Which turret kit should I get from Cabelas?

[actionflies]

I'm new to reloading and thinking about getting one of these kit from cabelas. Please help me decide.
Lyman Ultimate Reloading Kits $309.99


Or Lee Classic Turret Press Reloading Kit $149.99

 

[Afy]

Imho... Rcbs

 

[cdrt]

Can't give you an opinion on either since I've never used them, but just to let you know, MidwayUSA (www.midwayusa.com) is having a sale this month on all their Lee stuff. They have the 4 hole turret press deluxe reloading kit on sale for $102.99, product # 622-290.
You might want to check it out.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

 

[Zippy06]

Lee.
Most stuff at Midway is cheaper.
Unless, you live next to Cabela's. And use their credit card. To get free stuff, later.

 

[benedict1]

Kempf's has a better deal--

Get the Lee, but get it at Kempf's Gun Shop--it includes the 4-die Deluxe Carbide pistol dies, all for $144.95.

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/kits/KempfKit.html

For $9.95 I would upgrade it to the Pro Auto Disk, a more reliable version of the original auto disk. That upgrade is noted at the link above.

The Classic Turret is cast iron and steel and will last a lifetime. You can also change calibers very quickly and a kit for another caliber at Kempf's which includes the dies and the turret is only $38.95.

 

[ECLIPSE45ACP]

+1 On the classic turret, great press. Get the pro auto disk with adjustable charge bar. I can load 200 rds an hour of 45 ACP.

 

[testar77]

Press

Or you could just get a Dillon

 

[RustyFN]

I agree with Benedict1 about Kempf's having the best deal. I would go with the Lee. I own a Lee Classic and know it is an awesome press. The Lyman looks like a nice press also but I like the auto index feature of the Lee Classic. Owning the Lee I don't see how a different turret press could be made any better, so why spend the extra money.
Rusty

 

[benedict1]

Press-
Or you could just get a Dillon

Oh? Which auto-indexing turret press do they sell for $85,or in a kit with everything you need to load one caliber for $144.95? And it comes with a 2 year unconditional warranty and a lifetime limited warranty--read that lasat part as "if something major breaks they're gonna' replace it."--

Oh, I forgot--it's cast iron and steel construction. Which Dillon press has a cast iron frame?--I must have missed something.

 

[st_albert]

I have both the Lyman T-Mag and the Lee Classic. They're both plenty solid, and get the job done. I've had the T-mag for a couple of years, and just got the Lee this month. Had I gotten them in reverse order, I might never have gotten the Lyman. I tend to use the Lyman for rifle calibers, since it's sturdier but slower; and the Lee for pistol calibers I shoot a lot of. It's surprising how much faster the Lee is, due to the automatic powder feeder and the auto-indexing of the turret.

Also, the primer feeder on the Lyman simply does not work. I've long since given up on it, and use an RCBS hand primer which is faster, and more precise.

I've not made up my mind on the Lee Safety primer feed system. It works ten times better than the Lyman did, but it's certainly not perfect, especially with Winchester primers for some reason. In the end, I may go to batch sizing / priming cases 100 at a time even for use on the Lee.

Just my 2 cents,
Albert

 

[benedict1]

Don't be tentative with the Safety Prime. Give the trigger a good push and work it in and let it move down to deposit the primer. Here is a video I made to help people learn how to use it--

http://tinyurl.com/lxapv

Do you have it installed correctly? If the washer is not in the right place you can get erratic behavior. Check this article and look at the pix of how to set it up--

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp

It should deliver a primer to the lever arm everytime, no exceptions, if it's set up right.

Don't go to batch priming--you defeat the very reason you have the Safety Prime.
Let me know how it works after you look at the things I've suggested.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Another vote for the Lee kit from Kempf's gun shop. I had the Lyman, I own the Lee. There's no comparison, the Lee wins hands down. The Lyman to me is an obselete product.

Regards,

Dave

 

[st_albert]

Thanks, Benedict, for the tips. I did find that it helps to use my right thumb to push the dispenser over the lever-prime ram, while holding the back "wing" of the lever prime down with my left index finger. Otherwise, the dispenser sometimes pushes the ram forward and I have to chase it. This usually prevents proper alignment. When I do it right, I get the primer to feed properly at least 95% of the time, and the other times all it takes is a second try. (Edited to add: I did make a minor adjustment in the alignment of the safety prime arm after watching your video. I think it will help with the problem of pushing the lever prime ram out of the way as well. We'll see.)

Except with Winchester WSP primers. In that case, I think the primers are hanging up inside the feed tube or at the end of the dispenser. In one case I had to poke the primer free with a pencil. I've had this problem with WSP primers and various other feed systems as well, and I generally avoid them when possible.

So I think it's a question of my learning, on the one hand, and avoiding Winchester primers on the other hand. But these days, I have to take what I can get, primer-wise.

And yes, I do feel a bit silly sitting there short-stroking the press past the sizing die when using pre-primed cases!

Albert

 

[ECLIPSE45ACP]

The safety prime system does work, as benedict said if aligned right. I have had great success with Lee products, and will contiue to use them exclusively. They cost less and work great, why spend hudreds of dollars more on the green and blue stuff???

 

[RustyFN]

Albert, I had my safety prime set up wrong. I was happy with it but it was erratic like you say. I made a few adjustments that Benedict1 is talking about and it has been flawless. I use CCI and Win primers.
Rusty

 

[cracked butt]

I got a Lee classic turret about 2 months ago and love it. I used to consider reloading a necessary evil, but with the turret press its kind of fun.
Its a bit quirky (though less quirky than a lot of Lee stuff), but one you get the quirks figured out it runs great.

 

[benedict1]

What's quirky about it? Unless there is a faulty part, if it's set up properly it will operate as designed.

Most often people set up the Safety Prime wrong--they put the metal washer in the wrong place when they install it. They also don't operate the trigger properly--operate the trigger with a firm, positive movement.

If the indexing is off, it can be adjusted in a few minutes.

I would be happy to help you cure whatever is quirky--just ask.

 

[cracked butt]

What's quirky about it?

If the indexing is off, it can be adjusted in a few minutes.

You nailed it.

The first time my index was off, I spend about 10 minutes trying to figure out how to make it right. Its really easy once you know how.

 

[cracked butt]

The one other problem I have is that the turrets are very small and its difficult if even possible to use the locking screws on non-Lee locking rings. I simply just did away with the locking screws on my rcbs dies altogether when mounting them on a turret. I'll probably replace them with Lee locking rings anyhow as I feel these are superior rings for a turret press.

 

[SSN Vet]

I had to drill out the hole in the plastic mounting bracket a size over to get my Safety Prime to line up with the primer arm.

I still manage to drop a primer on the floor every 50 cases or so, so I use my left hand to hold the Safety Prime all the way forward over the cup and then push the "trigger" with my right thumb. It works just fine this way, but I really should spend some time and attempt to line it up better.

As for the WSP primers.....I get better results if I keep ~50 or more primers in the Safety Prime tray.

I get through the entire re-loading process without touching a primer. No lead on me Mates.

 

[benedict1]

I had to drill out the hole in the plastic mounting bracket a size over to get my Safety Prime to line up with the primer arm.

Why?? Mine lines up straight on,or at any angle that is convenient--depending upon how the trigger is pushed you can actually seat the primers from slightly off perfect alignment.

How have you got the metal washer placed on top of the bracket? There is a wrong way--you may have it backwards. The directions here are very good--perhaps you have already looked at them, but if not--

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp

I'm not being critical--just more than a little curious. I have helped a number of people get going with the Safety Prime and it is usually wrong washer placement and too timid operation of the trigger--it needs to be pushed firmly. This little video demonstrates that--

http://tinyurl.com/lxapv

Please let us know if any of this is relevant. Again, not critical, but very curious.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

SSnVet,

Listen to benedict1. He's right in it does need to be properly aligned and it sounds like yours may be a bit off still. Were I you, I'd make the effort to try and tweak it in, since it's basically a "one time and forget" adjustment.

Regards,

Dave

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"The one other problem I have is that the turrets are very small and its difficult if even possible to use the locking screws on non-Lee locking rings. I simply just did away with the locking screws on my rcbs dies altogether when mounting them on a turret. I'll probably replace them with Lee locking rings anyhow as I feel these are superior rings for a turret press."

Before you buy the Lee rings, here's a trick:

Look at how much you would have to turn the lock ring in order to get to the locking screw. Since once a die is adjusted into a turret, most times you don't have to adjust it again, take a little extra time and back that die out, then remove the lock ring and screw it back on with that lock ring "moved' enough so when it's screwed down, you can access the locking nut. Takes a little more time and effort and you may even have to get a magic marker to mark where you started, but it's worth it.

Also, RCBS sells a tool you can use on Lee lock rings to tighten them down further so they don't slip if one needs. I use this tool with the Lee rings when I use my Hornady case actived powder drop base and a Uniflow on my Lee Classic Turret.

Regards,

Dave

 

[rmurfster]

Don't buy the Lyman Press!

I have the Lyman TMAG-II press. Here are 2 gripes;
1. The Primer Arm doesn't work. It drops primers when I turn the turret and when I try to use it. I put the primers on myself.
2. I purchased an extra *Quick-Release* Turret because I have 4 calibers I reload. Talk about bad design! The Turret Arm to change the "Quick-Release" turret is blocked by the Dies :banghead: Whoever the engineer was that designed that needs to be taken out back and horse-whipped

 

[SSN Vet]

washer is installed correctly, but I couldn't get the Safety Prime to line up with the lever. It was far enough off that the Safety Prime wouldn't "pop" onto the lever cup.

I actually got the tip about drilling the hole out a size over off a post somewhere, and once I did this it improved the allignment.

I'll re-check the set up tonight using the photo's in the previously posted links and play arround with it tonight. If I learn anything of note I'll try to post with some pictures.

My best guesses are....

1. I'm all screwed up (most likely)
2. either the injection molded bracket or the neck on my small Safety Prime somehow got a slight flex in them prior to the plastic fully 'curing'.
3. the slot for the primer arm is somehow misalligned a fraction of a degree.

I like my Lee set up A LOT. And this was such an easy "tweek" I didn't think it was a big deal at all. But it's definitely worth investigating.

Once I get in "the groove" it stinks to have to break out the flash light and scrounge around on the floor for a dropped primer.