Lee Classic Turret Press: Flaws???

[Maximumbob54]

What, what, whaaaaat???

A certain Mr. Some Body just pointed out that the Lee Classic Turret has its own flaws. Other than being slower than a progressive press, I would really like to know what they are. I know I'm using a uppity tone and don't mean to sound defensive. I'm just so proud and satisfied with this press and I'm always recommending it to new loaders. My only real complaints about it are that it was kind of painful to get together the first time and get everything tuned just right, and that... Well... That's really it. Every time I start to think about saving up for a Hornady Lock and Load AP or Dillon I just go back and use the turret and make a bunch of pain free ammo. And it's so easy to swap tool heads. And the rare occasion where something happens and I need to stop, reject, or do over it is just so easy. What is it that some people find negative about this press???

 

[glockky]

I personally am completely satisfied with my lee turret press. I have the auto disc powder measure for it and i can easily load 125rds and hour which is plenty of production for my shooting needs.

 

[Rule3]

I have and use one for many calibers, I find no major flaws with it at all. For the price of the press and the price of extra turrets it is a key buy and makes for easy caliber changes. Other press's are perhaps heavier duty but I do not think that makes better ammo. Even though I have yet to break the little plastic square (still have the extra) some complain about that. In the review I always link to, they like it a lot also.

Real Guns

Paint it Blue and think how great it would be!

 

[ronnie gore]

lee

i have one i use for some of the calibers i shoot less of , and the only problem i have ever had is the nylon indexer getting out of time i have replaced it once due to damage by having the screw in the ram to tight, i have thought about just useing it and indexing it manually. i like it and i have 4 of the dillion square deal presses that are great also.

 

[ohiococonut]

I doubt there's anything wrong with Lee. If there was they wouldn't still be in business. I look at it like cars. Sure Lee will get you there but if you want to go in style with a little more heft, pick another color. I have no dog in this fight, in fact I do use some Lee dies.

I just get tired of reading about "who's best". I'm not sold on blue (Dillon) either for two reasons.
1) You need a spare parts kit. Why? Because pieces break.
2) Excellent customer service. Why? Because that's the FIRST thing you hear about. If all I hear is how good the customer service is obviously there's way to many problems that have to be corrected. Others have engineered out problems. Why can't they?

Lyman, been around a long time as well but neither them or Hornady offered what I wanted. I've been sold on RCBS for over 30yrs. And in that time I've only called them once and it was because a part was missing from a kit I bought. ONCE, that's it and they sent the part free. I've got 3 different presses, chargemaster, case prep center and a host of other things they make and none of it has failed me. Not once.

It doesn't matter what color it is or who made it, they will all work but you get what you pay for. And as one poster pointed out, none of them make any better ammo.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Okay, I am the "Mr. Somebody!"

I guess I should have clarified and said that I recommend the Lee Classic Cast Turret press for beginners more than any single press out there!

Saying that though doesn't mean that they are flawless! I love my wife and she is.................................Oh, yeah, perfect! (She has good taste in men too!)

All kidding aside, the indexing system is pretty weak. Within the first few weeks of using mine, I had to put a bolt through it with a double nut so that it would stay together. No big deal, now it is fine.

The square indexing ratchet, well, on my second one, which is fine. They cost me $1 for two. I can live with that.

The priming system functions..........most of the time a primer comes out on the first try.

Then, there are the 4 pulls to get one round, but, that is the design of the press.

I am a firm believer in recognizing the problems with a piece of equipment. I am also a believer in recognizing the good attributes of one.

So here are all of the good things about the Lee Classic Cast Turret press:
1. UM,,,,,,,,

2. YEAH.................


3. I'll think of one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!










Just kidding!


All of that put aside, I really like how easy it is to setup. I like the turrets and how fast they go in and out of the press. No slicker system out there for that, in my opinion. They are cheap to purchase and having one for every caliber is not that big of a deal, money wise.
I like the primer catching system. I modified it a tad and it now goes into a plastic coffee can so it doesn't need dumped so often.
I like the way I can make it a single stage in like 1 second. I use it a lot like that when I am building up a load.
Cost is another factor. I got mine as a Christmas gift several years ago from the wifey so I don't know what it really cost. It was WAY less than any Dillon or LNL-AP and for starters that is a good thing.
I use a Lyman #55 powder measure on mine for the most part, the Lee disk system leaves a bit to be desired but, hey, I am supposed to be talking about the positives here.................forgot!

Honestly, they are a great press and worth the money you pay for them. The work just like they are designed and for the most part, that is fine for a lot of folks.

If you were shooting 1000 rounds a week of 45ACP ammo for competition, it is not the press for you. If you load for accuracy type of shooting, where maybe you need 100 rounds a week, it will do that for years and years and years and years and....................




Okay Bob, how did I do? You feel better now?

 

[Jc85]

LOL a Mr. sombody! lol SMITH! Hey guys I didn't want to start an argument. lol you guys are silly.
It is an excellent press, I toyed with one before I purchased my LM. I cant say "I wish I would of went with that!" cause my Lm might hear me.

 

[Maximumbob54]

So Some Body suddenly thinks they are someone huh... I'm joking. No, I wasn't unhappy at all. I just don't want to be blind to something. My little plastic bit has yet to go bad on me. I'm still trying to figure out what the second part is. The square that turns the turret head itself? That wears out? How does that wear out? Mine shows no wear at all... Am I missing something or is this not the part to keep an eye on? But if it cost all of a buck then I will buy a dozen of them and never worry again. I'm thinking of upgrading the arm to the Ultimatereloader roller arm. Maybe. It's not like the existing arm doesn't work. But it might be easier on the arm and shoulder during a long run. Less effort = I didn't even know I was loading for that long? Maybe. And no one started any fights. I am just way to guilty of being a fanboy of products that I like and can miss flaws because of that fanboy blindness. I talk up BK grip adapters, Lee products, Ahrends Grips, Altamont Grips, and a few more. But that's not to say they are perfect and the best thing for everyone. I just like them. Some of them, a lot...

 

[Titegroups]

About the only thing I find a better value than my Lee turrets are my revolvers, I wish I could say that about more things in life.

 

[Cirrus]

I just retired my Loadmaster and got a brand new Classic Turret and I haven't found a single flaw in mine. Out of the box, easily 10x's easier to install and set up than the Loadmaster was. It took me all of 10 minutes to get mine mounted, assembled, tuned, and cranking out rounds. If it gets any easier, they could train a monkey to do it!

I've got 2000 rounds loaded on mine so far and haven't ran into a single problem. The main reason that most people have problems with the plastic ratchet and indexing is because they short stroke the press when the ratchet is in the twisted section of the rod. Just run the ram up a little more to get it out of the twisted section and then bring it back down. I guarantee you'll eliminate 90% of the ratchet problems.

One of the best things I like about the Classic Turret is the spent primer tube. Simply take the plug out of the end and drop a small trash can under the tube and you'll never have to worry about it getting filled up. Or leave the plug and it's still 100x's better than the Loadmaster's system. You need a big tarp to catch all the **** that comes out of the ram of the Loadmaster, I don't care how big your trash can is. And I get tired of running a piece of clothes hanger in and out of the ram trying to unpack and loosen the packed spent primers. I'm a Classic Turret disciple!

 

[Paul5388]

I've been using a Lee Cast Iron Classic Turret for maybe as long as Skip has. I don't have many indexing problems, but I use mine semi single stage most of the time. Of course, if you finger index, like you were using a Dillon, there wouldn't be any indexing problems.

I have been dumping my spent primers straight into a trash can for as long as I've had the press. That made a happy camper out of me, compared to what I was used to with my Rock Chucker.

 

[Fishslayer]

What, what, whaaaaat???

A certain Mr. Some Body just pointed out that the Lee Classic Turret has its own flaws. Other than being slower than a progressive press, I would really like to know what they are. I know I'm using a uppity tone and don't mean to sound defensive. I'm just so proud and satisfied with this press and I'm always recommending it to new loaders. My only real complaints about it are that it was kind of painful to get together the first time and get everything tuned just right, and that... Well... That's really it. Every time I start to think about saving up for a Hornady Lock and Load AP or Dillon I just go back and use the turret and make a bunch of pain free ammo. And it's so easy to swap tool heads. And the rare occasion where something happens and I need to stop, reject, or do over it is just so easy. What is it that some people find negative about this press???

I'm gonna take SWAG.... a Dillon fanboi?

Sure, there are flaws. Some of the accessories are kinda cheesy...but they work. They're plastic, but mine's been going strong for around 2 years or so. I have replaced a plastic part. $.50 from Lee.

It's the same mindset that nobody could POSSIBLY be satisfied with a $500 1911 because theirs cost $2K+.

Probably the first thing you learn upon meeting their dog is how much it cost.

Ignore the haters.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I'm gonna take SWAG.... a Dillon fanboi?

I'm not a "fanboi" of Dillon but I do have a few of their presses too. 3 Square Deal B's, 2 XL650's and now an RL450B.

All but one XL650 was purchased used. I buy them because they work and work the best. When stuff wears out, I don't pay anything for parts, they are just sent.

I like the Lee for what it is, but please, don't even think of trying to compare it to anything that Dillon makes. Not even in the same class. Nor are they in the same range for functionality.

Apples to apples would be the Load Master to an XL650 and I am pretty sure that no one really wants to go there!

I do want to get a Hornady LNL- AP.

I haven't drank the blue cool-aid, but, there is no comparison that can be made here to Dillon. Cost more? Yep, that is one reason I recommend the Lee to a new loader. Don't let money stop you from getting started. After you use the Lee, get involved in shooting more, reloading more, more calibers, more and different bullets, more and different powders, maybe start shooting in competition, load for a relative or two, you may find that you need a press that does more. When you reach that point, if you ever do, I would suggest a Dillon. By then you are so hooked on handloading that the sale will be an easy one!

 

[mikelain]

I had indexing problems with mine. I read on this form somewhere about using 2 of the little black squares in place of a single one. That took care of the indexing problem. It is the only press I have, so that proves that it is good enough.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I did think of trying the Dillon BL 550 at some point. Then I could keep building onto it until it becomes the RL 550. But I'm just not sold on the hand indexing. That is the greatest part to the Classic Turret. It seems you can buy the tool heads for the 550 but they aren't as easy to swap out. It's minor but true. But I can see the ammo flow jump since it is doing the four stations at once. So I would guess it would just make ammo 4x as fast as I do know. Maybe when/if I ever need/want that level of productoin then I will go there.

 

[Cirrus]

Lee has free replacement parts the first two years of owning the press so keep that in mind.

And I can buy a hell of a lot of plastic parts for the price difference of a Dillon! And that's even if they're needed. I don't have time to put the figures together, but I'd say it would take about 20 years of buying the plastic parts from Lee to make up the difference in price of the Dillon.

 

[Skip Sackett]

This debate can go on and on and on and on and ...... No one is going to change their mind or the mind of another. We bought our presses with our information in mind, our personalities behind those decisions, um, period.

If you want to clunk along in a Yugo and are happy, fine. If you want to drive a Hummer and all, do that too, I have no problem with either thing.

Just remember, a Yugo is NOT a Hummer and a Hummer is overkill for most folks.

The exact same applies to these two lines of presses, again, period.

If you are shooting 1000's of rounds a month, and you are doing it on a Lee Classic Cast Turret press, more power to you BUT, you ain't got no other life! That I can tell you for sure!

Just remember about the plastic parts, Dillon's are guaranteed free for as long as they are in business, from day one that you own the press to the day they close the doors.

Case in point: I just bought an RL450B off of the used market. They went out of production in 1984. I needed two springs when I got it. Not because they were broke, because they were rusty. I told the tech that. He said we don't warranty parts because they are rusty BUT, I will send these springs to you free of charge. So, once again, it paid to drive a Hummer, even if it ain't needed!

 

[Rule3]

Absolutely the BLUE press is top of the line, and built better than most any but and it's the big but.

You pay more that excellent quality and no BS warranty up front.

If I could afford a BMW then sure I would drive one, but I can't.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Absolutely the BLUE press is top of the line, and built better than most any but and it's the big but.

You pay more that excellent quality and no BS warranty up front.

If I could afford a BMW then sure I would drive one, but I can't.

Exactly!

Don't be a liberal then and throw stones at the BMW as it drives by either!

See, that is EXACTLY what they are trying to do in Washington to those that create jobs! Tax them more just because they have more.......

Let's not fall into that trap here..............


p.s. You also pay for production rates. You will NEVER get 1000 rounds per hour on a Lee Classic Cast Turret press, NEVER!

 

[Rule3]

You say you haven't drank the Blue Kool Aid but you have 6 (six) Dillon Press's?? One is not enough? How does your poor lonely Lee press feel surrounded by all those big Blue Boys?? Do you make it sit at the Kiddy table?

Yes I think we should tax you more, way more as you have to much disposable income!