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

[Hooda Thunkit]

So 3 cap screws to change the turret? That's still pretty quick.

I agree, 3 cap screws is essentially a quick-change.

However, one needs the bushings to use the turret. Dies will not screw in the turret unless there is a bushing present. No sense in buying extra turrets, when one needs to also buy the bushings for it.
One may as well just own one turret, and insert the bushing-mounted dies in that single turret.

With the exception of the current 4-hole turret presses, does Lee even make a press that doesn't require those bushings?

As I started earlier, it seems that the entire Lee company now revolves around those bushings, that work only in Lee presses.

Perhaps Lee thinks that those bushings may become a standard, and they can license it to other press makers, much as happened with the case-operated powder measure.

I don't know. It's seems a gamble, to make your press something that is essentially unusable with standard dies unless one buys additional equipment.

 

[R44 flyer]

I dubbed my vinyl to cassettes.
And later used a machine capable of ripping cassettes to digital.
CDs are already digital, easily ripped to any memory.
Once digital, it matters not onto what device it's played.

And, will Lee Breech-lock bushings work on another press? Say, a Hornady?
Or is the Lee Breech-lock bushing a proprietary system?

Once invested in a Lee Breech-lock system is one then "locked" into Lee presses?

I'm sceptical about the whole concept.

The Lee Breech bushings will work in hornaday , rcbs and any other press with a removable bushing. They have adaptors for 11/2 and 1 1/4 threads

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Those Lee bushings seem to cross thread pretty easy when trying to fight them in between other dies with Lee's tight bolt circles. I'll stick to the Hornady bushings in my Hornady press.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

No and yes.

Actually, Lee Precision owns the patent for the spline drive breech lock bushing - https://patents.justia.com/patent/8234963

The Lee Breech bushings will work in hornaday , rcbs and any other press with a removable bushing.

Okay, one person says the Lee bushings will NOT work in other presses. The other person says they WILL work.

Which is it?

 

[ballman6711]

Okay, one person says the Lee bushings will NOT work in other presses. The other person says they WILL work.

Which is it?

It appears that they sell an adapter, so I would say it would work in other presses.

LEE 1 1/2" to 1 1/4" DIE ADAPTER BUSHING

Lee 1 1/2" To 1 1/4" Die Adapter Bushing For Sale. Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Lee Precision Reloading Equipment & Silver Bullet in Reloading Presses.

www.titanreloading.com

chris

 

[LiveLife]

Okay, one person says the Lee bushings will NOT work in other presses. The other person says they WILL work.

Which is it?

A picture is worth a thousand words ... They are not even close.

Here's Hornady bushing - https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Bushings-Conversion/dp/B000PD1XAI?th=1

And Lee Smart Lock bushings with O-ring - https://leeprecision.com/ez-set-spline-drive-breech-lock-bushing-4-pack

Lee bushings with lock ring - https://leeprecision.com/lock-ring-elim-4-pack

Those Lee bushings seem to cross thread pretty easy ... I'll stick to the Hornady bushings in my Hornady press.

I had a Hornady single-stage LNL press... hated it (and I like Hornady stuff.) ... I did not like the LNL bushing system. I felt the extra tolerances introduced by the bushings and their o-rings (to hold the inserts in place) was too much

Both Hornady and Lee use O-rings (Hornady has O-ring on each bushing and Lee has O-ring at bottom of press head breech lock openings).

Due to the O-ring providing resistance, a little push down pressure will help engage the Lee spline drive breech lock bushing, even for Lee bushing with built in lock ring. (And note Lee Smart Bushing with O-ring inside is to hold the dies) I have no experience with Hornady bushings.

 

[KnightHawk]

Well right now I’ve got 16 turrets loaded with dies, a couple with 3, most with 4 dies, so 64 dies x $6 each bushing is $384. My plan will end up with 21 loaded turrets so another 20 bushings so $120, that makes $504 to change over just in bushings.
That’s $500 that’s totally unnecessary with the Lee 4 hole turret press. Doesn’t sound like progress to me.
I understand if you were using SS press then yes. I’m disappointed that the new press will only use bushings.
Not that I’d change to the new press anyway, but adding the expense of bushings and I’m definitely out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I understand if you were using SS press then yes. I’m disappointed that the new press will only use bushings.
Not that I’d change to the new press anyway, but adding the expense of bushings and I’m definitely out.

I think you've pretty clearly delineated the target audience . I saw this coming when Lee first introduced their Breech Lock bushings, with the only question being if they were willing to make the commitment with their whole line...as Hornady did. If there was any doubt, the availability of conversion kits for other branded single stage presses should have removed that

It is a superior turret press which is targeted for folks getting into that market. They don't have a current investment in older turrets and their investment in bushings can continue to be used as the move up to progressive presses or to other single stage presses.

I can even see current Lee turret users switching over for the new turrets advantages in alignment and consistency...offering tool heads with multiple station options is a fantastic idea to increase efficiency

 

[rdnktrkr]

Likely no more abandoned than folks dealing with advancement of music they bought on vinyl, than cassette tapes, then CDs, then MP3, and currently downloading on their phones

And now going back to vinyl. For Christmas last year I gave 2 turntables and some records to the grandkids

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

And now going back to vinyl. For Christmas last year I gave 2 turntables and some records to the grandkids

Yeah, but did they get the Lynyrd Skynner with the flames on the album front?

 

[stonebuster]

While I have used a turret press a time or two, I have a Dillon 550 for this reason. Sometimes I do the sizing and priming before hand, and do the powder, bullet seating, and crimp on the 550.

That's what I do with the Lee Classic four hole turret. Decap, size and prime single stage one day, then just powder, bullet seating and crimp next session. Keeps it simple and loading goes fast after they're primed.

 

[rdnktrkr]

Yeah, but did they get the Lynyrd Skynner with the flames on the album front?

I gave some of my old albums, Pink Floyd, The Wall and Dark Side of The Moon, Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells, they liked the picture albums, ALL my Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan albums. I had milk crates full of old albums I let them pick through to ENHANCE their musical ears.

 

[R44 flyer]

I like the part where it said if money is a concern you can install the bushing and then thread the dies in and out like a normal press. Interesting but kind of defeats the quick install concept.

I don't think the cost of the bushings will be a concern to someone just starting out. Buy a set of dies and buy a set of bushings, done. But for someone switching presses and loading a lot of different calibers, the bushings would be a potentially large up front expense.

I do like the idea of having what is essentially a progressive press with the option of 3,4,5, or 6 holes to suit your needs. The downside is it still takes a stroke for each operation for each piece of brass, unlike a progressive which gives you two finished rounds in five or six strokes, or 1K rounds in 1004 strokes vs. 4K.

chris

There are a lot of things that you don't want to finished in a single stroke. If you enjoy reloading why not enjoy handling the lever just a little longer.

 

[johnjohn]

I'll just stick with my old slow stuff that's been good for the last 30 years.

 

[LV Gun]

Well right now I’ve got 16 turrets loaded with dies, a couple with 3, most with 4 dies, so 64 dies x $6 each bushing is $384. My plan will end up with 21 loaded turrets so another 20 bushings so $120, that makes $504 to change over just in bushings.
That’s $500 that’s totally unnecessary with the Lee 4 hole turret press. Doesn’t sound like progress to me.
I understand if you were using SS press then yes. I’m disappointed that the new press will only use bushings.
Not that I’d change to the new press anyway, but adding the expense of bushings and I’m definitely out.

What you have stated here is why I did not replace my 28 year old red base with the new Ultimate Turret. I bought the new Value Turret Press instead , I load 10 calibers all mounted in turrets they also work in my Lee Classic Turret press. I load the magnum's and 1 rifle caliber on the LCT the rest on the Value I did not want to have to buy a bunch of the Breech Lock bushings and get rid of perfectly good turrets .The only thing I don’t like about the Value Turret is the handle comes extremely close to the Safety Prime and you can knock it off I just purchased this press from Titan Reloading for $106.00. I am having Inline Fabrication make me a custom handle that will clear the Safety Prime other than that it is a very nice press for the money.

 

[trixter]

I also have dies and turrets for all my pistol loads for my LCT(really like it), so I won't be getting one. For folks starting to reload or looking for a turret press "more is better" might be a good thing for them. I wouldn't mind a bullet feeder. Choice is a good thing!

Just a note for you, I too have the LCT and run the Lee Bullet feedeer on it and it works great. Seat and crimp with the Lee seater die, (like before there was s factory crimp die).

 

[ReloaderNoob]

My Lyman 8 or 7 (so many holes) is hard to beat! except the priming system

but I would love to see a Rock Chucker size Turret press.

The Lyman priming on the turret and Victory works much better using Lyman shell holders. They are smaller in height that allows the priming arm to easily slide in and out.

 

[irishlad]

Just a note for you, I too have the LCT and run the Lee Bullet feedeer on it and it works great. Seat and crimp with the Lee seater die, (like before there was s factory crimp die).

Understood. I prefer to seat and crimp separately. I have the feeder on my SPP, works well.

 

[ReloaderNoob]

I just needed the die, so $36. Im in WI and I buy from Titan all the time. Great company.
And the die? It just works. I feel its better than the DAA die, which I have a couple of.

Why do you like the Lee better than the DAA?

 

[ReloaderNoob]

I would be a lot more likely to purchase if the "new" turret press would fit the old 4 turret holders. Like many others here I have a number of die sets preset on 4-hole blanks; probably 5 preset on just a carrier and 5 more with the dies preset and an Auto-disk added and ready to go. Too much invested to scrap it and start over.

Do their trade-in program and you don't have to scrap anything.

 

[ReloaderNoob]

That's pretty much the only indicator you get. I do the same thing higgite does.

I really don't see a reason for this press either. Stroking the handle 4 times per round is bad enough, but 5 or 6 times is way too much for me. If you had to run your cases through a 4 hole turret press twice to load them then the 6 hole turret would save you two stroke per round. But a progressive, even with two passes, will save you 4 stroke per round over using the 6 hole turret.
With the better progressives that Lee is making now, I really don't see the need for this.
One thing about it, I would think the 4 hole turret would have a lot more room on the turret than the LCT, being it has to be able to accommodate the 6hole turret on the same press. It would have to have a bigger bolt circle.

Here's my Lyman 8 press for 400 Cor-Bon: (1) Redding 45 ACP sizer/decap for the carbide body size, (2) Redding 400 C-B sizer die for neck/shoulder, (3) Redding expander, (4) Little Dandy powder (doesn't interfere with the priming tube,
(5) Hornady powder cop, (6) Hornady bullet feeder, (7) Redding seater die, (8) Redding roll crimp die. Have another setup on my XL750 using a Townsend set that has a carbide sizer/decap die for making 100+ rounds. but usually only make 50 at a time
with the Lyman. Have the same setup for 357 Sig on the 8 and the XL750 with Dillon carbide dies.

 

[Kaldor]

Why do you like the Lee better than the DAA?

Ive found that sometimes the DAA die double feeds when there isnt enough weight on the stack on top of the die or doesnt return fast enough. Id 3d printed some pieces to solve the issue for me, but DAA has a factory piece that does it.

The Lee die has a pretty decent sized spring internally which prevents this from happening.

 

[LiveLife]

Why do you like the Lee better than the DAA?

DAA die double feeds when there isnt enough weight on the stack on top of the die or doesnt return fast enough.

The Lee die has a pretty decent sized spring internally which prevents this from happening.

Yes - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...6000-beta-testing.913099/page-6#post-12841179

 

[LiveLife]

= Unboxing of Ultimate Turret Press kit =

NOTE: Ultimate Turret Press (UTP) kit comes with 6 bullet tube rotary magazine but requires purchase of caliber specific bullet feeder die. Since I was planning to use UTP for .223, I also ordered Deluxe Quick Trim and .223 Rifle Quick Trim Die.​

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Here's the UTP kit box label for .223 Remington



Top tray held primer collection tube, 6 ~.240" ID yellow tubes and 6 longer ~.270" ID clear tubes. Red powder hopper with cover for Deluxe Auto Drum is below the tubes.



Bottom tray held the UTP with ergo roller handle, bin with second AD cone/Safety Primer/other parts along with documentation and Deluxe Auto Drum

NOTE: FYI, Auto Drum rifle cone (on left) has plug adapter to adjust powder charge compared to pistol cone (on right)​

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Bottom of box held Safety Powder Scale and .223 four die set with breech lock bushings



.223 breech lock bushing 4 die set (Came with a packet of resizing lube)



UTP with ruler for scale




Bench plate block mount holes (Does not come with kit)

 

[LiveLife]

= Unboxing of Ultimate Turret Press kit = (continued)

UTP size comparison to SPP (Same ram/linkage as Classic Cast .50 BMG press)



Press came well covered in oil and I kept wiping off residue between picture taking. 5 hole turret with detent pin holes (Notice bottom of each breech lock hole has O-ring to hold bushing)



Turret with detent pin through turret hole



Shown with built-in tool caddy with small/large primer arms, hex wrench and Safety Primer (Bin bracket also has built-in tool caddy for 2 hex wrenches and primer arm)



Shown with Safety Primer attached



Shown with bin bracket and new red bin



New bin is slightly longer with no opening in front to keep finished rounds in



Case ejector and index rod turns with turret to push finished rounds down the ramp and into the collection bin (Shell holder must rotate opening towards the arrow to auto eject cases)



Twist in the index rod rotates the turret



Tomorrow, I will move onto disassembly of press.