Thinking of a Lee Turret Press

[lwestatbus]

I am not doing as much practice with my Model 60 38/357 revolvers because of the price of ammunition and just bought (today!!!) a Model 69 in 44 mag/44 Special. Talk about sticker shock for the ammo.

After watching a number of videos I am circling the drain on buying a Lee Classic turret press and configuring turrets for each caliber I will be loading. I think I will just manually place primers rather than using a feed tube and the kit I am looking at comes with the auto drum powder measure.

I will probably do 100 - 200 rounds a month and am retired so don't mind sitting a bit and putting some labor into the job. I definitely don't want an automatic press. I like the turret press so I can set up multiple turrets and reuse them without checking all the distances by changing out dies on a single stage press.

Has anyone used the Lee Classic Turret Press? I'd definitely appreciate any resounding pros or cons.

Any thoughts on the Lee auto drum powder measure?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Farmer17]

I haven't owned a Lee Turrent press but I have researched them and may buy one when I retire. They are not as good or costly as Dillons, RCBS, and others but to load two thousand rounds per year I think they would last quite a while and their accessories are reasonably priced and pretty easy to get.

 

[upcountry]

I have one and reload for 9mm, 40, 45ACP, 38/357, 44spl/mag, .223 and .308 and never had a problem. Smooth, easy to operate and rock solid, No complaints. A good purchase.

 

[raljr1]

I have a Lyman turret press. I use it as a single stage.. turning that turret 100 times got old....it is nice to have all the dies set up, but i run a stage at a time. I use a Lee priming tool. I did not like using the feed on the press.

 

[Exaviator]

I used one for many years, 9mm, .38 SPL, and .38 Mag, and found it easy to use with no major problems, with one small modification. I replaced the small plastic ratchet collar with one made from metal. It solved a small slippage problem.

 

[Triggernosis]

I have a Lyman turret press. I use it as a single stage.. turning that turret 100 times got old....it is nice to have all the dies set up, but i run a stage at a time. I use a Lee priming tool. I did not like using the feed on the press.

Does the turret not turn automatically when you pull the lever?

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I would concur that turret presses are quite often utilized as single stage presses, possibly more often than not...?

The use of a quick change bushing system (I prefer the Hornady version but the newer LEE system works as well) makes changing a die on a single stage press almost as easy as indexing a turret press: I probably load 75+% of all my reloads on the ol' LEE Classic Single Stage Iron Press with a Hornady bushing conversion.

Cheers!

P.S. I still prefer to hand prime and hand weigh almost all my reloads. More concerned about the quality, safety and reliability of my ammo than production number concerns... Perhaps one (Uh, make that "two", please!) of the aspects of both retirement and reloading I enjoy the most is not being on a schedule or in a hurry?

 

[raljr1]

Does the turret not turn automatically when you pull the lever?

Not on mine.

 

[kraynky]

I have a Lee single stage press, a 3 hole turret press and a Dillon 550. The Dillon does most of my handgun loading, but I use the Lee's for my lesser fired rifle rounds and things like shot shells and test loads at times.

I think it will serve you well tor what you are interested in doing. I hand feed primers in the Lee's without any problems at all. But I'm not loading hundreds of rounds at a time like I do with the Dillon.

PS: I do tend to use it more like a single stage press with a loading tray. The turret let's you set your dies and leave them set as you change from sizing to seating and crimping, just changing the turret when changing calibers, similar to Dillon tool heads.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have been reloading using Lee equipment for 53 years. I'm a user, not a stock holder, so I think I'm qualified to comment. Right now I load 28 calibers. In most of my retirement years I load about 3000 rounds a year, and I haven't worn out anything yet. I understand the blue and green companies are better, but red is good enough for me.

First of all, I don't like a progressive. Too many turrets to buy. Also, for any one caliber I use several different bullet types, so I have to adjust every time. I have 2 of their cheap "Reloader Presses" (paid something like 25 bucks each), so I can prime, flare, powder and bullet seat without changing presses. A poor man's progressive.....LOL.

The second thing I don't like is the auto drum. I use the pro auto disc with micrometer adjustment.

Thirdly, I use one of the old style press mounted safety primers. They are not available now, but I would buy a used one rather than using the current stuff.

Lastly, I hate the breech lock presses. Another thing to have to buy extra parts every time you get new dies. I drilled and pinned the breech fitting in place and JB welded it. Now when I change dies I simply screw them it.

I have always been proactive to crises and issues, and thus have bought supplies ahead of time. I am currently loading 38 spl and .45 Colt for a nickle apiece. Of course that's with home cast lead bullets that basically are free.

 

[Empe]

I have a Lee Classic Turret Press . I've been using it for about two years to reload .45ACP , .357 and .38 Special . Using my own brass it costs me about .25 cents per round.
No problems with it so far nor am I anticipating any ...still pleased with the purchase .

 

[Triggernosis]

^^^ I use 5 different bullets in .223 - so I made it easy on myself and purchased a seating die for each bullet. The Lee seating dies are cheap enough that it's a no-brainer not to.

 

[tom2]

I got a Lee press I bought decades ago. Turret? Holds the turret thingee and has 3 dies on it. I use carbide dies except for rifle. I just loaded some .30-30 the other day. Got sticker shock for the new box of bullets. I mostly load straight case revolver. No longer have any auto pistol dies or components. I am not sure what you save now if you can even find the components you need. Never had a problem with the Lee setup after adjustment. Just that with no "automatic" features you best work with zero distractions, mostly when measuring and loading the powder charge. Double check for empties and double charges. You cannot get a double charge in most rifle cases! Pistols, yea. The only annoyance with the Lee for me is decapping/sizing and the caps either fall down inside the base of the press to be cleaned out later, or occasionally bounce out into the carpet.

 

[tlawler]

I started out with a Lee Classic Turret kit several years ago. It’s a good little starter setup for low to moderate output. If you’re talking a few hundred rounds a month, it will be perfect and it is very cost effective. I used mine for about 3 years before I stated upgrading to Dillon equipment. Dillon presses are more precise and allow a much higher output. Getting a consistent C.O.A.L. on the Lee was a chore with some cartridges, but when I went to a Dillon 550, it was so much easier.

Some aspects of the Lee Turret like the depriming and the primer feed system frustrated me and after the first 500 or so primed cases with 15 or20 ending up on the floor, I abandoned it completely. I started depriming with a Lee APP press and hand prime with RCBS hand tools. It works well for me because I like to wet tumble the brass after the primers are punched out.

The scale didn’t last long either. I picked up an RCBS 505 at a gun show cheap and it’s been a really great scale.

The auto drum powder dispenser is a step up from the disk system that comes with the kit, but both can get messy. Both were pretty consistent in their powder drops and served me well until I changed over.

Almost everything I’ve bought over the years has been used, and I’ve gotten some incredible deals on just about anything related to reloading. I’ll buy up a bunch of reloading equipment and cherry pick what I want, then sell all my excess stuff to fund it.

The Lee is a good starting point to teach yourself reloading, but start perusing the ads so you can upgrade those aspects of the Lee that you feel have shortcomings.

 

[madmikeb]

I would second that a Lee Autoprime hand primer is the way to go, they are very reasonably priced and you can really feel the primer seating. That is all I've used for years.

My press is a single stage Rockchucker, my powder measure is a Uniflow, but in recent years all I buy is Lee dies with a factory crimp die. They are priced right and work great.

 

[mikerjf]

I looked at the Lee turret, but went with the Classic Cast single-stage instead. I mark my dies with a Sharpie and hardly ever have to futz beyond just screwing them in. I’d have no problem doing 500 a month with this setup.

Note that the Lee turret can be set to auto-advance or not. Might be unique in that aspect.

BTW, I mounted my press on the wall so I can use it while standing - really like that. And this winter I’ve been doing some small test batches with a Lee Hand Press - like that too!

 

[gmarshall99]

I am not doing as much practice with my Model 60 38/357 revolvers because of the price of ammunition and just bought (today!!!) a Model 69 in 44 mag/44 Special. Talk about sticker shock for the ammo.

After watching a number of videos I am circling the drain on buying a Lee Classic turret press and configuring turrets for each caliber I will be loading. I think I will just manually place primers rather than using a feed tube and the kit I am looking at comes with the auto drum powder measure.

I will probably do 100 - 200 rounds a month and am retired so don't mind sitting a bit and putting some labor into the job. I definitely don't want an automatic press. I like the turret press so I can set up multiple turrets and reuse them without checking all the distances by changing out dies on a single stage press.

Has anyone used the Lee Classic Turret Press? I'd definitely appreciate any resounding pros or cons.

Any thoughts on the Lee auto drum powder measure?

Thanks in advance.

I have been using one for 15+ years. I love it. To change calibers, lift the turret off, pu the turret in for the new caliber, and you 95% done. It not pricy. I used carbide dies so no lube necessary

 

[gmarshall99]

Get the Lee prime attachment for the press. Or better yet, get the kit.

 

[Skeet 028]

I've had 3 Lee turrets. yes they work...great? Not really. The primer feed thing is a bit of a pain...but I prefer a RCBS bench tool. I loaded 44Sp first. dropped powder mainly with Lee dippers. The press worked fine I tried 45 Colt he same way...to be honest it was ok but hardly faster than a single stage.If I could get the primer and powder contraptions to work consistantly....it would definitely be a good buy. Lee has always had good ideas...with the right powder measure and primer feed this would be a great press. There will be some who will say they have no problems...more power to them..I prefer to reload with a progressive than play with the press. I had to buy one of the new 6 Pack Lee progressives. A great idea for a press...but still has the old Lee priming problems. Maybe one day. The Lee Turret is still a fairly well made press. `And worth a look for someone loading 200-300 rounds a month

 

[GypsmJim]

I am not sure what you save now if you can even find the components you need.

Components have not been unobtainable since / during covid, but the price has been a shocker. Currently, the prices have come down. Still not where they should be, but better than factory ammo, availability is a bit spotty, so you have to be patient.

If you cast your own boolits and have pre-covid priced components, handgun loads are about a nickle a round.....12 cents if you had bought bullets.

At current bullet, powder and primer prices, a handgun round should cost about 24 cents.

As far as I've seen, reloading is still cheaper than factory, unless you buy 1000 round cases.

All prices are assumimng you use your own brass.