Lee Turret Press and Tall Cases

[cds43016]

I currently reload 357 and 327 mag on a Lee Turret Press (not the classic). It works fine but it does have some limits that hopefully there may be some ideas that may help. I use the Lee 4 Die sets and the Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure. I also use an old Lyman Spartan single stage press. I am very cautious and conservative as I reload. I have reloaded for many years loading 45 ACP for Bullseye Matches on a Lee 1000 but I never liked using this press. There were always issues and required constant checking. I guess this is where my paranoia comes from. I never had issues. I attribute this only to diligence and caution. I finally gave away the press.

My loads for the 357 are 4.5 grains Universal, 158 grain SWC Polymer coated Bullet, CCI 550 Primer. For the 327 I use a 100 grain SWC lead Bullets (soon to switch to Polymer coated) 4.5 grains of TiteGroup and CCI 500 Primers. Brass is Starline. Both loads are fairly mild, accurate and produce no leading and leave a lot of room in the case.

My loading procedure is:

Tumble cases when I come back from the range using a Lyman 1200 Tumbler

De-Prime and size using a Lee carbide sizing dies on the Lyman Spartan Press (the primer collection works great)

Inspect cases and clean primer pockets as I inspect

Prime using a Lee Hand Primer (never could feel the primers seating with a press)

For Loading my Turret Press is set up with:

Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure in Position 1

RCBS Powder Checker Die in Position 2 (this thing works great – it’s easy to see if the charge is off by just a little but sometimes powder can stick)

Bullet Seating Die in Position 3 (I manually look into case before seating bullet)

Factory Crimp Die in Position 4.

I usually check the charge every 15 or so rounds or when the RCBS Powder Checker Die doesn’t look right. I also when finished run each case through a Wilson Case Gauge to be sure the round is OK and for a final inspection.

I’m satisfied with this approach but one step is cumbersome – manually checking the charge before seating the bullet. I have to remove the case from the shell holder to inspect. The cases are so tall and the charges so small that I can’t see into the cases without removing. I know with the RCBS Powder Checker this step may not be required but for peace of mind it is. Trust but Verify. I tried t install mirrors, lights but nothing seems to work. How do others solve this problem with this press? I’m sure others are checking the charge manually before proceeding and dealing with tall cases.

Maybe there is no good solution other than trust the RCBS Power Checker die completely but I’m not built that way. When I shoot the last thing I want to worry about is my ammunition.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Wee Hooker]

Have you tried mounting a LED light so that it shines down into the case?
Works fine for .38 spl. for me. That said, if your charge volumes that low, in a case that large, maybe you should think about trying a different powder.

 

[cds43016]

I tried LED lights but could still could not see inside. Maybe I just didn't find a good place to mount it. I thought about other powers but I have a lot of Universal and TiteGroup and the loads are good. How did you mount the light?

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've got the classic an found this magnetic based light to work great. I've seen many creative solutions since though.
One thing, I'm not sure if the turret height is the same on the classic as it is on the basic turret press. That may make a difference.
hth

 

[Toblerra]

I just reloaded 200 or so .357 cases today in my Lee turret press. My method is to make sure that I seat the bullet right after charging, I don't remove the case or do anything in between those steps. I also use the Lee auto disk, which is basically a safety in itself so long as you don't double charge. Basically that can only happen if you run it twice and the second time without pushing the handle all the way up.

 

[mtgianni]

I just reloaded 200 or so .357 cases today in my Lee turret press. My method is to make sure that I seat the bullet right after charging, I don't remove the case or do anything in between those steps. I also use the Lee auto disk, which is basically a safety in itself so long as you don't double charge. Basically that can only happen if you run it twice and the second time without pushing the handle all the way up.

The auto disc can allow powder to bridge and not release then if bumped right over charge a case. Ask my 45 bbl how I know.

 

[cds43016]

Dave I think your right. I think the classic turret press is higher since it is also designed for rifle and that can make a difference. I tried mounting a light that way you did and still could not see using a LED book light.

 

[Toblerra]

The auto disc can allow powder to bridge and not release then if bumped right over charge a case. Ask my 45 bbl how I know.

? I'm having a hard time seeing how that's possible... In order to charge a case you would have to engage the lever to move the disk at least to the edge of the funnel hole. If you only do this once there is no way that you can over charge the case since the pocket in the disk cannot be overfilled. I just tried moving the disk back and forth in the press and it did nothing to increase the powder charge once moved all the way to the hole and from there into the case below. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you.

 

[cds43016]

I just reloaded 200 or so .357 cases today in my Lee turret press. My method is to make sure that I seat the bullet right after charging, I don't remove the case or do anything in between those steps. I also use the Lee auto disk, which is basically a safety in itself so long as you don't double charge. Basically that can only happen if you run it twice and the second time without pushing the handle all the way up.

I never relay fully on any powder measure. That's why I use the RCBS powder check die and always look in the case. Any mechanical device can fail. I even had the Lee Powder Drum measure I'm using stop throwing full charges after I first started using it. A part was defective and broke off and would not cycle properly causing short charges. Without checking GOD only knows what could have happened. Trust but Verify - good in international relations and reloading!!

 

[Clovishound]

I trust the Powder Cop die. I played around with it when I first got it. I can more easily and precisely see over/under charges with it than I can by eyeballing the inside of the case.

It has already spotted an overcharge in real use. It was a result of an unusual error on my part, but the powder cop die spotted it unmistakably.

 

[nicky4968]

I clean, inspect, and prime as you do.

Outside of the press I add powder to 50 cases.

In the loading block, I inspect the 50 cases with a flashlight.

Then I run the powdered and primed cases through the 4-die turret press.

Repeat as necessary .

 

[TAROMAN]

I had tried the same setup with the Classic Turret.
Could never trust that cheap disc powder measure. Too many bridging issues.
Threw it away and purchased a quality Redding measure and went back to charging cases in loading blocks.
Inspect with a flashlight. Problem solved.
Also went to stainless pin wet tumbling of cases. With the insides shiny, its even easier to inspect the charge.

 

[gwpercle]

I charge every case , off the press , setting them in a loading tray, then carefully inspecting each one with a flashlight. Then start a bullet into each case, looking in there a second time, just to be sure.
It's the only way I've found to make sure they all get charged and none get double charged. When I seat that bullet I'm sure the powder charge is right.
I use my Lyman A-A turret press as a single station, running 50 or 100 cases through each station and moving to the next station. The dies stay in place and do not require readjusting unless I change bullets .
This may not be the right way to use a turret , but I don't loose any sleep wondering if there was or was not any powder in those cases.
Gary

 

[cds43016]

I never liked the Lee Disk Powder Measure. The Lee Drum measure is much better once the original problem I had with it was resolved. I have two - one set up on a turret for 357 and one for 327. Changeover from caliber to caliber is easy. Charges have been very consistent especially with TIteGroup.

I load about 150-200 rounds a week. I'm getting close to progressive territory. When I saw a You Tube Video on using the RCBS Powder Checker Die with The Turret Press I saw an opportunity to speed up loading without sacrificing quality and safety. Originally I treated the Turret Press as a single stage press doing each operation in batch and checking powder levels in a tray as do other respondents above, But the RCBS Check Die followed by a visual inspection I believe just as safe and more so since I have both a mechanical and visual check -double redundancy and its faster. It would be faster still if I just didn't have to move the case from the shell holder to peak inside! I don't have to move it much but I have to move it. When I used the Lee 1000 I used mirrors to check but there is not enough room as far as I can see to set up some kind of mirror to look inside the case on this press. I think the fundamental problem is that the Basic Turret Press (not classic) is to short to get a proper angle for a visual inspection on a tall case. Would changing over to the Classic Press solve my problem?

 

[Toblerra]

I had tried the same setup with the Classic Turret.
Could never trust that cheap disc powder measure. Too many bridging issues.
Threw it away and purchased a quality Redding measure and went back to charging cases in loading blocks.
Inspect with a flashlight. Problem solved.
Also went to stainless pin wet tumbling of cases. With the insides shiny, its even easier to inspect the charge.

By bridging issues do you mean powder becoming stuck in the die funnel? This hasn't happened to me yet, and the auto disk I've been using has always been within 1/10 of a grain when I've weighed it. Perhaps I need to change my method if what you're saying is a common problem with this set up. I'll be sure to visually inspect every case before seating the bullet. Only takes an extra second or two anyway.

 

[cds43016]

By bridging issues do you mean powder becoming stuck in the die funnel? This hasn't happened to me yet, and the auto disk I've been using has always been within 1/10 of a grain when I've weighed it. Perhaps I need to change my method if what you're saying is a common problem with this set up. I'll be sure to visually inspect every case before seating the bullet. Only takes an extra second or two anyway.

I'm so glad that you will start doing a visual inspection before seating the bullet. Although my problem in starting this tread may not be totally resolved, it's good to know that it may have alerted you to and prevented a potential problem in the future.

I checked the Lee Web Site. The Basic Turret Press can handle cases 2.313 i length, the classic 3.313. It looks like the classic is an inch higher. Is that enough elbow room to see inside a tall case?

 

[patjmc]

I have the same press and Auto Drum as the OP. I also visually check my powder before I set a bullet. I have the Hornady light strip that shines directly down in the case. With my .38 Special load the powder was too low to see without pulling the case out, I grabbed a dental sized inspection mirror that I have and I can see right down to the bottom of the case. It works a lot quicker than pulling each case out.

 

[ageingstudent]

I'm so glad that you will start doing a visual inspection before seating the bullet. Although my problem in starting this tread may not be totally resolved, it's good to know that it may have alerted you to and prevented a potential problem in the future.

I checked the Lee Web Site. The Basic Turret Press can handle cases 2.313 i length, the classic 3.313. It looks like the classic is an inch higher. Is that enough elbow room to see inside a tall case?

With a small volume charge in a 357 case you still won't be able to see in there. I have a little mirror like a dentist or mechanic uses to see in there and check. That and a magnetic led strip. Usually I use powders that fill the case better but I have the mirror just in case. If the brass is clean enough inside it does help but it's still hard to see what's in there without the mirror. I attach the mirror with a magnet out of the way at an angle so I can see without stopping.

 

[Wee Hooker]

At the risk of jinxing myself, I'll say I've never had a powder bridge issue with my LCT and Disk powder measure. That said, I do run two risers on the powder measure and position it somewhat outboard. This combo gives it a good shake with every stroke of the handle.

 

[mtgianni]

? I'm having a hard time seeing how that's possible... In order to charge a case you would have to engage the lever to move the disk at least to the edge of the funnel hole. If you only do this once there is no way that you can over charge the case since the pocket in the disk cannot be overfilled. I just tried moving the disk back and forth in the press and it did nothing to increase the powder charge once moved all the way to the hole and from there into the case below. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you.

The powder [Unique] bridged in the die and dropped a light charge with a low impact. The next charge jostled the press enough that all grains in the die entered the case. Not the fault of the measure just showing that nothing is foolproof.