Lee Classic Turret Press Help

[JesterGrin_1]

I am currently using the Lyman T-Mag II Turret Press and with everything I have read here I am thinking of purchasing the Lee Classic Turret Press from Kempf Gun Shop http://www.kempfgunshop.com/index.html from what I have read on this great forum. I notice that you can purchase just the Press from him or in a kit form. Here is the ? lol. I have a RCBS Perfect Powder Measure at this time. So would or should I purchase the kit with the Pro Auto DisK Measure or just use my current one? This is mainly for .38 Special and .44 Mag at this point. Any thoughts on this would be great.


Thank You Everyone.

 

[RON in PA]

When mounted on the expander die with the extension tube the Lee Pro Auto Disc will automatically dispense a charge of powder. Does your RCBS powder measure require a manual operation to dispense powder? If it does I'd get the Auto Disk for the convenience and also you would be less likely to load a cartridge without powder because you forgot to operate the RCBS.

 

[evan price]

+1 on Ron's advice. The Lee powder-through-expander die and auto-disc powder measure is truly touchless powder dropping. Very nice and accurate.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Thank You so much for the info.

 

[snuffy]

Since you didn't say what calibers you're loading, this option will do well with rifle,(bottle neck), calibers. For pistol/revolver calibers, you'll need to expand/bell the necks in a separate die to use the Hornady case activated powder die. I'm not familiar with the RCBS "perfect" measure, can't find it on the midway site. It may be adaptable to the H-CAPM.

While this is much more expensive than simply getting the lee disc measure, it will be more precise in that you can dial in exact powder grain weights, instead of settling on one cavity or the next on the disc measure. By buying other base assemblies, you can transfer the CAPM to other turrets, even use it on the Lyman t-mag.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=0c854db2b4bc0e7c6fc7dfe28816ef62&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=b55bb80c7bf4e0a31d16d4a3e087c72d

 

[RustyFN]

If you use the RCBS powder measure you will also want to make sure it will be tall enough to clear the safety prime primer tray. With the Lee powder measure they sell an auto disk riser that will do this for the pro auto disk. You can use the same auto disk riser for your pistol and rifle dies. You also have the option of using the adjustable charge bar in the pro auto disk measure, it's only $10. If you don't buy the kit you will still want to get almost everything but the pro auto disk and that will only save you maybe $30. If you buy the kit you will be ready to go and can always adapt the RCBS measure later. I am curious why you want to upgrade from the T-Mag Turret to the Classic Turret? Sorry this isn't the best picture but you should be able to see the riser for the pro auto disk. Let me know if you want any special pictures and I will try to take them for you.
Rusty

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Rusty Thank You for the reply.

The reason I wish to change might be a bit silly to some but I would like to change only to reload faster. From everything I have read on the Lee Classic Turret Press it is just one small step back from a full blown automated press. And for the amount I shoot I do not think it is worth the expense to jump into a Dillon 550B or a L-N-L .

And sorry it is an RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure.

And I do like the 3 Ball lol.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

When using the Lee Classic turret press, if you're reloading pistol, you're better off using the Lee dies and the Lee Pro Auto Disk powder measure because you'll need to deal with case expansion and case activated powder drop. Why? Because it combines two operations in one step and does it very efficiently and inexpensively. This automated powder drop combined step is a major portion of the increased speed efficiency of the Lee Classic Turret.

When you decide you want to add reloading rifle and need a powder measure that will handle extruded powder is when you would want to add something like the RCBS Uniflow and an RCBS case activated powder drop (or Hornady equivalent) to your turret.

Since the case activated powder drop is somewhat more expensive than buying a Lee Pro Auto Disk, you're better off going ahead and buying the Lee die set (or, if you're already got die sets from a single stage, add the Lee powder through case expanding die to your current set) and the Lee Pro Auto Disk now, then, when you have some more funds and want to add rifle, get yourself the RCBS or Hornady case activated powder drop.

Regards,

Dave

 

[RustyFN]

I thought that might be the reason for the upgrade. I have heard the T-Mag is about the same speed as a single stage. I can load around 200 RPH at a comfortable pace. I bought the Classic because of the price and thought I would upgrade to a progressive later. After using the Classic I don't see a need for me to upgrade soon. Loading an hour and a half M-F will give me close to 1,000 rounds for Saturday. I have been getting very accurate powder drops with the Pro Auto Disk and very accurate ammo with the Lee dies. And yes, the three ball is much more comfortable than the wooden ball.
Rusty

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Rusty you are correct the T-Mag to me is about the same as a single stage only you do not need to change out the Die. But I guess you could do it about the same as the Lee Turret but you would have to move the turret from station to station to do so. So for me I just do one operation at a time. But I have loaded oh about 800 rounds or so of .44 Mag and to be honest I am well tired of it lol. The time to reload for the ammo that is used is just crazy lol.

T-Mag people do not get me wrong. I still feel the T-Mag is a nice piece. I may even keep it just to load my BPCR 45-70's unless the Lee Turret will do them. But it would still be slower as I would still have to use my other Black Powder Measure and 3ft drop tube. Unless I go Smokeless. And down grade from my 535Gr Bullets to say the 405's.

 

[RustyFN]

Just remember it will still take four pulls of the handle to get one round, but you should still be able to load a lot faster with the Classic. I know a few guys that load 45-70 on the Classic Turret, no problem there.
Rusty

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The reason I wish to change might be a bit silly to some but I would like to change only to reload faster. From everything I have read on the Lee Classic Turret Press it is just one small step back from a full blown automated press.

JesterGrin_1,
After everything is set up and I'm ready to start making rounds I can load between 150 and 200 rounds of .38 Special in an hour. (just to stop all the comments about safety and quality over speed, please don't because I practice safety first in reloading.) I can load 150 or more .357 Magnum rounds and about 175 9mm rounds in an hour too. (the 9mm cases are so small I have to go a little slower!! LOL)

You won't be sorry in your choice. Make sure you get the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure since it's MUCH better than the non-pro model.

 

[CZ57]

Really good stuff all the way around!

Jester, I've used only single stage presses for 25 years now, but I liked the Classic Turret the first time I saw it. And I'm not a big fan of LEE products, even though like many, it's what I started with. I've looked into the same questions you're asking. DIFBG explains it exactly the same as the conclusions I've drawn. I use Redding pistol dies and an RCBS Uniflow PM; if I buy the LEE, it will be to increase production rate for pistol calibers and have all of the LEE attachments and I'll use LEE's powder through expander die as pointed out. One feature I liked as soon as I saw it is that like REDDING presses, LEE has included the means to control top of ram stroke on both Classics, otherwise known as Top-Dead-Center. If it works as well on the LEE as it does on REDDING, or thereabouts because I know there will be some play for the turret to rotate, I'll like it even more and would hope that OACL variation could be kept to a minimum.

No worries Rusty, I'd be willing to bet that the LEE Classic Turret will be the basis for their next progressive and all you'll have to do is get the update kit.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Thank You CZ57. But darn now the real ? is purchase now or wait for the progressive lol.

 

[CZ57]

Well, waiting will probably save you some $, but like these other guys, I'll probably buy now and pay the difference later, or not.

BTW, if you go to LEE's website, they show a video demonstration of the Classic Turret, and yes, I pulled out the chronometer. Based on the guy in the video's production rate, the LCT is capable of 275 rounds per hour. Fast enough for me and ArchAngel isn't hot rodding at all!

 

[JesterGrin_1]

I did see the Video and you are right he was not in a huge hurry.

 

[Bear2000]

I also use a Lee Classic Press. I bought it from Sue Kempf, who really runs the internet sales there and is extremely helpful. She spent 30 minutes on the phone helping me get it set up. After much help from the THR crowd (especially Rusty!), I'm now up to 150-200 rounds of 9mm per hour. The ammunition is very consistent, as my new chronograph revealed this week. The Auto-Disc Pro meters Bullseye and VV N320 very consistently, almost always within .1 gr. You'd definitely want it for loading pistol ammunition. I had trouble getting used to the safety primer, which requires a certain touch. Now it works like a charm. It also took some time getting the strokes just right, as I found the indexing rod would sometimes move a quarter turn too much and put the dies out of alignment. But I've got that down now as well. For the amount of shooting I do, this affordable press is just fine, and I doubt I'll ever get a progressive press.

But for .223, I take the indexing rod off and use it as a single-stage press. I only need 20-30 rounds for a trip to the range, so I can take the time to prep my brass carefully and measure/trickle every load. I'll do the same when I start reloading .308 in a couple of weeks (just bought a Tikka T3 Varmint!) But I've used a friend's top of the line Redding single-stage and don't think it seats bullets any better than my Lee, even if it is a bit smoother.

Good luck, and if you get it, feel free to ask me any questions. The folks here helped me out a lot when I was about to give up, and now I'd like to pay the favor forward.

 

[RustyFN]

I am with the rest of you that load with safety first. I added a LED light to my press and look at every powder drop before I set the bullet on. I don't think you can double charge with the Pro Auto Disk unless you run the case in twice. Mostly I am looking for a squib. I have found the Pro Auto Disk measure to be very accurate for me so far. I was never interested to load fast to see how many I can load in an hour. I load 200 primers into the primer tray and when they are gone it's usually close to one hour. All in all the CT is a very well built press and I think anybody would be happy with it unless you needed a few thousand rounds a week.
Rusty

 

[CZ57]

Rusty, the Pro Auto Disk is what I have in mind, also. Great pics, btw!

The LEE Anniversary kit, with the new Breech Lock press I ordered from Midway for my B-I-L came with the Perfect Powder Measure and it is a major disappointment. It leaks with True Blue and I figure it will with #5 and #7 as well, so we picked up some 231 and it even leaks that. Can any of you guys tell me if the Pro Auto Disk will do better with dense ball and spherical powders? I suspect it will with the disk system, but a confirmation would help. Also, will I need to get the micro disks for .1 grain charge variations?

 

[jfh]

CZ57: Although I own a Perfect Powder Measure and don't use it yet (only rifle I'm learning to load so far is .223, and I can do that with the Pro Auto Disk), I recently read really good discussions about it--here, I think.

IIRC, you need to run something with a lot of graphite in it through it--but if you search with Google in this forum, I think you will find the tips.

Jim H.

 

[RustyFN]

I see a few granuels of powder on the bench after a reloading session but it isn't much. The powder I see the most from is H335 when reloading 223. H335 seems to be a very fine powder but there still isn't that much on the bench after.

Great pics, btw!

Thanks,
Rusty

 

[jrumsey]

CZ57 :
I do not have the Perfect Powder Measure but do have three of the Pro Auto Disk measures. Have not seen any powder leaking during operation. First clean the measure and wiped it down with a dryer sheet to kill static. Disassembled the powder die and cleaned it in Acetone to get rid of any oil and to check for spots that powder might hang up. You will sometimes find a small amount of powder sitting on top of the measure base were the disk rides over. Not enough to worry about and causes no problem that I can see. The powders I have used the most are Ramshot True Blue, Silhouette and Enforcer, all fine grained ball powders. The Classic Cast Turret press is a nice little set up, allowing you to check each step of the process and still crank out a good round per hour count.

Joe

 

[CZ57]

Thanks very much, guys. That really helps. I'll probably order the LCT this week!