Lee turret as a single stage question.

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danweasel

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Hello,

I am about to start reloading (which seems to be a statement that I am making with dishearteneing regularity...) and I have one quick question.

I am thinking about going with the Lee Classic Turret press. I know you can disable the mechanism and use it as a single stage press. My question is, does the press function well as a single stage?

I want to use the turret for pistol rounds and maybe for semi-auto rifles but, would like to use the single stage to reload for my rifles. I would feel a lot better about my plan if someone would give me a "good to go" on the function of the turret as a single stage. I am not too set on this press to settle for a sub par rifle reloader just to pop out rounds faster for my pistols.

Hope this makes sense,

Dan
 
I agree with res7s. Yes, the Lee Classic Turret functions well as a single stage press.

I like to load my pistol rounds "merry go round" style and use the press as a single stage for rifle rounds. That is just what seems to work for me.

To convert back and forth between auto-rotating and single stage takes less than 30 seconds.

Good Luck.

Dan
 
I concur. I also use the press as a SS when loading bottleneck rifle and in auto-index mode when doing pistol.
It's great either way.
 
All you need to do is remove the auto-index rod when changing the turret to your rifle caliber and it's a single stage press but with a little extra. Since you have your dies in the turret already you won't need to change dies when you move to the next step. Just manually turn the turret to the next die and start processing.

I load 30-06, 308, 30-30, 45-70 and .223 rounds on my turret press and all are easy to load. The press is sturdy enough and the linkage tough to easily load 30-06 cases. BUT, that holds true for the Classic Turret press, not the weaker Deluxe turret press. (IMO of course) For only a little more cash the Classic press is a much better tool than the Deluxe press.
 
I love this press--it catches every spent primer in a plastic tube under press.
You stick the tube in a can--pull off the cap & they all fall in the can,bucket or wherever you desire.
You will love it too.
 
The Lee Classic works well either way - just remember that you can remove the index rod without taking off the plastic guide that holds it to the base of the ram. If you do take it apart, remember the square plastic washer goes back in LIP-DOWN. Replacing the washer lip-up means wear and tear on the washer assembly.
 
Yup, I use my Lee Cast turret for batch loading, single stage, I find this just a fast as using the indexing turret.
I like this press so much my LNL AP sits more then is used.

Smokeyloads
 
I agree with everyone. I have the Cast Classic Turret, and I use it SS for depriming hundreds at a time, sizing hundreds, and priming hundreds. Once I've got a large coffee can or bucket full of brass that's cleaned, polished, sized, trimmed, primed, etc., then I'll use it as a turret to put in the powder, seat the bullets and crimp. Do it this way for pistol and rifle rounds both.

Oh yeah, this one good.....the Cast.

ClassicTP.jpg

This one NOT so good. Had one once, never again. The Deluxe.

lee3hole.jpg
 
Nice thing about the Lee Classic is to buy extra turret plates one for each caliber you reload . Setup the dies in that caliber and then you can change caliber by changing the plate and dies without having to readjust the dies.
 
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Nice thing about the Lee Classic is to buy extra turret plates one for each caliber you reload. Setup the dies in that caliber and then you can change caliber by changing the plate and dies without having to readjust the dies.
Click to expand...

A very good point, I forgot to mention that! I load for over a dozen calibers, and each set of dies is in its own turret ring, or plate, or whatever they call it. Works great, I can change calibers in minutes. I also have one with a bullet puller and universal decapping die in it, and one for my Lee Auto Prime II priming contraption.
 
I know you can disable the mechanism and use it as a single stage press.
Click to expand...


Actually, you can disable the mechanism and thus disable the auto index, but it is nothing but a single stage press. Even when auto index is engaged, it is a single stage press. It performs one function with each pull of the handle. That's single stage, no matter how you slice it. I know that's really not what you were asking. Just saying, thinking of the Lee Turret as a progressive isn't accurate.
 
A turret press is a turret press, not a single stage press or a progressive press. I don't think anyone here called a turret press a progressive press.
 
I like the Lee Classic Turret for that very reason. However, I don't remove the nut anymore. Since my turret rotates at the top of the up stroke, I adjusted the handle so that I can stay on a single stage and do my decapping, sizing or bullet seating until I push the handle farther back. I mostly do .223 (for an AR-15) and .45 ACP. I don't feed primers or powder using devices attached to the press, and that gives me a bit more room for the handle stroke at the top.

It's a pretty flexible system. I still have an old Lee single stage press that I use with RCBS dies for swaging crimped primer pockets. Even though the RCBS swaging dies have standard threads, they don't work on the Turret press because of a clearance issue.
 
I like the Lee Classic Turret for that very reason. However, I don't remove the nut anymore.
Click to expand...

Remove the nut? All you have to do is pull the square drive shaft out. Then put it back in when you want it to index again.
 
ArchAngelCD there is a nut at the top of the indexing rod that adjusts the die 'timing'/positions.
It's what you're adjusting when you hold the 1/4" wrench on the rod and manually move the dies.
 
I should have been more precise. I don't take either the indexing rod or its adjustment nut off. No need. I can still perform the decapping, sizing and bullet seating with a partial handle stroke and move on to the next stage with an extra push.

I've also used the press in the classic method, moving a round through all stages, except priming, which I do separately. But I prefer to weigh charges for powders, like Varget, that don't meter as well as I like in my Lyman 55. So I will do these in batches with a loading block.
 
Seems like a recurring theme to use the press as a single stage for bottleneck cases and in auto-index mode for straightwall/pistol
cases, but no one states the reasoning for it. I personally do it that way, but I'm not really sure why, other than the fact that I have trouble seeing the powder charge in the bottleneck cases.(combination of old eyes, and liking to be sure about charge)
In response to the OP's original question, yes it is very useable as a single stage press with the added advantage as another poster already commented that die chages are merely a twist of the turret, with no unscrewing, screwing, and adjusting involved, if previously setup correctly.
 
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