibs with single-stage presses. I would rate the LCT as being probably the easiest to QC/not-screw-up of all press types. The auto-indexing and on-press-powder-drop means that there isn't really much human decisioning around whether/how much powder a case gets, as long as the operator runs the handle to the end of the stroke every time.

 

[RealGun]

Not a struggle. Precision ammo and every caste loaded properly. Not quantity, quality. When I am manning the unloading bench in Cowboy Action and I ask a fellow competitor (who has just eaten several rounds) what type of press he or she is using and they say progressive. I rest my case.

Yes, but an LCT is not a progressive per se. Once primed, a progressive spits out a round with every lever stroke. An operator of an LCT, which by the way is quite different than a Redding T-7 due to its auto indexing and potentially more hands-free operation, only has to focus on one operation at a time (each stroke).

 

[D.B. Cooper]

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.

Those are incredibly generous offers, and I appreciate it very much. I may take you up on the ammo boxes. That's the one thing I haven't got much of - storage.

I just returned from Cabela's; I went ahead and bought the $60 Lyman digital scale because it was going to cost me $50 to buy the $25 Frankfort scale, once I paid the shipping.

I enjoyed your comments on keeping spares and more than next week's supply on hand. Due to lack of income, I've often been one of those guys who depends on JIT (just in time) logistics. Then 2012 and the ammo shortage happened. Never again.

I bought 1 lb of Unique (all they had in the store) and some standard, large pistol primers, as well as a 500 rd box of projectiles (those three items blew my $400 budget by exactly one dollar.) Two decades ago, I was using Unique in a 357 magnum rifle and revolver with much success, but it seems to be quite rare now, and, from what I've read, most folks are replacing it with Universal. (of which, there is none anywhere in Anchorage)

I also have 5-6 lbs of H110 that I bought a year or so ago in anticipation of this (and because it was available-1st time since 2012.) I also already have magnum primers for that powder, but that is for making "bear loads" and moose hunting ammo.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

The riser IS necessary if you're using the safety prime.

and that's the one d@rn thing I forgot to buy. Ugh.

 

[ATLDave]

I never even messed with the primer feed system. I found it just as easy to pick a primer off the bench with my left hand and put it in the priming arm as mess with that ill-conceived thing. My advice: don't even worry about it.

 

[JO JO]

and that's the one d@rn thing I forgot to buy. Ugh.

don't feel bad , several months ago I sat down to start loading up some 44mag which is a new caliber for me so I sit down at my bench I get my powder out,my scale calibrated, brass out and primed and bullets set up next to press , calipers out next to my load data ready to go so I open up my new box of dies I just bought ready to get them adjusted/set up and I forgot to buy a shell holder so I put everything back away and had to wait until I went back to my lgs to buy a shell holder
So YA this things happen

 

[ATLDave]

brass out and primed and bullets set up next to press , calipers out next to my load data ready to go so I open up my new box of dies I just bought ready to get them adjusted/set up and I forgot to buy a shell holder

That's the great thing about the Lee die sets: they come with the shellholders! First time I bought a non-Lee die set, I was fit to be tied that they cheated me out of a shellholder!

 

[RealGun]

Those are incredibly generous offers, and I appreciate it very much. I may take you up on the ammo boxes. That's the one thing I haven't got much of - storage.

I just returned from Cabela's; I went ahead and bought the $60 Lyman digital scale because it was going to cost me $50 to buy the $25 Frankfort scale, once I paid the shipping.

I enjoyed your comments on keeping spares and more than next week's supply on hand. Due to lack of income, I've often been one of those guys who depends on JIT (just in time) logistics. Then 2012 and the ammo shortage happened. Never again.

I bought 1 lb of Unique (all they had in the store) and some standard, large pistol primers, as well as a 500 rd box of projectiles (those three items blew my $400 budget by exactly one dollar.) Two decades ago, I was using Unique in a 357 magnum rifle and revolver with much success, but it seems to be quite rare now, and, from what I've read, most folks are replacing it with Universal. (of which, there is none anywhere in Anchorage)

I also have 5-6 lbs of H110 that I bought a year or so ago in anticipation of this (and because it was available-1st time since 2012.) I also already have magnum primers for that powder, but that is for making "bear loads" and moose hunting ammo.

I like it and use it, but Unique has become for those who haven't yet discovered BE-86.:>)

 

[RealGun]

I never even messed with the primer feed system. I found it just as easy to pick a primer off the bench with my left hand and put it in the priming arm as mess with that ill-conceived thing. My advice: don't even worry about it.

I don't follow that, since my primer feed works so well (LCT).

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I like it and use it, but Unique has become for those who haven't yet discovered BE-86.:>)

I don't get the BE-86 reference.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

BE 86 = powder http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=38

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

BE-86 is a newer powder similar to Unique (NOT THE SAME).
Low flash, meters better, I have not tied it yet but I will.

 

[BigBore45]

-Case ejector with reversing rod & catch bins $65.00
-ultramount $75.00
-universal double bullet tray $48.00
-bin barrier (2 pcs @3.75) $7.50
-ergo handle $50.00


total $245.00 plus shipping

Ultra mount??
48 dollar plastic containers?? + catch bin??
Ergo handle??
You must be a blue press man. Lol

Hell I run lee everything, even a lee loadmaster that I prefer over my friends LNL (lol) and my dad's 1050. Easier to set up, easier to switch over, less maintenance and way way cheaper. Yet i cannot tell a difference in 3-gun, idpa or long range shooting...... started on a LCT and without all the fancy stuff it is capable of 200 rounds an hour.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

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.

Congrats on your new press

Don’t feel bad about spending a little extra here and there. We all can find better deals after the fact.

Just know you have a good setup to get started and grow with.

Take your time, develop basic safe skills then work on getting great loads.

 

[Dudedog]

and that's the one d@rn thing I forgot to buy. Ugh.

UUggghhh, I should have mentioned it earlier.
Lost my train of thought due to Lee bashing....

OK Unique, shoots well, works in lots of calibers, measures like sh!p thru most measures.
If you find you are getting + or -.1 or .2 on thrown charges that is about par for the course with say a 4-4.5 gr charge of unique. So, no nothing is wrong with the measure.

PS if you need to order the riser you might want to ordere some spare plastic index pieces at the same time. Inexpensive nice to have spares on hand.
Worst case you can always advance the press by hand.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Ultra mount??
48 dollar plastic containers?? + catch bin??
Ergo handle??
You must be a blue press man. Lol

You've got your colours confused. If he were a Blue Press man, he'd be talking about a Strong Mount and a roller handle...the Double Bullet Tray isn't a Dillon offering either.

Everything he named is from Inline Fabrication and is superior to anything Dillon offers. The Ultra mount is stronger, the Ergo handle is more ergonomic, and the Double Bullet Tray isn't just plastic containers.

I have the Ultra Mount and Ergo handle, along with the double case bins that came with the Case Ejector system ($35)...for my Lee Classic Cast single stage ($106). I do have the Double Bullet Tray for my Hornady LNL AP and the double articulated mounting arm works great

 

[D.B. Cooper]

BE-86 is a newer powder similar to Unique (NOT THE SAME).
Low flash, meters better, I have not tied it yet but I will.

Sooo...did they drop Unique from production and replace it with Universal then?

 

[Dudedog]

No Universal is a Hodgdon product, BE86 and Unique are Alliant powders.
Unique and Universal are about the same burn speed but different powders.
Universal meters better and is cleaner, Unique will give more velocity than Universal and as not as spikey at the high end of its load range.
BE86 meters well and has a flash suppressant, maybe a little slower burn speed wise than Unique but close.
All three are still being produced.

Any of the 3 should have listed loads for 9mm, .38, 357, ,44 and ,45
They make nice medium .357 loads, if you want full power .357 loads you will need something slower, W296/H110 same powder,, Alliant 2400, IMR 4227, powder, Some people like AA#9.

 

[BigBore45]

You've got your colours confused. If he were a Blue Press man, he'd be talking about a Strong Mount and a roller handle...the Double Bullet Tray isn't a Dillon offering either.

Everything he named is from Inline Fabrication and is superior to anything Dillon offers. The Ultra mount is stronger, the Ergo handle is more ergonomic, and the Double Bullet Tray isn't just plastic containers.

I have the Ultra Mount and Ergo handle, along with the double case bins that came with the Case Ejector system ($35)...for my Lee Classic Cast single stage ($106). I do have the Double Bullet Tray for my Hornady LNL AP and the double articulated mounting arm works great

i ment it as in hes got money to spend..... just a joke of course

 

[RussellC]

It sounds like you've already seen enough to make this decision. It's easy to crank out 150 rounds on a Lee ClassicTurret (LCT), and its ability to accommodate multiple calibers is very good. And it is less complicated, once you understand the primer feeder is some kind of sick joke you don't really need anyway (just stick the primer in the cup with your fingers). And it fits well within your budget.

Another nice thing about an LCT is it's always going to be useful. Even if you buy a Dillon in the future the LCT will always be great for decapping and bullet pulling, load development, and production runs of calibers where 200 rounds is a lot.

I load and shoot hundreds of rounds per week of 9mm, 38 special and 357 mag using my LCT. If I had to make thousands per week of a single load and didn't mind the hulking machine, I'd have a Dillon 650 - but spend more than 400 bucks on it before done. A lot more. Hopefully others can fill in the picture regarding cheaper-than-dillon progressives like the Lee LoadMaster or Hornady LnL, but I'm thinking by the time you buy dies and accessories they will challenge your budget and your described usage and priorities fit the LCT a lot better, anyway.

Most Lee stuff is a little "fiddly." The LCT is fine, I have no problem with the priming system at all. That said, you have to fiddle with it. I find it needs to be at just the right angle or it doesn't work. When you get it right tighten down. It will still work loose and move, when it acts up, grab it and move it back into position, retighten if necessary. Some raise it a little bit by using a spacer at the bracket it hooks to. There are a bunch of youtubes in regard. once setup, I have no trouble at all.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

I own the Redding T-7. I only use it for sizing and belling, it carries dies for .38 SP, .45 ACP, and 45 Colt full time. Each morning I load 30 rounds of ammo I will need. I then prime with an RCBS bench priming tool. Back to the single state for bullet seating. As I said before you can't have a problem when shooting competition.

That's the next press I am after, T7.

Russellc

 

[drband]

Most Lee stuff is a little "fiddly." The LCT is fine, I have no problem with the priming system at all. That said, you have to fiddle with it. I find it needs to be at just the right angle or it doesn't work. When you get it right tighten down. It will still work loose and move, when it acts up, grab it and move it back into position, retighten if necessary. Some raise it a little bit by using a spacer at the bracket it hooks to. There are a bunch of youtubes in regard. once setup, I have no trouble at all.

Russellc

I’m a frugal reloader that’s content with my LCT. I’ve never had to adjust my Safety Prime. I did have to replace the tiny return springs in the trigger of the safety primes though. Mine just flat wore out at 10K+ cycles. The newer models have a more durable torsion spring in that spot now.