Lee quietly adding a 'classic' cast turret press and new primer loader system upgrade

[crucible]

In the last few months, I've been researching what I need to get started reloading. I've left the subject alone for the holidays, but in checking the Lee site this evening for some info, a few new things appeared: a new cast turret press, as well as an entirely new priming system for both this press and an upgrade kit for earlier turrent presses (maybe folks will actually use this one!)

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cat...l/catalog/turretpress.html#ClassicTurretPress

(Scroll up a bit for the new "Safety Prime"; they've also added directions for both which gives a better idea of how the new priming system works...at least to my dense brain anyway.)

I've no affiliation with Lee, just figured it was interesting (and low key) news.

C-

 

[Poodleshooter]

I also had a hard time figuring out how the safety prime was operated. Now that I've read the instructions, I'm more informed,and probably less likely to buy it. It looks like more of a pain. I'll stick to my current batch processing priming method.
I'd still like to hear reviews if anyone buys one of these.

 

[trickyasafox]

maybe im lucky but i've never had a primer discharge loading with normal presses. to me this is kinda like going to the gun range and sitting behind a blast sheild with a flak vest.

 

[RyanM]

I think the point of the priming system is not really for increasing safety at the bench. It seems like it's more for speeding up the priming process, and eliminating hand contact with primers. If your hands are oily or wet, touching the primers could potentially contaminate them and cause a failure to fire or hangfire.

 

[birddog]

Okay, I give...How DOES it improve performance on the turret press? Just by the picture, I can't figure out how it works. I'm still using the Priming Arm. If it's something to make things quicker, I'm all for it.

Edited to add:

Okay I found the instructions, and I'm still lost.

 

[crucible]

Look like the assembly swings in and automatically pushes the primer in the (shell holder?) when it's in the up position so it can be seated when it's brought to the down position. It seems to portray this as done quickly(er?) and easily(ier?), and since the system holds multiple primers, it seems this is the improvement: faster and easier than putting in each one in by hand (or maybe less of a PIA). Perhaps even easy enough as to not want to deprime/prime by hand as many who have thier older turrets seem to prefer.

They seem to be pretty good at help videos, but nothing there yet on this one so it remains almost as clear as mud.

C-