I've used a Lee 3 hole turret press for ~ 30 years, and have been very satisified with its performance, durability and cost.

I note Lee now sells a 4-hole model turret press #90932, equipped with an "auto index". I'd appreciate feed back as to how this auto index works.. i.e. does this merely advance the 4-hole die turret one position for every downward handle stroke ? Does it jam if a full and complete handle stroke is not completed ?

Also, Lee sells a #90997 Safety Prime. Will this work with the
4-hole turret press noted above, and how (exactally) does the
primer get from the filled primer tray to the just deprimed cartridge case ? I,ve had some experience with early models of the Lee 1000 loading systems and the picture of the priming system looks similar.

Thanks,

Southampton

Yes it auto index's or you can take the rod out and use as a single stage. No it does not jam. The safety prime is slick once adjusted correctly.

Look here. Very good detailed review.

Real Guns

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Still Running Against the Wind

I've been using this exact press for three years and have had nothing but success with it. I have not experienced any jamming, and if it gets out of time because of a errant stroke, just turn the turret by hand back to the stage you were on. The safety prime system is awesome, only problem is if you forget to prime a round. It works very well. I use the carbide 4 die sets and seat and crimp in two stages. That works very well on the 4 hole turrets. You can watch videos of the prime system on Lee's website. It has great videos for setting up the various dies also. Good loading.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

There is a conversion kit for the 3 hole press too, if memory serves me correctly. Go to Lee's website and check it out.

I am a progressive press guy to be honest. I do have a 4 hole Lee and would not get rid of it for any reason. It is a machine and by virtue of that can have issues BUT, they work as designed and can be kept in tip top running order with little to no maintenance.

Good press for the money and you will enjoy it. I told one forum member that I would buy his if he wasn't completely satisfied. I would extend that offer to you too if I wasn't on the short end of the reloading money stick!

Get it, you will enjoy it!

I have two of the 4 hole presses, one has the aluminum base and the other, the "Classic", which has a cast iron base. Go with the cast iron classic, press. The auto index systems works fine but isn't the most robust design. It uses little plastic square inserts they call ratchets that can get screwed up but they're dirt cheap from Lee, .50c ea. order a few extra. The safety prime system also works well but isn't robust either. I've loaded about 15,000rds or so on these presses in the last couple of years and can highly recommend them, the auto index works very well and would be worth the cost of upgrading itself. Don't let some internet posts hold you back from the purchase, these issues are insignificant.

Watch the video from Lee.

Lee Precision: 4 Hole Classic Turret Press

I use this press and find the auto index quite useful.

SEe the 4 HOLE UPDATE KIT W/AI. Sounds like a great upgrade for $20.

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Hook686

I purchased an upgrade from the 3 hole turret to a 4 hole with auto prime. I had to trade or swap all my 3 hole turrets for 4 hole. That is the only disadvantage with it. I have sized brass from 308 to 258 and 30-06 to 35 Whelen with it but generally prefer the Rockchucker next to it for those maneuvers. Lube the turrets and moving parts with a very light coat of STP and it is easy to run. I often leave the ratchet out and hand index for rifle cartridges, either works well.

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Front sight and squeeze

+1 on what kcmitch said.
The little disks that operate the auto index are never a problem unless you short stroke and try the turn the turret by hand while it engages the spiral portion of the index rod.

I do not know how many thousands of rounds of all different calibers I have loaded but I am still on my original little piece of plastic.

Of course it will break now.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have buckets of ammo that I have loaded on my Lee Classic Turret. I have yet to wear anything out, strip anything out, or break anything. I don't know how rough some people are with their equipment. If I wiped the oil off mine it would look brand new again. Add the additional bells and whistles and it becomes even better. It's not progressive but the auto index can be pretty whip snappy. It's always going to be the press I recommend to any starter over any single stage or progressive press.

I'll join the chorus of favorable reviews. I've read a post or two on here the last few years from a couple guys who broke the plastic squares which operate the auto index, but they must of been a little rough working the ram. Mine has worked every time. I lubricate the turrets and index rod with Ponsness Warren SLOS grease and that thing turns as smoothly as can be.

The priming attachment as mentioned isn't exactly the strongest device you'll run into, but it works. The jury is still out in my case as to how long it lasts. I can't get the last two primers in the reservoir to feed into the primer holder on the ram, because there is no gravitational pressure on them from primers further up in the channel. That doesn't hold me up much though; I just take the thing off, push the primers into my hand, and place them in the holder.

If I had a complaint at all, it would be that there is too much vertical play in the turret, which tends to produce uneven case mouth expansion and crimping. It's not bad, though; I can live with it.

Andy

When you set your dies, give them an extra 1/4 turn while holding the lever (takes out the play) You are not alone with the primer feed. Mine will not feed the last small primer but sometimes the large one will.

The internal spring in my small primer feed trigger broke and Lee sent me a new unit.

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Still Running Against the Wind

When my primer tray gets empty (but not the chute) I refill it. I now leave my primers in the tray for storage. I store the assemblies in a plastic coffee can. When I start to reload the trays usually have 50+ primers in them, so that is one thing I don't have to set up to get started.