New turret press under development with 3/4/5/6 configuration turrets

I've been working on my new UTP priming. I have smoothed the edges of the primer arm, the sides of the slot and it is getting better, after watching it closely I see that the top of the cup is hitting on the bottom of the shell holder and preventing a full return to the 'open' position. The shell holder is an older one and I have the new style coming. If it is just a little shorter it will cure the problem. If not further investigation needs to be done.
 
I have smoothed the edges of the primer arm, the sides of the slot and it is getting better, after watching it closely I see that the top of the cup is hitting on the bottom of the shell holder and preventing a full return to the 'open' position. The shell holder is an older one and I have the new style coming. If it is just a little shorter it will cure the problem.
Short update: I have been smoothing the lower part of the 'tang' of the primer arm that rubs on the back of the ram and things are improving a little bit.
If the cup is hitting the bottom of the shell holder, tool head may not be fully inserted into the ram so primer arm rocking on bottom bracket of tool head could be too high and causing the cup to hit the bottom of shell holder.

Remove the shell holder and check the ram to make sure the tool head is pressed all the way down on ram as primer arm rocks on bottom tab of the tool head.

If top of tool head (part that inserts inside the ram) is protruding up past bottom of slot on the ram, lay shaft of screwdriver on either side of ram and tap the shaft with handle of another screwdriver to push the tool head all the way down (That's what I do after removal/reinstallation of tool head).

Top of tool head insert portion even with bottom of ram slot

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Bottom of tool head showing bracket that primer arms rock on

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I got my Lee Ultimate Turret Press maybe a couple months ago. Got two extra turret plates - it turns out those were unnecessary, what I really needed were spare bushings. Anyways have used the press to reload one box of 45 Colt ammo. Very happy with the operation of it, particularly the priming.
 

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If the cup is hitting the bottom of the shell holder, tool head may not be fully inserted into the ram so primer arm rocking on bottom bracket of tool head could be too high and causing the cup to hit the bottom of shell holder.

Remove the shell holder and check the ram to make sure the tool head is pressed all the way down on ram as primer arm rocks on bottom tab of the tool head.

If top of tool head (part that inserts inside the ram) is protruding up past bottom of slot on the ram, lay shaft of screwdriver on either side of ram and tap the shaft with handle of another screwdriver to push the tool head all the way down (That's what I do after removal/reinstallation of tool head).

Top of tool head insert portion even with bottom of ram slot.

I tried your suggestion and it seems that 'joining' is as it is supposed to be. The more I use it the better it gets, it is probably a wear in sort of thing, plus I have a set of jewelers files ans have been slowly smoothing all of the wear surfaces.
Thank you for your help.
 
top of the cup is hitting on the bottom of the shell holder and preventing a full return to the 'open' position. The shell holder is an older one and I have the new style coming. If it is just a little shorter it will cure the problem.
BTW, what brand of "older" shell holder are you having issue with?
 
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I think a terret press often appeals to folks who aren't confident enough to move straight to a progressive...or they don't have a safety net.

I was recently asked for advice from a shooting buddy who finally decided it was appropriate for him to get into reloading. After asking questions about what he wanted to accomplish, what concerns he had, and what would be the immediate turn offs for him, I recommended that he start out with the Pro 6000 progressive. Plus I'll be there to show him how to set it up and what to check to safely reload. With six stations, he can have a powder check die and not have to combine die functions

He would have been bored starting with a single stage or a turret. He really didn't want to take up reloading as a hobby but as a hedge against future lack of access to ammo. I could have easily pointed him to a Dillon Square Deal, but for half the price, the Pro 6k was the obvious value choice. It met all his needs, loading only one caliber, without a major initial financial investment.

One caliber is the rub. If I were just interested in saving money by reloading 9mm, or loading .45acp to make it affordable to shoot in volume, I’d be all over a progressive. But for what I want (occasional loading of a LOT of different obscure calibers) an LCT does pretty well. At least I haven’t found much better.
 
BTW, what brand of "older" shell holder are you having issue with?
Now there is a question than I cannot answer for sure. Most everything that I have had or currently have has been Lee, however there were a couple of RCBS presses. I will root around in my 'spares' container and see what I can find.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
 
Now there is a question than I cannot answer for sure. Most everything that I have had or currently have has been Lee, however there were a couple of RCBS presses. I will root around in my 'spares' container and see what I can find.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
Short update: I found another shell holder and it is a little different so I installed it and it seems to work a little better. I am waiting for USPS delivery of the updated #19 shell holder either tomorrow or next day. I will update again then.
 
I just love the gun business these days. Reloaders you have to buy or make parts for, guns you may not return on warranty unless you have fired hundreds of shots and it hasn't gotten well by itself.
 
I tried your suggestion and it seems that 'joining' is as it is supposed to be. The more I use it the better it gets, it is probably a wear in sort of thing, plus I have a set of jewelers files ans have been slowly smoothing all of the wear surfaces ... Thank you for your help.
I got an email response from Calvin ... Please contact Lee customer service as indicated below and reference Calvin's email below for replacement tool head.

Calvin at Lee Precision, Inc.
Staff - 03/11/2024 10:40 am​
Hello John,​
Our friend on The High Road [ @trixter ] with the primer arm hanging up may be experiencing an issue that we discovered early on with our production testing in house.​
The cross bar that holds the primer arm was milled in house to improve the reliability and I believe there is a chance that his part was missed by the operator. Please have him reach out to us at [email protected] with his information so we may send a replacement.​
The tool that molds these parts has been modified, so an error like this is no longer possible.​
Calvin Katzfey​
Lee Precision, Inc.​
 
I know Lee will come up with a fix if they have problems, I'm sure they will figure out the "won't shake" primer feeder for the 6PP, I'll just keep giving it a tap until they do!
 
If you like work lights on your press. KMS² has one for you. Their website is also very helpful, it has the measurements for each product, and the RCBS Rock Chucker Pro 5 & 7 kit will fit the new Lee Ultimate Turret press.

Check them out

https://kmssquared.com/products/ufo...s-rock-chucker-pro-5-7?variant=42996937818356

This is the link to the just the light itself, but you can shop around and find what you need.
 
this seems to be a more in depth view of the new turret,,, let me know, in some feedback

harie ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SA8h532tk4
 
I observe every powder charge, so don't need a powder cop. What other die(s) is used on the fifth or sixth turret hole?




I resemble that remark.
I changed my old three hole turret press to four hole auto index. But if you are loading prepared brass only three is needed. But the three hole index rod was discontinued. So I'm picking up what your layin down.

Depends what your doing and how many presses you have. My 8 hole has size and bullet dies for three rifles plus ram prime and decap. That smallest Lee single pushes gas checks right now.

A man could do it all on a 40$ Lee single press if needed.
 
Update: Lee sent a new (plastic assembly), which was very easy to install and now my UTP with the 6 hole turret is running as it should. My range partner and usually average 100 rounds every other week, and I have plenty of time to reload [even at 6 strokes per round] to be ready for the next session. Here is my current setup:
1. Deprime and resize, prime on upstroke.
2. Drop powder and flare mouth.
3. Powder check
4. Drop bullet
5. Seat bullet
6: Crimp

So simple and accurate, I really like the way the was the turret worked, very smooth.
Thank you Lee!
 
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