Lee Classic Turrent Press Questions

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Deer Hunter

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Hello,

I'm going to start reloading this winter. I've been looking at the Lee Classic Turrent press just to start off with. Progressives are pricy, and I want something versatile.

I shoot 9mm for IPSC. My girlfriend loves 9mm and .38 special. I also have two .45 ACPs. I've got two .223 rifles, three 7.62x54R, and one .308. I'm wondering if I can reload the pistol calibers and the rifle calibers on this one press.

I know I'll need the dies and all of that, but being new to this, I don't want to order something that I can't use for all my calibers.

Thanks
 
If you can afford two presses,get 2 and have the gf help you reload.The time goes SO much faster when both are involved and getting the job done.
Myself and 2 others get together about once a month for a 'barn session' and prcoess hundreds of brass in short order using 3 presses and just 1 set of dies,plus a trimmer if needed.
 
Arrrrgh! There's no "N" in TURRET!!!:cuss:

But to answer your question, YES, the Lee Classic Turret Press will do all you could ever want to do. Get the 4-hole model with the cast iron base, not the 3-hole model with the aluminum base. The turret rings are only about $10 each, it's a great investment to get one for each set of dies you need. That way, the dies will be setup and never need adjusting, and you can swap calibers in seconds. Changing the powder measure will take longer, but only a minute or two.

Reloading is fun and rewarding, but it's a whole new addiction! Don't expect to save money doing it. You'll make ammo for much cheaper than buying it, but you'll also "need" more and more goodies, then more calibers, different powders and bullets, more guns for different calibers, different kinds of tumblers, electronic scales, your bench/reloading area will morph into a man-cave, and on and on........

This one.... http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...indexId=cat20847&hasJS=true&_requestid=123569
 
Too funny Ron Dog - and true!
Click to expand...

He ain't lying! I just started reloading 9mm luger on the Lee Classic Cast and I was just in the garage counting up my Makarov brass. I have 272 pieces and I was wondering if it was time to order a set of 9x18 dies and an extra turret head yet. :evil:
 
Alright guys, thanks.

I'll start by getting a 9mm and maybe a .357 mag die set. After that I'll branch out, but money's tight right now.
 
When you order the dies get the new turret top as well. As long as you keep the dies in tight - changing calibers is very quick and no new setup time required.
 
I use my Lee Classic Turret for .223, 6.5x55, .308, 9mm, and .380. It's a great little press.

Do yourself a favor and buy from Kempfs Gun Shop. Sue will give you a better price and much better support over the long haul. Now when I need something I just tell her to send it and I send some cash the other way - I usually have it in 3 days.
 
I don't care how tight money is, be sure you get the auto disk powder dispenser and 1 turret for every set of dies. And I have very very cheap. 9mm and 357 make a good starting point. you can use the same powder and bullets. just make sure you follow load table data, and don't forget and put 357 loads in your 9mm.

and if you sub-load some of you loads your GF might love you even more.
 
I'll start by getting a 9mm and maybe a .357 mag die set.
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Make sure it's a 38/357 die set. Also make sure you buy carbide pistol dies so you don't have to lube the cases. The classic cast turrent is a great press. I have been using one for two years and load 9mm, 38/357, 45 auto and 223.
Arrrrgh! There's no "N" in TURRET!!!
Click to expand...
Rondog with an attitude like that you need to check out www.glockpost.com. :neener:
Rusty
 
He ain't lying! I just started reloading 9mm luger on the Lee Classic Cast and I was just in the garage counting up my Makarov brass. I have 272 pieces and I was wondering if it was time to order a set of 9x18 dies and an extra turret head yet.
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I suggest you look inside your Makarov cases and make sure they're boxer primed, not berdan. One hole, not two. Most of the 9x18Mak cases I've found have turned out to be Berdan. Grrrr.
 
suggest you look inside your Makarov cases and make sure they're boxer primed, not berdan. One hole, not two. Most of the 9x18Mak cases I've found have turned out to be Berdan. Grrrr.
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No snake eyes in this brass!
 
Alright, I'm about to order it.

I also need something that deprimes brass. I'm sitting on thousands of pieces of brass that's just waiting to be put back into working order.

I guess a tumbler is needed to clean them too, eh?
 
The Classic works great as a single-stage press. There's a square driveshaft that turns the turret, just lift that out and you can use the same die until you can't stand it anymore. I have a Lee universal Decapping die in it's own turret ring, that I use just for decapping.
 
Aw hell, Cabelas just discontinued that item!

Alright, time to figure out how to buy everything seperate...
 
If you are about to "order it all," then I suggest that

1) you review this thread list, and adjust it as needed.

and

2. Order from Kempf's--here is the link to their Classic Cast Turret package.

Or, try Graf's--but Kempf's will probably be a hair cheaper for this kind of order.

Jim H.
 
Thanks for the link.

Right now I'm stuck. Do I want a lee pro 1000 progressive from Midway, or the classic cast turret package?
 
Thanks for the link.

Right now I'm stuck. Do I want a lee pro 1000 progressive from Midway, or the classic cast turret package?
Click to expand...

I only speak from the point of view and experience level of having just started and believe you stated you were just getting started as well. If thats the case, I'd stay with the turret. It bridges the gap between a progressive and a single stage and that's good for a beginner. Some folks have reloaded for years and have never gone with a progressive. I think I'll be very happy with this auto-indexing turret for quite some time.

This is a great press to start with and get your legs under you and it'll always be put to use, even if you do get a progressive later.

The best features I see is the versatility to switch between auto-index and single stage and the 10 dollar cost of a new turret head allows you to keep your dies mounted and adjusted. That is a huge plus. I have 5 turret heads and a caliber change literally takes minute.

There is less chance you will be disappointed, frustrated and make newby mistakes with Classic Cast.
 
For your reloading needs you do not want a Pro 1000. The two major reasons are

1. It will load no bigger than .223 (or equivalent)

2. It is limited to a 3-die configuration.

If you end up being a real gun nut and need to load 1000s of (for example) .45ACP rounds per month, then the Pro 1000 could be considered.

For now, stay with the turret.

Jim H.
 
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