Using The Lee Classic Turret Press?

I am entering new, uncharted waters here. I've been fooling with my new fandango Lee Classic Turret Press, and want to pick your brain, if you are using one, or are familiar with it. I want to know about the discs provided with the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure thingie. I want to load .38 Spcl, 148 Gr. Hollow Base Wadcutter, using .3.0 Gr of Bullseye. The way I read it, I need to use the small disc reading 32 opening. Am I in the right pew? Thanks.

Pete

I think you will need to use the .32 hole for 3.0 gr. of Bullseye. I use the Lee Turret and I always weigh the charge because the chart is not correct all the time. I also weigh after about every ten charges for safety. I use Win. 231 and find it dispenses very well.

Sorry, oldfella, but it's a little more involved than that...

The cavities are measured in cubic centimeters (cc), and range from 0.12 cc to 1.57 cc (if you also purchase the collection of Lee micro disks). The standard disks (non-microdisks) can also be doubled using the disk-doubler kit, which can be useful for loading the larger handgun cases and smaller rifle cases with one pull on the handle.

The Lee Powder Drop Charts are not very accurate for most powders. This is a safety measure, as the density of powders can vary considerably. The Lee chart is set up (as far as I can tell) to safely dispense the listed weight of powder when the powder is on the higher end of its allowable density. Since most lots of powder aren't close to this density, the cavities will usually weigh lighter than the chart indicates. This has caused innumerable beginning reloaders untold agony, but it shouldn't. Use the chart to find the cavity that's close to what you need/want, and then use your scale to find the cavity that gets you where you want to be. The actual cavity you want could well be one or two sizes larger than the listed cavity. Also, there may not be a cavity that gets you EXACTLY what you want, but chances are you'll be very close.

Some people recommend the Lee adjustable charge bar if you need an exact charge weight. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that the adjustable charge bar only dispenses reliably above about .60 cc.

My final recommendation is that you ensure the powder is allowed to settle in the reservoir before you start reloading. I've found that if I tap the reservoir several times after filling it with powder, then take four or five "practice" powder drops from the Pro Auto Disk (place the powder resulting from these practice drops back in the reservoir or the powder canister), and then cycle your brass through the sizing die before dropping your powder charge. This all helps jiggle the powder enough to ensure you are close to the "actual" powder drop weight. After you drop ten to twenty charges, it should settle down enough to be within plus-or-minus 0.1 gr. Some powders are better (spherical powders and the VihtaVuori extruded powders), and some are not-so-good (large flake powders). In other words, very similar to any fixed cavity powder measure...

This all sounds much more difficult that it is. I find my Pro Auto Disk measure combined with the Lee Classic Turret to be a very efficient system, and a nice alternative to a true progressive press.

pipeliner said:

I think you will need to use the .32 hole for 3.0 gr. of Bullseye. I use the Lee Turret and I always weigh the charge because the chart is not correct all the time. I also weigh after about every ten charges for safety. I use Win. 231 and find it dispenses very well.

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That's what I meant to say. Thanks, Pipeliner - And thanks to Rigway as well for your comments and recommendations. I most likely be needing all the advice I can get. If you are willing to share some of your knowledge with this oldfella, please email me: [email protected] - Thanks much.

Pete

oldfella said:

I've been fooling with my new fandango Lee Classic Turret Press

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thats allot nicer name then what I called mine when I first got it.

+1 for the above post, dead on.
You can also use the double disk set to have more accurate drops.

You are in the "ballpark" but as mentioned the powder lots vary and also temp and humidity will make it vary. Try the .32 disc and weigh several drops. It may be high or low. Chances are it will not be exact.. Turn the powder hopper off and put a empty case in and make several drops to empty the left over powder. Unscrew the hopper and either use the next larger or smaller disc hole. You may have to settle for 3.4 or something like that. Write the disc number down on your load data so if yo load the same bullet and charge, you will not have to fiddle with it. Always weigh a few charges. Some powders are pretty close, some are way off. Use the Lee Chart and make your own.

Page #2

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/AD2302.pdf

Thanks JC - I didn't like the Lee scale sent with the kit - I've just ordered the Dillon Eliminator scale.

Pete

Edit - Thanks, OCD1

oldfella said:

I didn't like the Lee scale sent with the kit - I've just ordered the Dillon Eliminator scale.
Pete

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no one ever does lol.. good call on the big blue.

OCD1 said:

You are in the "ballpark" but as mentioned the powder lots vary and also temp and humidity will make it vary. Try the .32 disc and weigh several drops. It may be high or low. Chances are it will not be exact.. Turn the powder hopper off and put a empty case in and make several drops to empty the left over powder. Unscrew the hopper and either use the next larger or smaller disc hole. You may have to settle for 3.4 or something like that. Write the disc number down on your load data so if yo load the same bullet and charge, you will not have to fiddle with it. Always weigh a few charges. Some powders are pretty close, some are way off. Use the Lee Chart and make your own.

Page #2

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/AD2302.pdf

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^^^^This. ALWAYS check your loads with a scale.

As you progress you will be wanting the adjustable charge bar. For $10 I don't know why it's not included in the kit.

You're gonna like your Lee Classic Turret. I know I do.

Hi Oldfella!

Here's my advice on your situation, worth slightly less than you'll pay for it. I used the Lee Disks for years, but have now upgraded all my Lee powder measures to the "Pro" style with the elastomer wiper. HUGE difference. No more jamming, better consistency, fewer headaches. If you don't notice that the disk stuck, you wind up with a squib load. With tiny charges of powder, that's a VERY bad thing.





I have seven or eight of them, so the upgrade was kind of a major thing for me, but it was worth every penny.

Techniques for the Auto Disk powder measure.

Ridgway has a great explanation. I find that I generally end up about two cavity sizes larger than the one recommended in the Lee tables. I always check weights with my scale several times as I am getting started and recheck perodically as I load a batch. I keep all my recipies on 3 x 5 file cards and file them in a card file box sorted and tabbed by caliber. I note the cavity number on each recipe card. Next time I load that same recipe I start with the cavity number noted on the card and check the weights as I get started.

You also need to develop a routine for shutting off the hopper and clearing the disk so you can change them with out making a mess. I shut off the hopper and repatedly charge and dump a primed case back into the hopper until nothing comes out. Then I can remove the hopper to change the disk with out spilling powder all over the place.

old feller;
You have been given excellent advice here. There is little to add.

I, too, am a champion of the Lee PRO Auto Disc measure. It is SO much less aggravating to use in general and I believe, also that it does a better job.

Dale53

Thanks fellers - I'll check on the Lee PRO Auto Disc measure. I'm making notes... keep'em comin'.

Pete

papajohn428 said:

Hi Oldfella!

Here's my advice on your situation, worth slightly less than you'll pay for it. I used the Lee Disks for years, but have now upgraded all my Lee powder measures to the "Pro" style with the elastomer wiper. HUGE difference. No more jamming, better consistency, fewer headaches. If you don't notice that the disk stuck, you wind up with a squib load. With tiny charges of powder, that's a VERY bad thing.

I have seven or eight of them, so the upgrade was kind of a major thing for me, but it was worth every penny.

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Apparently you do not like to change the powder hopper and discs.

That's a whole bunch of powder measures! Nice to see a sea of RED.

I am just getting started with this press, primer feed, powder measure(Pro), and 4 die pistol sets.
I am not real mechanically inclined and everything new at one time somewhat confused me. However, I finally just jumped in and installed the powder measure and it worked. Same with the primer feed. I very carefully aligned the bracket for that. Hardest part was realizing it just hung there!
I used Unique for my first couple of batches of reloads (45 ACP and 45 Colt.) I ended up using a disk about 3 sizes larger than recommended. Got variations in the charges and they seemed to get heavier as I progressed. Got some leakage too. Going back out the next day and looking over my setup I realized that I had my scale sitting on the bench right behind my press. Each time I processed a round the scale would jigger around a little, so my variation was probably due to the scale moving.
I have since bought some HP38 and it measured like a dream, with the exact disk recommended by the tables.
Still wanting to use Unique, I cleaned my measure out, puffed graphite over all moving surfaces, and worked the mechanism several times. I had also noticed that you need to be very careful in tightening the brass nuts--get them firmly tightened, but not excessively. Yesterday, I loaded 100 rounds of 45 ACP with Unique. I believe I used one disk higher than recommended. EVERY charge I weighed hit right on the nose. After dropping about 10 rounds without moving the measure I started loading. I weighed every one of the first five rounds, every fifth one for awhile, then every tenth one, and the last one. No variance.
The last piece of equipment I bought was the primer feed. I had read lots of negative about it. It is the junkiest, rinky dink thing I ever saw. Was careful lining up the bracket. In about 500 rounds it has NEVER failed to load a primer. And I love seating them on the press.
Everything about the system is working great now. I could build up a lot of speed if I could fumble the bullet into the case faster. I am old and slow, with a little arthur in my thumbs and fingers.
It WILL all come together.

The hurried you get the slower you go

Just settle on a nice even pace and you will find yourself getting faster as time goes on.

No matter how fast you go you still are going to get around 100 rounds or so per hour, plus or minus.

OCD1 said:

The hurried you get the slower you go

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Excellent advice anytime OCD.

OCD1 said:

The hurried you get the slower you go

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Truer words were never spoken!!!!! And there is a lot of other good info in this thread also.

I haven't upgraded to the "Pro" version of the Auto Disc yet, but most everything said applies to it too.

All I can add is that I wipe down the Auto Disc with a used drier sheet to eliminate static cling before each use, rub a #1 pencil on all surfaces that rub together whenever I take it apart and use a hand-held vibrator to settle the powder when I load the hopper. Once I get it throwing the charge weight I want, it stays consistant until the hopper is almost empty, but I don't load that much in one setting and I top off and check everything when I come back from a smoke break.

My sea of RED will never be as impressive as papajohn's because I only reload .35spl, .357mag and .45acp, but Red is definitely my favorite color.

I'm not particuliarly in a hurry, but I find myself with the case loaded with powder and setting at the seating die, then reaching over to get a bullet and fumbling it into the case. It just needs to become a habit to reach for the bullet while pushing the lever to charge the case. I can look at the powder level with the bullet in my hand, as without it!!
+1 on the wiping with the dryer sheet too.

papajohn, thanks for the pictures. I have seen several mentions about putting the turrets in the round die boxes but I had no idea what they were talking about, as I had never had one like that. I am using plastic coffee cans right now. I like it that you can put your other stuff particular to that caliber in with it, and you can stack them. However, the round die boxes look like the would do nicely.