Joining the Red team

[Ursoboostd]

Got my kit and some other goods from Kempf and Cabelas today.

Don't think I'll be able to mount this press on the front where I had planned. You can see the interference at the bottom of the ram. I may move the bench around and mount the press on the side.

 

[Paul5388]

At first, I thought you might have gotten a Hornady LNL AP, but you made a good choice with that turret!

I mounted mine right up to the edge, because the ram doesn't extend toward the back, like a Rock Chucker does.

I don't how we're supposed to store turrets with dies in them with these new boxes. The old round ones would hold a loaded turret, if you inverted the bottom.

BTW, I'm not real sure I wouldn't add more to the top. I'm not sure how long that slicked up particle board will hold up to the pressures of resizing.

 

[a1racer]

drill through the top and use bolts to hold it down. the drawers come out pretty easy. if not the particle board will be destroyed pretty quickly. or just replace the particle board with some real wood.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I'm not sure I'd like my press that close to the wall. You'll be spending a lot of time pulling that handle, so a comfortable position is important. I use a progressive these days but regret selling my Lee turret. The Lee is well engineered and does a great job of loading at a decent rate of speed. Have fun!

 

[Ursoboostd]

Thanks for all the pointers fellas. I'll take all into consideration. I'm afraid this cheap particle board wont hold up either. I think I may try it just for the hell of it, buy I'm sure I'll end up getting a different top for it eventually. -Wade-

 

[NMPinNYC]

Wade, the home stores sell thick laminated real wood (maple?) butcher-block style tops intended as countertops; maybe price a slab of that and screw it right onto the existing top. Good luck with that press, I recently bought the cast turret press myself.

 

[Ursoboostd]

Wade, the home stores sell thick laminated real wood (maple?) butcher-block style tops intended as countertops; maybe price a slab of that and screw it right onto the existing top. Good luck with that press, I recently bought the cast turret press myself.

Thanks. I was thinkin about that too. Maybe drill some perferation holes in the existing top and use some sort of wood glue to attach a butcher block. -Wade-

 

[sar4937]

You'll need to anchor that box so it doesn't move around as well. You might need a way to level everything.

 

[bradanita]

Looks like you bought the table for loading also, no oil or greasey wrenches on it. I don't load tons of ammo and still like doing them 1 at a time, Lee single stage. Maybe because I can hide in the basement longer

 

[ACP230]

I have used a Lee Turret and a Lee C press since the late '70s or early '80s. They are still going strong after loading thousands of .38 Speicals, .45s, .41 Magnums and a few 9mms and .32 ACPs. I also load .30-06s, .308 target and hunting rounds and hunting rounds for my .250 Savage on the turret.

I have mostly Lee dies too, although I do have a couple of RCBS die sets.

 

[ecam8000]

I've got a bunch of reloading manuals dating from the 60's to current. That Lee book is one of my favorites. I've got my ten year old (girl) reading it now. It has been useful for the beginner, and the seasoned loader.

 

[tomf52]

Get a piece of 3/4 oak the depth need for the press and about four inches wider on eaqch side and then either clamp or screw it to the existing bench top. That's the way my Lee classic cast turret has been mounted (on a particle board top) since they first came out and nothing has loosened up or broken. Especially reloading pistol calibers there is no rear load on the press. Mine however, does rifle and pistol.

 

[Ursoboostd]

IKEA | Countertops & wall panels | Countertops | LAGAN | Countertop



I wonder if this would be any good to bolt/glue on top? May just be Swedish junk. Who knows. -Wade-

 

[NMPinNYC]

IKEA | Countertops & wall panels | Countertops | LAGAN | Countertop



I wonder if this would be any good to bolt/glue on top? May just be Swedish junk. Who knows. -Wade-

At 1-1/8" thick, I'd be looking for something a little thicker. Although it's pretty, it's too pricey to double up (two slabs thick).

 

[Bill22250]

Mounting the press

I used the Dillon Strong mount for all my presses.. including "non-Dillon" presses. Drill the bench top through and use bolts, lock washers. I haven't had any problems with the particle board this way ..it's been about 3 years for this bench. I have 2 Dillon RL550s and a Rockchucker mounted this way and I load a lot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've been using that Lee Classic Turret Press for well over 4 years now and I like it a lot. I'm glad to see you upgraded to the Pro Auto Disk powder measure because for the few extra Dollars you spent you get a much better powder measure IMO. Along with all my handgun ammo I also load 30-06 and 45-70 Govt. ammo with that press. I take the auto-index rod out and use the press as a single stage. That works well for me and each stage is fast because after you set up all the dies in the turret all you need to do is manually turn the turret to the next die when it's time to go to the next stage.

From what I can see in the picture you posted if you turn the bench 90 degrees clockwise you can probably mount the press on the side where there's nothing to interfere with the lever. It looks like there will be enough room to open the drawers and stand in front of the bench when you need to and you can reload from the side while sitting.

Looks like you are well on your way to getting everything set up. Good luck with all your new toys!!

 

[Ursoboostd]

Here is my fix. (Hopefully) -Wade

 

[Skip Sackett]

Enjoy the red equipment!

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

You have picked a good piece of equipment. I have long since moved on to progressive machines but, on then end of my bench, there all by itself, sits my Lee Classic Turret Press in 4 hole cast iron version.

I still use it to load small batches of important ammo. Such as bragging stuff, you know the one hole group jazz you take to the range to impress people, and hunting rounds for my friends.

Just got done with a batch of 44mag for that purpose as a matter of fact!


Enjoy!

 

[Smitty500Mag]

I mounted mine on a piece of 2 x 8 that way I can clamp it on my work bench at home or take with me to my apartment when I'm at work during the week and clamp it on my Work Mate portable bench and reload there. It also makes it nice to be able to get it out of the way when I'm not using it on my work bench at home.

Smitty

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Smitty,
I'm betting there are just as many presses mounted the way yours is as there are mounted to benches. Your way works just as well as any other way and as long as you can load, there is no bad way!!