Interested in fabricating a turret for Lee CLassic for 50 BMG.

[EHL]

Has any here ever heard or know someone who has created a turret for the Lee Classic Cast Turret that is threaded for the Lee 50 BMG Dies? Other than the turrets not being able to fit the extra large Lee 50 BMG dies, there is no mechanical reason why this press couldn't do it. In fact, on Midway, there's a guy who gives a review for this press and he states that he had a machinest make make him one of these special turrets. My question is, does anybody know anybody who has done this so that it could be duplicated for others? I could easily go out and buy a classic cast single stage, but I'd just as soon buy one piece as opposed to an entire press.
Thanks
EHL

 

[Dalerj]

EHL, If you reread the Mid-Way post, He had a new top plate made and uses the press as a single stage press. It isn't a new turret. It is a new top plate that replaces the existing cast top plate.
I am sure that at normal machining costs you could buy a cast press with the 1 1/4 bushing for less than having a new plate made. I think Lee has a 50 BMG set up with dies for less than $200.
Their package deal complete would cost less than buying dies and having a new top plate made.

 

[EHL]

Uh.... Top-plate=Turret. (The thingy that holds the dies in place and spins them around)

From my understanding, all that would be needed would be this "top-plate" (i.e. turret plate) and a set of dies and shell holder and any Classic Cast Turret owner could reload BMG.

Furthermore, what if price isn't the only issue. Perhaps limited space or just not wanting to have that many presses when one or two could do the same thing that four, five or six presses could do, is more of the issue. I already own four presses myself. It'd be nice not to have to buy a fifth when one of the presses I own has absolutely everything I need(strength, stability, and leverage) to reload BMG except the top plate.

It wouldn't surprise me if in two or three years, Lee releases a "Top Plate" for the turret press to accept the larger dies for 50 BMG to reload just like you would a single stage.

Just wondering if anybody here knew anybody who has done this or could do it?

 

[rondog]

I'd think the .50bmg round would be too tall for the Classic press. My .30-06 rounds are almost too tall. And do you really load enough .50's to need a turret press? But, this is what Yankee Ingenuity is all about. Go for it, make it work, then bring us photos!

 

[rondog]

OK, I have a .50 round, and I checked it against my Classic Turret Press. There's NFW it would work, the .50 round is far too tall for it. The entire top end of the press would have to be replaced, and standard dies fit too closely together in the turrets. No way you'd get larger dies in one, custom made or not. The case is nearly as big as the press ram is.

Just buy a separate press that's made for .50bmg's.

 

[EHL]

I'm gonna check on that Rondog. Also, I'm not wanting for the press to work with the turret spinning feature, just a single stage press by deactivating the auto index. Basically, all the top plate/aluminum turret would be a fabricated plate that is sized for the BMG Dies single stage style with only one die fitting in the plate at a time. I think it would work. Let me do some measuring and I'll post some pics of what I'm talking about.

 

[rondog]

You'd have to replace the posts to raise the top plate up a couple inches. And what about a shellholder? I'm also not sure the Classic is strong enough for resizing those monstrous cases. I think you'd just be whizzin' on your foot.

 

[RandyP]

If you are willing to invest a shade under $200 in this project:

http://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/classic.html#50BMG

"This kit includes everything you need to start reloading the 50 -- the Lee Classic Cast press, set of 50 BMG dies, shell holder, ram prime tool and tube of case sizing lube. Kit also includes shell holder insert, large and small primer arms and die reducer bushing to accept standard 7/8-14 dies so you can load all your smaller cartridges. All this for less than what others charge for dies alone."