Lee Classic Turret Press: A Love Sonnet

[Phlier]

I'm not good enough for a sonnet, but I can make a crummy haiku:

Lee Classic Turret
Rotating dies make rounds quick
Good enough for me

Red reloading press
A red turret is the best
New rounds faster made

(LOLd at your haiku ATLDave!)

Well done, gents.

 

[GBExpat]

Phlier, there are a lot of folks here who have been taken by the LCT.

Some of us added the InlineFab accessory kit for those times when we wish to noticeably boost the production speed potential.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=806894&highlight=LCT

 

[ATLDave]

Sorry, I can't help myself.

Factory crimp die
Merely crimps separately
Why so much hatred?

 

[Phlier]

Phlier, there are a lot of folks here who have been taken by the LCT.

Some of us added the InlineFab accessory kit for those times when we wish to noticeably boost the production speed potential.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=806894&highlight=LCT

Great thread. Ordering the InlineFab kit right now.

 

[JO JO]

I like mine I use the auto drum with it works great , I do proof check my reload every
10 to 15 rounds , eyeball each one and load near the starting load, if I am loading hotter
one I weigh each one.

 

[drband]

Sorry, I can't help myself.

Factory crimp die
Merely crimps separately
Why so much hatred?

Likewise:

Shiny brass in now
Classic turret does the work
Range day will be fun

 

[Phlier]

Sorry, I can't help myself.

Factory crimp die
Merely crimps separately
Why so much hatred?

Literally laughed out loud at that one.

 

[alexcue]

Do you use the Dillon Powder Through Expander die with the Auto-Drum, or are you using Lee's?

I use the Lee Powder through die, works great!

 

[Dudedog]

Factory crimp die
Merely crimps separately
Why so much hatred?

Just couldn't help saying how much I liked this one about the FCD

A red press is good
Immaculate ammo shoots
the targets down range well


oh well I was a science guy.... Immaculate got me 7 for the second line

 

[ATLDave]

One more

Lee fans reinforce
their mutual cheapskateness:
I'm okay, you're okay!

 

[drband]

Nice red turret press
Always makes others jealous
Blue costs way too much

 

[ATLDave]

They scoff at my Lee.
True, their Dillon is baller,
But I've got my cash!

 

[judgedelta]

I saw pictures and video the other day where someone had made a "thing" to kick the loaded cartridges out of the shellholder on an LCT out of a coathanger wire and a picture hanger. That's my next project.

 

[MarshallDodge]

My current issue with the 1050 is the infamous powder jumping out of cases issue. I have a lower mass ball installed. I have also tried tightening the shellplate, as well as the roller bearing fix. The problem is that if I tighten the shellplate to the point that no powder hops, the indexing pawl won't come up through the shellplate to index.

I get some of that sometimes with my 650. What I do is pickup a bullet with my left hand, then place a finger on the case that is going to get the bullet as the press indexes. This dampens the "snap" of the index and prevents the powder from spilling.

 

[alexcue]

I'm afraid I don't know the real differences between the XL650 and the 1050, but two things helped the "jump" for me, I put an oilite bushing on the main bolt, and a clipped spring and resin index ball. One or both things have really helped with the indexing issue. Seems like I can tighten the bolt more and the lessens the play I needed before to make sure it always indexed.

Before that, especially on 9mm... there was always powder spilled on the shellplate.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

A Lee Classic Turret question

Think 9 mm: I already load .40 cal S&W on my LCT, and use a taper crimp with good results. What do you 9 mm guys use in the Lee dies, the factory crimp die or a taper crimp die? And why? I'm gonna purchase a set of dies soon and just wondering what the majority uses.

Thanks,

Leon

 

[ATLDave]

What do you 9 mm guys use in the Lee dies, the factory crimp die or a taper crimp die?

[forehead smack] The 9mm factory crimp die IS a taper crimp die! It also has an oversized post-sizing ring, but it's a taper crimp die.

I even wrote another terrible poem about it:

Factory crimp die
is a taper crimp for the
semi-auto rounds;

factory crimp dies
for revolver calibers
apply a roll crimp!

 

[drband]

So much confusion
Taper, roll, factory, dies
All have their best use.

 

[dragon813gt]

I'm a bit biased.


550B is used for large quantities. Seeing as how I'm always in load development w/ lots of different cast bullets I use the LCT all the time.

 

[Dudedog]

In 9mm the Lee bullet seat/crimp die will taper crimp, no FCD necessary.
I prefer to adjust my bullet seat/crimp die so it does not crimp and crimp with the FCD.
Some people don't like it.
If you are getting ready to buy the Lee 9mm dies (and haven't already) I would say spend the extra money and get the 4 die set that includes the FCD.
If you don't like it you don't have to use it.

 

[thomas15]

My friend has an LCT
and he is a member of MENSA
He lives like a King
But cannot afford my Mercedes Benza

 

[thomas15]

Flowers with red petals
and leaves of green
The LCT stands among them
looking like a cyclops

 

[thomas15]

In the days of my youth
my time was more abundant than wages
The LCT became my trusted friend

Now I'm old and time is fleeting
and my arms are ready to retire
from pulling the lever oh so many times, times times four.

 

[thomas15]

She came well appointed with safety primer and scale
And I thought "this is it"! My 401K is oh, so well.

Then I began to have doubts as my rate of fire increased
and now I have a new love, I have progressed into bliss.


It's classic this, it's classic that
It's pro auto and pro drum

But I'm not a pro so I'm not worthy
and I've found a new love, I have progressed into bliss.



The finest ever made, the finest at any cost.
If you will partake of her allure you will never be lost.

She is engineered like no other, her engineers are the envy of the land.
but CS charges shipping so alas, I have progressed into bliss.



Take my challenger, take my breechlock
Take my classic loader if you must.

Take my load, be it my master,
for now I have a new love, I have progressed into bliss.

 

[thomas15]

I found a penny and I put it into a bank.
Then I found another and another and another.
Soon I had my fortune.

I bought a turret and put it on my press.
Then I bought another and another and another.
Soon my fortune was on my press.

I thought why stop here and procured an auto drum.
Then I procured another and another and another.
Soon I had spent more than if I had bought a Dillon XL650 from the start and still only can make about 150 rounds per hour.