Which Turret Press??

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I got a classic turret about 2 years ago to load test batches before switching over to my dillon 650 for a big batch. I also had a bonanza co-ax ,(bonanza is the original company who designed the co-ax), that I had been using for rifle for years. Forster bought out the bonanza company many years ago. I recently unbolted the co-ax, I just didn't use it anymore since getting the classic turret. It's every bit as solid as the co-ax!

Now, quit calling it the classicCAST turret. The classic CAST is Lee's new single stage press. Got one of those too.
 
been using a lee turret for about 6 years, no problems, and it was old when I got it, my brother gave it to me after reloading on it for 10 years. I reload for 6 calibers and have a turret for each, so changing dies is a 15 sec. job.
 
Thank you all for the replies! I did watch some YOUTUBE videos of the Lee Classic Cast Turret and it did look good. I am not a snob at all. But some of LEE products seem to be kind of flimsy to me. But now, after all you guys telling me their classic turret is the one to get, I am going to get him one.

Dad likes his LEE dies so why not continue the product line. What have I got to lose. I can also buy him a turret for each caliber he loads with the extra savings. The auto-indexing was cool and would speed things up faster for him. He still has his 40 y/o Rock Chucker if the new LEE goes south.

I never thought I would say this, but the LEE appears the most useful..
 
Kudos to a thoughtful son.

If you have $200 budgeted, you can get a kit from Kempf's Gun Shop on line that includes

Lee Classic Turret
A set of Deluxe dies (either for handgun or rifle, your choice, whatever caliber)
Primer feeding device for both large and small primers
Pro Auto-Disk powder measure
Riser (I think) for the auto-disk, which helps it clear the primer device
a half-dozen MTM brand plastic ammo boxes

Essentially everything you need as a basic setup to start loading for one caliber, and a great deal if your Dad was thinking about picking up a new caliber or needs a new set of dies.

The only thing it lacks as a perfect setup is a scale. Since your Dad undoubtedly already has one, that is probably a good thing.

Lost Sheep
 
Handloader mag review

There was a useful review in Handloader Magazine No.222, in April 2002.

Author Brian Pearce put the following turret machines through their paces: RCBS, Lyman T-Mag II, Redding T-7, and a Dillon AT500.

Since your dad likes and trusts his 40y.o. Rockchucker, maybe he would be most comfortable using an RCBS turret. According to the review, the RCBS turret is well made and designed. It readily accepts their (optional) Uniflow Powder Measure with a case-activated linkage kit. Charging takes place when the ram is raised.

Other hilites from the Handloader review: The only problem is that "the primer catcher will make it difficult for a left-handed person (or someone who uses their right hand to handle cases) to install and remove cartridges from the shellholder."

The RCBS turret can be operated in progressive turret mode or in batch mode (mimicks a single-stage setup). In progressive mode with the linked Uniflow Powder Measure the author reloaded 186 rounds of .45 Colt in 1 hour.

I hope this helps.
 
"I never thought I would say this, but the LEE appears the most useful"

Yep, who'd have thought that a company that has been making affordable reloaders since 1958 would in 2011 be still making useful products - lol

Their gear is made stronger than it needs to be at a price point that allows anyone to join the reloading ranks. Several companies also make outstanding reloading gear for a higher price with added features. At the end of the reloading session however they ALL make safe, reliable and accurate ammo that I believe no one could tell apart from each other.

Match your realistic ammo needs with your budget and choose, it's all good. From the Lee$30 Loader to the $30,000 Camdex.
 
The RCBS turret can be operated in progressive turret mode or in batch mode (mimics a single-stage setup). In progressive mode with the linked Uniflow Powder Measure the author reloaded 186 rounds of .45 Colt in 1 hour.
I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Well, I loaded 3 rounds of 45 colt on my lee CLASSIC turret loader in 52 seconds! If my feeble math is correct, that's 207 rounds in an hour. I'd have to stop along about midway to add more primers to the safety prime, but that's only a couple of minutes lost. Since I cast my own boolits, I'm not limited there.
 
Main concern I have with the Lee Classic turret is the limit of 2 5/16 cases for the auto index.
There are a lot of cases we reload longer than that.
Anyone know why they didn't allow a longer case length?
Does it run with longer cases if the auto index feature is removed?
 
Per the Lee website FAQ section:

Rifle loading on Turret Press

The Turret Press is a great press for loading rifle cartridges. If you choose to load cases that are over 2 5/16" in length, the Auto Indexing feature of the Press must be disabled. This can be done in mere seconds by simply taking the actuator rod out of it's clamp from the top of the press. It can be re-assembled in the same time.

If your desire is to load very large cases on the Turret Press, the clamp that rotates the actuator rod which is located on the back of the ram must also be removed. This too is a simple process but takes a minute or two. It can be reassembled in the same amount of time.

The Auto Index feature was primarily designed to speed the handgun loading process and allows the press in experienced hands to load 200 handgun rounds per hour. If your desire is to load larger rifle cartridges, we recommend the purchase of the four hole press over the three hole. This is because the four hole auto indexing feature can be quickly removed and re-installed with no ill effect to the timing. With three hole auto indexing, the clamp that holds the rod must be "tweaked" to achieve proper timing.
 
OK, makes sense, but it seems like as long as they had it it wouldn't have been that much trouble to keep it operating at least up to '06 or so sized cases.
 
I started reloading 15 years ago with Lee. I have had great success with their products. When I decided to go beyond a single stage press, I bought the Redding T-7 press. I resize 30-06 and 458winmag with no problems. I don't use the primer arm though. I love the Lee hand prime tool and only use that to batch process my brass.

I give the Redding a thumbs up.
 
It is pretty easy, and I load mostly rifle with my press. I usually don't time myself I am not in any race, but I can load a box of 50 in less time it takes CD to play.
 
Lee says the Classic Turret will load as long as .308 in auto-index mode, however, I load .30/06 this way with no problem.
 
OK, makes sense, but it seems like as long as they had it it wouldn't have been that much trouble to keep it operating at least up to '06 or so sized cases.
Click to expand...

John,
I know three different guys that load 30-06 on classic turret presses in auto index mode. Hope this helps.

Well, I loaded 3 rounds of 45 colt on my lee CLASSIC turret loader in 52 seconds! If my feeble math is correct, that's 207 rounds in an hour. I'd have to stop along about midway to add more primers to the safety prime, but that's only a couple of minutes lost. Since I cast my own boolits, I'm not limited there.
Click to expand...

And I bet that's at a comfortable pace. I know I can load faster than that if I wanted to step it up but I'm happy with that pace. I also load 200 primers in the safety prime tray so I only have to load it half as many times. Small primers fit very easy large primers take up quite a bit more room but they still fit fine.
 
I love my Redding T-7 turret - its built like a tank and is unlikely to wear out - ever. The big ram and lever are solid. Just make sure you mount it well, this thing is HEAVY.

I did spring for the primer tube system, and I bought another head to accommodate switching calibers quickly. Both work really well. I can change calibers in less than a minute.

Like some have said, its more expensive, but I'm learning that buying quality saves money in the long run.

I wish I'd applied that rule consistently over the years - how many die sets do I have for .45ACP again??? Three? Why? Because each time I tried to save money. WRONG.

Buy once, buy right the first time.
 
Buy wise, read reviews of people that currently own the bit of equipment and go from there....that is what I did. I found that people that actually own the Lee turret press like it quite a bit, where as the people that don't said bad things about it. And those that had an issue when the issue was brought up to Lee the company took care of the customer....can't ask more then that.

Decide what you get....if anything other then a name....when you buy.

There is a term in the guitar world called cork sniffing....that means spending more for just a name, or model and not getting any real practical working value from that extra money...but you do get to say you have a signiture model...too bad the standard sounds just as good and cost half as much.
 
I like the lee for hand gun and .223 rifle, but for .308, I don`t use the auto indexing rod and use the press as a single stage for accuracy loads rather than quantity.
 
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