Help with a Lee Turret press

Sixer · August 18, 2009, 07:19 PM

I picked up a Lee Turret press about 8 months ago. It was my first press and it came used with a bunch of other reloading goodies. Anyhow, the press did not com with the part that makes the turret rotate after each lever pull. So basically it is set up like a single stage press and i just rotate the turret manually.

What part do I need to make the press work as it is supposed to?

RidgwayCO · August 18, 2009, 08:29 PM

It depends on if you have a Lee "Turret Press" or the Lee "Classic Cast Turret Press" (sorry, their names, not mine...). Go here and you can find the different part numbers.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi

Basically you need the metal indexing rod, the black plastic auto-indexing clamp, and the square ratchet. If you're ordering, get a couple extra ratchets as they do wear out over time.

snuffy · August 18, 2009, 09:32 PM

Actually there's three lee turret presses. The first is a 3 hole turret with the cast aluminum base. Then there's the lee "deluxe turret, which is auto index with a 4 hole turret. Last and most recent is the lee classic turret,("cast" is not part of the designation). The lee classic cast press is a single stage press like a rockchucker.

Is this what your press looks like?

If so, then I don't think you can make it into an auto index press. Call lee and ask, I know they did offer a kit to turn a 3 holer into a 4 holer. Maybe then you could add auto index as well.

shepherddogs · August 19, 2009, 10:25 PM

If yours is like the one previously posted and has the three hole turret, I strongly recommend you order the 4 hole upgrade kit. The indexing on the 4 holer is much more positive than with the 3 holer. The kit comes with the index rod, ratchet assembly and 1 4 hole turret. My old 3 hole never worked right. Since I got the conversion kit it works like a charm. Also order a couple extra square ratchets. They wear out after a while.

Kyo · August 19, 2009, 10:30 PM

http://leeprecision.com/graphics/parts/3567.jpg
http://leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/...906.3390=90933
part number TF3567. I ruined mine a few days ago but had a spare. gotta order like millions of them lol

amamnn · August 20, 2009, 01:30 PM

Someone once posted on this forum or another just like it that the vast majority of turret press users eventually disable auto indexing.

I don't know about the vast majority, but I did and everyone I know with a turret press (5 or 6 people) have theirs set up for manual advancement too.

Sixer · August 20, 2009, 01:58 PM

Snuffy, the one in your picture is just like mine... Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'm gonna stick with the manual operation, just wanted to see what kind of options I had

snuffy · August 20, 2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Someone once posted on this forum or another just like it that the vast majority of turret press users eventually disable auto indexing.

I don't know about the vast majority, but I did and everyone I know with a turret press (5 or 6 people) have theirs set up for manual advancement too.

Nobody but lee has auto advance. I sometimes do disable mine when loading rifle and either priming or dumping powder off press, using batch loading. But loading pistol ammo with no need to remove the shell from the shell holder, I can see no reason for not using the auto advance. It's the main selling point of the lee turret, allows you to load up to 200/hr. No way to do that while manually advancing.

dsv424 · August 20, 2009, 02:34 PM

Sixer you may want to check this upgrade out from Lee. Its not to exspensive and it would get you just what you were asking for.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...rretpress.html

Casimer · August 20, 2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

I can see no reason for not using the auto advance.

I have this disabled on mine because I can load more quickly if I index manually. Mine tends to jump the index position if I'm rotating the plate too quickly.

Brian Pfleuger · August 20, 2009, 03:13 PM

I can actually see where it could be quite a bit faster do do it manually with short cartridges. It didn't make sense to me until I got it set up.

I am considering removing the rod on mine since I'm only going to be loading 357sig at the moment. That way, I only need to go all the way down once to seat the primer.

Sixer · August 21, 2009, 02:36 AM

Hey thanks for the link DSV. That's exactly what I would need. For around $30 it might be worth picking up just to see how it works. I prep / prime all of my brass ahead of time... so all I really do when it comes time to reload is charge the case, seat the bullet, and crimp.

I don't like to get in a hurry, but if I can crank out 200rds of 9mm or .40sw an hour... it's worth a shot

Don P · August 21, 2009, 10:38 AM

Sixer, I have a 3 hole and was thinking of doing the same. If you truely want a auto index buy the 4 hole. The conversion kit will run almost the price of a 4 hole press and this came from the owner of factory sales which deals in Lee equipment and back around the turn of the year Lee was going to do away with the kits. My manual works just fine and if I stay with it I have been able to load between 100-150 rounds per hour.

willr · August 21, 2009, 11:45 AM

Actually, I stopped using the auto-indexer on my Lee Turret Press. Too many times I have found squib loads coming out of the process. It is possible, but difficult, to examine each round to verify the powder drop.

This means that if you use the auto-indexer you had better be very carefull to assure yourself of no squib loads.

willr

August 18, 2009, 07:19 PM	#1
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	Help with a Lee Turret press I picked up a Lee Turret press about 8 months ago. It was my first press and it came used with a bunch of other reloading goodies. Anyhow, the press did not com with the part that makes the turret rotate after each lever pull. So basically it is set up like a single stage press and i just rotate the turret manually. What part do I need to make the press work as it is supposed to? __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

August 18, 2009, 08:29 PM	#2
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	It depends on if you have a Lee "Turret Press" or the Lee "Classic Cast Turret Press" (sorry, their names, not mine...). Go here and you can find the different part numbers. http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi Basically you need the metal indexing rod, the black plastic auto-indexing clamp, and the square ratchet. If you're ordering, get a couple extra ratchets as they do wear out over time. __________________ "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Nope, not a single word about hunting...

August 18, 2009, 09:32 PM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Actually there's three lee turret presses. The first is a 3 hole turret with the cast aluminum base. Then there's the lee "deluxe turret, which is auto index with a 4 hole turret. Last and most recent is the lee classic turret,("cast" is not part of the designation). The lee classic cast press is a single stage press like a rockchucker. Is this what your press looks like? If so, then I don't think you can make it into an auto index press. Call lee and ask, I know they did offer a kit to turn a 3 holer into a 4 holer. Maybe then you could add auto index as well. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

August 20, 2009, 01:30 PM	#6
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Someone once posted on this forum or another just like it that the vast majority of turret press users eventually disable auto indexing. I don't know about the vast majority, but I did and everyone I know with a turret press (5 or 6 people) have theirs set up for manual advancement too. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

August 20, 2009, 01:58 PM	#7
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	Snuffy, the one in your picture is just like mine... Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'm gonna stick with the manual operation, just wanted to see what kind of options I had __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

August 19, 2009, 10:25 PM	#4
shepherddogs Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Posts: 1,007	If yours is like the one previously posted and has the three hole turret, I strongly recommend you order the 4 hole upgrade kit. The indexing on the 4 holer is much more positive than with the 3 holer. The kit comes with the index rod, ratchet assembly and 1 4 hole turret. My old 3 hole never worked right. Since I got the conversion kit it works like a charm. Also order a couple extra square ratchets. They wear out after a while.

August 19, 2009, 10:30 PM	#5
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	http://leeprecision.com/graphics/parts/3567.jpg http://leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/...906.3390=90933 part number TF3567. I ruined mine a few days ago but had a spare. gotta order like millions of them lol

August 20, 2009, 02:34 PM	#9
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Sixer you may want to check this upgrade out from Lee. Its not to exspensive and it would get you just what you were asking for. http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...rretpress.html

August 20, 2009, 03:13 PM	#11
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I can actually see where it could be quite a bit faster do do it manually with short cartridges. It didn't make sense to me until I got it set up. I am considering removing the rod on mine since I'm only going to be loading 357sig at the moment. That way, I only need to go all the way down once to seat the primer. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

August 21, 2009, 02:36 AM	#12
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	Hey thanks for the link DSV. That's exactly what I would need. For around $30 it might be worth picking up just to see how it works. I prep / prime all of my brass ahead of time... so all I really do when it comes time to reload is charge the case, seat the bullet, and crimp. I don't like to get in a hurry, but if I can crank out 200rds of 9mm or .40sw an hour... it's worth a shot __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

August 21, 2009, 10:38 AM	#13
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Sixer, I have a 3 hole and was thinking of doing the same. If you truely want a auto index buy the 4 hole. The conversion kit will run almost the price of a 4 hole press and this came from the owner of factory sales which deals in Lee equipment and back around the turn of the year Lee was going to do away with the kits. My manual works just fine and if I stay with it I have been able to load between 100-150 rounds per hour. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

August 21, 2009, 11:45 AM	#14
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 356	Actually, I stopped using the auto-indexer on my Lee Turret Press. Too many times I have found squib loads coming out of the process. It is possible, but difficult, to examine each round to verify the powder drop. This means that if you use the auto-indexer you had better be very carefull to assure yourself of no squib loads. willr