Lee turret

[jrkfantom]

I'm looking at a lee auto index 4 hole turret press. I'm also going to order the pro auto-disk measure along with the adjustable charge bar. I have the challenger anniversery kit, so i have the primer seaters and feeders and all of that. I'm loading 9x18 to 7.92x57 (8mm Mauser). Do i need anything else?

 

[mmitch]

jrk,

I have a separate turret, pro-disk/chargebar, assembled with dies for each caliber I load. It makes changing the set-up for a different calibers a breeze.
I also keep two hand primers, one for large primer, one for small primers, as I prefer to prime off-press. I currently have 7 turrets for different handgun calibers.
I use a breech-lock single-stage press for rifle calibers.

Mike

 

[Lost Sheep]

I recommend the Classic Turret over the Deluxe Turret. Which one are you contemplating?

Lost Sheep

 

[greyling22]

for that 8mm, you probably need the rifle charging die, double disk kit,and if you're going to run the safety prime you will need the powder riser thing or your powder hopper will hit the priming mechanism. +1 on classic over deluxe.

 

[Hondo 60]

I whole-heartedly agree with Lost Sheep.
The CLASSIC is great - the deluxe is just not as sound mechanically.
I had a deluxe & the spent primers went everywhere other than where they were supposed to go.

What else? A turret for each caliber.
That way you don't have to move dies.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

You will like the initial price of the Deluxe cast Aluminum press. But you will grow to hate how dealing with the spent primers was a complete after thought.
Spend the few extra bucks to get the classic Cast turret.

Or get good at work a rounds.

here are a couple of mine. Now that I have it working how I want. I just as soon keep it.

I cut a groove in the bench and the mounting plate. To allow the spent primers to drop out of the unit. Into a mounted bucket. Works fine. Some have managed to mount a funnel with a hose.



Notice the wall I have duct tapped on the press. With out the catch all they just bounce all over with only a small percentage actually dropping into the well. This get 99%


Also added a zip tie to actuate the primer arm and keep it on the press. Got tired chasing them when they pop out and land on the floor. replaced two of them from denting the primer cup after the concrete floor bounce.
With the zip tie. Not once has it come out.

Sorry for the crappy picture but you get the idea. Not my idea but I owe the guy a beer who came up with it.

 

[joshf128]

+1 on the Lee Classic Turret over Delux.

 

[Fishslayer]

Another vote for the Lee Classic Turret.

Do you already have a scale, calipers, bullet puller?

Definitely worth the money for an extra turret for each caliber. Makes changing quick & easy. I also bought the Auto Disc riser for each turret.

 

[J_McLeod]

I have the deluxe. Didn't know the difference at the time. Here's how I dealt with the primer issue. I drilled two large holes in my bench under the press. Took two 1/2"x12" plastic tubing and ran stuck one end in the half circle holes in the bottom of the press. The other ends wen through the holes in the bench and had small corks in them. Every once in a while I'd pull the cork and drain the primers

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll add my voice to the Classic Turret Press. It's a much better tool, the ram is heavier, the linkage is also heavier and the spent primer handling is better.

Buying turrets for each caliper is the best way to go and what the press was designed to do.

I have been using a classic turret Press for just about 7 years now and I feel it's a great press and worth more than the cost...

 

[chhodge69]

I'd buy about 10 of those little square plastic index ratchet gizmos along with your press
http://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html

If you already have the challenger kit I'd add a universal decapping die to the setup so you can de-prime on the single stage when you need to and an extra decapping pin to have on hand for each die set
http://leeprecision.com/decapping-die.html
http://leeprecision.com/decppr-ex-lng-90783.html
http://leeprecision.com/pistol-decapper.html
http://leeprecision.com/ez-x-exp-8x57.html

And don't waste your money on the adjustable charge bar - It's a complete piece of junk. Consider either the double disk kit or the perfect powder measure, or both if you want some flexibility.
http://leeprecision.com/double-disk-kit.html
http://leeprecision.com/perfect-powder-measure.html

and lastly, don't buy any of this crap straight from Lee.
use https://fsreloading.com/ instead.

 

[kingmt]

I have bought a few small things from Lee. I have called to get buy parts that I broke but they never will allow me to pay for them. I sometimes add a small order to that which they won't allow me to pay shipping ether. If I need a small inexpensive part/tool the shipping is so cheap that they are the best place to buy it. When I first wanted to get a press from them she told me she would sale me one but it would be cheaper if I got it from Lee Factory Sales which is now FS Reloading.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I'd buy about 10 of those little square plastic index ratchet gizmos along with your press
http://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html

At $1 per pair (they are used singly, but Lee sells them in pairs) they are cheap enough to buy 10, but if you take care not to break them, the actually last a long time. They are designed to break if the press is operated improperly so that more expensive parts do not break or get bent. Kind of like how a fuse sacrifices itself to protect electrical devices.

I store my extra square ratchet at the top end of the indexing rod. It is out of the way there, yet easy to find if I ever need it.

And don't waste your money on the adjustable charge bar - It's a complete piece of junk. Consider either the double disk kit or the perfect powder measure, or both if you want some flexibility.

Some like it and some don't. You have to take care to ensure it is installed correctly so that the cavity lines up completely with the powder drop path.

Earlier this week I wrote to Lee suggesting that they make a blank disk (in a color other than their usual, so it cannot be mixed up with stock disks) with pilot holes where the cavities should be. That way, a loader could ream out the cavities to the exact charge desired.

I got a polite reply saying that they thought there was insufficient demand for such a disk to justify the tooling costs.

Maybe if we all holler. I have heard enough complaints about the adjustable charge bar that maybe a blank, customizable disk is wanted. On the other hand, some people seem to like the charge bar just fine.

Lost Sheep

 

[greyling22]

fill the holes up with jb weld and drill them out yourself. It's a good idea though.

 

[kingmt]

I don't see a problem with the charge bar. I would rather use the disk tho. For most of my loading the disk are just right. For everything else I use a scale/despensor.

 

[germ]

I modified my acb and now it works fine, even for smaller charges (of fine powders). Search for the really simple fix on loadmastervideos.com.