Getting into reloading and...

[dlfoky]

Just can't justify a progressive reloader. Been doing shotgun shells for years now, so I have some concept of what's going on. The reloader that's caught my eye is the Lee Classic Turret Press.

Looking for feedback on that system from those who know or suggested options. Mostly interested in pistol, but a variety of calibers (9mm, 38special, 45 ACP).

Thanks in advance.

David

[dickttx]

I had been out of reloading and shooting for about 40 years until about a year and a half ago.
I am only loading for handguns now and I soon saw that my C-H CHampion press was going to be too slow.
After much research and pricing I settled on the Lee Classic Turrent. I am currently loading for 9mm, 38/357, .41 Mag, 45 ACP, and 45 Colt, but mostly for 9mm and 45ACP.
I acquired the press, the Pro Auto Disk, and the Safety Prime (both large and small) along with five turrets and the related Lee four die sets of dies.
I am not mechanically inclined at all and am pretty fumble fingered. It took me an evening to figure out how the Pro Auto Disk installed and worked, and a couple of hours closely following the instructions for installing the Safety Prime.
Starting off I believe I crunched a piece of brass for each of the calibers I load, because of not understanding the sequence and short stroked the lever while trying to weigh the powder.
Since then I have had no trouble at all by following the instructions for installing the dies.
I have reloaded several thousands of rounds over the last nine months and have never had one fail to chamber or fire.
To me it is a marvelously efficient and cost effective system.
For the last three months I have been in a club and shoot about four days per week. I don't go out and blaze away but do shoot about 50 to 100 centerfire cartridges per visit. I have no problem keeping up with my shooting. I do try to get a few hundred ahead then reload as I empty them. I am not real fast in the operation of the press as my 75 year old bones don't like fast!!
I understand that Weidner's has a pretty good deal on a kit, but you do need to be sure that you upgrade to the PRO Auto Disk. Some of the things that are generally recommended, I do not find a need for (this after buying several of each.) These would be the powder measure risers and the adjustable powder bar. I find that things work smoother if I just screw the powder measure directly into the powder through/expander die. I didn't like the powder measure swinging around up on top of the riser, so I quit using it. A re-reading of the press instructions revealed that Lee says the riser is to get the measure up over other makes of dies. I have found that the disk holes are close enough to my loads to not have to use adjustable bars to obtain satisfactory loads. The chart with the powder measure shows heavier than the actual amounts of powder dropped, so you need to check the actual weights until you are satisfied with the amounts dripped. They are VERY consistent. I have settled on HP38 for everything I load, at this point and it pours through the disks like water. I am down to checking about every twentieth charge now.
From the reading and observations I have made the progressives by Dillon and Hornady are VERY nice machines. However, all I would be doing is stockpiling ammunition if I were using those. And the cost is multiple times that of the LCT.
As you can probably tell, I do like mine.

[dlfoky]

Thanks - great answer. Feeling better about the way I'm leaning. DF

[Bisley]

Hello, dlfoky. You might want to check out a turret press like the Redding T7..or one you don't hear too much about these days..but are still being made..the Ponsness Warren Metal-Matic. I bought mine back in 1980, when I became involved in handgun Silhouette. Nowdays, I load all my .38's on it..both special, Long-Colt, & .357. Nice press.

[Oyeboten]

I have been entirely happy with my Lyman 'Tru-Line Jr.' four Station Turret Press.

These have not been made in many years now, but one can find them on the ebay or here and there.

They use the old "310" Dies ( same as the 'Tong Tool' for re-loading around the Campfire ) but one can also get an aftermarket Turret-Head for them which accepts the newer larger diameter Dies which everyone pretty well offers.

I am no Speed Demon, but making a Box of Fifty Cartridges, de-Prime to all done, seemed to take about 45 Minutes assuming all else is ready and at hand...which is an easy going enough pace for my needs.

A good Powder Dispenser is helpful also, as is a good quality Scale for weighing Charges.

As is a Sizing Press and Dies ( and Lube )...for sizing ( and Lubing ) Bullets or Boolits whether one has Cast one's own or got them elsewhere already Cast.

[flanman]

The biggest and one of the most important aspects from a SAFETY standpoint is not mixing up empty and charged cases. One member here has noted that once he primes a case he puts it in his rack upside down then charges it and places it back right side up. I have taken this recommendation one step further as I too am fairly new to pistol reloading and run the risk of being distracted by my kids at any moment in time. I have purchased a GREEN RBCS tray holder and place primed cases upside down in this tray and then I place my charged cases right side up in a RED HORNADY tray. Then once I seat the bullet I throw them in a bucket in a corner at the other end of the room just like Wilt Chamberlain did in the commercial shooting a hook shot into the trash can years ago.


flanman

[BigRix]

I use an older version of the Lee Turret Press and I love it. Eventually I might get a collection of 4 hole turret heads and powder measures and just leave them set up and ready to go. As it is now I'm always experimenting with different bullets and loads so there is no need as of yet.

I find my Lee Pro powder measure to be very consistent. Lee 4 die pistol sets are all I use now.

I think the LCT press is a great press that will last you a lifetime. It can be used as a single stage press when you want to as well.

You can check out my video to see some of the reloading operations. I am using a single stage press but the dies set up the same.

[cfllwsgn]

i stumbled on to a star progressive. it's old school quality like colt. i can make a box of 50 very high grade handgun loads in 10 min or less. trouble is you'll shoot alot more so the same extra$$ are spent. about the same monatary outlay as a quality handgun on the front end for the press however. unfailing reliability.

[Holdin McGroin]

Don't even bother with the roll crimp die that comes with standard sets for 9mm & 45ACP. Get a taper crip die right off the bat. The 38/357 round is the perfect starter caliber, especially if you've got a robust 357 around for testing new loads. Autos aren't any harder but I find stumpy cases hard to handle. It's a whole new hobby to spend money on and there's allways something else we need (like a taper crimp die). Who knows, maybe someday you'll have a classy rig like mine. (see picture) Oh, there's a satelite hobby that goes with it. Picking up shells at the range. I assume you know that drill from the shot shell loading. I just love when the guy next to me at the range dumps 3 boxes of new Federal 45s through his 1911 and just leaves. Also, I don't know what your budget is but get a hand primer (the RCBS is nicer than the LEE) , a powder dumper (adjustable or fixed) and a tumbler if you don't have one already. I use bullseye powder because it doesn't take much and and I load to save money first, also it's not smokey and it dumps real good. Wait 'till you try Unique. Never much cared about primer brands but I usually use CCI. Bullets, I only use cheap lead cast ones out of 500rnd cartons. 158swc for 38 & 357 because that was the design weight for the cartridge and most guns hit point of aim out of the box with it. 230gn round nose for 45s for the same reason. Whatever you pick just look for the hardest ones you can get and you wont have barrel leading. You'll also want a case trimmer to even up different brands of cases and to bring stretched 357 cases back into spec. A uniform crimp is probably the most important accuracy trick with handgun and you need uniform length to get it. Lastly, I don't know how many times you can reload a shotgun shell but for the classic 2.7gns of Bullseye and 158gn wadcutter it' dozens and dozens. I retire cases for the revolvers when they split down the side which I never notice during shooting. That should get ya started.

[Oyeboten]

Good overhead and ambient Lighting...( so you can really see into every Case, even though employing other safety pre-cautions against inadvertent Double-Charges or empty cases mistaken for Charged ones).

Good Lighting and disciplined, methodical habits/routines...