Is a turret press much quicker?
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someguy2800
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I just have a literal pile of them sitting on the work bench. I keep all the commonly used ones preloaded and keep a couple spares handy to swap the less commonly used dies in and out of. Mabey someday I will build a stand or shelf for them.
GBExpat
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If you do, just take care to not get any mineral spirits on them ... like in an attempt to remove the product sticker.
Not all turrent presses index automatically....
There is very little in the reloading world that a dillon 550 would not fill a reloading "need" on as far as a press UNTILL- you need higher production rates... it can be used to use a single round or as a progressive... that and it costs a lil more. but it is solid and very versitile
Every few years (at least) since I first read about the Dillon progressive(s) in the mid'80s I have contemplated buying one ...
... and every time I have reached the conclusion that it was not a match for my needs.
The LCT (or something like it), I have found, is a match for my needs, which sounds, to me, a lot like the OP's situation.
There is very little in the reloading world that a dillon 550 would not fill a reloading "need" on as far as a press UNTILL- you need higher production rates... it can be used to use a single round or as a progressive... that and it costs a lil more. but it is solid and very versitile
GBExpat
Member
Oh, I am well aware of how solid & versatile the Dillon machines are, which is why I kept looking at them closely (trying mightily to talk myself into buying one) for 3 decades.
My Lee Precision Classic Turret Press cost me $98.17 (delivered) in December 2014.
Extra Turrets cost me $10/ea. I currently have about a dozen different turrets/cartridges setup.
Large+Small primer Lee Safety Prime cost me $22.99, delivered.
Lee Auto-Discs ran less then $25/ea so I currently have 3 (4?). I have since switched to the superior Lee Auto-Drums (3).
Such a Blue reloading stable would cost me a LOT more ... much more than I was interested in ever investing to handle my reloading needs.
If money were no object for me and/or I constantly burned thru a huge QTY of ammo (in at least one caliber), I would currently have at least one Blue machine on my bench.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I got some plastic "food" containers from Wally World that are the perfect size for the turret with dies mounted.
I don't remember what I paid but I think they were like 4 for <$3. Snap on lids, Turret, shell holder label. They stack nice to.
If you live in a damp climate toss in a silca gel packet, seal lid, good to go.
thomas15
Member
GBE,
I want to say something that makes sense and conveys a message but please understand that I'm not trying to, you know, be a d*ck or anything like that. I have a friend (age 85), he is retired but owns a small gun shop with regular hours. In a small corner of his small shop, he has a bench with several presses, a SDB, 550 and a T-7. This guy goes on several week long hunts on the other side of the country. Active and has a interest in firearms obviously.
Not too long ago he sold his SDB to a long time customer for $200.00 and replaced it with a used super 1050 complete with the primer feeder that he paid $350.00 for. This guy can now crank out 900+ rounds a minute. He has the time, he has the place and he still shoots but a 1050 fell into his lap and he took it. Who wouldn't?
And you have to ask yourself the question ..why not?
On another forum there was a poster who was complaining that he spends too much time at the bench but was on a tight budget and stuck with a single stage press. From looking at his forum profile I noticed that he was local. I directed him to a guy that had an early 1980s Dillon 450 in like new condition (really, like new) for sale. The guy picked it up for $100.00, sold part of it (dies he didn't need), and had Dillon upgrade it so he essentially has a 550 for about $100.00 which is about what some are paying for a Lee turret press.
You look around and ask eventually a deal will come to you if you are determined, a deal which makes the Lee stuff look plain old silly. It's like the guy in our neighborhood when we were kids, he bought a well used Chevy Nova, fixed up and traded and traded and fixed up and eventually parked a Corvette in his driveway. We all know someone that did it but it takes time and determination. In the meantime he could have been content with the Nova, after all it will get you to point B, and he could have been bragging to his friends about how great the gas mileage on the Nova is and how easy the oil charges are but he wanted a Corvette.
So, I want to get a 9mm PCC for steel challenge. New lets say $1000 for a complete gun. I don't want to spend $1000 but I want a PCC. When I find one for a couple hundred I will let you know. It might take a while but it will happen.
1KPerDay
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I use 2 lb yogurt containers.
jmorris
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I imagine he intended 900+ an hour. 900 a minute would be a round faster than one could blink an eye. The collator couldn’t keep up even if everything else worked.
900/hr is doable though, even with stops to fill stuff up.
kmw1954
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The first part is an obvious "Who wouldn't and why not. Except for maybe me, that is way more press than I could ever put to honest use, though I probably would pass the knowledge of it along to some who could put it to use. Honestly too lazy to buy it to flip it any more.
The second part, yes that is a terrific deal but how long does one have to wait for those deals to come along? They definitely don't come along every day. Also when they do present themselves one must be in a position to act on it. Recently missed out on a very nice pistol that I've been looking for but had to pass because the funds just weren't there.
Now as to value of presses, I have 4. an RCBS JR3, Lee Value turret, Lee Pro1000 and a new Lee Breech Lock Pro. The first three presses were all purchased used along with dies, shell plates and powder measures to allow me to load 5 calibers. Yet still I have as much invested in these 4 presses for about the same amount I would have spent for a complete used Dillon 550. So far I haven't been able to find one of those nice used $100.00 Dillon's.
Livin_Cincy
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They are down by the Olde Colts & S&W Revolvers that are fully gun smithed and dressed for bullseye matches.
jmorris
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Yeah, I guess my $525 Python is worth a bit more than I paid for it back then too.
someguy2800
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I can think of two cars in current production with gullwings and only know of two auto indexing turret, the lee 3 hole and 4 hole. Are there more than the 2 models of Lee?
someguy2800
Member
A progressive is not the answer to every problem. My reloading habits would be unmanageable on a progressive. I save it for the high volume stuff.
Whiterook808
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They still make a 3 hole? I though both the Value and the Classic were both 4 hole turrets. I hope we answered the OPs question because now we are on to cars.
someguy2800
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The value and classic is what I meant. I forgot the small one is 4 hole also now
jmorris
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I was speaking historically, there has been a couple dozen vehicles that used them since the idea came out with the 1952 300SL. Whiterook it was just an analogy on things that might seem practical but have other considerations, that dictate implementation in production.
Lee is the only manufacturer that has made an auto indexing turret that I can recall. My guess as to why is the same as it was back in 2014, in post #40.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/why-no-other-auto-index-turret-presses.757415/page-2
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I load, on average,100 rounds per day 5(ish) days a week on my LCT. Seldom spend more than an hour or so reloading. Easy pace and I keep just ahead of my usage. I have occasionally thought about a progressive, but then I come to my senses
Whiterook808
Member
No worries, Mr. Morris. I had my tongue in my cheek there.
I really regret not buying a LCT sooner. For what I do it’s really the perfect press.
I own lots of presses of all types. The way I look at it.
Single stage is for guys who want to load precision rifle rounds. Or just a few of lots of things. Like 50 30-06 here and 50 44 mag there, some 45-70 for plinking. Some 7.62x54 next Wednesday. Not a lot of anything, but lots of different rounds.
Regular turrets do everything a single does, but most guys leave them setup for say 2 calibers. I leave my all American setup for say 480 ruger decap and seat/crimp on 2 holes and 30-30 on the other 2. It’s ready to run when I need a few of either of those.
Progressives. IMO only good for loading a lot of 1 or 2 calibers. I shoot a bunch of 45acp and 308 so it makes sense to have heads ready to roll for those. And they use the same shell holder and primer system.
Lee Classic turret is a hybrid of all of the above. A head is so cheap you can afford to have heads for each caliber you load. You can deck it out with powder measure and even a trim die if you want to really move. It’s not going to get over say 250 rounds an hour reasonably and seems 200 is pretty normal and that’s a reasonable fast rate for 99% of reloading done. Swap calibers and primers In literally seconds, without spending more than $15 for a head on up to say $60 if you buy a auto drum and charging die maybe a trim die.
I’m really shocked the LCT hasn’t been copied by someone. It’s definelty the one I would keep if I had to choose just 1 from my 10 or so.
Someone mentioned a $100 Dillon, they exist. I bought a posness Warren silver with complete bushing sets for $50 at a garage sale. It’s in perfect condition too. If trade it for a 550 or 650 If anyone is interested!
I own lots of presses of all types. The way I look at it.
Single stage is for guys who want to load precision rifle rounds. Or just a few of lots of things. Like 50 30-06 here and 50 44 mag there, some 45-70 for plinking. Some 7.62x54 next Wednesday. Not a lot of anything, but lots of different rounds.
Regular turrets do everything a single does, but most guys leave them setup for say 2 calibers. I leave my all American setup for say 480 ruger decap and seat/crimp on 2 holes and 30-30 on the other 2. It’s ready to run when I need a few of either of those.
Progressives. IMO only good for loading a lot of 1 or 2 calibers. I shoot a bunch of 45acp and 308 so it makes sense to have heads ready to roll for those. And they use the same shell holder and primer system.
Lee Classic turret is a hybrid of all of the above. A head is so cheap you can afford to have heads for each caliber you load. You can deck it out with powder measure and even a trim die if you want to really move. It’s not going to get over say 250 rounds an hour reasonably and seems 200 is pretty normal and that’s a reasonable fast rate for 99% of reloading done. Swap calibers and primers In literally seconds, without spending more than $15 for a head on up to say $60 if you buy a auto drum and charging die maybe a trim die.
I’m really shocked the LCT hasn’t been copied by someone. It’s definelty the one I would keep if I had to choose just 1 from my 10 or so.
Someone mentioned a $100 Dillon, they exist. I bought a posness Warren silver with complete bushing sets for $50 at a garage sale. It’s in perfect condition too. If trade it for a 550 or 650 If anyone is interested!
someguy2800
Member
I agree 100%. Its the last of my 4 presses I would give up.
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