The Turret Step

Status
Not open for further replies.
berettaprofessor

berettaprofessor

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
3,424
Location
Kansas
I'm near my one-year anniversary of reloading and yesterday took the plunge and bought a Lee Turret Press and Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, came home, set it up, and loaded 50 9mm cartridges starting from sized/primed cases.

Wow.:D What took me so long? My loading time for those primed cases dropped by 2/3rds, even with several stops to check powder weight and OAL. And the Lee Pro-Auto Disk Powder Measure was spectacular with 700X; it was 3.7 grains (with the 0.57 cavity) right on the money every time I measured. Can't wait to try it on Trail Boss and 45 ACP loads.

For other newbys, if you've been thinking about this move, DO IT NOW! Previously, I didn't quite understand how a turret worked. I thought it would decrease the number of times you pull the lever and would perform different stages on different cases at each pull like a "manual" progressive. Instead, turrets load a single cartridge in stages before going to the next cartridge. That, in fact, is comforting because I was worried about how to know if the powder was dropping correctly each time and it turns out you can see the powder in the case every time as you set the bullet in place.

Next, I've got to get a Lee Auto-prime and do the full monty with my turret. Anyone have any tips or tricks that I need to know about the auto-prime?

Also, for those who use the Auto-Disk, what powders measure well? What have you had trouble with?
 
Fine grained powders work the best but this only really becomes an issue with low charge weights and very bulky powders.

Did I read correctly that you loading 45acp with Trail Boss? If that's the case, there are much better powder options out there if you can find them.

Congrats on the new turret. I loved mine and still have it. Most my loading happens on the progressive now but I still like having the turret around.
 
I've been loading for a little over a year with the same setup. W231 and H335 both work well in the powder measure. I have the adjustable charge bar and like the way it works.
The auto prime is pretty good just get it lined up good and make a full deliberate press on the arm that pushes the primer out and it will work most of the time. Sometimes it will skip the primer and you have to do it a second time but over all work ok. A few will get in sideways and get drug out and fall on the floor if you get in to big of a hurry. Probably operator error on my part.
 
I went from a single stage, to a Lee turret, to a progressive, in short order. It was good experience though, and I do not regret starting with a single stage.
 
Did I read correctly that you loading 45acp with Trail Boss? If that's the case, there are much better powder options out there if you can find them.
Click to expand...

Probably true, Mad Chemist, but 4.0 grains of Trail Boss behind 230 plated LRN and I've got a mouse-round that shoots one hole offhand at 7-10 yards. I've also loaded with 7625 and 700X but actually prefer the mouseload for target practice.

Thanks for the link Rule3

Walkalong, I'm sure I'll go there someday, but my progressive will have to wait till I shoot more; can't shoot enough to make it worthwhile right now. And I'm still in the reloading baby steps here.
 
berettaprofessor said:
I'm near my one-year anniversary of reloading and yesterday took the plunge and bought a Lee Turret Press and Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, came home, set it up, and loaded 50 9mm cartridges starting from sized/primed cases.

Wow.:D What took me so long? My loading time for those primed cases dropped by 2/3rds, even with several stops to check powder weight and OAL. And the Lee Pro-Auto Disk Powder Measure was spectacular with 700X; it was 3.7 grains (with the 0.57 cavity) right on the money every time I measured. Can't wait to try it on Trail Boss and 45 ACP loads.

For other newbys, if you've been thinking about this move, DO IT NOW! Previously, I didn't quite understand how a turret worked. I thought it would decrease the number of times you pull the lever and would perform different stages on different cases at each pull like a "manual" progressive. Instead, turrets load a single cartridge in stages before going to the next cartridge. That, in fact, is comforting because I was worried about how to know if the powder was dropping correctly each time and it turns out you can see the powder in the case every time as you set the bullet in place.

Next, I've got to get a Lee Auto-prime and do the full monty with my turret. Anyone have any tips or tricks that I need to know about the auto-prime?

Also, for those who use the Auto-Disk, what powders measure well? What have you had trouble with?
Click to expand...
I made the same discovery. Yep, first I bought a Lee hand press. Then a Classic Breech lock single stage. Then the Classic turret press. Should have bought the turret to start. Like you, I like to have cleaned sized and primed brass ready to go. I use the classic Breech Lock to do the size and reprime. You can just pull the rod and use the Turret in a single stage fashion...oh well, cant have too many presses. Next, I will likely get a dillon...I have resisted for a long time, but I think I am comfortable enough with the process to jump that far...
 
I use a lee turret on .38 spl. I tossed the primer system and place the primer in the cup by hand. Faster and easier.
 
Used the Lee turret press for years and when the new Classic came along I sold both my turret presses and ordered theClassic use mainly for 223/5.56 now. But its a great press and the priming and powder drop both work very well. Enjoy
 
With the safety prime, you might have to add a washer under it to get it the right height to seat primers. After I did this it runs flawless.

green dot is the only one I can't get accurate enough to my liking in the auto disc
 
To those not familiar, the Lee Turret and the Lee Classic Turret are the only presses that will do what everyone above is talking about.
With the Safety Prime, the Pro Auto Disk, and the auto advance installed it will really hum along.
 
1911Teacher said:
I use a lee turret on .38 spl. I tossed the primer system and place the primer in the cup by hand. Faster and easier.
Click to expand...

I use the safety prime system, didn't add washers or modify anything. It works first time, every time and is much faster than just about any other method. BUT, you do have to develop a certain technique and feel
 
Turret press from Lee works great for me. I fashioned a cut out and a little cardboard box that catches the primers, and it is just wonderful.
 
docsleepy said:
Turret press from Lee works great for me. I fashioned a cut out and a little cardboard box that catches the primers, and it is just wonderful.
Click to expand...
The Deluxe Turret needs assistance (from the cardboard box) to handle spent primers. The Classic Turret drops them down the center of the ram through a plastic tube into a bucket.

Lost Sheep
 
Thanks for sharing. Good jub!

berettaprofessor said:
I'm near my one-year anniversary of reloading and yesterday took the plunge and bought a Lee Turret Press and Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, came home, set it up, and loaded 50 9mm cartridges starting from sized/primed cases.

Wow.:D What took me so long? My loading time for those primed cases dropped by 2/3rds, even with several stops to check powder weight and OAL. And the Lee Pro-Auto Disk Powder Measure was spectacular with 700X; it was 3.7 grains (with the 0.57 cavity) right on the money every time I measured. Can't wait to try it on Trail Boss and 45 ACP loads.

For other newbys, if you've been thinking about this move, DO IT NOW! Previously, I didn't quite understand how a turret worked. I thought it would decrease the number of times you pull the lever and would perform different stages on different cases at each pull like a "manual" progressive. Instead, turrets load a single cartridge in stages before going to the next cartridge. That, in fact, is comforting because I was worried about how to know if the powder was dropping correctly each time and it turns out you can see the powder in the case every time as you set the bullet in place.

Next, I've got to get a Lee Auto-prime and do the full monty with my turret. Anyone have any tips or tricks that I need to know about the auto-prime?

Also, for those who use the Auto-Disk, what powders measure well? What have you had trouble with?
Click to expand...
Unless you mean the Lee Safety Prime instead of the Lee Auto-Prime, I don't see how ou can call it "the Full Monty".

To me, the Full Monty means starting from a fired, cleaned case and ending with a ready-to-shoot cartridge. Size, deprime, reprime, bell, charge, seat and crimp all continuously.

The auto-prime would require you remove the case from the press, prime it and re-insert, which interrupts the process and makes it less than the full Monty.

The safety prime allows priming on press and will make another 15%-20% difference in your processing time because handling the case is made much less.

Please pardon me for my editing your thoughts. This thread will be around for a while and others may read your post the same way I did.

Lost Sheep

p.s. I feel the same way you do about progressive presses. Monitoring multiple simultaneous operations made me nervous. I went from single stage to progressives and finally decided to completely repopulate my bench with the best money could buy. I kept my RCBS Scale and almost everything else is built around the Lee Classic Turret.

My first time out, I loaded 100 cases, start to finish from fired cases to boxed and labeled shootable ammo in 47 minutes and that included filling (and keeping filled) powder, primers and my bowl of cases.
 
I've had a Lyman Spar-T six hole turret press for forty years now. I usually have it set up with one 3-die pistol set and one 2-die rifle set, plus a universal decapper for crimped primers.

I prefer to prime with a Lee Autoprime, so I size and decap a bunch of cases, then sit in front of the TV and prime them. I figure all told, I can load around 150 rounds an hour.
 
I've had the LCT for a few years now. prime on the press, and it continues to be a perfect match to my realistic ammo needs, budget and desire for a fun passtime hobby.
 
Yeah, Lost Sheep, thanks, it was the Safety Prime that I meant to ask about. Thanks for the help and thoughts. I just ordered one.
 
Be careful. I have the same setup and powder measure and found that any charge weight under 4.5 grains with 700xis extremely unpredictable. Usually it would vary by about half a grain each charge, but about 10% of the time I would get a .5-1 grain charge when I was intending to throw 4 grains.

It may work for you, but whenever I try anything under 4.5 grain in 700x, 10% of the cases get a fraction of a grain.
 
I've used my LCT and pro auto disk with Accurate #2, Unique, and Red Dot-- all with consistent results after I got my loads dialed in. The key seems to be pulling the press handle with the same repeatable motion each time. I noticed I got better with practice (more loading).
 
The auto prime on the turret is a very nice setup, I really like mine.

It sounds like you are doing the same dance I did. First a lee single stage. Then it was a lee turret and recently a Pro1000. I will NEVER get rid of my turret though.
 
Splatter gun: That perfect powder adapter link just made my day!!! Will be ordering one ASAP to improve my LCT at least for pistol reloading. Thanks!!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

F
  • Locked
Lee Turret Press for Beginners?
Replies
3
Views
2K
RustyFN
R
B
  • Locked
Lee Classic Turret And Uniflow
Replies
8
Views
1K
creekwalker
C
ClemBert
  • Locked
CONFUSED: Lee PRO vs Non-pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure
Replies
24
Views
5K
dickttx
D
L
  • Locked
Powder measure for rifle reloading...
Replies
1
Views
535
HSMITH
H
S
  • Locked
want to reload with a lee classic turret, help!
Replies
10
Views
1K
BAT1
B
Back
Top