Searcher4851
Member
Yes. Nuf said.
Lee classic turret should I get it?
- Thread starter Katitmail
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The press comes with a spare nylon turret "washer" I have used mine for years, thousands of rounds and am still on the original.
If you break it, you forced it or did something wrong.
What is good also with the LCT is you can take out the turret rod and you have a nice single stage press if you like to batch load, or only load a few rifle rounds or whatever.
If you break it, you forced it or did something wrong.
What is good also with the LCT is you can take out the turret rod and you have a nice single stage press if you like to batch load, or only load a few rifle rounds or whatever.
frankenstein406
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I would get it. I started off on it and completely love it.
HeavyDuty
Member
Thanks for the confirmation, Springfield!
garryburrell
Member
Yeeeeesssssss get it
Lost Sheep
Member
"Square Ratchet" (part # 90933) 50 cents each, sold in pairs for a dollar.
Amen to everything you said, Roule3. You rule.
The Deluxe comes as a 4-hole, too (and there is a conversion kit to make the 3-hole into a 4-hole).
The square ratchet is designed to break before something more expensive gives way. Kind of like an electrical fuse. The oil acts as a drag to make sure the square ratchet engages and disengages with the notches inside the indexing arm.
When the ram moves downward the square ratchet is forced into engagement with notches inside the indexing arm. If the most recent movement of the ram was downward, the ratchet will still be engaged with the notches and can be broken by turning the turret in reverse direction, no matter what the position of the ram is.
If the ram's most recent movement was upward, the turret is free to turn in either direction.
If you don't remember which direction the ram moved most recently, grab the indexing rod, lift it 1/4 inch and drop it down. That will also disengage the ratchet from the notches.
I tend to lose small parts, or forget where I put them when I need them, so I put the spare square ratchet on the indexing rod, right near the turret. It is out of the way there, yet extremely unlikely to get lost and visible on the rod if I ever have to replace the original square ratchet.
Good luck.
Lost Sheep
In mnemonic form:
Most recent ram movement up, OK.
Down, not ok
Remember the signal from the Roman Coliseum:
Thumbs up, your square ratchet lives.
Thumbs down, your square ratchet dies.
tcanthonyii
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- Dec 9, 2012
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- 249
Um -- Yes.
My dad is looking to do the exact same thing. He has a 550 though and want the LCT for development of small runs and for his 308 stuff
My dad is looking to do the exact same thing. He has a 550 though and want the LCT for development of small runs and for his 308 stuff
ANother vote for LCT and Dillon combi
Katitmail
I have a setup very similar to the one you are planning.
I have the 4 hole LCT that I use for rifle and small pistol runs or new development.
I also have a Dillon Square Deal B that I use for production runs of pistol ammo. This combi works great for me and I'm sure you will like it. For what its worth I have become proficient enough with the SDB that I now find it easy to use it for developing new loads too. Unless you are planning to load a lot of rifle or non straight wall pistol (i.e. Sig 357) you may want to consider switching your order to an SDB. The SDB is a nice progressive press option and a fair amount less money than a 650 (not that I wouldn't love a 650).
Good luck and I'm sure you will not be disappointed with your LCT / Dillon combi approach.
OG03
Katitmail
I have a setup very similar to the one you are planning.
I have the 4 hole LCT that I use for rifle and small pistol runs or new development.
I also have a Dillon Square Deal B that I use for production runs of pistol ammo. This combi works great for me and I'm sure you will like it. For what its worth I have become proficient enough with the SDB that I now find it easy to use it for developing new loads too. Unless you are planning to load a lot of rifle or non straight wall pistol (i.e. Sig 357) you may want to consider switching your order to an SDB. The SDB is a nice progressive press option and a fair amount less money than a 650 (not that I wouldn't love a 650).
Good luck and I'm sure you will not be disappointed with your LCT / Dillon combi approach.
OG03
I picked 650 for a reason that when it's setup I will sit down and make this 1000-2000 to shoot for a month. I know that my friends will like to use it as well to get some ammo quickly.
Right now it's just "guessing" but from watching and reading everything I can tell already that I don't want to buy conversion kits for Dillon. I probably don't want to mess with measures either. Most likely I will add case and bulletfeeders soon.
It's probably just me but it seems that I need to load a little of "other" calibers and a lot of 9mm. I liked everything about LCT. I think it will be perfect for testing and caliber changes will be very cheap. This is exactly what I need.
1KPerDay
Member
One of the best things about the LCT is how quick and easy and cheap caliber swaps are... $12 for a turret and maybe an extra powder measure (though even changing discs is quick and easy if you only have one like I do). You can easily load a couple hundred 9mm, then swap to .38 special in 10 seconds and load a hundred of those, then swap to .45 ACP and take the 5 extra seconds it takes to change out the primer ram and safety prime, and 30 seconds to change auto discs, and load a couple hundred of .45.
Fire_Moose
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The square deal b used proprietary dies right? They only work in a sdb...something to keep in mind.
Sent from my CZ85 Combat
Mohave-Tec
Member
2 seconds. Just take out the indexing rod. Lift the turret out. Lift the rod out. Put the turret back. No tools.
Mohave-Tec
Member
I have a Sony clock radio I bought in 1993 for $20 that stills plays nicely and gets me up every morning.
I have a silly looking Bazooka Subwoofer/Amp/Cabinet combo I bought in 1996 for $200 that has been in 6 cars for about 350000 miles and still plays like the day I bought it.
I've got a Sharp calculator that was gifted to me almost 30 years ago that is still the only calculator I own. It has a massive cigarette burn all across the front and still works perfectly. I haven't smoke a cigarette in 20 years. The calculator is on its third set of batteries.
This $109 Lee Classic Turret Press is 6 years old. I think it is going to make this most elite of list. I feel like making up some 9 right now but damn if I have anymore room for it.
I have a silly looking Bazooka Subwoofer/Amp/Cabinet combo I bought in 1996 for $200 that has been in 6 cars for about 350000 miles and still plays like the day I bought it.
I've got a Sharp calculator that was gifted to me almost 30 years ago that is still the only calculator I own. It has a massive cigarette burn all across the front and still works perfectly. I haven't smoke a cigarette in 20 years. The calculator is on its third set of batteries.
This $109 Lee Classic Turret Press is 6 years old. I think it is going to make this most elite of list. I feel like making up some 9 right now but damn if I have anymore room for it.
trixter
Member
I keep about 100 to 200 empty 45ACP brass around all the time so when the mood strikes me I can just sit down at my LCT press and have a therapy session. It feels sooooo gooood. I keep everything loaded (powder, primers) full so it is ready to go at a moments notice. I love this hobby!
Springfield0612
Member
I wanted the LCT, but I got an amazing deal on a Lee Pro1000 with 4 die sets and 3000 + primers, 1 lb powder, some more extras for $200. I started with the Classic cast single stage 5 years ago, I have the Pro 1000 now but I still want the LCT, don't know why, just do. The automation of the progressive is nice, but the simplicity of the LCT is, I think what pulls me towards it. If I can get one for a good deal I will add it to my collection and take the wrath of the wife!
Fire_Moose
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- Dec 31, 2012
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Soon enough you'll be able to pick em up for under 140$
Sent from my CZ85 Combat
Sent from my CZ85 Combat
Lost Sheep
Member
As Springfield0612 in post #23 posted, yes.
Twist and lift out the turret and pull the indexing rod up and out.
To turn the auto-indexing back on, CAREFULLY and GENTLY reinstall the indexing rod (you will probably have to twirl it a bit to get it to align with the square ratchet inside the indexing arm. Don't force it or you may break the square ratchet, a 50 cent part, but will last tens of thousands of rounds if you don't force it with the rod, back-rotate the turret or otherwise abuse it. If abused, it will break immediately before something more expensive fails. Kind of like an electrical fuse in your house. It melts before your wiring sets your house on fire.
Easy as pie.
Lost Sheep
RealGun
Member
I just bought the LCT and found a low number with shipping from Amazon ($127.56).
kostner
Member
Have had my LCT for awhile now and like everything about it. Mostly reload 223/5.56 or 30-30 and its a pleasure. Have two SDB's fro 45& 9mm. Best $100 bucks I ever spent for reloading. Try to be a few turrets for deferent calibers they sometimes have seconds for sale and can save a few bucks. Have bought them in the past and never had a problems with them.
RustyFN
Member
Today I sit down and was making 45ACP for 1 full hour. I did not have any experience at all. I did load 25 rounds last week to check what load I should use. This was my first ever loading session.
In 1hr with my experience I was able to:
1. Setup power measure. Check powder weight by avg on 10 throws twice during load.
2. Forget to set primer twice and erase mistake (clean powder too)
3. Catch 2 small primer cases (how did they make it through sort?)
4. Charge easy-primer 2 times.
5. Load 150 rounds looking into each case before setting bullet.
Not bad, I think 200rd/hour is easy to do if you have experience and everything is setup already. I need to work on ergonomics. Cases were just laying on bench next to press, box with bullet was there as well.
In 1hr with my experience I was able to:
1. Setup power measure. Check powder weight by avg on 10 throws twice during load.
2. Forget to set primer twice and erase mistake (clean powder too
)3. Catch 2 small primer cases (how did they make it through sort?)
4. Charge easy-primer 2 times.
5. Load 150 rounds looking into each case before setting bullet.
Not bad, I think 200rd/hour is easy to do if you have experience and everything is setup already. I need to work on ergonomics. Cases were just laying on bench next to press, box with bullet was there as well.
RustyFN
Member
The classic turret is a great little press. So easy to use and reliable as you have found out. I'm glad you are happy with it. I would love to see Lee make a progressive that was as reliable as the CT.
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