Ordering my first press and Dies, few questions

[REL1203]

I am finally ordering my Lee Classic Turret press after much debating between that and the Hornady LNL. I was first taught reloading on a Single stage, but quickly moved up to working on a Dillion 550 Prog so I am familur with progressive, but I want to get the Turret I think to keep cost down for now. I dont shoot more than 1500 rounds a month. I plan to reload .308,.223, and 9mm to begin with, but will soon want to do 45ACP,357Mag, 30-06, 25-06, 7MM, 338,7x57 but keeping with just 3 for now.

I have a Carbide RCBS 3Die 9mm set, and a Dillion 3die .308 set, both new. Will these work with the Lee Turret? Anything special I need to add to my order to get them working better?

I need to get a set of 223 Dies, and looking to get a set of Lee ones i guess to go with my Lee Turret. But dont really know which one of these 2 I need to get.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=776391

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=434975

I dont really get what the PaceSetter set offers over the deluxe. I plan on shooting this out of my Daniel Defense DDM4 (1:7twist), and my Remington 700 223 Bolt gun (this one i shoot for accuracy, but not real competition). Which set should I get? Anything else to add for the die set? Do I need a Lee FCD? Do i need a full size resizer or Small Base (cant remember what the diffrence is)? Or do you recommend a completely different set of Dies?

For the Lee Turret press, any suggestions on things to get with it as well? Spare parts to have on hand?

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks

 

[lopezni]

don't buy the Deluxe, you have a semi auto so you need to full length resize and crimp. The crimp is for safety, if a cartridge got jamed while chambering and the bullet got pushed back into the case, that could increase pressures to dangerous levels. Get a good scale not a LEE, and a good dial caliper, not digital. If you are buying .22 cal bullets at least get 75gr bullets for the AR. Don't be one of those people who gets a rifle with a 1 in 7 twist and wastes the purpose of it by shooting cheap 55gr bullets through it. Also get the powder dispenser that works along with the turret press I forget what it is called but it is a LEE.

 

[REL1203]

Awesome, I will not get the Deluxe, and get the pacesetting with the Lee FCD. I plan on getting the Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure from Lee, and then getting the double disk for my larger charges. There just seems to be so many little things I am forgetting that I cant think of. I already have a nice brand new set of RCBS Digital Calipers.

I am still trying to decide which Scale to get, leaning towards an RCBS one as well.

 

[Eb1]

what are you going to be shooting with your AR depends on what bullets you need. Why spend the money if you are shooting cans. If you are competing then get the 77 grain Sierra or 75 grain Hornady Match bullets. You know. Who says you can't load all the choices? 45-90 grain? (probably missed some).

 

[RustyFN]

I have a Carbide RCBS 3Die 9mm set, and a Dillion 3die .308 set, both new. Will these work with the Lee Turret? Anything special I need to add to my order to get them working better?

Yes they will work but you will need the Lee powder die for the pro auto disk measure.

I need to get a set of 223 Dies, and looking to get a set of Lee ones i guess to go with my Lee Turret. But dont really know which one of these 2 I need to get.

If you will be loading for a semi-auto then the Pacesetter would be the better set. The Deluxe set would be better for a bolt gun being as it comes with the collet neck sizer. The Deluxe set is a FL sizer, neck sizer and seater. The pacesetter set has a FL sizer, seater and crimp die.

For the Lee Turret press, any suggestions on things to get with it as well? Spare parts to have on hand?

You will need to add the rifle charging die, auto disk riser and the double disk kit. I would also order some of the square nylon ratchets. I have been loading 9mm, 38 spcl, 45 auto and 223 on a classic turret four years now and think it's a great press. Congrats and welcome to reloading.

 

[REL1203]

Yes they will work but you will need the Lee powder die for the pro auto disk measure.

Is this the one I need?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=422586

If you will be loading for a semi-auto then the Pacesetter would be the better set. The Deluxe set would be better for a bolt gun being as it comes with the collet neck sizer. The Deluxe set is a FL sizer, neck sizer and seater. The pacesetter set has a FL sizer, seater and crimp die.

The pacesetter it is then.

You will need to add the rifle charging die, auto disk riser and the double disk kit. I would also order some of the square nylon ratchets. I have been loading 9mm, 38 spcl, 45 auto and 223 on a classic turret four years now and think it's a great press. Congrats and welcome to reloading.

All added to the cart. I hadnt thought about the Nylon parts, but having backups is a good idea, i ordered 3 of them, seems like enough to have on hand. Do they break often?

 

[kutter]

If you have not ordered yet from Midway then you might want to consider this kit from Kempf Gun Shop.

It is the one that I ordered along with a few miscellaneous things to get me up and going and I have been very pleased with it, so pleased in fact that I just got 32 pounds of powder in today. Like everyone says, don't plan on saving money, but you will get to shoot a lot more for the same amount.

 

[benzuncle]

I hadnt thought about the Nylon parts, but having backups is a good idea, i ordered 3 of them, seems like enough to have on hand. Do they break often?

I wore the nylon ratchet out on my Lee Classic Turret Press early by rotating the turret with the ram down at the bottom of the cycle. Had I known... I replaced the original one with the 2nd one included when you buy the LCT press. Look for it; it should be in there somewhere, usually in a tiny zip lock bag. As they are cheap they are worth having on hand. I've loaded thousands of rounds since on that 2nd nylon ratchet.
Kutter's advice on www.kempfgunshop.com is spot on. I ordered over the phone from Susan; she really knows what she is talking about. I have since ordered most of my other Lee items from Midway, but the initial LCT press kit was a better deal from Kempf. Either way, it's all good. Welcome to reloading and the forum. Good luck to you; help is here if/when you need it.

 

[REL1203]

If you have not ordered yet from Midway then you might want to consider this kit from Kempf Gun Shop.

I saw this kit, and with everything I am ordering (ordering lots of other things), with the Midway coupons and what i save on shipping makes more sense for me to order from Midway in one big order. With $16 shipping from Kempfs kinda kills the little bit you save on there bundle for rifle.

 

[benzuncle]

I saw this kit, and with everything I am ordering (ordering lots of other things), with the Midway coupons and what i save on shipping makes more sense for me to order from Midway in one big order. With $16 shipping from Kempfs kinda kills the little bit you save on there bundle for rifle.

Well then, that makes perfect sense, and you'll still be getting what you want.

The reason I went with Kempf was because this was my first venture into reloading; I had doubts and concerns and wanted to talk a live body. Susan at Kempf was very helpful. She knew what I needed and what I didn't need. She answered questions I didn't even have yet! Her advice was comforting to say the least.

Let us know how this all shakes out.

 

[ranger335v]

Lee's Delux die sets have both a FL die AND a collet type neck sizer in addition to a very good seater and shell holder. Their Pacesetter sets exchange the neck die for a Factory Crimp Die. The RGB sets have only the FL and seater.

Since the FCD is available seperately for low cost I prefer to buy the Delux sets and add the crimper so I can have complete flexibility.

For rifles that aren't particularly accurate anyway I save a few bucks and get the RGB (Really Great Buy) sets.

 

[REL1203]

Lee's Delux die sets have both a FL die AND a collet type neck sizer in addition to a very good seater and shell holder. Their Pacesetter sets exchange the neck die for a Factory Crimp Die.

What exactly does the Collet Type Neck sizer be used for?

 

[RustyFN]

Is this the one I need?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=422586

Yes, just unscrew the top and add the PAD riser and PAD. You will need a powder through die for each pistol caliber.

All added to the cart. I hadnt thought about the Nylon parts, but having backups is a good idea, i ordered 3 of them, seems like enough to have on hand. Do they break often?

I have been loading on a classic turret four years and thousands of rounds and haven't had to replace mine yet, still on the original. If you don't short stroke the press and raise the ram a few inches before you turn the turret by hand then it should last a long time.

 

[dagger dog]

Rel,

If you want to get the most accuracy out of your Rem 700 .223 you will want that collet die from Lee, it neck sizes ony doesn't require lubing and will be used only on bolt or single shot break action guns, it is well worth the extra 25 bucks.

 

[greyling22]

yes, the nylons wear out. when your auto index starts needing lots of adjustment and just won't work right, replace the ratchet. don't forget oil. smear some 10w-30 on the ram an outside of the turret and you will have much smoother indexing. after several thousand rounds you will probably want to regrease the pivot pins as well. and after a year if you decide you want an LNL, let me know. I want to upgrade and don't mind used equipment. I've recently upgraded to the lever prime system, or whatever they call it. it's great. I highly recommend one, despite the flimsy feel.

PS, if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and get a turret for each die set. and a box for each turret full of dies is nice to have, but you're in luxury territory now.

case trimmers, cartridge boxes........yum. also, check out midsouth's varmint nightmare bullets for your 223. they're cheaper than the midway dogtowns.

 

[REL1203]

OK, i dont know why, but I really have a thing for the RCBS Chargemaster Combo unit.... Is there any advantage to going with once of those instead of a powder measure (double disk kit, charge bar combo)?

65% of my loading will be for rifle, working up different loads, the other 35% will be 9mm, 357, 45ACP.....

Am I crazy cause i like the Chargemaster? What are its downfalls compared to the powder measure? Is there some way to use the chargemaster and pour in each charge accurately while its auto indexing?

 

[Hondo 60]

REL1203

If you're reloading rifle ammo here's the Powder Through Die you need

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=792057

 

[Seedtick]

I hadnt thought about the Nylon parts, but having backups is a good idea, i ordered 3 of them, seems like enough to have on hand. Do they break often?

Do they break often??...umm, yes and no.

If you don't order a couple of extras AND you accidentally throw away the extra that comes with the press then, yes.
It won't last 30 minutes! :banghead:

But since you will have extras and you know to look for the spare that comes with the press then you will NEVER wear one out.

At least that is how it seems anyway.

ST

 

[RustyFN]

OK, i dont know why, but I really have a thing for the RCBS Chargemaster Combo unit.... Is there any advantage to going with once of those instead of a powder measure (double disk kit, charge bar combo)?

65% of my loading will be for rifle, working up different loads, the other 35% will be 9mm, 357, 45ACP.....

Am I crazy cause i like the Chargemaster? What are its downfalls compared to the powder measure? Is there some way to use the chargemaster and pour in each charge accurately while its auto indexing?

Depends on what you want to do. If you are shooting for super accuracy then you might want to go with the RCBS chargemaster. I use the Lee pro auto disk with the double disk kit for 223 and have found the charges to be very consistant. The chargemaster will slow down the reloading process. With my 223 brass cleaned and preped I can load close to 300 per hour, I don't think the charge master will come close to that.

 

[REL1203]

I just placed my order... WHen it comes to my .308 reloads, i realized if I am going to spend time reloading, i want to make super accurate rounds (I shoot up to 600 yards with my SASS), I can go to walmart and buy 20 Fed 150grain 20packs for $14 if I just want to shoot to shoot, so I ordered the chargemaster, and still ordered all the powder measures and doudle disk kit. I figured the ChargeMaster pushed me over the next coupon level from Midway, so saved a good chunk there with that order....

Also, read a few places whenit comes to reloading, "Buy Once, Cry Once"... Knew if I didnt order everything now, I wouldn't go back later and order a $300 chargemaster...


So i will get one big bill, but will now have everything but my reloading bench, and will start building that in the coming week

Thanks guys for all your help