Pistol Press vs. Rifle

[DReicht]

I'm confused, I was under the impression that the Lee Classic Kit Turret Press

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/kits/KempfKit.html

Was capable of loading both rifle and pistol ammunition. Am I correct or not because I'm awfully confused after reading some ads that left it sort of ambiguous.

 

[GaryArkansas]

I've got the Lee Anniversary Kit and I load pistol and rifle. Unless you want to load .50 BMG (which are too tall), I don't see why it can't load rifle rounds.

 

[RustyFN]

Yes the Classic Turret press will be fine for rifle. When you get into the larger rifle rounds you will have to remove the auto index rod ( takes one minute ) and move the turret by hand. From what I have heard 50 bmg is about the only thing you can't reload on the classic. I have talked to a lot of people on here that load 30-06, 308, 30/30, 223 ect. I only load pistol so far but will be ordering my dies this week for 223. I can tell you that it is an awesome press for loading pistol.
Rusty

 

[Car Knocker]

From the Lee site:

"Lee Classic Turret Press

This press has all the features of the award-winning Turret Press with quality touches that make this the finest, most convenient press to own. The Classic Turret features the solid steel linkage of the Lee Classic Cast. Your first stroke of the hardwood gripped lever will convince you this is one, solid silky smooth press! The sturdy iron base shows its Classic Cast roots.

The long stroke allows rifle cases over three inches long to be loaded using the automatic index. Deactivate the Auto-Index and cases as long as the monster 50 BMG can be loaded. The rigid cast iron frame supports the ram with over 12 square inches of area. The industry's largest ram is drilled completely through to dispense primers in an attached clear PVC tube. Every primer is caught--guaranteed.

Instant change turrets are the same as the famous Lee Turret Press. The Classic Turret uses the new Lee Lever Primer System (LPS) and the Lee Safety Prime tool makes priming on the press a delight."

http://leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog...l/catalog/turretpress.html#ClassicTurretPress

From the Kempf site:

"Lee Classic Turret Press (Four Hole Auto-Indexing Turret Press - sturdy enough to load rifle cartridges too)

Lee Deluxe 4-Die Set for the pistol caliber of your choice (Includes carbide sizing and factory crimp dies, powder thru expander die, and bullet seating die) "

 

[SASS#23149]

AFAIK,the Dillon Square Deal B is the only 'pistol only' press out there.
Yours will work just fine for either.

 

[akman47]

To add a comment, I was looking at the classic "kit" at Cabelas with the Pro powder measure and such. After reading the charge information for the double disk kit, it doesn't look like the powder measure will throw 51 grains of IMR 3031.

The press itself looks like a very nice piece, though.

 

[PsychoKnight]

The long stroke allows rifle cases over three inches long to be loaded using the automatic index. Deactivate the Auto-Index and cases as long as the monster 50 BMG can be loaded.

SORRY, BUT NO YOU CANNOT LOAD 50 BMG in the Lee Classic Turret Press

You have to read the syntax carefully. You can load cases as LONG as the 50BMG (go ahead, list all of those cartridges as long as the 50bmg), but there is no 50BMG reloading die which fits in a 7/8" threaded hole, such as in said press. 50BMG dies are designed for 1-1/4" threads (Lee Classic Castm, Hornady Classic) or 1-1/2" threads (RCBS Ammomaster or RockChucker).

 

[Zippy06]

Lee Pro Powder disk measure. Has a upgrade kit. Called double disk kit.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=870920
$10.79 at Midwayusa. For larger loads.

 

[jr81452]

AFAIK,the Dillon Square Deal B is the only 'pistol only' press out there.

umm what about the CH4D pistol champ?

 

[SSN Vet]

I'm loading both rifle and pistol in my Lee Classic Cast Turret Press.....

(and yes, they definitely should have chosen a simpler name that distinguishes it from their other products).

I don't have a .50 cal machine gun, so I guess it will do everything I need it to.

 

[PsychoKnight]

Lee Pro Powder disk measure. Has a upgrade kit. Called double disk kit.

The upgrade kit is unrelated to the double disk kit.

The upgrade kit upgrades the Auto-Disk to all the features of the Pro Auto-Disk, sans black teflon chassis coating.

The double disk kit is independent of the Pro Auto-Disk and can be used for any auto-disk measure ever produced, from the standard, deluxe, to the pro. Its purpose is not only to double the measuring capacity of such measures, but also to allow more cavity displacement increments.

 

[cracked butt]

Yes, it will reload rifle cartridges just fine.

I just got one a week ago and have been cranking out 30-06 and 6.5swede rounds like crazy on it.

A LPPM will work with a rifle charging die, I added an autodisc riser (?) to the die charging die to get an extra inch of clearance. My setup is a little quirky, but it works.

The first thing I tried after taking it out the box and mounting it to my bench was forming 7.5swiss brass from .284 winchester brass- it worked just fine in that regard, but I'll probably use my rockchucker press for this task in the future instead of putting the extra stress on a press that may have not been meant for such activity.