Oh yeah, you'll need extra turrets! For every set of dies you buy, one for a universal decapping die if you decide to get one, one for a bullet pulling die (or put it in with the decapping die), maybe one to put a rifle powder measure in someday, I have one with a primer dispenser in it, they're handy little things. I love being able to swap calibers or operations quickly, and I use my LCT more as a single stage than as a turret. Just the way I like to roll 'em.
Lee classic turret should I get it?
- Thread starter Katitmail
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I've got a 650 but I wanted another press. I always sort of wanted a LCT. I think that I'm going to try to load the-higher volume for me-9mm and 223 (SP) on the Dillon, and 308 and 45acp (LP) on the LCT.
I ordered the press last week and got the order Monday. Natchez is selling them now on special for $94.99. I wanted to pick up a couple of extra turrets but they were OOS.
Guess I'll have to send in another order here one of these days.
I ordered the press last week and got the order Monday. Natchez is selling them now on special for $94.99. I wanted to pick up a couple of extra turrets but they were OOS.
Guess I'll have to send in another order here one of these days.
68lemans462
Member
I have the deluxe version. I love it. Be sure to upgrade to the auto disk powder measure and the safety primer feed. Very consistent press.
One thing that I've found to make the press just a little bit more comfortable is a roller handle. I got mine from Lathesmith on the castboolits forum. This link is to a thread on his Star sizer dies and roller handle for same, but you can pm him to find out about the Lee handle.
joecil
Member
I agree on the roller handle as well as one better shaped such as the one I got from http://www.inlinefabrication.com/LEE.html Very comfortable to use and fits the Lee Classic Cast models also.
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RustyFN
Member
Yes you will want to get a separate turret for everything. I even have one for my lead hardness tester for checking my cast bullets.
The roller handle is cool but wouldn't work for me because of the angle I sit at. The billiard ball is very comfortable and works great for me.
1KPerDay
Member
Yep, 200/hr is easily doable once you get the hang of it.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.
I keep a quart-sized plastic yogurt container of brass to the left of the press, and a cut-off one with a few hundred bullets in it between it and the press. I try to keep both relatively full as it saves the time fumbling around for the next piece of brass or bullet. And another quart-sized container behind that (toward the back) for loaded rounds (or sometimes I fill up plastic ammo boxes, but I usually dump completed rounds into a bucket/container of some type).
Left hand does everything except run the press handle.
Here's what I do; I've modified 1a. a bit since starting reloading with this press:
1. insert brass, wait for size/deprime, and then press the safety primer into position with thumb.
1a. (Optional, see note below) dump previously completed round into bucket while...
2. right hand raises the ram to expand/charge, as the left hand grabs bullet in time to place it atop the charged case as right hand returns ram to bottom.
2. Visual check of powder, then place bullet atop charged case.
3. as right hand seats and/or seats/crimps (either one or two steps, depending on 3 or 4-die set), left hand grabs empty brass, and gives a quick inspection.
4. left hand removes completed round, maintaining the empty brass in the same hand, and swaps empty brass in shell holder. Completed round falls into bottom 3 fingers and thumb prepares to prime the next round.
NOTE: with 3 die sets, I dump the completed round before grabbing empty brass, while short-stroking the press past stage 4, and left hand grabs empty brass and inserts before stage 1. With 4 die sets you have less time to swap completed and empty brass and I find it quicker to retain the completed round at the same time as inserting new brass, and wait until after priming to dump the completed round.
Pretty self explanatory, but it has helped with speed and smoothness.
150/hr with just a few hiccups first time out is nothing to sneeze at!
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carbuncle
Member
Thanks for all the input, this thread has knocked me off the fence: new LCT inbound from Midway! I want to go progressive with a 650 eventually, but with another kid on the way the LCT fits the budget just right.
OP Here.
I thought I will make an update on LCT, maybe my experience will help others to choose.
As I mentioned before - I thought I will keep LCT for load development and for small batches. And I was going to use XL650 for 9mm which I shoot a lot of.
I finally got 650, set it up and cranked some loads. Realized it doesn't "work" without casefeeder. Added casefeeder and cranked out another 1000 rounds. Now after I remember how much time I spent loading 800 of 45ACP on LCT - I don't feel like I'm doing it again.
Yes, it is easy to develop loads on LCT and yes it is easier to control what's going on. Yes, it takes 1 minute to change caliber. To me it doesn't work anymore after I tried 650.
Basically, if I want to load 300 rounds of MAK or 45ACP I will have to remove dillon and install LCT (I have same spot on bench) which will take some time. I will spend total of about 2 hours loading this 300 rounds.
On a Dillon if I take my time - it will take 20-30 minutes to change caliber. After that - it will take another 30 minutes or less to load 300 rounds. 1hr savings.
For what I need I don't see myself working on LCT anymore, it is going on sale. Yes, dillon "fancy" conversions expensive, but it doesn't have to be fancy, some components interchange, dialing powder is not a big deal, etc.
I thought I will make an update on LCT, maybe my experience will help others to choose.
As I mentioned before - I thought I will keep LCT for load development and for small batches. And I was going to use XL650 for 9mm which I shoot a lot of.
I finally got 650, set it up and cranked some loads. Realized it doesn't "work" without casefeeder. Added casefeeder and cranked out another 1000 rounds. Now after I remember how much time I spent loading 800 of 45ACP on LCT - I don't feel like I'm doing it again.
Yes, it is easy to develop loads on LCT and yes it is easier to control what's going on. Yes, it takes 1 minute to change caliber. To me it doesn't work anymore after I tried 650.
Basically, if I want to load 300 rounds of MAK or 45ACP I will have to remove dillon and install LCT (I have same spot on bench) which will take some time. I will spend total of about 2 hours loading this 300 rounds.
On a Dillon if I take my time - it will take 20-30 minutes to change caliber. After that - it will take another 30 minutes or less to load 300 rounds. 1hr savings.
For what I need I don't see myself working on LCT anymore, it is going on sale. Yes, dillon "fancy" conversions expensive, but it doesn't have to be fancy, some components interchange, dialing powder is not a big deal, etc.
Lost Sheep
Member
Everyone has different needs. Since you have only one spot on your bench for a press (meaning you have to dismount your 650 every time you want to use another press) you would do yourself a disservice to get the LCT for convenience.
I do not need a progressive press (I shoot multiple calibers, but not enough of any one to justify progressive), but the quick and convenient caliber swaps of which the LCT is capable is VERY convenient. I also find I can mont and set up my LCT in 5 minutes or so from its storage box. But that does NOT involve dismounting another press. That would be a killer.
Good luck. Sounds like you have the setup best for your needs.
Lost Sheep
Yes, this press is very quick to setup and change if you have turrets pre-set. I also like lee's powder measure, I will use those on my dillon
Currently I measure unique with Dillon's measure but will be using Lee for ball powder as I like repeatability of disk measure.For me personally, LCT good if you want to load 50 of each. But I load 200-300 at least and it's little bit too much. At 300 dillon is better.
Potatohead
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Well, how's that for a surprise ending?! I read the whole thread, hearing about how great the LCT is and then BOOM....it sucks, I'm selling it! Kidding but that was an interesting read. So Katit, Sounds like the 650 is awesome...?
I can't get my press until the end of Aug, so that gives me plenty of time to waffle back and forth Everytime I get up on the fence for one press, another one comes by and knocks me off!
So how long does it take to load 600 rds on the LCT, anyone? Not that it matters if it takes awhile I guess- I think I will be one to enjoy the time spent reloading.
I can't get my press until the end of Aug, so that gives me plenty of time to waffle back and forth
Everytime I get up on the fence for one press, another one comes by and knocks me off!So how long does it take to load 600 rds on the LCT, anyone? Not that it matters if it takes awhile I guess- I think I will be one to enjoy the time spent reloading.
From what I learned and seen - LCT is GREAT for the money. Only you can tell what you need. Like I said - I don't have free time, I need to load ammo and go, no time to crank handle with small kids, etc.
To load 600 rounds you will spend 3-4 hours and your hand will be sore. Or maybe not - if you have iron elbow
650 is awesome, nobody says otherwise. It cost a lot more too. Right now I ordered "budget" conversions for 2 more calibers and it cost me $200, just as much as LCT was.
If you need to load 50 each in many calibers - LCT is the way to go. If you want to load 300+ and don't really care about sitting and cranking for hours - LCT is out.
Ok, consider this. I had match last week. Just got into garage, quickly (about 15-20 minutes) cranked 200 rounds and was good to go. With LCT it will be good part of the evening story.
To load 600 rounds you will spend 3-4 hours and your hand will be sore. Or maybe not - if you have iron elbow
650 is awesome, nobody says otherwise. It cost a lot more too. Right now I ordered "budget" conversions for 2 more calibers and it cost me $200, just as much as LCT was.
If you need to load 50 each in many calibers - LCT is the way to go. If you want to load 300+ and don't really care about sitting and cranking for hours - LCT is out.
Ok, consider this. I had match last week. Just got into garage, quickly (about 15-20 minutes) cranked 200 rounds and was good to go. With LCT it will be good part of the evening story.
Potatohead
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thanks
Potatohead
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So answer me this: It's my understanding (which very well could be wrong) that the LCT can (kind of) run as a single stage or as a progressive, so why would the Dillon 550/650 be able to turn out rounds that much faster than the LCT?
I think you just need to watch a video. Turret <> Progressive
Turret press making 1 round(4 pulls of a handle):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB6OS0LoRPE
Progressive press (cases fed automatically, no need to activate safety primer to place primer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCOvG4fSnhA
In last video - the only thing he does - sets bullet. One crank - one bullet. Rates of 1000 per hour is real with progressive press.
So, first press takes about 1 minute to change caliber. Second press- takes more time.
Turret press making 1 round(4 pulls of a handle):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB6OS0LoRPE
Progressive press (cases fed automatically, no need to activate safety primer to place primer):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCOvG4fSnhA
In last video - the only thing he does - sets bullet. One crank - one bullet. Rates of 1000 per hour is real with progressive press.
So, first press takes about 1 minute to change caliber. Second press- takes more time.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Love mine.
I have the standard Lee 4 hole turret and it works great. The Classic works the same way, but should be more rugged and probably will last longer than mine.
I have the standard Lee 4 hole turret and it works great. The Classic works the same way, but should be more rugged and probably will last longer than mine.
Lost Sheep
Member
No turret can run as a progressive. Don't confuse progressive operation with sequential/continuous operation. Single stages run batch operation only. Turret presses can run batch or sequential/continuous at the operator's choice. Progressives run sequential/continuous by their nature and can do batch processing (clumsily, perhaps, but it can be done).
The turret (all turret presses) do one operation at a time. There is only one case in the press on any given stroke of the ram. One cartridge is produced every 2, 3 or 4 strokes of the ram (depending if you are using a 2-die, 3-die or 4-die set)
On progressive presses, there are multiple cases in the press and each is being processed by a die. Thus, progressive presses produce one finished cartridge for every stroke of the press.
Many progressive presses also automatically feed cases and even bullets into the device, relieving the operator from a lot of hand motions and making the process even faster. But you have to keep an eagle eye on all those automatic systems.!!!
Lost Sheep
It is possible to crank out 200 per hour with the Lee Classic turret press from folks I've listened to. I suppose practice makes perfect!From what I learned and seen - LCT is GREAT for the money. Only you can tell what you need. Like I said - I don't have free time, I need to load ammo and go, no time to crank handle with small kids, etc.
To load 600 rounds you will spend 3-4 hours and your hand will be sore. Or maybe not - if you have iron elbow
650 is awesome, nobody says otherwise. It cost a lot more too. Right now I ordered "budget" conversions for 2 more calibers and it cost me $200, just as much as LCT was.
If you need to load 50 each in many calibers - LCT is the way to go. If you want to load 300+ and don't really care about sitting and cranking for hours - LCT is out.
Ok, consider this. I had match last week. Just got into garage, quickly (about 15-20 minutes) cranked 200 rounds and was good to go. With LCT it will be good part of the evening story.
Russellc
Potatohead
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Ahhhhh. I gotcha. Wasn't totally sure what a turret did exactly. I think I was confused because people say "take out the indexing rod and you have a SS", so i figured (wrongly) leave the indexing rod in and you have a progressive. Understand now, thanks fellas. Also for the video Katit.
Potatohead
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Getting off topic here, but since Katit pulled the thread out of the library I don't think he will mind. Do you eliminate a pull if you prime off press? It appears not, since he primes on the resize in the video, unless their is another way?
Potatohead
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Whoa! That dudes killin it with that Dillon.
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