Really liking the turret press.

Prof Young · August 17, 2017, 08:07 PM

Posted recently about getting my first turret press from Lee. Have gotten better at getting the primer seated on the down stroke. What I really like the process finishes a bullet before I move on. Now I can set up a load do ten round or 37 or 82 . . . leave it and come back to it later picking up right where I left off. (I recheck the powder throw, but that's all I need to check.) Have done couple hundred rounds of 9mm. Ammo closet is looking good.

Life is good
Prof Young

dds51968 · August 17, 2017, 08:22 PM

I have the Classic Turret Press also and think it's an exceptional value and a darn good Press for handgun calibers. The Pro powder measure is good but not always consistent, so what I like to do, though a little time consuming is as follows. I seat the new primer weigh the case on my Frankford digital scale, tare to zero, drop powder and re weigh. That'll always get me the weight of powder I want, if not I dump it and re drop powder. Even with this mildly OCD step (beats a squib) you can still load a bunch of ammo in a reasonable time.

My two cents that you didn't ask for.

Have fun and be safe.

David

Metal god · August 17, 2017, 08:33 PM

I like mine . I do not prime on the press but rather use a hand primer . I then remove the decapping rod from my hand gun dies and size the case with the new primer already seated on the first station , next flare & powder drop in the second station , next seat bullet on the third and crimp on the last station . Works well for me .

I size my rifle cases on my single stage and then prime with a hand primer . I have been want to try to use two powder measures and two seating dies in the four hole head . This should allow me to complete a round every two pulls of the handle . I just need to buy a second seating die to try it out . I already have a few powder measures that will work .

LAH · August 17, 2017, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Ammo closet is looking good.

Good stuff.

kmw1954 · August 17, 2017, 09:15 PM

Prof, that's good to hear and glad you are liking it. It really is a versatile press. I have an older 3 hole auto index that I use along with a Pro 1000 that's used for 9mm.

Stats Shooter · August 17, 2017, 09:22 PM

I was thinking about one of these presses for myself. I already have a xl 650 and 550C, but I keep hearing how wonderful that these presses are and for the price they would be great to take to the long 1k/600 yard range

std7mag · August 17, 2017, 10:39 PM

Prof,
Glad to hear. I load everything in my inventory with mine.
I did pop the $25 and got the upgraded powder dispenser with the adjustable disc. Love that disc!!

kmw1954 · August 17, 2017, 11:17 PM

Mississippi if you do a lot of different load work ups these things are great. As I've been working up loads for a new 380acp with 100gr plated bullets and 2 different powders. I can easily set the dies in the turret and then only have to adjust powder drop or bullet seating depth.

Metal god · August 17, 2017, 11:44 PM

Yeah caliber change is like 15sec as well and the tool heads ( or what ever they're called ) only cost $12 . Leave the dies in the tool heads and just swap them out as needed along with the proper shell holder . The auto indexing is what sold me . I'm just not interested in any press I need to manually index . I have enough things to concentrate on and remember when reloading .

jetinteriorguy · August 18, 2017, 07:14 AM

Gotta love the turret. Only thing I still load on the Loadmaster is 9mm. But I also have a 9mm setup for the turret to work up loads before mass producing on the Loadmaster. One thing I did, I shortened the handle to make it easier on my arm, to compensate on the sizing stroke I use both arms. I just found in my particular case that having the arm at full length was aggravating an old injury but by shortening it I have no problem with it.

Prof Young · August 18, 2017, 09:44 AM

Wow. I hadn't thought of shortening the handle to shorten the stroke. That's a great idea. I will play around with that and see if I can't save a bit of energy and become even more efficient.

Life is good.

Prof Young

TailGator · August 18, 2017, 10:21 AM

I like my LCT, too. It's not for high-volume loading, but low and medium amounts it does fine. The easy caliber changes are nice, too.

Quote:

I seat the new primer weigh the case on my Frankford digital scale, tare to zero, drop powder and re weigh. That'll always get me the weight of powder I want, if not I dump it and re drop powder. Even with this mildly OCD step (beats a squib) you can still load a bunch of ammo in a reasonable time.

dds51968, I get pretty good consistency (generally +/- 0.1 grain) with my Pro disk unit mounted on the LCT. That is fine for practice ammo. If you mount a light so that you can see into the case and do a visual check you won't miss any powder drops low enough to be a squib. I check every tenth drop the way you do, and some people think that is excessive. By all means, though, do what you are comfortable with - I am the last person to advise someone to do something they don't think is safe.

849ACSO · August 18, 2017, 01:03 PM

^^^^^this^^^^^

LAH · August 18, 2017, 02:06 PM

Quote:

I check every tenth drop the way you do, and some people think that is excessive.

Don't throw anything but I load bulk handgun ammo on my Dillon & do a powder check each time the primer tube runs empty.

dds51968 · August 18, 2017, 08:51 PM

I know it's a bit much. I upgraded to a Dillon Square deal and its extremely accurate, it's also very fast at producing ammo which is what makes me mis using the LCT. I enjoy the therapeutic aspect of reloading much more on my Lee.

**44 AMP** · August 19, 2017, 02:14 AM

I really liked my Spar-T turret press back in the 70s.

Until the first time I seated a bullet with the expander die....

August 17, 2017, 08:07 PM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Really liking the turret press. Posted recently about getting my first turret press from Lee. Have gotten better at getting the primer seated on the down stroke. What I really like the process finishes a bullet before I move on. Now I can set up a load do ten round or 37 or 82 . . . leave it and come back to it later picking up right where I left off. (I recheck the powder throw, but that's all I need to check.) Have done couple hundred rounds of 9mm. Ammo closet is looking good. Life is good Prof Young

August 17, 2017, 08:33 PM	#3
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	I like mine . I do not prime on the press but rather use a hand primer . I then remove the decapping rod from my hand gun dies and size the case with the new primer already seated on the first station , next flare & powder drop in the second station , next seat bullet on the third and crimp on the last station . Works well for me . I size my rifle cases on my single stage and then prime with a hand primer . I have been want to try to use two powder measures and two seating dies in the four hole head . This should allow me to complete a round every two pulls of the handle . I just need to buy a second seating die to try it out . I already have a few powder measures that will work . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

August 17, 2017, 11:44 PM	#9
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	Yeah caliber change is like 15sec as well and the tool heads ( or what ever they're called ) only cost $12 . Leave the dies in the tool heads and just swap them out as needed along with the proper shell holder . The auto indexing is what sold me . I'm just not interested in any press I need to manually index . I have enough things to concentrate on and remember when reloading . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

August 18, 2017, 09:44 AM	#11
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Good idea! Wow. I hadn't thought of shortening the handle to shorten the stroke. That's a great idea. I will play around with that and see if I can't save a bit of energy and become even more efficient. Life is good. Prof Young

August 18, 2017, 01:03 PM	#13
849ACSO Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle Posts: 629	^^^^^this^^^^^ __________________ "The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing."

August 17, 2017, 08:22 PM	#2
dds51968 Member Join Date: May 4, 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 36	I have the Classic Turret Press also and think it's an exceptional value and a darn good Press for handgun calibers. The Pro powder measure is good but not always consistent, so what I like to do, though a little time consuming is as follows. I seat the new primer weigh the case on my Frankford digital scale, tare to zero, drop powder and re weigh. That'll always get me the weight of powder I want, if not I dump it and re drop powder. Even with this mildly OCD step (beats a squib) you can still load a bunch of ammo in a reasonable time. My two cents that you didn't ask for. Have fun and be safe. David

August 17, 2017, 09:15 PM	#5
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Prof, that's good to hear and glad you are liking it. It really is a versatile press. I have an older 3 hole auto index that I use along with a Pro 1000 that's used for 9mm.

August 17, 2017, 09:22 PM	#6
Stats Shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2016 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,636	I was thinking about one of these presses for myself. I already have a xl 650 and 550C, but I keep hearing how wonderful that these presses are and for the price they would be great to take to the long 1k/600 yard range

August 17, 2017, 10:39 PM	#7
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Prof, Glad to hear. I load everything in my inventory with mine. I did pop the $25 and got the upgraded powder dispenser with the adjustable disc. Love that disc!!

August 17, 2017, 11:17 PM	#8
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Mississippi if you do a lot of different load work ups these things are great. As I've been working up loads for a new 380acp with 100gr plated bullets and 2 different powders. I can easily set the dies in the turret and then only have to adjust powder drop or bullet seating depth.

August 18, 2017, 07:14 AM	#10
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,175	Gotta love the turret. Only thing I still load on the Loadmaster is 9mm. But I also have a 9mm setup for the turret to work up loads before mass producing on the Loadmaster. One thing I did, I shortened the handle to make it easier on my arm, to compensate on the sizing stroke I use both arms. I just found in my particular case that having the arm at full length was aggravating an old injury but by shortening it I have no problem with it.

August 18, 2017, 08:51 PM	#15
dds51968 Member Join Date: May 4, 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 36	I know it's a bit much. I upgraded to a Dillon Square deal and its extremely accurate, it's also very fast at producing ammo which is what makes me mis using the LCT. I enjoy the therapeutic aspect of reloading much more on my Lee.

August 19, 2017, 02:14 AM	#16
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	I really liked my Spar-T turret press back in the 70s. Until the first time I seated a bullet with the expander die.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.