Clasic 4 hole turret for Xmas

Started out about 3 years ago with a Lee Classic Turret press and love it. I use it to load .380, .38 Special, .9mm, .40 S&W, .44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt, and just starting to reload .223 rifle.

The thing is just simple and dependable, although I have had issues in the past with the Lee Perfect Powder Measure (the one that uses the disks). Some powders simply don't meter well with them, so I invested in a RCBS Chargemaster and except for .40 S&W & .9mm I meter all my loads. I use a Lee Auto Drum for these rounds and it's never off more than 0.1 grains.

I keep thinking about upgrading to a Dillon, especially since they're about 1/2 hour from my house, but outside of speed I just don't see the need.
 
<snip>Got me thinking about loading rifle ammo through it. In thinking through the prosses I got hung up on how to remove the sizeing lube. If the effency of the turret is that I dont handle the brass as much, how should I remove the lube. I suppose I could wipe them down with a rag after running them through the press, but that would take a while to do 300 or so. I have read some where that some people tumble their loaded rounds. That doesn't seem like a good idea for a number of reasons.
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You can remove the indexing rod and use the press like a single stage. Decap and size, trim, tumble, prime, and then charge/seat/crimp with the indexing in place. That last part is where the three station turret and indexing rod can serve well. You might also use a Pro1000 for three station rifle work of primed cases.
 
I turned my standard 4 hole turret press into a "sequential"(takes one case through 4 operations) vs. a "progressive"(does operations on all 4(5) cases simultaneously) for loading prepped .223 cases.
I run mostly range brass which often requires more sizing force than I feel the turret press is capable of on a long term basis. I full length size and tumble to remove the lube. Then trim, swage, and prime separately since those operations are mostly handwork(for me anyway).
For me, there are just too many things going on to consider taking rifle brass from fired to finished in one circuit of the loading press.
 
A couple of years ago I started a project for a portable reloading setup I could haul to the range for load development. Finally got it completely finished with the two powder measures I got for Christmas.

First pic shows the Classic Powder Measure and a Funnel on the Powder Through Expander Die along with the Classic Turret press. The adjustable chamber on the Classic Powder Measure is graduated in cc. Checking a few different powders against the Lee data that comes with the Lee Dipper Cups showed it to be quite accurate with dropped charges measured using a precision scale. Knowing the amount it drops at particular settings avoids having to haul a scale to the range.



Second pic shows the same setup with the addition of a Lee Auto Drum in place of the funnel. This is set up for 45-70. I had to make a small bushing to get the Auto Drum to work with the 45-70 Powder Through Expander Die but it works great. Lees claim that each flat on the powder chamber adjustment key represents 1/10 grain is accurate, at least for the powders I tried.



About the setup. I used Dillon Strong Mounts and attached them to a 3/8 steel plate. The press deck is also 3/8 steel. I put handles on it to make it easy to tote. There is a rubber pad on the bottom that helps keep it in place. I took advantage of the pre-drilled holes in the Strong Mounts. The lower Akro Bins are drilled and I use 1/4-20 nuts, bolts and washers to hold them in place. I can stack as many as I need. I bolted the bench mount from a Redding 3-BR powder measure to the stand to hold the Powder Measure.

The press stays bolted to the mount during transport but everything else gets toted in a tool box for safer keeping. Once back from the range I simply put the turret in the bench mounted press and make ammo.

Anyway - My Christmas gifts are already in service and I have two range trips planned this week.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

FWIW - I really like the Lee Auto Drum.
 
my auto drum should be here today:). looking forward to cranking out some 9mm. auto drum sounded better than auto disk, can any one confirm?
 
You will be very happy with your purchase of the Auto Drum. Others will weigh in but I think the good folks at Lee really hit this one out of the park. Study the working mechanisms when you have some time. It's very innovative. I've weighed several hundred charges both large and small and it amazes me how accurate and repeatable it is.
 
The auto disk is accurate with most powders, but leaks really bad with very fine powders.
The autodrum is accurate with even more powders, works with very fine powders and large stick powders well. It might leak a little tiny bit with the very fine powders, but not enough to worry about.

The auto disk disks measure out set amounts depending on what hole you use. You can't get the exact powder charge you want unless you modify the disk or buy the adjustable charge bar. The adjustable chrge bar is generally not usable with rifle loads.

The autodrum can be adjusted for any charge you want right out of the box. No modifications or extra parts to buy and is usable for rifle charges. You can buy extra drums for the autodrum so you can leave each one set for the caliber you use it with. They are inexpensive and easy to switch out.
 
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