Thoughts/Experience w/Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Value Kit

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Duster340

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Hi Folks,

Well, after getting many helpful responses to an earlier thread (thanks again), I am positive that reloading will really allow me and my family to shoot/train/practice without dipping into my kids' college funds (not that we have much left in it these days :( ). My wife actually is very interested in and supportive of the idea and wants to learn the ropes with me, which makes the decision that much easier. We will be initially loading for the .40 S&W, followed by .380 & .44 Mag.

We've been researching equipment based on the following criteria:

- Ease of use.
- Decent quality.
- Availabilty of accessories, dies, components etc.
- Price/affordability.
- Output (reload rate)

The "Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Value Kit" seems to get good reviews and meets our selection criteria. That said, we thought we'd solicit "real world" feedback from members that use/used this particular kit.

Thanks in advance for your input and candor.
 
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That's what I started with myself. The simple design of the press makes it easy to get the basic methods of reloading down pat. And you can make this press into a single stage if you want to. I did that myself till I got the feel of the press and how the different steps felt meaning the pressure on the handle to do each step. Some don't like it, but I think it is a good way to break into reloading. I have since addded other presses to the bench and the turret still gets used on a regular basis. I also like the ease that you can change calibers with this press. Just a little turn of the turret and you are changed. There is some slop between the actually turret and the press, but I found that it is same with every one of the many turrets that I have. The only drawback I say it has is, the spent primers tend to get everywhere. I fixed that with a index card and some duct tape. Luck Good, and I hope this helps.
 
If you're talking about the Classic Turret Press, go for it! I purchased one a few months ago and it works great. It works so well I sold my RCBS single stage press.
 
I love the presses, both the standard and Classic Cast. Get the Classic Cast if you intend to load long action rifle calibers.

I'm not into the auto indexing of any type though.
 
I had a Deluxe 4 hole turret press and sold it off within a month in favor of the Classic 4 hole turret press. I have been using the Classic 4 hole turret press for almost 8 years now and I think it's a great press. I can safely load between 180 to 200 handgun rounds an hour which isn't too shabby! If that kit does not contain a "Classic" cast iron press don't get it.

The kit offered by Kempf's Gun Shop online is a good bargain. Don't forget to add the upgrade at the bottom of the page for the PRO Auto-Disk powder measure. For only $12 and change it's a much better measure than the standard and well worth the money!
 
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Thank you all for the input. I appreciate it. With all the choices out there, it get's a little intimidating. Hopefully the frenzy subsides a bit and suppliers start getting stock in again. My wife and I would like to purchase the componets in the next month or two...by which time we'll have several hundred spent .40 casings to load.

Be well all.
 
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I have the Lee Deluxe and while it may be the cheaper of the two presses I love it. Have loaded about 10,000 rounds of 9mm only (no rifle of magnum ammo yet) without a problem. I have worked out a pretty good system for collecting the spent primers. I use a Lee universal decapper to deprime before I clean my cases. I stuff some paper towel down into the hollows on either side of the ram and put a piece of curved paper on the right side (see pic) and all the spent primers drop into the hollow. After about 150 cases I vacuum them out with my shop vac. Works well. Also I agree with ArchangleCD to upgrade to the Pro measure. Using either w231 or Universal powders it has been extremely accurate for me. I also can safely load about 150 to 200 rounds per hour but taking my time more like 100 to 150.
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I upgraded my 1993 three hole to a four hole. I use it as a manual stage more often that as a self advance. The manual mode works better for me with rifle cases and the self advance with pistol. Get a bunch of the buttons as they do wear and they are not found on shelves in MT. I have a couple of other presses for heavy duty but have used the regular press when it was all I had to expand from .308 to .358 and reduce from .308 to .243 with no issues. Lube it on the points that are in contact and it will last for many years.
 
Every press has its pros and cons. Many depend on the operator, the specific cartridges involved, and the number of rounds to be loaded per batch . . . as well as the press itself.

I have the Lee Classic Turret, and from my experience learning this craft, its probably the best press for most people starting to reload pistol, especially in more than one cartridge.

It can be used as a single stage, or a self-indexing turret. NO press does a cartridge change faster than a Lee Turret with inexpensive spare turrets. production is much faster than a single stage press, much slower than a progressive. Since you put ONE round through each stage of construction start to finish, it's easier to monitor the process and learn than with a progressive.

If you are on a tight budget, stick with the Lee scale to start. The ergonomics are AWFUL, but it is accurate at a very low cost. Replace/supplement it when you know what your wants/needs are.

Welcome, and good luck!
 
I bought mind through Midway USA-cheaper but I did not buy the kit, I built hat I needed and extra heads/carbide (4) dies/Pro powder measure etc. Just a thought,
 
Smurfs!!! Did someone mention Smurfs??? (If you choke a Smurf, what color do they turn??
I started with a Lee Classic turret, loading most of the pistol calibers. I made the switch to a "Blue" (Dillon 550) press. The Dillon is faster than the Lee, but I like the Lee better as is is "almost" impossible to double charge a case. Not so with the Dillon.
Changing calibers on the Lee is much faster.
 
I have two Dillon 550B's and they handle my volume loading. However, I also have the Lee Classic Turret press. They are a superb and well engineered piece of equipment. After you learn how, you can safely load 150-200 rds. per hour. Caliber change only takes seconds, not minutes. The Classic totally handles decapped primers (a hose from the press directs EVERY dead primer into a container for disposal). It will also handle all of the normal (including .375 H&H) rifle cartridges.

Definitely get the Pro Disc powder measure as it is much easier to manage than the "standard" disc measure. Further, I definitely recommend that you do NOT get the Lee powder scales. Upgrade to the Lyman balance scale or a digital scale (the Lyman digital is priced right).

You'll be MORE than happy that you took up reloading.

Dale53
 
I have the Lee Classic Turret 4-hole with Auto Index and have little if anything to add to all the positive responses you've received already. I'm not a real high-volume shooter, so I don't anticipate ever needing anything else.

If you get one, periodically lubricate the circumference of the turret, the index rod, and the ram. This will really make that thing glide.

I concur that the Lee powder scale is difficult to use. If you decide you want to save a little money and get one anyway, PM me.

Best wishes,
Andy
 
I have a couple, great press. Skip their scale. Buy the 4 die sets, I load about a dozen handgun calibers on mine, never a feeding problem using the factory crimp die on the autoloaders. Its nice to shoot 380 cheap.
 
I have a lee classic four hole turret press. It has been going strong ever since my father bought it when I was a kid. I learned how to load on that press and he later gave it to me for my first press. I have no idea how many thousands of rounds it has loaded but 27 years later it is still going strong. I will never get rid of it. It is still bolted to my bench even though I primarily now use a progressive. I still use it for loading small batches, checking lead BHN, and other tasks.
 
The Lee turret presses are very good presses regardless of the one you choose or their price.

I've loaded tons of ammo on one that started life as a 3 hole in the mid 90's. I installed the 4 hole kit on it a few years later and ran it till about 3 years ago when I bought the Classic Cast one.

My old unit is still churning out great ammo on a friends bench. I bought the Classic Cast because I had developed such a dislike for my RCBS turret. The rear frame got in the way of several brand dies and the extra turrets are priced like they're made of gold.

I use range results to measure quality, but my concentricity gauge doesn't find fault with my rounds loaded on theses presses either.

I like the Lee presses in general for several reasons, one is ease of die adjustment. The Lee doesn't feature the useless cam over past TDC that so many other do.

Yea, I like Lee presses. I sold every press I had after I bought the Classic Cast turret and Classic Cast single stage. I'd be satisfied with either one, but at their low cost I bought both.

I'm much too anal for anything automated, even just the indexing.

The Pro Auto Disk measure are the best bargains in a great pistol measure going. I own 5 or 6 that I leave setup on my most frequently loaded calibers.
 
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Buy the "Classic Turret", the "Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure" (and the riser arm that they really should package with it, and the "Safety Prime System" and you won't regret it.

You will find that if you search then the overwhelming majority of good reviews for Lee products come from owners of the Classic Turret.
 
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