Lee Classic Turret Press

[aerod1]

What are opinions of the "Lee Classic Turret Press" with the cast iron frame (base)? I don't have the money for a Dillon.
Thanks.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a Lee 4 Hole Classic Turret Press and it does everything I need to do. For the money there is no better press. (note, I said for the money)

I reload a lot of .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, 45 Auto, 30-06 and a few others too. It does it all. (I remove the auto-index rod when loading rifle rounds though I know reloaders who reload rifle rounds using the auto-index feature)

 

[Bear2000]

Aerod, there are numerous threads about this press, several from the last few days. You might want to check them out.

I have been using the Lee Classic Press for about five months now. It's my first press, and while I may upgrade to a progressive at some point, it's more than adequate for my purposes - reloading 9mm pistol and high-quality .223 and .308. I can achieve about 200 rounds/hour in 9mm, but usually take the indexing rod out and load rifle ammunition single stage.

It's a great press for the money. If you do buy it, you really should consider getting it from KempfGunShop.com. Sue will hook you up for a great price and give great service after the sale.

Good luck.

 

[aerod1]

I already have it. I bought it yesterday at the Tulsa Arms Show. What I need now is the correct powder measure and auto primer for this press. What would that be?
I am a beginner and am just starting to reload, so any information you can share is appreciated. I also bought four reloading manuals to study.
Thanks for the help.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I own the Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure. (Part #90429) I feel is is much better than the non-pro Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure and well worth the few extra dollars. The pro has knurled 2 brass nuts to remove the powder hopper whereas the non-pro uses screws which screw directly into the hopper. The hopper will strip within months with normal use.

I suggest you buy the Lee Auto-Disk Powder Riser. (Part #90041) It will give you the clearance you need not to hit the Safety Primer when the turret rotates. I also find the Adjustable Charge Bar (Part #90792) to be very useful. It allows for very precise charges.

As for priming you cases, I like the Lee Safety Prime kit. (Part #90997) The kit comes with both small and large primer feeders. You save a lot when you buy the kit instead of buying each separately.

 

[jfh]

"...What I need now is the correct powder measure and auto primer for this press. What would that be? I am a beginner and am just starting to reload, so any information you can share is appreciated...."​

The answer to your question is found here. Begin at post 5 and read to the end.

Get the Pro Auto Disk package, not the standard one.

After you've digested that thread, post back here with any other questions.

Jim H.

 

[GSPKurt]

I own the Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure. (Part #90429) I feel is is much better than the non-pro Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure and well worth the few extra dollars. The pro has knurled 2 brass nuts to remove the powder hopper whereas the non-pro uses screws which screw directly into the hopper. The hopper will strip within months with normal use.

I suggest you buy the Lee Auto-Disk Powder Riser. (Part #90041) It will give you the clearance you need not to hit the Safety Primer when the turret rotates. I also find the Adjustable Charge Bar (Part #90792) to be very useful. It allows for very precise charges.

As for priming you cases, I like the Lee Safety Prime kit. (Part #90997) The kit comes with both small and large primer feeders. You save a lot when you buy the kit instead of buying each separately.
__________________

Great advice here. I have the 4-hole and am very happy with it. I also got the LoadMaster and am just learning it, but I can crank some rounds out with that 4-hole!

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I have a Hornady LnL and a Lee Classic Turret. If the Lee had been available back when I bought the Hornady, I probably would have never needed or bought the Hornady.

Unless you reload and shoot a lot of one kind of ammunition, the Lee Classic Turret combined with a Lee Classic Cast single stage will do all the reloading you'll ever need to do as well as being affordable and inexpensive for caliber conversions.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Briggs]

I have a Lee classic cast and a Dillon 550.

They are both good at different things. I just leave the Dillon set up for .40 and use the Lee cast for everything else.

The accessories ArchAngelCD lists will make your life much easier, and they are not expensive. I have that exact setup, also. They are almost must haves.

And as Dave says, the caliber changes are way cheap....you may wish to invest in turret for each caliber you load (or die set you have), they are like 8 bucks each, and once you set the dies you just twist the turret out and twist in the one you want...way cool.

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

For what you pay for and what you get, the LCT is tops. I'll never need another press! I really like how quickly I can switch from one caliber to another on it just by popping in a different turret.

 

[rc109a]

Quickdraw
I like the turret holder. Great idea. I have the red cases all over the place and was trying to find a better method. Thanks...

 

[TennVOL]

I think its a POS. Mine is developing a crack along the bottom near the pivot point. Crack is in a arc and is almost all the way thru the press. Go blue...not red for your press.

 

[jfh]

TennVOL:

Well, tell us more--what do you load? How many rounds loaded on it? How old? Satisfaction from Lee?

BTW, while you're entirely entitled to your opinion, generally in reloading we try to avoid posting inflammatory comments designed to provoke meaningless arguments.

Jim H.

 

[RustyFN]

QD nice turret holder. I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea.
Rusty

 

[aerod1]

Good grief, Charlie Brown!! You guys have reallly got it together and have got your Lee Classic Cast Turrets tricked out nice. I am working toward that same goal. The turret holder is a great idea and will be copied by me and many others. The sharing of information and ideas is what helps to make this fun. Many thanks, for sharing your knowledge, experiences and ideas. Keep them coming!

 

[cracked butt]

I like that turret holder, I'm going to have to build something soon, I currently have about 11 turrets set up.

There really isn't a better press for the price, not even for 3x the price.

 

[cracked butt]

I think its a POS. Mine is developing a crack along the bottom near the pivot point. Crack is in a arc and is almost all the way thru the press. Go blue...not red for your press.

DId you call Lee about this problem or are you just trolling?

 

[telecaster1981]

I got my LCT last summer and couldn't be more satisfied! After trying to load 9mm and .38 Special in volume on my Lee Classic Cast (single stage), I decided it was time for something faster. Still own the single stage, although I loaned it to a buddy of mine.

Just use ArchAngelCD's shopping list and you'll be pretty well set. I really like the Lee Rifle Charging Die with the Pro Auto Disc and Adjustable Charge Bar. You can really crank out some rifle (or pistol) rounds in a hurry...made ~200 30-06 in a little over an hour the other day, not including setup time! Not bad! I've been quite impressed with the consistency of the Pro Auto Disc. Very consistent charges, ususally +or- .1gr...even with IMR 4064!

Anyway, the point is, you won't be sorry with this purchase! I know I've got my money back out of this rig many times over!

 

[strat81]

A few thousand rounds have passed through my Classic Turret over the past year and a half and I'm very happy with it.

I see my alter-ego has posted above me.

 

[17Chap]

Quickdraw,

What is that in your powder measure?

Also, neat turret holder. Has anyone figured a way to hang them on a wall or pegboard?

Chap

 

[stubbicatt]

I have a Dillon RL 1050 for mass production of ammo. It is a great press. I have the Classic Cast Turret press for the rest of what I do. I must have 5000 rounds or more through that press, and it gets better the more I use it. I have no reservations recommending it to you.

Sometimes I think of the folks who poo poo such products like I see those guys with the Calvin and Hobbs stickers in their bubba tubs, in which Calvin is relieving himself on a Ford or a Chevy or a Dodge sticker... its just juvenile.

 

[CBS220]

Quickdraw, that is a really cool idea! Much as I love my Lee equipment, the die boxes leave a lot to be desired.

I think its a POS. Mine is developing a crack along the bottom near the pivot point. Crack is in a arc and is almost all the way thru the press. Go blue...not red for your press.

Lee will replace it, or get you a new one at half price if it's old. I'm not calling you a liar, but many people claim to have broken Lee presses... yet not often do these presses materialize.

 

[Pepper]

I bought one of the Lee Turret Presses when they came out in 1981. I have never had a problem with it, other then the wooden handle coming off. I had to glue it on. They have improved that over the years. I know for sure that I have loaded 100,000 rounds on it. It is probably closer to 250K, but I stopped keeping track after the first ten years. I use to keep track of how many primers I used every year.

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Quickdraw,

What is that in your powder measure?

Also, neat turret holder. Has anyone figured a way to hang them on a wall or pegboard?

Chap

That is a dessicant cannister, I think came from a pill bottle. I only put in there when I'm not loading. It is really not needed but I used to load in the basement where it was a little damper (just a habit I guess).

Glad you guys like the turret holder, I was gonna buy a few of the Lee red plastic holders but decided to save a few bucks and use up some scrap wood.

 

[cracked butt]

That is a dessicant cannister, I think came from a pill bottle. I only put in there when I'm not loading. It is really not needed but I used to load in the basement where it was a little damper (just a habit I guess).

LOL. I thought that it was a lee powder dipper buried in the powder- I wasn't going to ask...