Thoughts on Lee Classic Turret Press?

[Pete D.]

I have to ask, if the Bolded above is your feeling, why would you get a non-auto advancing progressive press?

Yes. I am curious about that myself. Dillon 550B = semi-progressive (manual advance). What I like about the Dillon (and similar presses) is that I get a loaded cartridge every time I pull the handle even if I do have to advance the shellplate by hand.

 

[rondog]

Whoa - the 550B doesn't advance automatically? You have to do it manually every time? I did not know that!!!

 

[Woolecox]

The inserts will not break or wallow out then the index rod is adjusted properly.

A smooth, consistent stroke is what I have on my LCT. A jerky stroke is again an out-of-adjustment index rod.

All the other complaints listed are not problems with the LCT press, but with accessories.

I have had zero issues loading on m LCT . I recommend it highly.

I am glad you have had a good experience with the LCT setup. Many have, I did not. In my case, it was never a question of proper adjustment or user error. I used mine for over 4 seasons. I have been reloading since the mid 1980’s. It was the gear.

I have never been more pleased with a piece of gear as I was when I stepped up to the Dillon RL550B. I chose the 550 over the 650 based on recommendations form shooters in my area IDPA league. It is one of the best designed, well engineered, and most functional machines of any kind that I have owned my whole life. I shoot 300-600 rounds a month so the RL550B with the two single stage presses I own more than meet my needs.

Most of us in the group shoot enough to pay for a progressive press in a year or so. And most of us have gone the standard progression of single stage, turret, then finally progressive press for pistol rounds. My LCT, which I bought based on glowing recommendations from forums like this one, was such an exercise in frustration that by the last year I owned it, I parked it and went back to single stage. If I fell behind in round count, I would show up for a match with Winchester white box.

Also, of all the shooters that I know who have gone to the Dillon or Hornady, exactly none have said, “Gee, this thing is overbuilt, over hyped, over engineered, etc.” and then gone back to the LCT. Not a one. Just saying.

 

[Woolecox]

Whoa - the 550B doesn't advance automatically? You have to do it manually every time? I did not know that!!!

Really? Watch at the end when she gets it cranked up. I like the manual index for things like when that small primer 45 ACP case sneaks into your brass bin. Easy to fix.

https://youtu.be/k0__OViMcaA

 

[kcofohio]

At THR members' recommendation, I bought one of these magnetic base led lights. Works great. I find it a must have now. Before I would use, in low lighting, a pen light to check a charge in the casing.

http://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Mounting-Working-Gooseneck-Machine/dp/B0051RKFDE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1446724835&sr=8-3&keywords=sewing+machine+led+light+magnet+base

 

[GBExpat]

... My LCT, which I bought based on glowing recommendations from forums like this one, was such an exercise in frustration that by the last year I owned it, I parked it and went back to single stage. ...

This is the first I have ever read of someone having such an experience with the LCT. Sorry it did not work out for you.

 

[GBExpat]

At THR members' recommendation, I bought one of these magnetic base led lights. Works great. I find it a must have now. ...

Ab-so-lute-ly! I must have read that same recommendation and bought one in early May. I very quickly realized that it had become a necessity. I even have a backup unit on-hand.

 

[dragon813gt]

I have to ask, if the Bolded above is your feeling, why would you get a non-auto advancing progressive press?

The 550B is not a turret. Truthfully I bought it because the price was to good to pass up. It performs four functions at once so you get a loaded round w/ every pull of the handle. If I needed more production I would have bought a 650 or 1050.

I was talking about single stage turrets. Having seven dies set up but only being able to perform one function at a time is not a time saver in my eyes. Especially w/ lock rings where you can swap a die out in seconds.

Everyone is going to have their own opinions and I will respect that.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Really? Watch at the end when she gets it cranked up. I like the manual index for things like when that small primer 45 ACP case sneaks into your brass bin. Easy to fix.

https://youtu.be/k0__OViMcaA

That is a very good video demonstrating the 550B and is an excellent example of the difference between it and an auto indexing progressive.

I loaded on a 550B before deciding to go with a progressive that didn't require removing my right hand from the operating handle.

I didn't find the manual indexing overtly complicated, just an extra thing for the left hand to do along with placing the bullet in the case mouth...but folks considering the 550B should be aware that it is a required manual function

 

[dragon813gt]

They make a case feeder for the 550B. Only have to worry about placing a bullet and advancing it. It's not a simple piece of kit that's easy to take on and off. And you're limited to the cartridges you can feed. But it's available for those that want one.

 

[sellersm]

I wonder if those folks that have had issues with the "LCT", are referring to the older, aluminum Lee Turret? *NOT* the newer, all cast Lee Classic Cast Turret model?

The older one is horrible. The newer one is wonderful.

When I upgraded from the old Lee turret, to the new cast turret, I had the same experience as upgrading to my Dillon RL550B!

There are many reasons to purchase and use a turret press. As has been stated, a turret is NOT the same as the Dillon, or LNL AP, or any other progressive press. They are different machines, with differing purposes, their own pros & cons, etc.

 

[TruthTellers]

The only thing that is beginner or starter level about the LCT is the price. The design and durability outclasses everything out there at twice the price.
Those other turret presses like Redding and RCBS are mere shadows of this press. They are rudimentary in comparison.

Of all the turret presses that I'm aware of, which is Lyman's T-Mag, Redding's T-7, and RCBS, the Lee is the only one that can auto advance. All the others have to be rotated by hand.

I watched videos for all of them and I thought the Lyman's design was unimpressive. I didn't like the way the turret was situated on the press. I thought the Redding was a solid design, but I didn't like those turret heads being so massive. If someone reloaded a lot of different calibers, the heads would eat up space in a cabinet or on a work bench.

Also, I think $50+ for a new turret head is crazy.

I've seen a little of the RCBS and I'm sure the quality is good, but I don't think I'd enjoy using it as much as the Lee and again, the turret heads are pricey.

 

[AV8TOR]

Just curious for you folks that use a turret press, do you clean your brass and if so when?

I like to deprime and size then clean so I am thinking how that might work, just leave off the sizing die. I actually like to use my RCBS Universal Hand Primer to prime while sitting on the couch.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The guy who taught me to reload used to deprime and size on the $25 Lee C-press before loading on his turret. He used to tumble his brass before depriming.

If you deprime and size before cleaning your brass, don't your dies and press get pretty dirty from the dirty brass

 

[Pete D.]

Brass

Just curious for you folks that use a turret press, do you clean your brass and if so when?

My fired brass gets dumped into the vibratory cleaner. When it is full, then I turn it on.
After it has run for an hour, then I size and deprime it. Those operations happen on the press. Doing them separately kinda defeats the purpose of a progressive press.
When I use the LCT press, I batch load... Like I would on any single stage press.

 

[tcoz]

All of my fired brass is cleaned in a vibratory cleaner before I do anything else with it. I don't need or want the dirt and grit scratching the inside of the sizing die and I just don't like to handle dirty brass.

 

[GBExpat]

Just curious for you folks that use a turret press, do you clean your brass and if so when?

I like to deprime and size then clean so I am thinking how that might work, just leave off the sizing die ...

I run no uncleaned brass thru any resizing die. I use a universal decapping die on dirty brass prior to cleaning it (rotary/wet).

At a minimum, I would want fired brass to spend a bit of time in a vibratory case cleaner prior to running it thru a resizing die.

 

[dragon813gt]

All of my fired brass is cleaned in a vibratory cleaner before I do anything else with it. I don't need or want the dirt and grit scratching the inside of the sizing die and I just don't like to handle dirty brass.

Same here. A trip through the vibratory tumbler requires no effort on my part.

 

[AV8TOR]

Then you guys are never cleaning out your primer pocket then correct? That is why I asked.

 

[chipcom]

Just curious for you folks that use a turret press, do you clean your brass and if so when?

I like to deprime and size then clean so I am thinking how that might work, just leave off the sizing die. I actually like to use my RCBS Universal Hand Primer to prime while sitting on the couch.

I run my used brass though the tumbler first, then deprime, then run it through the tumbler again.

 

[snuffy]

Then you guys are never cleaning out your primer pocket then correct? That is why I asked.

Nope,,--NOPE!! Primer residue is of no concern, it does NOT interfere with the next primer working as it should. It bothers some people, those that wet tumble with SS pins de-cap first so the pins can clean the pockets of the primer residue. Ultra sonic cleaners also remove that carbon as well as taking care of tarnished brass.

As for the LCT IF I'm running it in auto advance mode for bottle neck rifle cases, they have to all be not-too-long, IOW not need trimming so you don't have to stop to trim. For my .223 in my AR, I know how much longer they grow after sizing so they can be run straight through the loading process. That means using the safety prime and the new auto drum measure and of course a spray lube. A simple run through a caliper is all that's required before starting.

As for getting the lube off after loading, a short run in my FA tumbler with bare con cob media get the lube off. About 10 minutes is all that's required.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Then you guys are never cleaning out your primer pocket then correct? That is why I asked.

Nope, don't even think about it...maybe it's just a handgun thing to not clean primer pockets.

If I wet tumbled, I'd consider a quick run, 15-20 minuets, in a vibratory tumbler before depriming in a universal depriming die prior to putting them in the wet tumbler

 

[GBExpat]

... If I wet tumbled, I'd consider a quick run, 15-20 minuets, in a vibratory tumbler before depriming in a universal depriming die prior to putting them in the wet tumbler

Why?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Just to knock off the dirt before exposing the primer pockets to the stainless pins

 

[GBExpat]

Just to knock off the dirt before exposing the primer pockets to the stainless pins

Sorry, but that makes no sense to me.