turret presses

[James Thomson]

I've been reloading for 40 years and have owned a ton of presses. I started out with a Lyman 310 tool that was so labor intensive and slow it wasn't hardly worth it. I bought a RCBS Rock Chucker and still have a beef up version of it in the Big MAX. You can't go wrong with a single stage even if you get progressives later. I still use it for depriming and loading rifle. I got a Dillon 550 I use for .223 as well as 44 Mag. I recently purchased the Dillon 650 and I have it set up for 9MM. You will grow as you go along. I love my Dillons for progressives. Dillon has a no BS warranty for life and I know others have similar warranties but I've seen Dillon come through every time. One thing, electronics like digital scales usually carry a one or two year warranty and I think that's standard across the industry.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Cajun 48...Do not use a scale to check loaded rounds to see if you have the correct amount of powder in them...Each component will not weigh the same and the difference can give you a bad or false indication...

This is a great hab...hobby. Enjoy...

 

[bobotech]

Actually I have Lyman T-Mag that a friend gave me, which has been fine. But I look at the Hornaday LnL Classic with envy - to my mind, if the LnL works the way it's been advertised, it looks like a more elegant solution to the "change dies quickly" problem than a turret.

The turret, at least the one I have, just creates a system that allows me to leave a bunch of dies pre-adjusted, and to switch between the dies pretty quickly.

Doesn't LnL give me the same benefit with a whole lot less mechanism?

By the way, that's a question, not an argument

I am not quite sure how the LnL works, but can't you adjust your dies once, and leave them in some bushing that slips in and out of the press?

It seems as though - if I understand the LnL - slipping the bushings in and out of the LnL press is logically the equivalent of turning the turret?

If that's true, then the turret substitutes a big hunk of moving cast iron for the bushing. While the concern is largely theoretical, since that big hunk of cast iron has to be able to spin, then you've introduced an axle that can flex a little, etc. Looks like more moving parts to me.

Does a turret have any advantage over an LnL Classic?

Mike

Purely convenience. I love my lock and load bushings. I won't go back to anything else. That is one of the reasons why I don't get a turrent. I just love being able to just unlock and lock in a die without the annoyance of screwing it all the way in our out. So quick to change dies compared to any other method.

I would like a turrent with the same die bushings so that I could still get the benefits of turrents without having to unscrew the lock bushing off of my dies.

In a nutshell, a turrent with lock and load bushings would be the best of all the worlds short of progressive. For the record, I have a Lock and Load AP progressive that I mainly use, but I like to use my single stage for big loads and stuff that I don't shoot a billion of.

 

[RustyFN]

Cajun 48...Do not use a scale to check loaded rounds to see if you have the correct amount of powder in them...Each component will not weigh the same and the difference can give you a bad or false indication...

I agree with Bushmaster. Weighing loaded rounds does not work, especially for pistol ammo.
Rusty

 

[cajun 48]

for rusty and bushmaster. Wasn't going to weigh "loaded" rounds. What I ment was to measure after dropping the charge and before bellmouth/seat the bullet. If I use the same brand cases wouldn't that be as accurate as pouring the powder charge on the scale? Or am I miss reading everallm's comment? ajb

 

[The Bushmaster]

cajun 48...Go to your loading bench and weigh a bunch of cases with the same head stamp. Even those from the same box will be +/- .5 to 2.0 grains of center...Which will give you as much as 4 grains difference or more...Answer? No...

 

[Eagle103]

Get a book like the ABC's of Reloading along with Speer's 14 or Lyman's 48 or 49 and read everything before you start. Do not come up with your own ideas how things should be done. That's a sure way to get into trouble. You need to take this hobby seriously. I don't mean to sound condescending. It's just a learning curve that we all go through that isn't very forgiving to mistakes.

I have a Lee Classic Turret and it's worked very well. You could start out using it single stage using the batch method and work into auto indexing later. I like the kit from Kempf's.
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
You'll also need a scale. I have the RCBS (Ohaus) 505 and it has worked great. The reviews on Lee's "Safety Scale" are mixed. The "adjustable charge bar" is something I would also recommend. Have fun and be safe.

 

[ranger335v]

"I am not quite sure how the LnL works, but can't you adjust your dies once, and leave them in some bushing that slips in and out of the press?"

Since every die on the market already has a locking adjustment ring, all the LnL, etc., inserts can do is inject another piece of metal into an already rediculously simple die changing system.

If you batch load with a turret, as you should, the lost time spent changing dies by screwing them in and out vs. twisting a turret two or three steps is awfully small, even if the turret should be instantaneous. And it isn't.

I rarely use my turret anymore, it offers nothing to a day of loading.

 

[FlyinBryan]

I agree with Bushmaster. Weighing loaded rounds does not work, especially for pistol ammo.
Rusty

and i agree with both of them. the only way to check your powder charge is to weigh ONLY the powder.

variations from case to case, even from the same mfgr, will get you in trouble. like bushmaster said, easily a 4g swing.

 

[realtordoug]

Lee Classic Turret

+1 for Kempfs...After reading through these threads, ordered the Lee Classic Turret Kit - kempfgunshop.com - good price and superfast shipping - also 1000 .38 SWC - no turning back now! (waiting on powder and primers from Grafs)...Until they arrive I'll also be absorbing as much info as possible.

 

[RustyFN]

I have been loading on a classic turret for two years. I use the pro auto disk measure. I have been using fine powders like Titegroup, W748 and H335 and once the measure is set for the charge I want it will throw that charge all day with no variation. There really isn't a lot of powder measuring required. It's good to check the drop once in a while but you won't be measuring powder that much.
Rusty

 

[cajun 48]

bushmaster, rusty and eagle tks for looking out for the reloading newbee. if more forums had "them what care types" we'd all be better off. gee dad (eagle) this old fart understands that firm caring and concern never crosses the line to condisending (sp). TKS bunches! ajb

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I own a Hornady LnL. I also own a Lee Classic Turret Press. I love both of them, for different reasons and use both, for different cartridges and loads.

My advise to anyone using the Lee Classic Turret is to use it with a Pro Auto Disk, an auto disk riser and a Lee Safety Prime setup. Additionally, if you later decide to use extruded powders that don't load well with the Pro Auto Disk, you can pick up a Hornady LnL Case activated powder drop and an RCBS Uniflow for the extruded powder handling.

These setups have worked very well for me and have produced very accurate ammo.

Regards,

Dave