need help with new turret press

[yotesmoker]

I've been reloading on a dillon sq D press for over 20 years but now I want to change to another type so I can reload both pistol and rifle ammo.I now have a lyman turret press and also a hornady bench rest powder measure.My problem is how do I install the powder measure onto the turret?Do I have to install the hornady powder drop tube and what do I do with the lee powder through expanding die?Did I make a mistake getting the hornady bench rest powder measure and if I did what powder measure will work with the lee dies?...........................................Did some searches and found that I should have ordered a lyman # 55 measure instead.

 

[fiftybmg]

You need a case activated powder drop for the Hornady measure, and you won't need the Lee powder thru die.

 

[Lost Sheep]

You can use the Lee Powder-Thru Die without the powder measure just fine. The die (should have) came with a hex collar which serves both as a funnel adapter and to back-stop the flaring/belling/case-mouth expander part of the die assembly.

Lost Sheep

 

[BCRider]

It sounds like you want to install the powder measure on the press and have it activate from the platen rising up as you pull the lever. But that Hornady measure isn't intended to be operated that way. The lever on it can only be operated by hand unless you were to make up some rather fancy adapter linkage.

Looking at the Hornady listing for this measure also tells me that it would be of limited usefulness for pistol calibers. It says the MINIMUM it can dole out is 20 gns. And that's WAY too much for handgun cartridges other than some of the bigger Magnum rounds.

For rifle rounds since the measure won't screw into the Lee dies the best bet would be to get the Lee funnel that fits into those hex shaped tops on the powder thru die and simply dispense the powder from the measure into a little cup and pour that through the funnel in the powder through die and into the casing while the lever is up and the casing is in place and being flared. Or perhaps you could fabricate a bracket or support arm that holes the measure directly over a funnel in the powder through die?

For handgun loading on your new press since you bought Lee dies it might be advisable to simply buy a Lee disc measure which screws into the powder through die after you remove the hex funnel holder.

 

[fiftybmg]

The Hornady powder measure can be fitted with a pistol rotor to measure powder for pistols. You will also need a pistol measure for the pistol rotor. You can use a rifle rotor for pistol quantities, but it's more difficult to the the initial setting correct versus using a pistol rotor.

You can also buy a case activated linkage for it, which then enables the bench measure to be used for progressive reloading while attached to the press. There is no additional powder die required, it is provided as part of the case activated linkage.

Rifle reloading on a progressive press is limited by the case length, most can handle .223, some have enough clearance to handle 308, and remember that just because a case can fit in the frame of the press, it doesn't mean there is enough clearance to load progressively. You lose some clearance while the shellplate rotates. If the case is too long, the seated bullet in the case hits the top of the frame on the downstroke before the shellplate is fully rotated in position.

The best features of the Hornady powder measure are

1. there are no plastic bits except for the powder hopper
2. changing the powder weight is as easy as changing the powder measure insert, about 5 seconds, or 10 if your hands are not as young as they used to be

 

[HexHead]

You should have just gotten a 550.

 

[1SOW]

That was sure helpful.

 

[Rule3]

Try these folks. They have all kinds of adapters. Not sure it is what you need though.

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1370

 

[oldreloader]

Try these folks. They have all kinds of adapters. Not sure it is what you need though.

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1370

They work great. I have one for my UniFlow

 

[Lost Sheep]

You should have just gotten a 550.

That was sure helpful.

1SOW, Yes, HexHead's comment was helpful, minimally. No help to the O.P., perhaps, but it might be to someone with a similar question who has not yet committed to an answer.

Of course, your point is well taken. the "550" advice could have been fleshed out with reasoning and been a LOT more helpful. As it is, it is next to worthless (as you pointed out), but not totally.

Let us encourage HexHead to do better rather than discourage him from doing worse.

And let me beg your forbearance for getting on my soapbox.

Lost Sheep

 

[ron b]

The Lee pro auto disk powder measure works great. Cost around 40.

 

[1SOW]

1SOW, Yes, HexHead's comment was helpful, minimally. No help to the O.P., perhaps, but it might be to someone with a similar question who has not yet committed to an answer.

Of course, your point is well taken. the "550" advice could have been fleshed out with reasoning and been a LOT more helpful. As it is, it is next to worthless (as you pointed out), but not totally.

Let us encourage HexHead to do better rather than discourage him from doing worse.

And let me beg your forbearance for getting on my soapbox.

Yes, you do make a valid point, and I don't often get very 'persnickety' and shouldn't. This too, just draws away from helping the OP.
I'll make a better effort.