lee turret press?

[snuffy]

topjimmy, did it look like this?;



That's the Lee classic turret. I don't see how it could have looked beat up, somebody would have needed a ball peen hammer!

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've always thought this was a great picture that showed the difference between the two Lee turret presses. The Classic is on the left (with the handle attached)

 

[rondog]

A great picture indeed! Duly saved, thank you! I've owned both presses, love my Classic, gave away my Deluxe to get rid of it.

 

[Dudedog]

The deluxe stores spent primers in the base of f the press, if they get there instead of the floor. You have up unmount the press to remove them.

I drilled 2 holes in the bench underneath the press some fall thru, some end up on the floor. Everyone says the Classic handles the primers much better so if you can afford the few extra $ I would say get it. Get some spare little plastic ratchets. If you remove the rod you can als rotate the turret by hand. It takes longer to than to do it. My left hand is there anyway when inserting a case, placing the bullet on the case and removing the case. Did it this way while waiting for a spare ratchet and decided I liked it better that way. Nothing wrong with the ratchet though. I would be tempted to take out the index rod when you first start.

so it saves me a lot of setup time and even allows me to be impulsive about when and how much I reload rather than be put off by the prospect of messing with setups. With dedicated turrets, the switch is so fast that the amount of time involved is hardly worth debating. That right there is reason enough to use a turret

I have all my dies on their own turret head. For $13 each it's worth the time sayings. Change overs are really quick.
If I am going to do more that a couple hundred 9mm or .45 I use my LNL AP but for smaller batches and load development I still use the turret. They are nice and not something you will out grow.

 

[topjimmy]

topjimmy, did it look like this?;



That's the Lee classic turret. I don't see how it could have looked beat up, somebody would have needed a ball peen hammer!

Yup that's it. It was in a big local store and I imagine that thousands of kids yanked on the handle over the time it has been on display. The turret would only turn once in a couple pulls, and it was missing the primer arm from the ram.

The other presses which I assume took the same abuse didn't look like this.
I don't doubt that it's a good deal, and a decent piece of kit, it was just abused.

 

[Toprudder]

I mentioned that I can do 150 per hour, and I stand by that, and would even say that 200 per hour might be possible. But I would qualify that now by saying that I was using a turret mounted powder measure (pro-drum) and the safety-prime to place primers. If I had to manually place primers and manually drop powder, I believe that would cut my production rate in half. And I would have to add that I had prepped everything before I sat down at the press and started pulling the handle. I am only counting the time sitting at the press.

Regardless, each person must work at a rate that they feel comfortable with. Just because billybob said he can do XXX amount doesn't mean that you should make that your goal. If I only do 50 rounds in an hour, I don't care. It wasn't the press holding me back, it was my own attention to the task at hand - making safe and reliable ammo.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I mentioned that I can do 150 per hour, and I stand by that, and would even say that 200 per hour might be possible. But I would qualify that now by saying that I was using a turret mounted powder measure (pro-drum) and the safety-prime to place primers. If I had to manually place primers and manually drop powder, I believe that would cut my production rate in half. And I would have to add that I had prepped everything before I sat down at the press and started pulling the handle. I am only counting the time sitting at the press.

Regardless, each person must work at a rate that they feel comfortable with. Just because billybob said he can do XXX amount doesn't mean that you should make that your goal. If I only do 50 rounds in an hour, I don't care. It wasn't the press holding me back, it was my own attention to the task at hand - making safe and reliable ammo.

I believe you.

I did 100 rounds in 47 minutes, including replenishing the primers and powder and boxing and labeling the finished ammunition. This was my first time out with the Classic Turret. With practice, I am sure I could be a lot faster.

I recently loaded 100 rounds of .357 Mag without using the powder measure and I was considerably slower. I used a Lee Dipper to dump the powder into a funnel on the powder-through die where the powder measure usually is. I did not time the process, though.

In another thread,
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=571916
(post 14) one poster did a LOT faster, but he did specify that the cases were already primed (and, I presume sized)

Lost Sheep

 

[leadchucker]

Don't worry about speed. Worry about quality. It's a lot of peace of mind to be absolutely positively certain that you haven't failed to charge, or worse, double charged a round when you grab a box of your reloads and start stuffing them into magazines at the range.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Well said, leadchucker

Don't worry about speed. Worry about quality. It's a lot of peace of mind to be absolutely positively certain that you haven't failed to charge, or worse, double charged a round when you grab a box of your reloads and start stuffing them into magazines at the range.

Absolutely right. if your product is not good, there is no benefit in speed.

I use quantitative throughput for two purposes, neither of them is a goal unto itself.

As a diagnostic tool to see if the layout of my "factory" is efficient and as a measure of that efficiency. No more than that. As a rating against to compare to other reloaders, it is virtually worthless.

Lost Sheep

 

[SARuger]

I got my LCT complete kit for $164 at Midway. Scales, case prep, Lee Auto Disc and Lee safety primer included.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Don't worry about speed. Worry about quality. It's a lot of peace of mind to be absolutely positively certain that you haven't failed to charge, or worse, double charged a round when you grab a box of your reloads and start stuffing them into magazines at the range.

With the Auto-index feature on the Lee Turret press it's extremely difficult to double charge a case unless you do it intentionally. Of course safety is job one but there is a different between going fast and rushing.

 

[jimbo4]

I have the classic it is a good press. I took out the indexing rod and rotate by hand. I like the press I think you will to.

 

[RandyP]

Glad to see so many positive posts about MY favorite press, the LCT. As I often post, it is the perfect match to my realistic ammo needs and budget.

I reload as an enjoyable pass-time hobby not piece work drudgery, and at a nice comfy pace 150-175 rounds per hour is an honest throughput. That said I rarely 'time' my reloading sessions, I just have fun.

I have found Lee gear to be built stronger than it needs to be and a terrific value for the buck. I use the auto-advance and after seven years now I'm still on the original plastic square ratchet (though I did buy a couple spares). On press disk powder dispensing and the safety prime make reloading a simple four handle pulls to a finished round.

I do have a separate turret for each of the 7 calibers I reload which makes changing a very quick process.

 

[ElvinL]

I have had the DELUXE model for about 5 years now. I like it for rifle loads with the index-rod removed...becomes a single stage! Others complain about the aluminum base, but so far, it has NOT been an issue for me!

CONS: The primers catch could be better as it allows for about half to be expelled when de-priming and the auto-disk lacks in my opinion for fine 'texture' powders...it allows the powder to go thru the plastic drums and results in powder discharge to the immediate area around the press/bench/floor. I don't like wasting power and/or having to clean it up after I am done loading. The integrity of the auto-disk works better for extruded 'rifle' powders.

PROS: I removed the index-rod mainly used it as a 'single stage' press for rifle loads (.223, 7.62x54r, .30-06) and it works great! I just move the turret disk when ready to move to the next die needed and not have to reset any dies. Only takes 30 seconds to switch and start loading again. Use stand-alone powder drop (Hornady) for the rifle loads.

Couple of years ago, I moved up to the Hornady LNL AP Progressive Press for 45acp/9mm. More efficient powder drops and much faster for all rounds pistol.

FWIW...anything that gets you reloading is a good thing! Besides, your tastes will change over time and you will discover what you like and don't like and adjust to your specific needs! Happy loading!

 

[Radagast]

I've just ordered a Lee Classic Turret Press kit based on this thread. Thank you to all who contributed. The basic argument seems to be It's great, with quibbling about output. I'll settle for great and go slow and smooth.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think you will be very happy.

If the riser isn't in the kit you need to order one. What is in the kit you ordered? The Pro Auto-Disk is also much better than the standard model.

 

[Radagast]

http://leeprecision.com/classic-turret-press-kit.html
Has a riser and the pro-auto disk. My LGS has the Lee dies in 9mm, so I'll have those in hand before the press arrives.

 

[SARuger]

You won't be disappointed!

 

[drband]

You might consider ordering the Lee ProAuto Drum powder measure. It's easier to use and more accurate/consistent than the PAD measure. It's a serious upgrade for about $30.00. Good luck with the LCT. Mine gets a lot of use!

 

[Radagast]

It's not listed by the Australian distributors, so I'll start with the standard kit. Upgrading would mean mail order from the USA. I've made a note for future reference though. He who dies with the most toys wins!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Might I ask how much you paid for the kit? You probably got hurt on the import taxes, I hope not.

 

[Radagast]

$305 USD including shipping. A bare Dillon 550B would be $470.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not that bad... I'm happy for you...