Question on Lee Turret Press

[Grandpa Shooter]

Been unloading my presses and have discovered some problems. One piece missing from my Dillon press and they are sending it to me. My Lee Turret press has a worn out nylon hex ratchet. (Imagine that-it's only 20 years old).

I plan on setting up the Lee to do rifle and need some help:

1. Where can I get the replacement nylon hex ratchet? Lee's website makes no sense to me.

2. Are the Deluxe Rifle Die sets worth spending money on compared with regular sets. Would you buy a separate crimp die, if one is needed. I plan on 308, 30-06, and later 30-30.

3. Have any of you purchased separate turrets to avoid having to move dies around?

4. Would it be worth it to upgrade to the four hole turret if I am only doing rifle in small quantities? Actually would there be any point in it?

Thanks in advance for any help you might offer.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I think can help you with number 1.

Click here: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/textcart.cgi
Then click on "Reloading Presses", choose your press, then click the link that says, "Click here for replacement parts".

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Grandpa Shooter,
Since you are going to be using the Turret Press for rifle rounds are you going to need the auto-index feature? If not, there is no reason to replace the nylon ratchet. I remove the auto-index rod when I reload 30-06 shells. Even though I have all the dies setup in the turret I use the press as a single stage.

If you are going to use the auto-index feature, the Lee Part # for the nylon ratchet is TF3567. They come 2 in a package and Lee charges 50 cents plus $4.00 S&H. Make sure your auto-index clamp is in good shape before you order. Sometimes the screw won't tighten because the plastic threads in the clamp are striped. That part # is TF3567 and the price is $6.00.

 

[The Bushmaster]

1...www.midwayusa.com

2...I don't crimp .308 or .30-06, but I do use a Lee FCD for my .30-30 rounds.

3...I load handgun and rifle on my Lee three hole turret and have turrets set up for each calibre and change turrets. Takes less then a minute of time including removing one and inserting another.

4...No. I use a single stage press for resizing/decaping and priming. But you can do all operations on a three hole including priming. I really don't like the priming system on the three hole though. So I use Lee's Auto Prime II on a seperate single stage press.

 

[strat81]

1) http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=466648&t=11082005

3) Yes! On my 4-hole turret, I have 4 turrets: 9mm, .223, M43, and Univ. Decapping Die. It is very easy to switch calibers. Quick too.

4) I use the 4 hole. Decap/Size, Powder Charging Die, Seating Die, Crimp Die. If you don't plan on crimping, the 3 hole should be fine.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Spent all morning darn near trying to find a powder charging die to work with large rifle cases (30-30, 308, 30-06). All I can find on the Lee site is one for small rifle calibers (223,243,270) Why wouldn't they make one for large caliber rifles? I have one for 9mm and 38 sp (different length cases) so I can't understand why no large rifle (as in longer case).

Yeah, I know, being logical doesn't work in today's world!

 

[strat81]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=792057&t=11082005
I use that with the Pro Auto Disk and M43 cases which are .311" and it works fine. However, if you're using it for large cases, you will need the Double Disk Kit. Even with that, you won't be tossing much more than 40-50gr of powder. In that instance, you'll have to charge off the press or double-pump the case into the die (i.e., "double-charge" the case with 28 grs to get 56 grs of powder). HTH

 

[stubbicatt]

Spent all morning darn near trying to find a powder charging die to work with large rifle cases (30-30, 308, 30-06). All I can find on the Lee site is one for small rifle calibers (223,243,270) Why wouldn't they make one for large caliber rifles

? Said Grandpa Shooter.

Lee offers two generic powder dies, one for the "Perfect Powder Measure," the other for the "Autodisc". You can set up the Perfect Powder Measure for any length of cartridge case, including some longer ones.

I love using mine with H4895 in 223 and 308. The Autodisc one is good for use with ball powders in smaller quantities such as one might have with the 223 or other pistol calibers. The Perfect Powder Measure doesn't seem to like ball powders quite so much, as mine seems to leak quite a bit if I use it in that capacity.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Strat81, and you other kind folk!

Checked out the link to Midway. It is the same one I guessed would work. Thanks to all of you for your responses. Now all I need to do is order the charging die, a couple of turrets, and the index insert and I'm good to go.

Nice to hear from real gentlemen.

 

[jfh]

if you haven't placed the Midway order yet,

You might want to check out Graf & Sons.

They have an extensive list of Lee products. Here's a link to the Home page: http://www.grafs.com/

And here's a link to their Lee list: http://www.grafs.com/vendor/450

I find their list confusing to use--so the easy way to do is with their search: if you put "lee" combined with the Lee part number--as in, lee12345 into search, then the direct link comes up, and you can simply add it to the cart.

Note that Graf's prices include shipping; they add on a $3.98 handling charge, and that's it. I find them to be a bit cheaper overall than Midway--and they are excellent in service and shipping; a real alternative to the "big box" store.

Jim H.

 

[kennedy]

I just bought a lee deluxe die set for my 3 hole turrent press, for .308. I set up all three dies in my turrent, but plan on using the neck sizing one, rather then the full lenght, unless I get brass from someone else. I have turrents set up for 7.62x54 and .40sw. I also do not like the primer that came with the press, so I use a lee auto primer