Hi new here, Is anyone reloading handgun ammo with the Lee classic turret press? How do you like it? What powder measure goes on it? The auto disk or the pro auto disk? Any quirks or problems? thanks trikerider

Hi and welcome to the forum. I've had a Lee Classic Turret Press for three years now and use it to load .357, .40 S&W, .44 Special, .44 Mag and .45 ACP. I have a separate turret set up with the dies for each caliber so switching from one to another takes about 2 minutes. I've loaded around 10,000 rounds combined and have had very few problems. Mine was purchased as part of a kit and came with the Pro Auto Disk Measure which I highly recommend over the regular Auto Disk. Th[s measure works very well with most powders, though less well with flake type powders like Unique. One thing to consider, though it hasn't been a real issue for me and there are ways around it, is that the auto disks that come with the measure confine you to using specific weights of powder. For example the .40 sized disk may throw 4.5 grains while the next size disk of .46 may throw 5.0 grains. So if you wanted to use 4.8 grains you're out of luck. Lee does make an adjustable charge bar which supposedly can be adjusted to throw different weight charges but it has NEVER worked well for me. Overall the press has been great and it makes fine ammo. Working at a decent pace I can load around 150 rounds per hour. I would highly recommend it.

Been using one for a while in just about every handgun caliber and several rifle.

Works just fine for me. The Pro Auto Disc is worth the few extra bucks.

Here is a good review of it:

Real Guns - Lee Classic Turret, It's Not Just For Kids

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Still Running Against the Wind

What Rock Dog said. I've used mine for about 3 years on .38/.357, 9mm & .45ACP.

I also got the kit with Auto Disc. I've had no problems with the Auto Disc and use the Adjustable Charge Bar for Big Dog .357 Magnums & when I want exactly 5gr of Bullseye. The ACB does have a problem with very small charges but that's not what I use it for.

The Classic Turret might require some minor tweaks when setting it up but after that will crank out plenty of the good stuff.

I use the Lee carbide 4 die sets and have a turret for each caliber. Changing is a snap.

Highly recommended.

I was going to post a response but Rock Dawg said everything I was going to say...almost to the word.

Great press.

Very happy with mine.

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A real gun is a wheel gun

I just started reloading using the classic turret. it was also a kit, and came w/ the pro auto disc. I enjoy using it very much, only reloading .38s at the moment. everyone so far as echoed exactly what I would have said. great little set up and well worth the money.

I've been using one for several years and am thoroughly satisfied with it. I mount my powder measure separately above and behind the press, so I can't comment on the auto disk, etc.

Some have reported that the automatic indexing feature doesn't last as long as they feel it should due to a less-than-robust part mounted on the ram. I just lubricate the indexing rod and the turret itself with Ponsness Warren grease to reduce wear-producing friction.

If I were designing it I would reduce the tolerance in the turret groove to eliminate vertical play when the ram is at the top of its stroke. The play tends to produce a slightly uneven flare and crimp, and makes it a little more difficult to adjust dies. I would also increase the diameter of the turret and place the dies further apart to facilitate easier loosening and tightening of the locking nuts. But these are things I can live with.

Andy

Thanks guys, one may be in my future. I load now on an old Lee Challenger press and sure would like to move up to something a little faster. trikerider

It's actually caused by shortstroking/hand turning the turret. Done at the wrong point in the up/down sequence the little square ratchet can be damaged. My first one lasted about two years. A $.50 part. Lee Customer Service got me a new one pretty quickly. Actually I ordered 10. I'm set for 20+ years.
Naturally, right after I received the new ones I found the spare that comes with the kit...

How bad is the vertical play in the turret? Is this a big problem in even crimping or just a slight annoyance? Don't want to spend that much money to get set up and have turret wobbling up and down. A problem or not? thanks trikerider

Not a problem at all, it's just some movement, the dies are adjustable to compensate. I got mine at Christmas, have loaded about 700 rounds, half .38 special and half 9mm, all good so far.

Not even an annoyance -just a bit less than perfect. People who aren't perfectionists probably don't even notice. Pardon me if I made it sound worse than it is.

Andy

OK, thanks guys. trikerider

It's been discussed on some other threads. General consensus is that it's a non issue. It goes up the same amount every time.

My finished rounds don't vary more than a few thoundths and roll crimping is cake with trimmed cases.

I would say it is not even noticeable (at least on mine) Mine has no play and as mentioned I have about 10 or more turrets loaded with different die sets. I have yet to break the original plastic square "thingy" even after thousands of rounds.

Wow 16 posts and the anti Red team hasn't chimed in yet to say buy a Dillon.

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Still Running Against the Wind

There are MANY reloaders using a Classic Turret Press. I would suggest the Pro Auto-Disk over the standard Auto-Disk. It's a far superior tool for just a small additional cost.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I would add, Pro disk with adjustable charge bar, in lieu of the disks.
This will give you an infinite ability to adjust your throw.

Mike

How good does the auto prime work? I see on youtube vids they work pretty good, but have seen posts where they flat couldn't get it to work correct. Anyone having a problem with them? Another question is how does the adjustable charge bar work and fit into the system with the disks? You use disk and charge bar? thanks guys trikerider

Trike,

You use the charge bar instead of the disks. I prime off-press with a Lee hand primer, this fits my "batch" process.

Mike

I believe that you're speaking of the Safety Primer Feed which attaches to the press; am I correct(the "Auto Prime" is a primer tool which primes cases separately)?

If so, I have found that it works well if it is aligned and manipulated correctly. Correct alignment isn't difficult;just put the ram at the top of its stroke and turn the mounting bracket for the Primer Feed one way or the other(with the Primer Feed attached) until the 'dispenser'(my term) is lined up with the steel cup which holds the primer. Then tighten the bolt which fastens the mounting bracket to the press.

Then it's a matter of learning to hold and press the 'dispenser' correctly until it feeds as it should. This is a matter of 'feel'; I don't know that I can describe it.

Hope this helps at least a little.
Andy

I have the Safety Primer, and for me it was an exercise in frustration. I could NOT get it to work properly.

Mine took a bit of adjusting, it to the ram and me to it, works fine. There is a bit of feel to it.

Once again, a timely thread for many of us forum members looking for a way to stretch our ammo dollars and still hesitant about getting into reloading. I've already taken the first step. I save ALL of my spent brass!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

I didn't have any trouble setting up the Safety Primer feed, the standard Auto Disk system works for me and I've never had to replace the little square plastic thingy, but I do have a complaint.

Lee doesn't make their FCD in .38 S&W.

Oh well, can't have everything.....

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

Shooter,

Let me encourage you to jump in. Ask questions and we'll try to help -lots of knowledgeable folks here.

Andy


P.S. Great Scriptures you've listed there -memorized them both years ago and used them many a time.

I researched reloading for over a year. Thought I needed a progressive press with all of the stuff. Did not want to spend the bucks.
Last spring after reading a lot of good stuff about it, I purchased the Lee Classic Turret press from the Lee Factory Store and am very happy with it. I have the safety primer (which works a little clunkily) and the powder charger with disks (you are limited in your ability to adjust but so far I can find a charge to fit every purpose).
I load .38/9mm/.45acp and just figured out how to do .357 mag. I have a turret and set of dies for each caliber to speed up changing calibers (I stick a label on each assembly with how its set up - bullet length, bullet type and the disk needed for the last "good" load I was using with powder type).
I also bought one of those inexpensive Lee C presses and installed a depriming die on it for when I am prepping brass for cleaning so as to not wear the turret press any more than needed.
I do use an RCBS balance scale (about $100) for weighing powder. I had challenges with the Lee scale.

Lee finally started selling the Classic Turret in a kit. I second the use of all the additional parts to the Classic Turret like the Pro Auto and the Safety Prime. Yes, both can be a pain to get set right, but both work well once you figure them out. I also use the Adjustable Charge Bar in mine. I prefer to use the disks if I find a load I like, but the ACB gives the options the disks don't have. I did have the chance to try a Double Disk kit but still haven't bought one. I really need to buy my own. The riser for the expeander die is a MUST HAVE if you use the Safety Prime. I won't buy flake powder any more since there are too many good loads for ball powders. Flake powders like to hang up in any powder meter and ball flows like water. My only nearly double charged cases have been from Unique powder. Now if I can't use Win 231 / HP-28 then I look up a different load. Last, if I'm loading ammo for an auto loader, I enjoy using Lee's Carbide Factory Crimp die, but if I'm loading ammo for a revolver then I prefer to buy one of Ranch Dog Outdoor's crimp dies. He has Lee make their rifle FCD in revolver calibers and they should really just write him a fat check and sell them themselves.