question using a lee turret press for 30-06

[bhhacker]

Is it possible? I read that the disks they provide do not go high enough in grains for full powered loads even if you use double disks.


I am looking to load around 48ish grains in these and thought a turret might be the way to go but if this is the case then a single stage might just be what i stick with.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Use the turret but charge by hand. I like to weigh .30-06 loads anyway, so it's no big deal for me.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use a single stage for my -06 rounds. The turret is a bit fickle when trying to use tall cases in it.

Like Arkansas Paul, I weigh my -06 loads rather than using the Autodisc. Same goes for .22-250, .243. I only load .223 and 6.8 SPC on my turret and that's for the range loads.

 

[YunGun]

Like previous posters have said, I too prefer to individually weigh charges for the 30-06. The double-disk kit *may* provide enough capacity, depending on the powder, but probably won't.

I have heard/read of others configuring the disk(s) to drop 1/2 of the desired charge weight & simply dropping powder twice, but that leaves too much of a chance for bridging or other inconsistencies in my opinion, especially if working with FULL power loads. If you're determined to use the Lee disks though, that may be the only way to achieve your desired charge weight...

 

[mdi]

Sounds like you're having powder measure problems, not press problems...

 

[joecil]

I modified one of mine for 45-70 to handle a triple disk setup. Very easy to do buy having two extra spacers and modifying one of the by removing one set of the connectors.

 

[Rule3]

Without knowing what powder you are using, it's impossible to tell. You have to do some math to calculate the volume of the discs. Your VDM will be approximate what it is in the chart. Scroll to the bottom for the calculation.

That being said, I prefer to use a actual powder measure than hassle with the double disks.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/AD3398.pdf

 

[1KPerDay]

I've been loading some .30-06 on the LCT lately, but I use it as a single stage and don't use the lee pro auto disc in this case. It works for 7.62x51 with the double disk kit (maxing out about 42ish grains of H4895, and actually throws very consistent charges) but those charges are a bit low for .30-06 (even though Hornady says starting loads for Garand are 38.5 grains H4895).

I do all case prep, and prime/gauge cases before hand, and use a Redding powder measure to charge .30-06. Then I just use the LCT to seat the bullets. There's more room for this on the LCT than on my old Bair single stage.

Short answer: yes, you can use the LCT as a single stage to load .30-06. But unless you fix up the above-mentioned TRIPLE disc setup, it's probably not ideal.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

I use the LCT with the Pro Auto Disk double disk system. Depending on the powder, 50 grains +/- is about max capacity. This still works out fine for me as I use the Auto Disk to drop a charge in the vicinity, but smaller than, the desired weight. I then trickle the charge up to the desired weight.
For rifle I use the LCT as a single stage but switching dies is a 2 second manual turn of the turret.
My system works well for me. I hope you find a set up that works well for you.

Dan

 

[stavman11]

30-06 uses a LOT of powder


I think a Single stage would be best... or at least hand Charge the Loads

Not like ya shoot 100 2x a month.... or do ya

Dont load for my 30-06.... just dont shoot it enough... and a Deer is Gunna fall into the 2-3" window i am Sighted Into anyways

 

[bhhacker]

I have been using a friends single stage press for my reloading, and was looking into seeing if it was smarter for me to invest in a turret or go for the lee single stage. Id be reloading 7.62x39, 30-06, and probably 10mm. Judging from what you guys have said i might just go ahead and grab a single stage.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, it's not the press that's the problem, it's the powder measure. The Auto-Disk is not meant for large rifle cases even with the double disk kit. You can buy the rifle charging die and a Lee Perfect Powder Measure and mount that on the turret press or do as I do, charge the cases off the press. I remove the auto-index rod and use my turret press as a single stage when loading rifle cartridges. I prime and charge the cases off the press.

 

[tcanthonyii]

I load 270 on mine, but I use it in a single stage mode. I like to single stage my rifle rounds. Well kind of. I re-size on one stage then off press trim, prime and charge. Then I seat the bullet, manually turn the turret and crimp.

The disk measure is great but doesn't allow for a ton of adjustment like a larger powder measure does. I happen to use a Lee PPM.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I have been using a friends single stage press for my reloading, and was looking into seeing if it was smarter for me to invest in a turret or go for the lee single stage. Id be reloading 7.62x39, 30-06, and probably 10mm. Judging from what you guys have said i might just go ahead and grab a single stage.

Before you do that, evaluate what your quantity needs are.

The Turret can do EVERYTHING a single stage can do, and exactly the same way. PLUS it can switch to continuous (as opposed to batch, which is the only mode single stage presses are able to do).

If you do more that a couple hundred 10mm or 7.62x39 at a sitting, the autoindexing of the Lee turret is worth hving.

If you value (some do and some don't there is disagreement over the truth of the assumptions underlying the choices) the tiny bit of extra stiffness of a really robust single stage press (Redding Big Boss, RCBS Rockchucker, Lee Classic Cast) or very well-aligned press (Forster Co-Ax), you just might be satisfied with a single stage.

Having said that, I guess you will not be unhappy if you start with either and add the other later. Almost every serious loader I know has a single stage in their stable, no matter what other presses they have. Some just see more use than others.

Long story short: Low volume, carefully crafted, weigh every charge, separate cases by headstamp and weight and looking for every fraction of a minute of angle--- single stage of the greatest quality you can find. This is for the 1,000 yard competition fanatics and a few long-distance prairie dog shooters.

For "normal" shooters and normal (hunting) accuracy, the Lee Classic Turret will do just fine for both your rifle and your handgun needs, and will be better for larger quantities than a single stage, if you shoot that much.

I was able to do 50 rounds per hour on a single stage in batch mode. With the same effort, I was able to do 100 rounds in 47 minutes on my Lee Classic Turret in continuous mode.

So, what kind of quantities do you expect to do with the 10mm (or the 7.62x39 if it will be your high-volume caliber) and what kind of accuracy are you hoping to achieve (and what efforts are you willing to expend to achieve it) with your rifle rounds? The answers to these questions (in my mind) will determine your best choice.

If your Lee Single Stage thinking is the Challenger, I would definitely take a long, hard look at the Classic Cast Single Stage. If your turret thinking tends toward the Deluxe, I would definitely switch to the Classic Turret. Unless your budget has you so constrained that these choices are out of the question.

Lost Sheep

p.s. The Auto-Disk is not a necessity. The $4 powder funnel slips right into the powder charging die just fine. Dump powder from any powder measure (e.g. Lee Perfect or Harrell or QM or right from a scale) into a dish/cup and just pour into the funnel - quicker than you might think)