Lee classic cast reverse index rod and case kicker

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mac tm

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I have seen others that have reversed the index rod on their Lee Classic Cast press and installed a case kicker. I was able to put some time in tonight and now I have one too. I didn't reload any but the test runs with dummy rounds seems like it will work great! As with most of the best projects, it was engineered by inventory!

I just had to tell someone.

Edit: add pictures
 

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Well, congrats! But I have to say, I've had that same press for years, seen the kits, and I just can't imagine what the benefit would be. It sure ain't hard to remove the loaded rounds the old fashioned way.
 
You might be right. I am pretty good at shuffling the empty case and loaded cartridge at the same time. I'll have to give a report after I use it.
 
Nice. I have a setup from Inline Fabrication and like the reverse rotation & kicker.
It is a simple addition that reduces hand motions while using the LCT. I found it worth the investment for me.
 
I have the setup from InlineFab as well. My kicker has 2 arms however, one 180 deg. from the other. All I use mine for is size, deprime, prime and neck expand. Sta 1 has a carbide die, sta 2 has the neck expan, then the case is kicked, sta 3 has a carbide die and then 4 has a neck expand, then kicked. I do 2 cases in one revolution of the turret head. I batch load my 44s and this setup saves me a lot of arm movement and some time.
 
Jes wondering, what's the advantage for a "reverse rotation" of the turret? Left hand users? I've been using a Lee turret for mebbe 13 years and need 'splainin'...:eek:
 
Looks cool can you explain how and what you did I am looking to do the same but I was looking at the kit from In-line fabrication? Any money saved means more for components :D
 
I started with square stock. (Measure your original for specs.) A little time on the bench grinder to round one end in order to thread the rod to attach the square nut. Clamp in bench vice, heat and twist. My case kicker is just electric fence wire bent around the rod. I know already that I need to add a piece of shrink tubing so I don't gouge my hand on n the sharp end of the kicker.
 
mdi said:
Jes wondering, what's the advantage for a "reverse rotation" of the turret? Left hand users? I've been using a Lee turret for mebbe 13 years and need 'splainin'...:eek:
Click to expand...

The Lee turret normally operates counterclockwise when viewed from the top.

By reversing the rotation (clockwise when viewed from the top), the opening in the shell holder will be towards the left to permit auto ejection of the case and in a more convenient placement for inserting the next case for loading.

If you can move the handle so that it is operated with the left hand and the right hand loads the case, then you'd want to kick the case out the right side and the standard counterclockwise rotation would be adequate for kicking out the cases.
 
rondog said:
I just can't imagine what the benefit would be. It sure ain't hard to remove the loaded rounds the old fashioned way.
Click to expand...
Reduction in left hand movement.

You only have to place the case into the shell holder, you don't need to remove the loaded cartridge. Your left hand can have the next empty case ready to insert into the shell holder.

You don't realize how much movement this saves until you've tried it. I was running some .40 brass through a Redding G-Rx die last weekend as was surprised how much faster/smooth it was to not have to take the processed case out of the shell holder

mdi said:
Jes wondering, what's the advantage for a "reverse rotation" of the turret?
Click to expand...
If you didn't reverse the rotation, the processed case would be kicked into the front support rod
 
I think you're better off, unless you're pretty skilled and have a lot of scrap material laying about, to just pay the $40 for the parts or $60 for the whole kit
 
So, without a case kicker the reverse rotation is not necessary/useful?
 
Well, I'll keep this in the back of my mind. Not something I need right away, but might be useful.....
 
In my excitement I have made an error. My press is a Lee Classic Turret, not a classic cast. Hopefully I did not confuse anyone unfamiliar with Lee presses.
 
I decap all my brass on the LCT, so I was looking for a way to streamline the process. The case kicker would not work for me, as the turret did not need to turn, and I needed to kick a case out for every pull of the lever. I tossed out a couple of ideas to the guy at Inline Fabrication, but he did not seem to be interested.

What I ended up doing was installing some brackets on the edge of the bench that allows me to mount Akro bins in front of the press. I can pick up a fresh case with my left hand thumb and index finger, kick the other case out of the shellholder with my pinky finger and into the bin, then insert the fresh case. I can decap well over 1000 cases in an hour (probably closer to 1200-1300). It also works for the auto-index loading process as well.

image_zpsgej1qcbt.jpg

image_zpsbqgwdrr5.jpg
 
Heres what I do...still turns counterclockwise as from factory.

Turn the shell holder to about the 2:00 position.
Load the round as normal
As soon as you sit the bullet on the case grab another case
push out the loaded round with your finger and slide in the empty case in 1 easy motion. The loaded round slides down a ramp I made out of a plastic coffee container into a 6" PVC cap which catches the round.

No need to reverse or use a kicker. I've loaded plenty of ammo using this method. Try it, you'll like it!






'
 

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In my excitement I have made an error. My press is a Lee Classic Turret, not a classic cast. Hopefully I did not confuse anyone unfamiliar with Lee presses.
Click to expand...

Nope still wrong! Yours is the lee classic turret, there's no cast in the classic turret's description.

mac tm with the pictures that you posted in your first post, you have the Lee Classic Cast Turret.
Click to expand...

The Lee classic cast is a single stage loader.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/317831/lee-classic-cast-single-stage-press

There's no need for that reverse rotation gimmick. I can remove and replace the finished shell with my left hand in one movement. Then place the finished round in a case guard box. Next movement is to pick up a bullet for die #3 then pick up an empty case while completing the forth stroke into the crimp die.
 
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