Lee Turret Question

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Hunterdad

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I can only speak about the Lee Classic Turret Press Deluxe kit as that is what I purchased and have been using. I love it! For the price I think it is a steal and I would buy it again. The powder measure in the Deluxe kit is Better from all that I have heard and read! The scale IMHO is the weakest point of that entire Deluxe kit. Mine is back in the box and I purchased a digital scale to verify loads. Shop around, you can find better pricing on the Deluxe Kit than what you linked to.

hth
 
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IMHO the CLASSIC 4-hole turret is the better buy. It is the newer design, stronger materials and construction with a better spent primer catching system than the old model called the "Deluxe".
 
The midway deluxe kit has the classic turret. I think its the regular kit that has the old deluxe turret.
 
You are correct, the lower priced unit is what Lee calls the "Deluxe" and their CLASSIC is the more deluxe featured machine.
 
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-kit-90304.html here it is a little cheaper. It looks out of stock now due back in two weeks. I have bought all my stuff from here and shipping was fast and great customer service. When I also was looking for stuff it said it was out I called and got it right away because sometimes their website isn't always up to date. Great place for all lee stuff. I can't speak for the press itself because I have the pro 1000 . I do any everything else though the scale cheap as it is for me works and is very accurate I match it to my electric scale and it is dead on. The only thing with it is you have to have good eye sight because the lines are pretty small to see. The manual is pretty good a lot of good info especially in the front it goes over reloading pretty well for someone that is just starting out. Unless you are loading rifle you won't be using all the tools like the pocket cleaner chamfer tools. In my opinion the biggest reason I would go with the deluxe is the fact is it comes with the "pro" powder drop. Big difference and I would highly recommend getting the micro powder adjustment for it too works awesome. So my opinion the deluxe is a better buy it.gives you everything u need to start reloading minus the dies pro disk powder manual and better press .
 
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The "Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press Deluxe Kit" is the one to get. I started with the cheaper press, and quickly sold it to get the Classic press.

The most important part of either kit is the press, and you want to get the best press you can. The classic press is superior for several reasons:

better construction
much better primer catching system
more ram travel room to allow loading of larger rifle cartridges

It is worth the extra money to get the better kit for the primer catching system alone, in my opinion. I also replaced the safety scale with a digital scale. With my Lee Classic press I've loaded more than 10k of various pistol and rifle rounds, from 9mm to .308. I'm very happy with this press.
 
Four hole is the way to go to put a Lee Factory Crimp Die in the fourth station. The Lee scale works well enough when you learn how to use it. Are you a PhD? That will help. The automatic powder dispenser works great if you are using powders it was designed for. But for Titegroup I would up using the Adjustable Charge Bar rather than the disks to dispense.
 
+1 on the classic turret press kit. I have been using it for a little over a year now and do not regret the purchase one bit. The press is great. hard to beat for the money. I load 4 different pistol and three different rifle cartriges on it with zero issues. The scale works and is accurate, but you will find it slow to use. A digital scale was one of my first purchases after getting the kit. I do use the Lee scale to check/verify the digital from time to time so it is good to have. The case trimmer and chamfer tool are sub-par imo. If you will be reloading rifle, you will probably want something different, but no big deal. Here is a link to Midsouth where it is in stock. Cheaper than Midway but a little more than FSreloading....you decide. I have ordered lots of stuff from Midsouth, they are good to go IMO. Super fast shipping for me at least.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690304
 
I started with the lesser quality model and after about 3000 rounds it broke at the arm linkage. I replaced it with the Lee Classic turret and it is great- I wish I had bought it in the first place, it is a much sturdier press and you can feel the higher quality.
Also, if you are just loading pistol calibers you could consider just buying the press and only the items you need, you do not need case trimmers or chamfer tools and do buy an electronic scale as the Lee scale is too slow. The Lee powder measure is good but I did replace it with a Uniflow mounted on a Hornady case activated powder mechanism.
 
I had both, sold the cast classic and have the other stored. Outgrew them and went to a progressive. Both good presses and either work well for pistol rounds.
Either powder measure works well but I prefer the deluxe powder disc.
Scale is OK for a backup. It is accurate but just hard to use. Takes two hands to adjust. once you use a 505 or simular you will understand.
 
I wrote this summation a while ago, so I apologize for those facts that are repeated from earlier posts.

The Lee Classic Turret (not to be confused with the Lee Classic Cast, which is a single stage press) and the Lee Deluxe Turret operate in exactly the same manner. (Except for some older, now discontinued models of the Deluxe which have 3 die stations - and, no, the 4-hole turrets do not interchange with the 3-hole turrets.)

Same speed, many of the same parts and same operating mode and technique.

But there are differences.

Evolution: The Classic Turret is the newer design of the two.

Durability: The Classic Turret's base is cast iron, the Deluxe is cast aluminum. Iron wears better than the softer metal, aluminum.

Ease of use: The Deluxe has a 1" smaller vertical opening than the Classic Turret. Though either is capable of taking rifle cartridges, the Classic Turret will take longer ones and if you have big hands is the clear winner.

Spent Primer Handling: The Deluxe drops primers out of a slot in the ram to fall into a cavity inside the press base. But only about 90% succeed in their intended journey. The Classic drops primers down the center of the hollow ram and into a clear plastic tube which can contain a few hundred primers or be directed into a receptacle of your choice. The difference in the behavior of the debris (products of combustion) from the spent primers is even more striking. With the Deluxe, you wind up with primer detritus all over and have to dismount the press and sweep up the pile of spent primers every several hundred rounds.

More on Durability: The Deluxe ram is smaller in diameter than the Classic's ram. This gives a much different bearing surface for the ram to be guided as it moves up and down. The Classic press will last much longer because of the increased surface area and because iron is tougher than aluminum.

Even more on Durability: The Deluxe's linkage is aluminum and stampings. The Classic's linkage is more robust. I believe the leverage on both is the same.

In summary:

The Deluxe is aluminum, spills spent primers and has a slightly smaller opening (which you may find important when loading long cartridges or long bullets. Kempf's gun shop (online) assembles a kit containing the Classic Turret and does not force someone who already reloads to take other stuff you already have (except a set of dies and some cartridge boxes).

I think that's about it.

Lost Sheep

This is the Lee Deluxe Turret Press
http://leeprecision.com/4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index.html

This is the Lee Classic Turret Press
http://leeprecision.com/4-hole-classic-turret-press.html

They operate in exactly the same way, but have differences in detail that (in my opinion) make up for the difference in price.
 
No complaints on the Classic 4-hole turret. Ive reloaded around 13 or 15 calibers on mine for both rifle and pistol. It is a great press that will provide many years of use. No matter how many more presses i add to the bench, that Lee will always be bolted on as well.
 
The Classic Cast is indeed a much better value. Before you buy check the site below. Doesn't include the things you don't need, including the Lee scale and does include a set of dies and six ammo boxes. You would definitely want to upgrade the included Auto Disk to a Pro Auto Disk. And I am sure they would add a good scale.
I understand they definitely know what they are talking about and will give you good advise.

https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
 
dickttx said:
The Classic Cast is indeed a much better value. Before you buy check the site below. Doesn't include the things you don't need, including the Lee scale and does include a set of dies and six ammo boxes. You would definitely want to upgrade the included Auto Disk to a Pro Auto Disk. And I am sure they would add a good scale.
I understand they definitely know what they are talking about and will give you good advise.

https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
Click to expand...

Yes, I have read/heard the same thing for a good friend and long time reloader.
 
No question that the Classic 4-hole turret is the one to get. I've been using mine for about eight months now and even though other presses might be faster, I can't imagine any of them are easier to set up, use and adjust for the beginning reloader.
 
I went with the classis press. Found the kit on ebay for $215/shipped. Thanks for the insight guys, I appreciate it.

Adam
 
Classic turret all the way. It's a better press all the way around and if you want to reload some rifle rounds later on then you can do it on the Classic but not the other one. I have the Classic Turret and it's a solid press to start out with.
 
3 years and >12,000 rounds later, the Classic turret is still working great.
 
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