Why a turret press?

[Boogsawaste]

It's a hornady powder cop. I've spent a lot of time with it so it's easy to spot. Once you get comfortable with it you should be able to see the same. Anything funny gets thrown on the scale.

 

[bananaman]

flyrobb,

I have the Lee Classic Turret, an upgrade from my original Lee 3 hole turret press. I still use my RCBS Reloader Special single stage (circa 1978). My shooting volume is about the same as yours 100-200/week between 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 acp.

I have each caliber set up in it's own turret ($10-$12 each) and a Lee Auto Disk Powder measure installed on each caliber ($24 each). Caliber change-overs take 1 minute or less, fill powder hopper and primer feed and done. I DON'T RELOAD FAST OR IN A HURRY. 100-150 rounds an hour is achievable on the Lee, maybe even more. What I like most, is I have complete control of each round from start to finish and can remove at any time, for any reason.

I've been tempted over the years to try a progressive, but low volume and cost of new equipment just doesn't make sense for me. I've used Lee equipment for years and it has worked well for me. Lots of choices and lots of good suggestions, best of luck in your search

Classic Turret works fine for me! Never had any load problems. Load .38, 9mm, .40, 45ACP, & 45 LC. I do not use a powder disc for each caliber though. Bob

 

[BigBill]

I have many presses but plan on a indexing octagon table for the presses.

1. RCBS rockchucker (custom target ammo short runs)
2. Lee open sided press $17 for decapping
3. Lee Pro 1000 38spc/357mag/9mm luger
4. Lee Pro 1000 41mg/44spec/44mag/45 LC
5. Lee Pro 1000 45acp
6. Lee Master Reloader 308/30-06
7. Lee turret. 6.5 Swede, 7mm mauser, 7.5 French, 8mm mauser, 303 Britt.
8. Open space.
I have most of the die plates, shell plates. I need the powder dispensers for every die plate next. Less setup tIME.

I been using the rockchucker since the 70's. I was given a free Lee pro1000 progressive in 45cap. What a blessing it is. It's so much faster to reload. I'm not handcuffed to my reloading bench 24/7 every night.
Now I want to setup the presses for each caliber. Make it easy for the kids to do it. The powder measures will be set on each die plate.

 

[snowman]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do......
It ain't easy shelling out the bucks these days.......
But sometimes longevity comes into play, among other things.
Other important things that are hard to see through the wallet.
Old folks are set in opinions, but usually from experience, and
most old folks [today] come from a place where they understand
not only value, but what it requires to achieve it.
I grew up being taught to save for what I really wanted, and not compromise for having lesser faster......but we live in a different time now, a world of microwaves and fast food, and we want it NOW.
No slam meant, it just is what it is. The worst part, today, is you don't even get what you pay for in many instances.

Sir,

I'm experienced enough to know that some of Lee's products are less than stellar in the longevity department, but that is not true of the Classic Turret Press. It is a well-built machine and will last. I've run many thousands of rounds thru mine now without an issue, and there's no sign of early wear and tear. I'm sure other owners here have had the same experience. It is an outstanding value, and will serve flyrobb well. I'm not a 'fanboy'; just presenting my view as an experienced user.

Respectfully,
Andy

 

[snowman]

flyrobb,

A few suggestions from an experienced user:

-Even if you get the kit, I would highly recommend that you continue to use your RCBS scale. The Lee scale is accurate, but I've found it a real pain to set up and adjust. But. . .you may like it, who knows?

-I can recommend the Lee Safety Prime Attachment. It isn't difficult to install and adjust, but there is just a bit of an art to using it, to avoid hiccups. This is a bit too difficult to describe in the little time I have right now, but if you get one, I'm available to try and assist -just PM me. The jury is still out on the longevity of this particular tool, but it has worked well for me in the thousands of rounds on which I've used it.

-I also highly recommend that you grease the turret plates periodically with a lightweight grease on the surfaces which slide around the top of the press. This reduces wear on the indexing components and makes for smooth and quiet loading.

Best wishes as you go forward,
Andy

 

[flyrobb]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do......
It ain't easy shelling out the bucks these days.......
But sometimes longevity comes into play, among other things.
Other important things that are hard to see through the wallet.
Old folks are set in opinions, but usually from experience, and
most old folks [today] come from a place where they understand
not only value, but what it requires to achieve it.
I grew up being taught to save for what I really wanted, and not compromise for having lesser faster......but we live in a different time now, a world of microwaves and fast food, and we want it NOW.
No slam meant, it just is what it is. The worst part, today, is you don't even get what you pay for in many instances.

No slam taken ozo. I can relate to what you are saying. I have always gone for the good equipment weather it be fly fishing and tying equipment, tools, golf clubs, guns, stereo equipment, whatever and have never regretted waiting and buying quality. I'm a pretty particular and patient guy which is why reloading and fly tying are the type of things I really enjoy so if I feel it's worth waiting for till I can afford it, I'm all in.

In this case it just seems the LCT will do everything I need it to do right now and I haven't gotten the impression it is junk. It seems a lot of users like it and are happy with the quality. I can only go off what I am reading. I other words I don't mind waiting for say, the 550b but if the LCT works I don't mind saving several hundred dollars either.

It's kind of like fly rods to me. I have $200 rods and $700 rods and each have their rolls. The $200 dollar rod is a good piece of equipment and does everything I need it to do for that particular purpose but for another application the $700 rod could not be replaced with a cheaper one.

For now I will continue on my SS Lyman Spartan and digest all I have read in this thread, which went WAY beyond my expectations but I enjoy each an every post.

 

[bolson]

I talked my brother out of the kit, because there were a couple items he did not need or could upgrade like the scale. Also I think he's decided to use a rcbs hand prime tool rather than the lee priming system.

 

[garbler]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do......
It ain't easy shelling out the bucks these days.......
But sometimes longevity comes into play, among other things.
Other important things that are hard to see through the wallet.
Old folks are set in opinions, but usually from experience, and
most old folks [today] come from a place where they understand
not only value, but what it requires to achieve it.
I grew up being taught to save for what I really wanted, and not compromise for having lesser faster......but we live in a different time now, a world of microwaves and fast food, and we want it NOW.
No slam meant, it just is what it is. The worst part, today, is you don't even get what you pay for in many instances.

I pretty much understand and agree with these posts but I'm thinking I want to add another aspect to this discussion. I have never once bought a Lee press or product but 35-40 years ago won a press and die set, scale, etc in a drawing at the SHOT show in Vegas. Well I already owned a nice Pacific single so I figured I'd mount my new Lee next to it on the bench and double my output. Wrong. The Lee was a flimsy bench companion to the Pacific and keeping the dies set properly was troublesome. I guess if I had not had the Pacific next to it I may not have been so disappointed initially but I gave it away for some binoculars and never looked back

The gentlemen that taught me to load and shoot would not tolerate Lee anything back in the 60-70's and I won't mention the term they used for the presses. Needless to say no matter how much better the Lee line has gotten there is still a stigma attached with generations of reloaders who learned otherwise. Lee had to get better cause back then they weren't selling squat to any of the shooters I knew. So no matter how much better their design and quality is today you are going to run into insurmountable resistance from guys like me. Price seems to pretty well drive the market these days with new shooters and I can certainly understand why with the economy and non-shooting world being so unaccommodating if not hostile. Like the man said ' you do what you gotta do ' . But the more I think about it if the new shooters do stick around and really learn to love this sport and all of the aspects, science and variables that go with performance then perhaps years down the road they will look back on their little Lee and thank it for opening the door. For those that hopefully do stick around and are still loading I'll bet most will have stepped up to the next level.

 

[sarg1c]

I shoot the same amount as you, maybe a bit more and I have a system that uses all turret presses. I've bought used Lyman All Americans for $60 to $100 each and mounted them on 3/4" plywood along with an RCBS powder measure (also bought used). I have one for each caliber so I can change calibers in 15 - 20 seconds and can load 100 rounds in around 35 . Definitely not Dillon speed but I love using the old equipment and I haven't had to switch or adjust a die in years.

I also use turrent press's. I bought a used Lee three hole press at a LGS for $10.00,removed the auto advavce. Did buy 5 three hole plates. Also found a Lyman turrent press used for $15.00 and use it mostly to prime but did use it before buying the Lee. It's a six hole model.
I disagree with garbler on the Lee, I mostly use Lee equipment and have for 40 years.. I also always crimp rifle loads with the LF C dies. Only my. 204 is not crimped only because I don't have a crimp die in. 204.
The good thing about a Lee turrnt press is you only have to set up dies once. Just change plates when changing calibres

 

[Badquaker]

I check every powder charge on a scale. Depending on powder type, it can vary by 2 tenths of a grain or more during a run. I like Unique powder, but it does not meter worth a darn.

A turret allows me to do things in batches. My old school lee 3 hole turret works great. I have 7 plates currently set up, but want to pick up a few more.

 

[shovelwrench]

Don't know if someone mentioned it, BUT, one other thing to consider is how much time you want to spend reloading.....

With a progressive you get your caliber set up and spend an hour for a few nights and you have a thousand rounds......

For a lot of people that would complete their reloading FOR THE YEAR!!!!!!

I have 2 progressives, a Lee turret, and a single stage.......

I use the single stage for hunting rifles and to process brass for the AR before it goes to the progressive. I use the Turret for lesser used ammo like .32 long, .45 Colt, and .380. The progressives are set up for whatever I'm running short on in 9mm, .38 super, 223, .45, or .38....

If I sit down for an hour or two here and there I can stay stocked easily.