New Member, other Dies for Lee Classic Cast Press

Bobrm2 · July 29, 2009, 06:27 AM

At the tender age of 62, I've decided to learn to load my own .45 cal. Lurking around trying to decide what questions to ask, Needing information about dies that might fit in the Lee Classic Cast press (haven't bought the press but it seems to fit my needs). The Lee .45 cal dies are on back order.

Any help will be most appreciated.

Bob

rwilson452 · July 29, 2009, 07:01 AM

You will find that with rare exception any major mfg dies will fit the Classic Cast.

floydster · July 29, 2009, 08:11 AM

I have the Lee Classic Cast single stage, it is a good press.
I use the Hornady LNL bushing's on my dies, that way you can change dies out in a matter of seconds without re-adjusting.
Floydster

Sevens · July 29, 2009, 10:32 AM

There are three dies I can think of that WILL NOT fit a Classic Cast.
1) The Dillon dies that they sell for use with the Square Deal B press
2) Old Lyman 310 tong tool specific dies
3) .50 BMG large thread dies if you DON'T have the Classic Cast with the adaptor ring

All the rest of the reloading dies you might be able to find should work. You can use $20 Lee dies or $250 Redding superduper dies and anything in between.

It's pretty much an industry standard.

Bobrm2 · July 29, 2009, 09:29 PM

Thank you all, Lot to learn.

Bob

**Unclenick** · July 29, 2009, 10:00 PM

Except for the aforementioned special cases, they are all an industry standard thread of 7/8"-14 tpi.

Which .45 are you loading for?

Farmland · July 29, 2009, 10:32 PM

Just a quick note on the Dillon dies. It will not have the expander die, because the case expansion is done through the powder funnel.

Bobrm2 · July 30, 2009, 08:24 AM

Purchased a Tarus 1911; early this year. Last one processed was goverment issue in 1966.

Bob

flashhole · July 30, 2009, 03:07 PM

You might want to consider the Lee Classic Cast Turret. I bought one for loading 40 S&W and I bought the Lee Carbide die set too. No complaints. The reason I suggest the turret is the single stage requires you batch load, one step at a time. It's convienient for rifle cartridges but not so for pistol loads. The Lee comes with a removable auto indexer that can be removed for single stage operation.

Russ5924 · July 30, 2009, 06:07 PM

YES go with the Lee Turret press if all you are going to do is pistol. Have you tried Cabelas and Midway plus many many more. Or go to Lee direct it cost more but you may get them. I had to do that this year to get a set of .44 Mag dies and still took a month but I did get them

exbluelight · July 31, 2009, 06:48 PM

I think I have posted this before on the forum but....... try Cabela's Lee Classic Turrent Press Kit
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1
It comes with both large & small primer feeds, & Auto Disc Riser to make it easier to use other brands of dies, along with all the other extras. I priced it all out seperate & it is a savings. Great value for the money. Ordered mine on a Monday, Arrived on a Friday. Nothing backordered. ebl

Bobrm2 · August 12, 2009, 09:33 AM

Thanks, really have looked the Lee web site, checking comments. Just bought Lee equiptment for casting bullets, waiting on Midway's shipment. Will go back and check out the turret press. Is there a greater tendency to double load on a turret press? Thanks for the information.

Bob

Kyo · August 12, 2009, 09:46 AM

You can if you don't pay attention, but its kinda hard, since on the down stroke the auto index changes what die you have. You can use it as a single stage. I can see someone double charging if they put the shell into the Auto-powder index thingy twice with the arm. Pretty much you would have to lift it up into the powder die, put it down half way, and then raise it all the way up again.

dsv424 · August 12, 2009, 10:17 AM

Another way to prevent double charges is to use powders that fill the volume of the case 1/2 way or more. This way when or if you accidentally double charge it is real noticable since it will be filled to the very top or over flowing.
I also have the Lee Classic Turret and it is a very good press for your needs. You may want to check Kempf's Gun Shop for the press they have a very nice kit that is reasonably priced. The only thing not included is a scale.

NWPilgrim · August 12, 2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Another way to prevent double charges is to use powders that fill the volume of the case 1/2 way or more.

That is what I have moved toward. On one hand, if you use the faster powders you need less weight of powder, which means you get more loads per pound (cheaper). But then you have the risk of overcharging and often the faster powders are only at their best with light for caliber bullets (not always).

In rifle cartridges this not so much a problem. But in handguns a fast powder can only fill 1/4 or less of the case. I have started using Unique and Universal instead of Bullseye or WW231 since they will fill the case more and a double charge will spill out or be so close to the top it is noticeable.

In rifle I like the Varget, H4895, IMR4064 powders (Reloader 15 should be about the same) for .223, .308 and .30-06. Varget fills a .223 case.

Jim243 · August 13, 2009, 08:17 PM

Bob you can double charge a case with either press, you are the safety officer when reloading. Don't let anything or anyone distract you. I use the turret press for all handgun loads, just pull the handle after you drop a powder load and there will be no problems since it moves the case to the next station. If I pull a load to weigh the load to check the weight, I use my funnel to drop the powder back in the case and set the head since I am already at the next station on the press. Just make sure you have suffecient powder in your hopper, you don't want to think you dropped a load and find that you just have a primer and no powder in the case.

Brian Pfleuger · August 13, 2009, 08:25 PM

Try Lee Factory Sales for the press and dies. I just bought my own setup from them. They had the lowest prices and their service is excellent.

If you get the turret press be sure to get the CLASSIC version as it is cast. You can put together the same parts that come in the kit for something like $30 more but have the cast press instead.

http://www.factorysales.com/

Kyo · August 14, 2009, 01:31 AM

you should really be able to tell if you over load a cartridge. I mean, my 45 can hold like 13+ grains. I think I would be able to tell when I have a double charge. I do 4.5/4.6 so 9 grains would be very noticeable.

flashhole · August 14, 2009, 06:06 AM

FWIW - I've dealt with Lee Factory Sales a number of times. Their service is spotty at best. I don't like the fact they charge your credit card at the time of order and tell you the stuff you want is on backorder with no delivery date. They should not charge your card until goods are shipped. They will back out the charges if you call them on it but that's just not right.

July 29, 2009, 06:27 AM	#1
Bobrm2 Member Join Date: July 18, 2009 Location: Searcy Co. Arkansas Posts: 24	New Member, other Dies for Lee Classic Cast Press At the tender age of 62, I've decided to learn to load my own .45 cal. Lurking around trying to decide what questions to ask, Needing information about dies that might fit in the Lee Classic Cast press (haven't bought the press but it seems to fit my needs). The Lee .45 cal dies are on back order. Any help will be most appreciated. Bob

July 29, 2009, 07:01 AM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	You will find that with rare exception any major mfg dies will fit the Classic Cast. __________________ USNRET '61-'81

July 29, 2009, 10:32 AM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	There are three dies I can think of that WILL NOT fit a Classic Cast. 1) The Dillon dies that they sell for use with the Square Deal B press 2) Old Lyman 310 tong tool specific dies 3) .50 BMG large thread dies if you DON'T have the Classic Cast with the adaptor ring All the rest of the reloading dies you might be able to find should work. You can use $20 Lee dies or $250 Redding superduper dies and anything in between. It's pretty much an industry standard. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

July 29, 2009, 09:29 PM	#5
Bobrm2 Member Join Date: July 18, 2009 Location: Searcy Co. Arkansas Posts: 24	New Member, other Dies for Lee Classic Cast Press Thank you all, Lot to learn. Bob

July 29, 2009, 10:00 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Except for the aforementioned special cases, they are all an industry standard thread of 7/8"-14 tpi. Which .45 are you loading for? __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 29, 2009, 08:11 AM	#3
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	I have the Lee Classic Cast single stage, it is a good press. I use the Hornady LNL bushing's on my dies, that way you can change dies out in a matter of seconds without re-adjusting. Floydster

July 29, 2009, 10:32 PM	#7
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	Just a quick note on the Dillon dies. It will not have the expander die, because the case expansion is done through the powder funnel.

July 30, 2009, 08:24 AM	#8
Bobrm2 Member Join Date: July 18, 2009 Location: Searcy Co. Arkansas Posts: 24	Unclenick Purchased a Tarus 1911; early this year. Last one processed was goverment issue in 1966. Bob

July 30, 2009, 03:07 PM	#9
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	You might want to consider the Lee Classic Cast Turret. I bought one for loading 40 S&W and I bought the Lee Carbide die set too. No complaints. The reason I suggest the turret is the single stage requires you batch load, one step at a time. It's convienient for rifle cartridges but not so for pistol loads. The Lee comes with a removable auto indexer that can be removed for single stage operation. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

July 30, 2009, 06:07 PM	#10
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	YES go with the Lee Turret press if all you are going to do is pistol. Have you tried Cabelas and Midway plus many many more. Or go to Lee direct it cost more but you may get them. I had to do that this year to get a set of .44 Mag dies and still took a month but I did get them __________________ Russ5924

July 31, 2009, 06:48 PM	#11
exbluelight Member Join Date: June 19, 2009 Location: Florida's East Coast Posts: 16	I think I have posted this before on the forum but....... try Cabela's Lee Classic Turrent Press Kit http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1 It comes with both large & small primer feeds, & Auto Disc Riser to make it easier to use other brands of dies, along with all the other extras. I priced it all out seperate & it is a savings. Great value for the money. Ordered mine on a Monday, Arrived on a Friday. Nothing backordered. ebl __________________ "I have a very strict gun control policy. If there's a gun around, I want to control it" - Clint Eastwood

August 12, 2009, 09:33 AM	#12
Bobrm2 Member Join Date: July 18, 2009 Location: Searcy Co. Arkansas Posts: 24	Lee Turret Class Cast Thanks, really have looked the Lee web site, checking comments. Just bought Lee equiptment for casting bullets, waiting on Midway's shipment. Will go back and check out the turret press. Is there a greater tendency to double load on a turret press? Thanks for the information. Bob

August 12, 2009, 09:46 AM	#13
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	You can if you don't pay attention, but its kinda hard, since on the down stroke the auto index changes what die you have. You can use it as a single stage. I can see someone double charging if they put the shell into the Auto-powder index thingy twice with the arm. Pretty much you would have to lift it up into the powder die, put it down half way, and then raise it all the way up again.

August 12, 2009, 10:17 AM	#14
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Another way to prevent double charges is to use powders that fill the volume of the case 1/2 way or more. This way when or if you accidentally double charge it is real noticable since it will be filled to the very top or over flowing. I also have the Lee Classic Turret and it is a very good press for your needs. You may want to check Kempf's Gun Shop for the press they have a very nice kit that is reasonably priced. The only thing not included is a scale.

August 13, 2009, 08:17 PM	#16
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Bob you can double charge a case with either press, you are the safety officer when reloading. Don't let anything or anyone distract you. I use the turret press for all handgun loads, just pull the handle after you drop a powder load and there will be no problems since it moves the case to the next station. If I pull a load to weigh the load to check the weight, I use my funnel to drop the powder back in the case and set the head since I am already at the next station on the press. Just make sure you have suffecient powder in your hopper, you don't want to think you dropped a load and find that you just have a primer and no powder in the case.

August 13, 2009, 08:25 PM	#17
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Try Lee Factory Sales for the press and dies. I just bought my own setup from them. They had the lowest prices and their service is excellent. If you get the turret press be sure to get the CLASSIC version as it is cast. You can put together the same parts that come in the kit for something like $30 more but have the cast press instead. http://www.factorysales.com/ __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

August 14, 2009, 01:31 AM	#18
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	you should really be able to tell if you over load a cartridge. I mean, my 45 can hold like 13+ grains. I think I would be able to tell when I have a double charge. I do 4.5/4.6 so 9 grains would be very noticeable.

August 14, 2009, 06:06 AM	#19
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	FWIW - I've dealt with Lee Factory Sales a number of times. Their service is spotty at best. I don't like the fact they charge your credit card at the time of order and tell you the stuff you want is on backorder with no delivery date. They should not charge your card until goods are shipped. They will back out the charges if you call them on it but that's just not right. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?