Single stage vs Turret press questions.

[Rule3]

I have been loading on a single stage press with quick change bushings. I was originally thinking of moving up to a progressive press (see this post if you want) but due to the expense of all the shell holders and extras it is too expensive for me.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/95774-questions-about-hornady-l-l-ap-press.html#post1048746

I do not need large quantities of ammo but do load all pistol/revolver calibers and a few rifle so ease of changing dies is most important. I have all Lee dies with factory crimp and do not want to buy another brand.

Sooo, the question is, how much faster in production is a turret vs a single stage? I do pretty well at batch loading but figure the turret would save some time by priming and charging on the press. Plus I would not have to handle each piece of brass 4-5 times. I am looking at the Lee Classic turret which is the heavier model and have read a few good reviews and can use the dies I have. I would need to buy a few extra turrets and the powder measure all for less than $200. The Lee video shows a rate of around 5 complete rounds per minute which comes to 300/hr but that seems high to me??

Anyone using a turret press and have any comments calculations on rate of production?
(if we can keep it to just turret press function and not brand please, I know there is better made equipment)

Thanks

 

[OKFC05]

I still use my old Lee turret for making small batches or testing changes.

I don't prime on the turret press because of having to handle each primer. I use the Lee handheld priming tool that holds a box of primers.
So I still do modified batch processing on the turret. Nowhere close to 300/hr.

For large quantities, it's my Dillon.

 

[dbarale]

I use a Lee turret press, I made a bracket that allows me to use a Lee Powder measure on top of the press but it is not linked to the handle. I handle every primer by hand.
I can load 150rds /hour without stressing myself and visually checking each charge. I use a beam scale to check every 10th charge.
That's more than enough for my needs, I can easily make time to load 500rds in a week and that's plenty for me. I can't afford more than that anyway...

 

[Rule3]

I still use my old Lee turret for making small batches or testing changes.

I don't prime on the turret press because of having to handle each primer. I use the Lee handheld priming tool that holds a box of primers.
So I still do modified batch processing on the turret. Nowhere close to 300/hr.

For large quantities, it's my Dillon.

Thanks. I also use the Lee primer tool and the RCBS universal hand priming tool. The Lee Turret now has the Safety Prime System which basically has the same round primer holder as the hand version but attaches to the press and you just push the button each time.
YouTube - Lee Safety Prime Operation

 

[kv4v]

I used a Lyman turret press for many years. In 1988 had a flood, 4 feet of water in the house, ruined everything, so I bought a Dillon Square Deal. Never looked back.

 

[oldRoger]

IMO you are better off sticking with your hand prime tools. Personally, after hand priming I put cases in a block and then pass them under the powder measure, I have never liked the powder measure on the turret for a lot of reasons, it's doable though.
I have two small presses side by side on about 6" centers. I full length size/decap in one operation, move the case 6" to the second press then expand necks, I usually do 200 at a time. Cases are then primed, powder added, & inspected. Then back to the same presses, seat bullet, move round, crimp, and finished. I pull both press handles at the same time (Keeps Lt & Rt hand busy).
You are either going to turn the turret or move the case, the case is easier for me.
I did a T and M study it's faster for me than a turret. Two of Lee's cheap presses will do fine. I have my Lyman Spar-T on permanent loan to a starting reloader.
I use the LnL for volume ,.45 &10mm.

 

[gressang]

I have a Lee Classic Turret press and am very happy with it. I use a single stage RCBS press too. The Lee allows me to complete about twice the number of rounds as the RCBS press in the same amount of time.

My neighbor has a Lee Pro 1000 that I have used too. Between the RCBS, Lee Classic Turret Press and Lee Pro 1000 I prefer the Lee Classic Turret Press. It allows me to concentrate on one round at a time vs. the Pro 1000 which can get "out of wack" quickly and frustrate me if I am not careful. Completing rounds without making die changes and taking them in and out of the shell holder multiple times allows me to get into a rhythm and comfortable pace of production.

I find setting up my reloading equipment equipment and supplies plus verifying powder charges and overall length periodically during reloading takes as much time as pulling the handle of whatever press I am using. The theoretical throughput of a machine is not very important to me since I usually only make 100 rounds at a time. It takes me about 20 minutes to make 50 rounds of 45ACP on the Classic Turret Press.

In general, I find the Rock Chucker slows me down more than I prefer, the Classic Turret Press to allows me to get the job done most efficiently and effectively and the Lee Pro 1000 has more going on with each pull of the handle than I care to monitor.

 

[Rule3]

IMO you are better off sticking with your hand prime tools. Personally, after hand priming I put cases in a block and then pass them under the powder measure, I have never liked the powder measure on the turret for a lot of reasons, it's doable though.
I have two small presses side by side on about 6" centers. I full length size/decap in one operation, move the case 6" to the second press then expand necks, I usually do 200 at a time. Cases are then primed, powder added, & inspected. Then back to the same presses, seat bullet, move round, crimp, and finished. I pull both press handles at the same time (Keeps Lt & Rt hand busy).
You are either going to turn the turret or move the case, the case is easier for me.
I did a T and M study it's faster for me than a turret. Two of Lee's cheap presses will do fine. I have my Lyman Spar-T on permanent loan to a starting reloader.
I use the LnL for volume ,.45 &10mm.

That is pretty much the same as I have been doing only with one press. I do check about every 10th case powder on the scale and visually check each one in the loading block to check for squibs or doubles before I put a bullet on top. Then I seat and crimp revolver loads or run the semi autos through the factory crimp.
It seems that on a turret I would lose the ability to check all powder charges at one time and would be even slower to try and check each one on the turret.

Appears I can not have my cake and eat it too.

Gressang,
I like the idea of concentrating on one round at a time also so I do not think a progressive is in my near future. I do not need the volume. That's why I thought the Turret would be a happy medium. For the money I just might get one anyway just to see if I adapt to it.
Thanks for your experiance with it.


I just can't justify spending the money for a Dillion or LnL with all the extras involved. For that money I'd rather buy another gun.

Oh well it keeps me busy and out of trouble. I'm going to the range now with some of my hand crafted 38 specials and 9mm.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Great minds, same frequency!

I still use my old Lee turret for making small batches or testing changes.


For large quantities, it's my Dillon.

I agree completely. This is exactly what I do as far as quantity.

I prime on the press though as the new Lee Classic Turret Press in cast iron. The press is a marvel and when used with the Lee Safety Prime it is the cat's meow for small batches. To be honest, the primer flipping dimples on the Safety Prime work the best for turning primers over anything I have ever tried.

This is the press I have:

This is the Safety Prime on another press:

OCD,
This is a lot like asking what kind of car to drive or as you have learned here in the reloading section, what kind of powder to use, so you are going to get a lot of different answers. I have had one problem with the press. The auto indexing "key" has needed replaced once, it ships with two though.

If your single stage is working for you, stay with it. If you decide to go with this turret press you will be getting a good tool. They Kempf Gunshop for available kits.

Let us know how we can help.

 

[Dan Cash]

Save your money and buy a Dillon. A 550 if you are doing a wide variety of calibers. Keep your single stage as it still has many uses. You will have frustration with Lee dies on a progressive though. They frustrate me on a single stage and disappoint me every time I try to use them.

 

[oldRoger]

OCD1
Think about what if;
If you moved the case from the first press to a second very near, put a new case in the first press, pull both handles, one with each hand. Now the second case is complete, it goes to the box with LT hand, RT hand moves brass from station 1 to s 2, rt hand loads new case to 1, pull handles together.
Your two dies stay set-up, the only move is a case from station to station.
The only thing you need is a second small Lee Press and a second shell holder.

 

[Landric]

I have four presses on my bench, a RCBS Rockchucker II, a Lee Classic Cast, a Lee Classic Turret, and a Dillon Square Deal B. Of the four, the Classic Turret is easily my favorite. I don't shoot a huge amount, but I shoot enough that I wasn't happy with my production volume when I was using just a Rockchucker, which I did from 1994-2000.

The Classic Turret is a strong press, and IMO the best product Lee is currently offering. I'd say its about twice as fast as loading on one of my single stages. The Safety Prime system beats the pants off of any other manual priming system I have ever used, and its much faster to refill than the pickup tube system that Dillon uses.

The Pro Auto Disk powder measure is great with some powders, and not so hot with others, so it depends on what you use. I have a lot of handgun loads worked up using HS6, and it is always dead on with that powder. The good news is that a caliber change, complete with a turret, 4-die set, auto disk pro, and powder measure riser (for use with the safety prime) is about $90. Drop the powder measure and riser (and just swap them out), and its about $45.

If I could only have one press, it would be the Classic Turret. The Dillon SDB is much faster for production, but I find the LCT a lot more relaxing to use, and I like being able to inspect each round as it is completed rather than inspecting at the end of a batch when loading on the SDB.

 

[Rule3]

OCD1
Think about what if;
If you moved the case from the first press to a second very near, put a new case in the first press, pull both handles, one with each hand. Now the second case is complete, it goes to the box with LT hand, RT hand moves brass from station 1 to s 2, rt hand loads new case to 1, pull handles together.
Your two dies stay set-up, the only move is a case from station to station.
The only thing you need is a second small Lee Press and a second shell holder.

You lost me on this one.

Are you speaking of loading a rifle caliber with neck sizing only?

My Lee die sets for pistol have 4 dies. I can run them through 3 for revolvers as I do not need the Factory crimp die but put all my semi auto ammo through 4 dies.

Deprime, flare, seat and crimp and Factory crimp for the semi auto.

Besides, I can't do anything with my left hand maybe nose excavation

The pics SmithCrazy posted are what I had in mind as long as the powder drop and primer system work correctly. For a whole extra $6 I can get the Adjustable Powder charge bar or for $14 the double disk kit and be able to fine tune the powder charge.

 

[snowman]

I was pretty much in your exact position a few years ago. I didn't shoot enough to justify the expense of a progressive, but the Lee single stage I was using was too slow. I also knew(and this probably won't apply in your case) that I tend to make mistakes regularly when I have to keep track of very many things at once. Consequently I bought the Lee Classic Turret with the primer which fits on the press, and I am completely satisfied. No, I can't do 300 rounds per hour, maybe half to 2/3rds that much. But that will do for me.

One thing which helped speed things up considerably was rigging up a stand for the powder measure which placed it immediately behind, to the right of, and slightly higher than the press so that I can easily and quickly charge each case. I made and mounted a small piece of plexiglass just to the left of the measure on which I place the powder pan(can't remember if that is what you call the thing you catch the powder in to dump it into the funnel). When I'm ready to charge the case, I reach back with both hands, grab the pan with my left and raise it to the drop, and grab the handle of the measure with my right, drop a charge, and dump it into the funnel which is but an inch or two away. The scale sits just to the left of the measure for monitoring charge weights every so often.

At any rate, I would recommend the turret press for your situation.

Andy

 

[idahostreams]

Single stage vs turret press

After 40 yrs of using a single stage press and a seperate prime system I finally bought a Redding T7 press. I did not buy their add-on priming system. I size and deprime and prime at the first stage. I shift the turret and expand the case mouth at the second and throw the primed expanded and sized case in a box. I throw all powder charges and place the charged case in a loading block. After charging all cases I examine each with a flashlight. I shift the turret to the seating die, seat a bullet and shift the turret and crimp on Lee FCD. All done. I only shoot about 100 rds. a week of centerfire and can easly load that many an hour with my system. I spend no time loading a seperate priming system as I find if I keep my hands clean, I have no problems with dead primers.
Julian

 

[cptdco]

I agree that the rate shown in the Lee video is a little optimistic. I've timed myself several times and for a basic stright-walled pistol case I do a 50 round box in about 15 minutes working at a comfortable pace, and assuming I'm all set up and ready to go like the man in the video. I can't tell you how much faster it is then the single-stage I used for years but I'm very glad I bought it (Lee Turret press) and like you said, it really cuts down on the case handling. I use the Lee powder measure with the discs. I've checked every tenth round, and gotten bored doing it when there isn't any measurable variation. Now, assuming I'm doing a big run of a particular load, I'll weigh maybe two rounds a box. I manually place the primer in the little cup; the auto-loading primer gizmo maybe just fine, I've never tried one.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for all the input.
I think I might just get one. The price will not kill me although my wife might. I can probably be forgiven for $200 not $700 (those I put on lay away and sneak into the safe)

 

[dbarale]

Another thing, make sure to get the cast version (Classic Turret I think?), much stronger than the other one.
Also, as much as I like Lee's single stage and turret presses, their progressive presses are really not up to the task and you're much better off with a blue one...

 

[Rule3]

Another thing, make sure to get the cast version (Classic Turret I think?), much stronger than the other one.
Also, as much as I like Lee's single stage and turret presses, their progressive presses are really not up to the task and you're much better off with a blue one...

Yes, that's the one I am looking at. No progressive for me at this time.

FWIW and for those who may be interested, here is a review I read on the press.( I read all reviews with a grain of powder) There are 3 parts. There is also a review that Brownells did.

Real Guns

 

[Marksman]

I started out loading handgun ammo on an RCBS Junior press, I soon was shooting frequently enough that a single stage press took forever to keep up. I used a LEE 3 hole auto-advance turret press for several years after that. I now have two Ponsness Warren P-200 turret presses, one set up for .357 Magnum and the other for .44 Special/.44 Magnum. The PW presses are kinda unique in that the shell holder is what moves rather than the turret. In operation I size and deprime as the first operation, priming is done off the press with an RCBS hand priming tool. I typically reload in batches of 500 at a time, once they're primed I expand and drop powder charges. I used to run LEE dies because I liked their powder through expander die, I now use Hornady New Dimension dies because I like the co-axial sliding sleeve bullet seater. I modified the Hornady expander die to mount an RCBS Little Dandy powder measure. The expanded/charged cases go in a loading block and the charges are checked prior to topping with bullets. The last step is to seat & crimp. To load .44 Special/.44 Magnum on the same press without changing die adjustment or utilizing a second set of dies in the turret, I made an extended shell holder which in the case of the .44 Special/.44 Magnum is .110" taller. When switching between Special and Magnum, I just switch shellholders, the dies having been set for .44 Magnum during initial set-up of the press. I get the speed and convenience that I want using this set-up. One other modification I made was to make an adapter that goes between the RCBS Little Dandy powder measure and the powder through expander die. It utilizes a Hornady Lock-N-Load bushing, that way I can remove and replace the powder measure quickly when emptying or changing powder. If anyone would like to see photos of my set-up I be happy to e-mail some, just ask.