I have all RCBS loading gear...Old RCBS Jr press....Would like to try the Lee turrent press so looking for info on my gear working on the Lee Press...I am sure my dies will be fine but wondering about using my uniflow powder measure in one of the turrent spaces manually. Any other quirks that i might run into..any help appreciated.. Mainly loading 38 spcl and 357 mag.
RCBS equipment with Lee turrent press.
- Thread starter cervri
- Start date
Smoke & Recoil
New member
The RCBS dies will work in a Lee Turret, but the RCBS Uniflow Powder Throw
would be very heavy for a turret press and...the drop tube would be to long
and cause interference with the brass. I suggest use a Lee Powder-Through
Expander die with a Lee Perfect Powder Measure.
A Lee Classic Turret Press is a very good press and the index rod can be
removed to use the press as a single stage.
would be very heavy for a turret press and...the drop tube would be to long
and cause interference with the brass. I suggest use a Lee Powder-Through
Expander die with a Lee Perfect Powder Measure.
A Lee Classic Turret Press is a very good press and the index rod can be
removed to use the press as a single stage.
How are things in Deming ? I am in Los Lunas. The Lee lock rings have a "O" ring that squeezes under the metal ring against the die body. They do work good. They do not have a set screw, I tried to use the Hornady split ring, no go. Only the Lee rings fit. Try MidwayUSA under the Hornady powder measure stuff or go to CastBoolits forum for more info. I get my Lee stuff from Titan Reloading, it is cheaper than driving to Las Cruces. Smoke & Recoil may be right about the weight, TOOOOO much weight on the turret could cause a problem, I don't powder charge on mine. We are talking about the CAST IRON press known as the CLASSIC correct ?
Reloader270
New member
Lee produce some good products and I also use their factory crimp dies on all pistol loads. It is an excellent invention. However when it comes to presses nothing beats even an second hand RCBS press. I had a Lee Loadmaster some time ago. The primer unit never operated 100%. There was always a misfeed. Then the index shoe got damaged and I could not found any replacement. I sold it. I then got a secondhand RCBS Piggyback, but it was incomplete. I wrote RCBS an email. They have replaced all parts without any costs. I later got hold of a second hand RCBS Ammo-master and I had then rebuild it from the Piggyback parts. RCBS is solid and if you ever have a problem the backup is excellent.
stubbicatt
New member
Reloader270, I too had issues with the 1st generation Loadmaster I bought in mid 90's. I sold it some time ago. The Lee Classic Cast Turret is 100% provided you don't do any really difficult cartridge sizing on it. I did manage to break a turret once.
Times change, at one time Deming NM was a great place for reloading and gun resource. Deming was a destination for NYC police and fireman after retiring.
The Uniflow comes with funnels, when used with a progressive press most add case activated linkage. Hornady makes one that is designed for the Hornady powder measure and with a few changes will work with the Uniflow.
I have one Lee press, I do not use it but I have it JIC.
F. Guffey
lee n. field
New member
It can be made to work, but you're better off getting one of Lee's powder measures that integrates with their belling/powder feed dies. Get either the Pro Autodisk, or the new Autodrum. There's also a riser adapter that you'll need. With this stuff in place, the power feed is automatic.
All this together will cost you less than the part you would need to do the same thing with the Uniflow. And, will leave you the 4th turret station for a crimping die.
True; then there is the other school of thought. The other thought goes something like; it is a bad habit to seat and crimp on the same position because the bullets is moving down at the same time the neck is closing in on it when being crimped.
That goes all the way back to Lyman, Lyman; before the Internet claimed crimping can reduce bullet hold. I can only guess that is the reason reloaders in the Internet changed bullet hold to neck tension. I can only guess going to neck tension was a way of getting around bullet hold.
I still use bullet hold, I want all the bullet hold I can get. I can measure bullet hold in pounds but I can not convert pounds to tensions.
F. Guffey
Most of the important points have already been covered, but I will reiterate and add a slight bit.
When you buy the press, make sure you get the "Classic" version with the low flat cast iron base, not the slightly cheaper version with the raised aluminum base.
Any dies that work on your RCBS press will work just fine on the Lee Turret press, but you MAY have clearance problems with some lock rings. I use some Lyman dies with their stock split lock rings on mine with no problems. But I prefer to use Lee dies.
You do NOT need to use the Lee Factory Crimp Die - in fact, I strongly recommend against it unless you have a specific issue you need to solve. IMHO, the standard seating/crimping die is ALWAYS the better choice. Some people will disagree.
Shell holders are interchangeable in all standard presses, just note that each manufacturer uses different numbers, so you have to have a cross-reference if you use more than one brand. If you buy new Lee dies, they come with a new shell holder, too. I personally like to have a second set of dies - I keep the Lee dies locked in the turrets, and I use Lyman dies with split lock rings to easily spin in and out on my single stage Rock Chucker press when I have small batches to load or need to just do one thing.
If you are going to use the press with auto indexing to load sequentially, you really will want to get a Lee powder-through expander die and one of Lee's auto powder measures - do go for the new auto drum. Although the older auto disk measures work fine, the new drum measure is about the same cost and is just a better idea. You have a choice to buy either a new set of Lee dies, which are much less expensive than other brands, or just buy the expander die and use it with your existing sizer and seating/crimping dies.
The Lee turrets are 4-hole turrets, which means you will be left with an open spot if you load with just a standard 3-die set. You can use that open position to add a powder-cop die if you like, or do as I do - just manually move the turret one position as you add the next empty case. This takes virtually no extra effort and becomes second nature real fast. Just remember, you MUST NOT try to move the turret by hand with the handle either at top or bottom of the stroke or you will bust the little plastic doohickey that rides on the actuator rod to automatically turn the turret. Here is the correct process: Slip in the new shell right after you remove the finished round, then begin raising the ram while you reach up to touch the turret - when the ram has come up about one inch, the turret is free to move, and you can advance it to the resizing die easily before the new shell reaches the top.
If you want to come over and visit the Sacramento Mountains, give me a shout - I'd be happy to show you the process I use with the different presses.
When you buy the press, make sure you get the "Classic" version with the low flat cast iron base, not the slightly cheaper version with the raised aluminum base.
Any dies that work on your RCBS press will work just fine on the Lee Turret press, but you MAY have clearance problems with some lock rings. I use some Lyman dies with their stock split lock rings on mine with no problems. But I prefer to use Lee dies.
You do NOT need to use the Lee Factory Crimp Die - in fact, I strongly recommend against it unless you have a specific issue you need to solve. IMHO, the standard seating/crimping die is ALWAYS the better choice. Some people will disagree.
Shell holders are interchangeable in all standard presses, just note that each manufacturer uses different numbers, so you have to have a cross-reference if you use more than one brand. If you buy new Lee dies, they come with a new shell holder, too. I personally like to have a second set of dies - I keep the Lee dies locked in the turrets, and I use Lyman dies with split lock rings to easily spin in and out on my single stage Rock Chucker press when I have small batches to load or need to just do one thing.
If you are going to use the press with auto indexing to load sequentially, you really will want to get a Lee powder-through expander die and one of Lee's auto powder measures - do go for the new auto drum. Although the older auto disk measures work fine, the new drum measure is about the same cost and is just a better idea. You have a choice to buy either a new set of Lee dies, which are much less expensive than other brands, or just buy the expander die and use it with your existing sizer and seating/crimping dies.
The Lee turrets are 4-hole turrets, which means you will be left with an open spot if you load with just a standard 3-die set. You can use that open position to add a powder-cop die if you like, or do as I do - just manually move the turret one position as you add the next empty case. This takes virtually no extra effort and becomes second nature real fast. Just remember, you MUST NOT try to move the turret by hand with the handle either at top or bottom of the stroke or you will bust the little plastic doohickey that rides on the actuator rod to automatically turn the turret. Here is the correct process: Slip in the new shell right after you remove the finished round, then begin raising the ram while you reach up to touch the turret - when the ram has come up about one inch, the turret is free to move, and you can advance it to the resizing die easily before the new shell reaches the top.
If you want to come over and visit the Sacramento Mountains, give me a shout - I'd be happy to show you the process I use with the different presses.
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I ordered the press from Midway and all that i know about it is that is labeled Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press , no idea what base type it has...Have also ordered
LEE AUTO-DRUM POWDER MEASURE.
Lee Powder Through Expander Die 38 Special, 357 Magnum ,
Lee Safety Prime Small and Large Primer Feeder for 2006, Later Reloading Press .
Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure Riser
Lee Primer Feeder Bracket for Turret Presses.
I thank all you guys for the help in this transition....
LEE AUTO-DRUM POWDER MEASURE.
Lee Powder Through Expander Die 38 Special, 357 Magnum ,
Lee Safety Prime Small and Large Primer Feeder for 2006, Later Reloading Press .
Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure Riser
Lee Primer Feeder Bracket for Turret Presses.
I thank all you guys for the help in this transition....
lee n. field
New member
He will need the Lee lock rings. Everything else that I know of takes too much room.
<Shrug>. I do have a need. But, whatever. Neither the FCD, nor the standard crimp die is very expensive.
My .38 and .45ACP setups use a mixed bag of dies. I even have an old CH carbide sizer in there. He will want Lee's belling/charging die, which is available separately.
good to go
Received my classic press today...Heavy cast...Got it mounted to my bench and started putting stuff together...Having some problems getting the safety primer system to work properly,,,surely is not a solid positive system. Very sloppy. Not impressed at all, but will work with it..Might be better when i get it working better...does not like single primers for sure..
So a question for those using the safety primers system,,,what do you do when you get down to the last few primers, as they sure don't feed well?
So a question for those using the safety primers system,,,what do you do when you get down to the last few primers, as they sure don't feed well?
What you are experiencing is normal. The last two primers will not feed. If I am finished loading all I do is lift the primer feed off the press and tilt it forward and dispense the last two into my hand and then just load them by hand. If I am doing more rounds, I just load more primers into the tray. The safety prime takes just a little practice, but once you get it down, it works very well.