Joining the Red team

[Rule3]

I just got my Turret press also and am installing it now. I have a similar set up. I use a older heavy duty workmate. I originally had the single stage press on piece of 3/4 exterior plywood and C clamped it to the bench. I have now cut a larger piece of plywood (sanded/painted) and have it attached to the bench with 4 carriage bolts and a strip of wood is glued and screwed in the center, so the vise holds it also.The press is attached to the plywood with 3 counter sunk bolts. They whole board with press comes off in a minute if I need to use the workmate.

I have holes drilled on my workbench in the garage for the press/wood but it is not air conditioned out there at it is over 90 degrees and 80% humidity so I am not working out there!

Here in the kitchen it's nice and cool and close to the fridge and coffee.

I only put the scale on the board to show I have something BLUE

 

[Ursoboostd]

You get glue on that carpet dude and you won't live long enough to find out what reloading is all about!

hahhaaaaa I thought about doin it in the garage, but got lazy. No matter who messed the carpet up, guess who would be $payin$ for it..............

OCD1 thats a nice little rig you got there. I'll be buyin that same scale. -Wade-

 

[Rule3]

Well, I loaded my first batch of 9mm with the new Turret Press. I only loaded 50 rounds to give it a test run. I feel a bit uncoordinated as I had a pretty good system going with batch loading on the single stage.

I guess there is a bit of a learning curve and priming on the down stroke of the press was completely new for me. I had been using the RCBS hand primer.

Two things I am not crazy about with this press.

The turret is very small and it is hard to tighten/adjust the dies for the initial set up. Not much room to work, I had to use a wrench.

The second is the Safety prime system. It works OK but it is just to flimsy IMO. Feels like it will break in no time. They could have made it out of heavier plastic or aluminum at least.

I went real slow checking just about every case for correct powder weight so that slowed me up a lot. The bullet seating and factory crimp was pretty slick.

After I get used to it, I'll time it. No way is it as fast as the Lee Video. He did 5 rounds in a minute

Anyway, I have one caliber set up and need a nap now.

 

[Ursoboostd]

OCD1, are you just using the disks to drop powder? Did you weigh the drop from the disk to verify it? Just curious as I'll be doing this for the 1st time soon. (After road trips for work, ugghh)

Well here is my finished product. I think it will work. I tested it by depriming some 38 spl and 9mm. I also set up my expanding dies and powder dropper. I don't have my primers yet, so that's as far as I can set up. And of course I'm getting so close to being able to start reloading and Monday I have to go to NY for 4 weeks(work).

 

[Skip Sackett]

Patience!

Speed will come with time. The thing you need to concentrate on now is consistency and accuracy. Make sure the ram travels to both extremities. Down, so the case goes all the way up, and up so the case comes all the way down to seat the primer correctly.

You will get the hang of it and really like it in a little while.

As dennis40x says, go slow so you can go fast! Good advice.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Looking good UR!

 

[Rule3]

Urso,

Yes I have the disks and the charge bar. I have not experimented with the charge bar yet For this first batch I used HP-38 and by the chart the .43 hole should be 4.6 grains. I weighed it on the Dillon scale and it is 4.5, so close enough and within the load range. I had been loading the 115 gr plated bullets at 4.5 anyway so it works out fine.

Before I loaded any full rounds, I filled the hopper to the top and used any empty case and filled and dumped at least 20 times to "break it in" Also, when you are done, turn the hopper to off and use a empty case with spent primer and repeatedly fill it up several times to empty the charge hole. If not when you take the hopper off you will have a small spill. I know this how??

I had some problems with the stupid primer system, it would not put the primer in the primer bar and fall on the floor, I then spent time looking for the damn little things. I think I have it adjusted better now.

Your Kobalt bench looks really nice now with the heavy wood. It's nice to have the drawers down below. What is that strange symbol on the peg board? Some kind of clock?? or a round safe???

 

[RV4driver]

That Lee will remain long after you move on to a progressive. I use mine for match rifle ammo.
The primer deal seems flimsy, but mine is still going strong after thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle. It just works. Mostly cause it's simple. Once it is set to the proper "angle", it works like magic.
A lot of people use a hand primer so they can "feel" the primer seat, but I never had any trouble feeling my primers seat with that setup. If they go in sideways, you know it.
You need to lube the race occasionally where the turret rotates. It will get dry and screw you up eventually. It doesn't hurt to have an extra little square plastic piece that rides on the twisted rod. Mine ate itself up when I forgot to lube the race that I just mentioned.
One of the nice things about this press, is that it is just plain simple.

Jeff

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ursoboostd,
Looks like a good setup. BTW, did you buy an Adjustable Charge Bar (Part #90792) and a Micro Disk (Part #90302) yet? I think you will find it comes in handy when you are trying to charge light weights of Ball powder or precise charges that don't fall within the normal disk measures. Both are listed for $9.98 on the Lee site but can be found online for less. (unless you order from Midway)

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I use a few of the Lee products and have found them to give good service. I think you will be happy with your purchase. Many moons ago a buddy of mine made me a compact loading bench and made the top out of a piece of bowling alley lane. Talk about heavy duty!

 

[Ursoboostd]

I bought the charge bar and messed with it a little. It seems to drop pretty inconsistantly so far. Haven't had time to really play with it. Been traveling alot for work. -Wade-