Turret press

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Dfish1247

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Do any of you use either the lee classic or value turret presses?

I'm using a 30+ year old lee single, it gets tiresome loading 100 or more at a time, I spread it out over a couple days, but I don't shoot enough to warrant spending the big bucks on a progressive press. And I don't want a ton of shell plates and whatnot laying around.

I like how either of these can index auto or manual and seem relatively simple. So, what's your guys opinions?
 
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I had been wanting to start reloading for several years but was too lazy to research and gather all the neccesities. This past July I decided to go ahead and order a Lee value 4 hole turret press kit. I had zero experience with reloading and it was very easy to set up, so I'm sure with your experience with the single stage you would have no problem. I have so far only loaded 357 mag and plan to start loading 44 Mag next. No issues. Seems very durable. I can't really compare it to anything since it's the only reloading I've done, so hopefully someone else comes along with more help.
 
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I started on a used Lyman "Spar-T" Turret press (6 hole) and used it until it feel apart *8 or 10 years of constant use. I have a Redding T-7 Turret I bought new now. It will probably last 2 to 3 generations of loaders.

I have seen various aluminum presses by Lee that were worn out and no Longer square and centered from relatively short use (probably never got cleaned or lubed.)

While loading presses are very simple machines, if you buy these cheap ones and don't do maintenance, you end up with worse than nothing!

Ivan
 
The major benefit of the Lee Classic turret is that once the dies are set up you don"t have to change them as you do with a single stage. My Classic turret is set up to self rotate with every handle throw as well as delivering a powder charge. It's not a progressive but very convenient.
 
I loaded for years on the original 3 hole Lee turret press. I updated it to a 4 hole turret and used it until I got the Classic Cast version that I use today.

I use them in single stage mode. It’s great to leave all your dies setup and drop them in. I have 4 deluxe auto disc measures that I leave setup on frequently loaded calibers, so it’s drop in install the proper shellholder and load. I’ve compared runout on rifle rounds and found the classic cast turret to equal any single stage I’ve used.

I still have two single stage presses and one progressive. I use the turret most.
 
I don't use anything Lee.

Started on a used RCBS Rock Chucker I got for a nominal fee from a friend. That looks like 50 years old and I don't see how that can wear out in another 50. Use it for rifle now but all pistol calibers in the beginning. Great way to learn and not that slow really once you got a plan.

All pistol now on my Dillons 440 and 550. The 440 was at least 35 years or so old when I got it and it runs like brand new even after 10s of thousands rounds. The 550 the same. At times I need a part but Dillon is legendary in supporting even these old machines I have.
 
A few years ago, I bought a Lee 4 hole turret press. It's the one where the primers fall thru the ram into a long plastic tube. I like that feature! I did away with the auto turn and manually turn the die holder. I use a Lee bench primer to seat primers and it also performs great. I do clean the press every few weeks especially the ram and oil the rotating parts.
 
I load all handgun ammo on a 1960s Texan turret press. If you're loading small batches, a turret press is as versatile as a single stage tool. If you're loading more than small batches, it's certainly slower than a progressive machine, but not nearly as slow as some believe and you can see and examine everything easily, including powder charge, every step of the way. It's all very simple.

I've had four progressives over many years, but always keeping and often using the Texan turret. I found the progressives offered no real advantage for my needs loading five or six different handgun cartridges. I load for around twenty rifle cartridges but use a single stage Co-Ax press for such work, though a turret press would likely work fine.

I probably average loading no more than a thousand handgun rounds per month. However, if you're shooting a lot, a progressive press may be the way to go. If you're in a hurry, or think you're in a hurry, or just enjoy gadgetry, a progressive tool may have a certain appeal unmatched by a turret press and there's nothing wrong with that if you're an experienced handloader. It's not for beginners and it's a poor way to learn handloading.
 
Bear with me, I only have a single-stage Lee, and book-learnin' on the others.

If I'm reading your comment right, you are finding it tiresome loading 100+ rounds. With a single-stage, best case is 3 passes of 1 pull per round, so 100 rounds = 300 pulls, plus taking the case in and out of the holder each pass, so 300 times of doing that.

On a progressive, you could do that 100 rounds with what, 102 pulls I think? And 100 times putting the case in. Quite a benefit.

Getting a turret, you would have to do... 300 pulls, and 100 times putting the case in.

The only thing the turret saves you (besides die setup, which I find minimal) is that you can do all three steps on one round without removing the case from the holder. But unless you autorotate, you add the effort to rotate the head for each step. 300 times!

Autorotating... don't the Lee's come with 4 holes? So to avoid having to add an extra reset pull to get the first die around, you will have to set up with 4 dies and do 4 pulls per round. Or 3 pulls and one 'reset' pull.

So:

Single-stage = 300 pulls, 300 swaps.

Turret = 400 pulls, 100 swaps.

Progressive = 102 pulls, 100 swaps.

I don't think a turret is going to save you much work.
 
I used the original 3 hole turret when it came out in the 80's and added the auto index feature, it was a godsend from my RCBS single stage. I used that press till I wore out the auto index! I upgraded to the Lee 4 hole Classic Cast Turret and couldn't be happier. With the Safety Prime and Auto Disc measure, I can load 100 rounds in about 20 minutes without being in a hurry. You get a finished round with 4 pulls of the handle and you can remove each round at any point before it's finished. I use a Lee Classic Cast single stage for rifle rounds (223 & 308). I also have a new Lee Auto Breech Lock press which I am still tweaking out; as well as 4 Lee Pro 1000's.

I think you'd be very happy with the Lee turret press, I would suggest the Classic Cast over the Value turret, just because I think the Classic Cast is a more robust made press. Changeovers only takes a couple minutes and easy to get set up. Best of luck and let us know your decision :-)
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
I started on a used Lyman "Spar-T" Turret press (6 hole) and used it until it feel apart *8 or 10 years of constant use. I have a Redding T-7 Turret I bought new now. It will probably last 2 to 3 generations of loaders.

I have seen various aluminum presses by Lee that were worn out and no Longer square and centered from relatively short use (probably never got cleaned or lubed.)

While loading presses are very simple machines, if you buy these cheap ones and don't do maintenance, you end up with worse than nothing!

Ivan
Click to expand...

Unlike my cast-iron, 20-lb Herter's Number 3 single-stage press I still use for all my reloading.
 
When I started reloading and casting bullets about 1975, I bought the latest and greatest that Pacific had to offer. Loaded thousands of pistol rounds, several hundred rifle, and thousands of shotgun rounds. The only problems I had were operator error.

About 5 years ago, I bought a Lee Classic Turret and still use it today. I kept all my old (but not outdated) single stage equipment. I load 9 mm and other pistol cartridges on the Lee, and all rifle cartridges on the old stuff. I'd get rid of the Lee before I would my old reliable Pacific equipment. They all work for me.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
I bought a 3 hole lee turret in 1987. I upgraded to a 4 hole when the kits came out. It sits next to a Rockchucker so it isn't my only use press. I keep the ratchets in for most reloading tasks, especially pistols. I use a Lyman electronic scale and dispenser so that makes pouring the powder through easy. I will say that occasionally lubing the turrets and shaft with a drop of STP or other oils eases operation a lot. i was going to go to a progressive when I wear this out but it will probably outlive me.
 
mikerjf said:
Bear with me, I only have a single-stage Lee, and book-learnin' on the others.

If I'm reading your comment right, you are finding it tiresome loading 100+ rounds. With a single-stage, best case is 3 passes of 1 pull per round, so 100 rounds = 300 pulls, plus taking the case in and out of the holder each pass, so 300 times of doing that.

On a progressive, you could do that 100 rounds with what, 102 pulls I think? And 100 times putting the case in. Quite a benefit.

Getting a turret, you would have to do... 300 pulls, and 100 times putting the case in.

The only thing the turret saves you (besides die setup, which I find minimal) is that you can do all three steps on one round without removing the case from the holder. But unless you autorotate, you add the effort to rotate the head for each step. 300 times!

Autorotating... don't the Lee's come with 4 holes? So to avoid having to add an extra reset pull to get the first die around, you will have to set up with 4 dies and do 4 pulls per round. Or 3 pulls and one 'reset' pull.

So:

Single-stage = 300 pulls, 300 swaps.

Turret = 400 pulls, 100 swaps.

Progressive = 102 pulls, 100 swaps.

I don't think a turret is going to save you much work.
Click to expand...

Not the amount of handle pulls, changing dies every time, brass in and out of the shell holder, potential to knock over a case while waiting to seat bullets, etc. If anything, I'd be happy not handling brass as much. Sorry for not making that clearer.

So, from what I'm reading, just maintain the thing and I'm fine. I think all I'd need is press and priming system for it.
I have the safety prime that uses the die on top and ramrod, but that won't work for one of these. It would, but.

Thank you all very much
 
I've used a Dillon SDB for 20 years, I only load pistol.

Carbide dies, all staged up = one pull, one round, pretty simple


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNC7hE_KuHI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNC7hE_KuHI[/ame]
 
I've used the Lee Progressive 1000 (I believe) for years now. The first thing I discounted on it was the auto prime feature. After having powder all over the place a few times I bought a hand primer (now an RCBS) for that job. Once they get older they do get finicky. Let's face it, things wear out. I keep mine running just for the fact it's not a single stage. My old powder measure (which sits atop the charging die) died so I bought a new one they designed (finicky as well). I'm not super happy with it as you often have to take it apart to clean it (ball powders) so it doesn't start dumping powder around. However, mine is obviously older and needs much more tender loving care.

Starting out Lee products are great, especially their pistol dies with the carbide inserts.
 
I'll try loading for the bench guns on whatever I buy, but I'm perfectly content loading them on the single, they have dedicated dies just for them.

This is for 10mm, 44, 41, and 223 beer can and golf ball ammo. What's bad is I have more fun doing that than shooting holes in paper.

I really started considering a turret after sizing, trimming, priming, powdering, seating bullets, and crimping 100 44 specials, I sized and trimmed 250 total 44 specials, fully loaded 100. Trimming takes forever, but I'm not doing that very often.

I'm in that spot of shooting enough that a single stage takes forever, but not enough to justify a progressive. I'm not at the range for hours on end multiple days a week, rarely is it more than one day a week.
 
started reloading in 1988 with a Lee 3 hole turret press then went to a Lee progressive press how I use a Lyman American 8 hole press, I like it because I can put 2 different die sets on one turret. Not in as big of a hurry to reload as I used to be..
 
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