Rounds per hour with a Turret
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Mike Kerr
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Lee Turret with Auto Index- Realistic rate.
Hi Brett,
This is my first post here but I am a long time "lurker".
Realistic rate per hour for Lee Turret with Auto Index is about 80-100 rounds per hour for pistol caliber. Rifle is about 60-70. You can do 100 to 140 rounds per hour for a while but the auto index can get out of time pretty easily which slows you down and you have to provide a hand assist for correct die position. Then you stop and adjust the plastic index ratchet Its an easy fix but it WILL require adjustment frequently.
When I first got mine about 6 years ago I did some time tests and found it was almost as fast when I took the auto index off and turned the turret by hand- with a lot less frustration. That way you spend your time loading and not adjusting. Remember the primer arm must be loaded by hand -one at a time so the entire process is dependent on how fast you can pick up one primer put it in the cup and then begin your steps for that round.
Lee's catalogue indicates you can load a box of 50 in 10 minutes with the auto index feature which would be 300 rounds an hour. This is not realistic at all IMHO. However, the basic turret press is well worth its cost since it is simple, reliable, and easy to make changes on.
Regards,
Mike
Hi Brett,
This is my first post here but I am a long time "lurker".
Realistic rate per hour for Lee Turret with Auto Index is about 80-100 rounds per hour for pistol caliber. Rifle is about 60-70. You can do 100 to 140 rounds per hour for a while but the auto index can get out of time pretty easily which slows you down and you have to provide a hand assist for correct die position. Then you stop and adjust the plastic index ratchet Its an easy fix but it WILL require adjustment frequently.
When I first got mine about 6 years ago I did some time tests and found it was almost as fast when I took the auto index off and turned the turret by hand- with a lot less frustration. That way you spend your time loading and not adjusting. Remember the primer arm must be loaded by hand -one at a time so the entire process is dependent on how fast you can pick up one primer put it in the cup and then begin your steps for that round.
Lee's catalogue indicates you can load a box of 50 in 10 minutes with the auto index feature which would be 300 rounds an hour. This is not realistic at all IMHO. However, the basic turret press is well worth its cost since it is simple, reliable, and easy to make changes on.
Regards,
Mike
WhoKnowsWho
Member
I much prefer to prime my brass with the hand primer. It also gives me plenty of time to inspect it while I am doing that. I haven't kept track of loading speed, but it seems pretty fast to me! Haven't had a problem with the auto-index in 600+ rounds.
Slow,
You might find some useful info in this article: http://www.realguns.com/archives/047.htm
Good Luck...
Joe
You might find some useful info in this article: http://www.realguns.com/archives/047.htm
Good Luck...
Joe
oldfart
Member
I cheat a bit wwhen I use my turret press. I tumble the brass then decap and neck-size. I use a hand priming tool and get the cases all ready to go. Then I simply drop the powder into the case and seat the bullet in the press. While I've never actually timed the period needed to finish 100 rounds, it seems like I can turn out about a hundred an hour. I guess I'll just have to turn on a timer to see how long it does take.
Desert Eagle
member
I can do 2 rounds a minute and not break a sweat and I regularly do that (actually with .38's or .357's closer to 3 rounds per minute) with straight walled pistol rounds and that's 120 rounds an hour easy. I also prime mine when I load at the same time to keep from having to handle the rounds the extra times that it takes to use the auto primer. Lot of people don't count the time it takes to prime their cases in their loading time. I also keep all my other dies on extra turret plates already adjusted (6 sets) with extra Lee Auto Disks Powder Measures already adjusted and mounted to the powder thru die. And all I have to do to change caliber's is remove the turret that I'm reloading on and replace it with another turret plate with the dies and auto disk already mounted and adjusted, add powder and start reloading another caliber in less than a minute.
DE
DE
LAH
Member
My first press was a Lyman All American Turret. It's a four holer so when loading you go round and round. There's no reason to back up or go past a station or two you're not using. I can load 150 rounds per hour as long as I can hold out.
Thirties
Member
I've never spent a solid hour reloading . . . and I use my turret press as a single stage in that I batch process each station.
In any case, I spend about thirty minutes or less to completely size, bell, prime, load, and crimp 50 rounds, not counting time spent in the vibrator.
Adjusting the dies for a different bullet, adjusting the powder measure for a different type or amount, etc. That should also be included in the total time to reload.
One good thing about my Redding T-7 is with its seven stations (wish it had eight), I can have a three die set and a four die set all screwed in and ready.
Right now I have the 3-die Nagant revolver set, and the 4-die .32mag revolver set. Since my Nagant revolver set is the only 3-die set I own, they stay on the press, and I swap the other 4-die sets as I need them.
In any case, I spend about thirty minutes or less to completely size, bell, prime, load, and crimp 50 rounds, not counting time spent in the vibrator.
Adjusting the dies for a different bullet, adjusting the powder measure for a different type or amount, etc. That should also be included in the total time to reload.
One good thing about my Redding T-7 is with its seven stations (wish it had eight), I can have a three die set and a four die set all screwed in and ready.
Right now I have the 3-die Nagant revolver set, and the 4-die .32mag revolver set. Since my Nagant revolver set is the only 3-die set I own, they stay on the press, and I swap the other 4-die sets as I need them.
Mike Kerr
Member
Quote from Thirties ________________________________________________________
" I've never spent a solid hour reloading . . . and I use my turret press as a single stage in that I batch process each station.
In any case, I spend about thirty minutes or less to completely size, bell, prime, load, and crimp 50 rounds, not counting time spent in the vibrator.
Adjusting the dies for a different bullet, adjusting the powder measure for a different type or amount, etc. That should also be included in the total time to reload. "
_________________________________________________________
A turret is a great way to turn out short runs of ammo at a speed which is comfortable to you. I agree that all the time spent producing the rounds should count in the total time whether its additional time in front of the TV with a hand primer or "down time for a progressive that is not doing what it is supposed to" .
Regards,
" I've never spent a solid hour reloading . . . and I use my turret press as a single stage in that I batch process each station.
In any case, I spend about thirty minutes or less to completely size, bell, prime, load, and crimp 50 rounds, not counting time spent in the vibrator.
Adjusting the dies for a different bullet, adjusting the powder measure for a different type or amount, etc. That should also be included in the total time to reload. "
_________________________________________________________
A turret is a great way to turn out short runs of ammo at a speed which is comfortable to you. I agree that all the time spent producing the rounds should count in the total time whether its additional time in front of the TV with a hand primer or "down time for a progressive that is not doing what it is supposed to" .
Regards,
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