Lee Classic SS vs Lee Classic Turret

[Lost Sheep]

So far no one has answered your specific question (one I have wondered myself)

(edited for focus) My question is how is the turret (in single mode) compared to the lee classic ss as far as strength and durability?

The Lee Classic Turret is an assembly of parts. By definition, not as surely rigid as a one-piece casting. But the turret has three posts, widely spaced, so is rigid enough.

The turret also has the turret (aluminum) riding in a ring. This must have some clearance which translates to movement. After a LOT of use, the aluminum turret may show some wear. But it is only a $10 part.

As the comparison between the strength of the Lee Classic Cast vs the Lee Classic Turret, I believe the linkage is the same. They do use the exact same parts for the lever and ram.

Lost Sheep

 

[jmstevens2]

It's close. I have both, I use the CC for swaging and such and load with the turret.

 

[Sturmcrow]

I was actually wondering about the primer pocket swager with the hand press myself. General consensus from a quick google search is that it would work, but that you would need arms like Popeye and would get old fast. It does require a lot of force even with a bench mounted press.

The bad news is that I got other confirmation that the ram is oversized and will not work with the standard swager, so you would need to get an oversized collar thing as a fellow mentioned previously.

Honestly, swaging the pockets is a PITA. After just a bit of reading this morning, I am thinking very hard about trying out a Hornady reamer instead. At under $10, it might be just the ticket. It's got excellent reviews on Midway as well.

 

[dickttx]

No contest. The LCT will do anything you want to do. And if you ever hang a Pro Auto Disk and a Safety Prime on it and insert the index rod, you will be amazed.

 

[5thSFGroup]

I did exactly as Benzuncle described. Many people I have spoken with had the index rod fatigue (it is plastic). I took it out and I like being able to use one stage at a time. Works flawlessly.

 

[Certaindeaf]

. Many people I have spoken with had the index rod fatigue (it is plastic)..

No. The sacrificial plastic grail is plastic, not steel. The steel rod is steel. Perhaps elaborate.

 

[RandyP]

Some users who try to hand rotate the turret when the ram is in the wrong position have managed to break the square black plastic ratchet. With the ram in the correct position, the ratchet cannot be damaged. On a plus side it is very inexpensive and designed to fail under undue stress rather than break a metal part of the press system.

A spare comes with every new press, and replacements are availalable online from many sources. http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=lee+turret+ratchet

 

[5thSFGroup]

The "grail" is what I was addressing. The rod is fine.

 

[AK Gun Man 88]

How many more rounds per hour are we talking using the LCT in "batch mode" compared to SS?

 

[Certaindeaf]

How many more rounds per hour are we talking using the LCT in "batch mode" compared to SS?

Plenty enough perhaps. Have you ever reloaded? Either visualize and or utube.
I'd say it's a 4-1 difference.

---

Sorry, there's no difference given that. A single stage is a single stage.

 

[AK Gun Man 88]

Certaindeaf...never reloaded before. I'm just trying to research as much as I can before I take the plunge into reloading (financially). I make very little money. I appreciate everyone's advice. Thank you.

 

[RandyP]

Using the Lee turret as if it were a single stage it will still be slightly faster than a single stage press, since all the dies are already installed and set, you just have to manually rotate the turret holding them. So 'maybe' 75 rounds per hour or a bit more?

 

[RustyFN]

How many more rounds per hour are we talking using the LCT in "batch mode" compared to SS?

A single stage will give you around 50 rounds per hour. The classic turret will be a little faster batch loading but not sure how much. The classic turret in auto index mode with the safety prime and pro auto disk will give you 175 to 200 rounds per hour.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Certaindeaf...never reloaded before. I'm just trying to research as much as I can before I take the plunge into reloading (financially). I make very little money. I appreciate everyone's advice. Thank you.

I hear you and understand. I did make a mistake with my first response but I think I fixed it. I wish nothing but the best for you in your efforts.

 

[tonkawa]

I also have both, and I use the CC primarily for depriming (I like to deprime first before tumbling the brass). Virtually all reloading (mostly pistol) is done on the turret press. I also use the CC for reloading 45-70s with black powder loads, since I use a drop tube for the powder.

 

[AK Gun Man 88]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. Since taxes came in I'm thinking I might just get both.

 

[RandyP]

Since you live up there near Santa - you could always just fly over and ask him for reloading stuff?

Seriously - good luck whichever way you go - I find reloading to be a fun, relaxing and educational hobby plus survival skill.

 

[hey_poolboy]

As to the OP's original question...I started with a single stage, and bought a Classic Turret years later. Since then I only use the SS once in a great while and only for doing a small handful of odd loads or load work up. The turret does it all just as well and faster.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Apples to apples

How many more rounds per hour are we talking using the LCT in "batch mode" compared to SS?

I have used both single stage and the Classic Turret (and progressive Pro-1000)

I am slow, and cautious, so my speed on all three types of presses should be a valid comparison (hence the apples to apples subject line).

I can do about 50, maybe 60 rounds per hour on a single stage, operating in Batch mode.

My first time out on my Classic Turret, operating in continuous mode with the auto-index, I loaded 100 rounds in 47 minutes.

I never really was able to establish a benchmark speed with my Pro-1000 presses but I am confident I never achieved more than 100 rounds in less than 47 minutes, though momentarily I might have achieved 4 or 5 per minute (340 to 300 per hour), I never was able to sustain that rate without having to stop and fiddle with something.


The times reported above included filling the powder hopper and primer device(s), so could be sustained indefinitely, or until suppertime comes.

I hope this helps

Single: 1 to 1.5 per minute (at the top end, using a powder measure rather than weighing)

Auto-advancing Turret: 2.5 to 3 per minute

Pro-1000: 2.5 to 3 per minute

Perfectly operating Pro-1000: (guesstimate) 5 to 6 per minute

Perfectly operating Pro-1000 with assistant to keep case feed, primer feed and powder hopper filled: 10 to 15 per minute (guesstimate)

So, between single stage and turret, double or a little better. Between single stage and progressive, quadruple or better. Or, with a less finicky progressive (Lee Loadmaster, or Hornady or Dillon) 5 to 20 times faster.

But that's just me, and like I said, I am slow. (Or to put a better face on it, relaxed, or cautious).

So, tossing money into the mix, you can double your output from a single stage for about $40 more money by going to a turret. You can double your output again from a turret to a progressive (Lee Loadmaster) for additional $180. And double again (Hornady L'n'L) for an additional $250. (Disclaimer: These are just ballpark figures I took about 30 seconds to grab off the web.) Each doubling of speed is another increment more expensive.

Lost Sheep

 

[AK Gun Man 88]

Well gents ... signed onto midway today...clicked reloading presses...found one and hit add to cart. Happy to say a Lee Classic turret will be on my bench this weekend.

 

[aerod1]

I have both and they are both very fine presses. If I was going to have only one it would be the LCT.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Well gents ... signed onto midway today...clicked reloading presses...found one and hit add to cart. Happy to say a Lee Classic turret will be on my bench this weekend.

Congratulations.

What other parts are you getting.

Books?
Scale? (Lee's works, but others' are easier to read, though no more accurate.)
Powder Measure (The Lee Pro Autodisk is a natural for Lee Dies and the Turret Press)?
Did you get the Lee Primer dispenser? (A no-brainer for using the Turret in continous mode.)
Other goodies?

Lost Sheep

 

[AK Gun Man 88]

Lee Auto disk pro, redding scale, lee safety prime, lee book, abcs o reloading, prolly hornady manual or lymans for second reference, and im going stainless steel cleaning cuz I got little one running around. Zip trim too.

 

[oldreloader]

Congratulations. I think you will be happy with it. I KNOW I am. I agree with Lost Sheep, The Safety Prime and Pro Auto Disc are great add ons!

 

[Lost Sheep]

Lee Auto disk pro, redding scale, lee safety prime, lee book, abcs o reloading, prolly hornady manual or lymans for second reference, and im going stainless steel cleaning cuz I got little one running around. Zip trim too.

The Pro Auto-disk Powder Measure should come with the swivel adapter for mounting the measure atop the Lee Powder-Through case mouth belling die. This makes it easier to swivel the measure over the center of the turret. However, the auto-disk riser is highly recommended to put the measure up higher than the primer dispenser device.

Using both is a LOT more convenient.

Lost Sheep