Objections on Lee classic Turret press

S

Stats Shooter

New member
So I went ahead a got the Dillon XL 650 rather than the 550C and really like it so far. All I have done is a run of 556 but I have the conversion kits for .308 and 40 s&w when I get around to doing some big batches of them.

But now I am also thinking about getting a Lee classic Turret for shorter runs of stuff I shoot, but not as often like .357 or .44 mag...or the new .45-70's I just got.

I will do the Brass prep on my other presses... though not much to do in straight walled cases. But I throw all my .44 mag/so and .357/.38sp loads anyway. And while I don't shoot it too often, a run is still 500+ rounds. I just thought the nice little Lee classic might do just fine.

I could get just the press, risers , and priming arms if the thrower sucks .

Just wanted some final thoughts before I spend a couple hundred bucks. Otherwise I could get a Ponsness Warren P200 or something else
 
I have a Classic 1000 that I use for 38/357 exclusively. I read as many pro reviews as negative before i purchased. I've loaded 5000+ rounds without any problems. 99% are 38 light target loads. Lee customer service is 2nd to none. Wanted a few decapping pins for spares(of course with spares you never break one) and Lee sent me 3 at no charge. Called with a couple of set up questions and was walked through the initial set up by a very friendly rep. Not as fast as a Dillon but fast enough. I can't praise mine enough
 
Love my classic turret. Only loading 9mm, .357, and .223 right now but it handles them all very well and for my volume needs it's perfect!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I also have a Dillon XL650 that I use for my mass production work, but for load development, I always use my Lee Classic Turret Press (LCT). Works like a charm, and in fact I have been using it for the last few days developing a new load for some new bullets that I bought.

I have redundant sets of dies for 9mm, .45 ACP and .223 that I keep setup on individual Lee turrets so that I don't have to keep moving dies back and forth from the Dillon to the Lee, but I am just using the Lee dies on the LCT whereas I have the more expensive Redding dies on the Dillon.

I go much slower when I am developing loads on the LCT, and I weigh every charge (I drop from the Lee Auto-Drum to slightly below the intended charge, and then use a powder trickler to bring the charge up to with desired weight), and then I measure every cartridge with a set of calipers. Not exactly fast, but I am fine with that for the load development phase.

Once I have a load worked up, I transfer it over to the XL650 and crank out the cartridges by the 1000's.

As much as I love my XL650, I couldn't live without my little LCT!
 
For smaller batches like you want, especially for pistol cartridges, the LCT does fine. Mine has the Pro AutoDisk for a powder dispenser, and I get +/- 0.1 grain variation for most powders, plenty consistent enough for plinking ammo. My priming arm is a little sticky, but not bad, and that is the worst thing I can say about it. That feature that someone above mentioned of having affordable turrets for different calibers is quite nice.
 
I have two Classic Turrets. One is a portable setup I haul to the range. Really easy to swap out turrets to the bench system.

Can't say enough good things about the Auto Drum. I have two, one dedicated to the large drum and one dedicated to the small drum.

I load 40 S&W, 221 Fireball, 223 Rem and 45-70 on the LCT. I prefer the single stage presses for 25-06 and 7mm RM.

You won't be disappointed with the LCT. If you do buy an LCT look at In-Line Fabrication turret caddies. They work great.
 
I have one I have yet to use, I have to figure out the powder charger with plates. I use a LNL and an RCBS single stage so my turret has been on the back burner unused. I really need to try it out and comment.

Thewelshm
 
I think the Lee turret presses are likely the best value in presses there are.

A run of 500 is one I'd rather do on a progressive though. Talking 500 or so strokes on a progressive vs 2000 strokes on a 4 hole turret. 1500 extra strokes in additional time and work makes conversion costs and time not much of an issue, to me.
 
I have a 3 hole turret with auto index, a Pro 1000 and an RCBS JR3 so I think I'm pretty well covered for what I do. I use the turret press for load workup and small runs of 100 or less. Makes life much easier than trying to do load development on a progressive.

Also know many people cuss and swear at the Pro 1000 but either I must be just lucky or stupid because I don't have a problem using it and yes I do also prime on it.

Just to add I also have 2 Auto Disk measures and an Auto Drum. Have been looking for an extra set of A and B disks to modify to fit better between the cavities that the factory disks provide.

Just started loading 380acp with Ramshot Silhouette powder and with the disk measure I found almost no powder on the press or the bench when I was finished working up 3 test loads and then 200 rounds of one of the loads I liked. And this disk was holding +/- .05gr so I am quite pleased with that.
 
Last edited:
I've worn out 2 or 3 LEE 4 hole turret presses--they do wear out even if kept lubed. I have a "sequential" loading set-up for .223 prepped cases that works great with the turrets. My Dillon SDB does all my handgun loading and all the other bottleneck loading is single stage. I have ZERO confidence in the LEE priming systems but the rest of their stuff is OK.
 
Mississippi said:
So I went ahead a got the Dillon XL 650 rather than the 550C and really like it so far. All I have done is a run of 556 but I have the conversion kits for .308 and 40 s&w when I get around to doing some big batches of them.

But now I am also thinking about getting a Lee classic Turret for shorter runs of stuff I shoot, but not as often like .357 or .44 mag...or the new .45-70's I just got.

I will do the Brass prep on my other presses... though not much to do in straight walled cases. But I throw all my .44 mag/so and .357/.38sp loads anyway. And while I don't shoot it too often, a run is still 500+ rounds. I just thought the nice little Lee classic might do just fine.

I could get just the press, risers , and priming arms if the thrower sucks .

Just wanted some final thoughts before I spend a couple hundred bucks. Otherwise I could get a Ponsness Warren P200 or something else
Click to expand...

"A couple hundred bucks" is the price of the Classic Turret Kit. Includes powder measure that integrates with the press, and priming system. (Also some other stuff that I'm guessing you probably don't need.)

Add Lee 4 die set of choice, and you're off and running.
 
I've got to go with Mr. Morris and the rest of the satisfied owners,
My (old, used & abused) classic 3 hole sits between my Dillon XL650 & Super 1050, and it's as much an integral part of the equipment I use every time I load or process cases as the case cleaner or sizing dies.

I've not seen anything else work BETTER than expected for a long time, not excluding the Dillions either!

When you pay for a Dillion, you expect it to at least work fairly well, but the little basic Turret' has exceeded all expectations, and exceeded the life expectancy by several times.
I think I paid $50-$55 for mine several years ago (and I mean a BUNCH, like 3+ decades).

If I want to load 10 or 20 test rounds, it's the turret,
If I want to use tools, take rounds apart or whatever, it's the turret.
Nothing like being able to change to the tools head and take down those rounds that just plain screwed up, mouth lip fold overs, neck cracks, the occasional primer screw up, what ever,
Takes you longer to find the turret with the .224 or .30 cal tools than it does to install it, and I'm organized, everything is at hand!

*IF* you get one, here is a tip...
Use FINE thread bolts to mount, about an inch too long,
Put bolts through from bottom.
This allows you to put common shell holders on the bolts for handy access.
I keep 9mm, .223 & .308, my most common loads, on the bolts so they are at hand instantly.
Fine thread 1/4" bolts will just fit through the center hole in most common shell holders.

I inset my presses, inletted into the bench top so they aren't 'Hip Busters' (elbows either).
If you have a bench that IS NOT screwed to the wall, this REALLY makes the bench more solid since your press doesn't have nearly as much leverage hanging over the bench edge.
Makes for a much neater/cleaner install too.
 
I too have a Lee Pro-1000 (early model). Only problem I've encountered is when changing out its shell plates garners a easy to do timing adjustment. Capable of and mine has loaded everything pistol 32ACP to 45ACP. When its powder measure'r is doubled disk'ed. With ball powder use 223 is a piece of cake to knock out a couple hundred rounds in a 1/2 hour. I kind'a think Lee's progressive 1000 was the very first to the market place and to date the lowest in price. All the other Progressive are simply clones of the real Mc Coy> (pro-1000)
 
"A couple hundred bucks" is the price of the Classic Turret Kit. Includes powder measure that integrates with the press, and priming system. (Also some other stuff that I'm guessing you probably don't need.)

Add Lee 4 die set of choice, and you're off and running.
Click to expand...

I can't get their website to load right now to confirm it, but my foggy memory says that kempfgunshop.com markets their own kit for that price, as well. It basically substitutes a die set for the Lee scale, which doesn't always get good reviews and probably isn't needed by the OP. My recollection is that the disk powder dispenser is standard, but that the Pro and the drum devices are available for quite modest up-charges.

I ordered mine from them when I got started and they were quite pleasant to deal with and shipped very promptly. They might be a good choice in this situation.
 
+1 on the kempf gunshop. for the LCTP. They give you everything you need to get going without the extra junk that is typically offered. Plus a set of dies. Really easy to work with too. I'm glad I purchased from them.

Russ P
 
Well,

I went and got a 550B. On sale for $399.99. I got the basic "B" set with a shell plate, tool head, priming system etc. Went ahead and got a strong mount, storage bins, couple more tool heads, shell plates and powder dies..

But!!! I'm still gonna get a lee classic Turret I think. I may build a mobile table for it and take it with me to the 600/1k yard range which is a bit of a long drive. Being able to do some load development at the range would be really nice rather than having to make a big batch at home and waste components on loads with no promise and I can do course and fine load development on the same day. ....if it works out it will pay for itself in like 2 trips
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top