View Full Version : Lee Classic Turret - New Buyer Checklist Help
Soul_Cal
01-20-2014, 10:53 PM
I plan on purchasing the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit to reload 9MM and .223. I would like to have a turret set-up for each caliber for easy conversion. It appears the kit includes most items to set-up one turret except the dies. Here's my current list to set-up a second turret. Let me know if I missed anything or if there is anything I could skip.
Lee Classic Cast Turret Press Kit (#90304)
Lee 9MM Luger Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set (#90963)
9MM Luger Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder (#90153)
Lee .223 Rem 3 Die Set (#90502)
223 Rem Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder (#90114)
Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure (#90429)
Lee Auto Disk Measure Riser (#90041)
Lee Extra 4 Hole Turret (#90269)
Lee Rifle Charging Die (#90194)
Additions Per Recommendations:
Square Ratchet (#TF3567)
Adj. Charge Bar (#90792)
Powder Funnel (#90190)
Double Disk Kit (#90195)
Deluxe Quick Trim (#90437)
.223 Rem Quick Trim Die (#90179)
Extra 4 Hole Turret (#90269)
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Scale
Thanks in advance for your help.
sghart
01-21-2014, 5:30 AM
You are off to a good start. I have the case length gauges for all of my calibers but I tend to only use them on the rifle calibers. The 9mm headspaces on the rim of the case so over time the brass can actually shrink.
I like the round die storage boxes that are about $5 each. You can store all of your turrets in them, set up and ready to go. It helps keep dust and moisture away.
The beam scale in the kit works and is accurate but it is slow. I bought a $30 digital scale from Frankford Arsenal. I had a set of calibration weights already and tested the digital scale for accuracy. It is a good upgrade.
I buy all of my stuff from Titan. They are dependable and competitive. I love my Lee Classic Turret. I have loaded thousands of rounds on it and it just keeps going. I will give you this advice, if you don't mind. I clean the index rod regularly. I then apply a thin coat of Trilube or Remoil. I also apply a little lube to the edges of the turrets. I lube the sides of the primer arms lightly. Verify alignment of the ram to primer arm, develop a steady rhythm, don't slam the arm up and down and take time to learn it and this press will reward you with years of excellent service.
You can skip the 9mm case length gauge, I've never had to trim mine.
Digital scale is well worth the cost. The lee balance beam is super slow.
I also like the Lee adjustable charge bar, it will work fine for all pistol and rifle calibers up to 223. Saves some hassle of manually switching disks.
When sizing 223, make sure to lube inside the neck too or I *guarantee* you will get a stuck case.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 6:13 AM
sghart, nice reloading bench. great tips!
glug, the Lee adjustable charge bar just make sense. I guess I need 2? thanks!
Nope, you can use 1 charge bar for everything, that's sort of the appeal of it. You just dial in your new charge when changing calibers or loads. Also it lets you do fine adjustments easier than with a disk.
It doesn't have enough capacity for larger calibers like 308 but for 223 and 9mm it works fine.
BruinGuy
01-21-2014, 6:57 AM
If you buy the kit, it comes with the Pro Auto Disk powder measure (and the Safety Priming Set). You may want to add the Double Disk Set (about $10) for rifle cartridges, although I only use it for pistol and throw rifle charges with my "Perfect Powder Measure" and drop them through a funnel on the rifle charging die instead.
sniper5
01-21-2014, 7:11 AM
Make sure you keep a few of these on hand:
http://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html
They are designed to fail to save the press if you short stroke it on auto advance.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 7:33 AM
Make sure you keep a few of these on hand:
http://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html
They are designed to fail to save the press if you short stroke it on auto advance.
I've read about that square piece. Thanks for the link. I added it to my buy list.
Since you are already putting in a big order its not a bad idea to grab one more 4 hole turret. On my extra turret I have a couple full length sizing dies and an RCBS press mounted swager. It works well for anything you want to run in single stage mode. I resize my 223, tumble, then reload so theres no need to have the resizing die on the same turret as the powder, seating, and crimping die.
Also, any time I'm ordering Lee parts I fill my cart at Titan Reloading and FS Reloading (https://fsreloading.com/) with the same items and see which one saves me money. I've had nothing but good experiences with both.
reckoner
01-21-2014, 9:33 AM
Since you are already putting in a big order its not a bad idea to grab one more 4 hole turret. On my extra turret I have a couple full length sizing dies and an RCBS press mounted swager. It works well for anything you want to run in single stage mode. I resize my 223, tumble, then reload so theres no need to have the resizing die on the same turret as the powder, seating, and crimping die.
Also, any time I'm ordering Lee parts I fill my cart at Titan Reloading and FS Reloading (https://fsreloading.com/) with the same items and see which one saves me money. I've had nothing but good experiences with both.
+1
All my single-stage ops (universal decapping, rifle sizing) go on one dedicated single-stage turret.
The auto-index mode .223 turret has one empty spot for priming, plus the charging, seating, and crimping dies.
I just ordered that press as well
sofbak
01-21-2014, 9:45 AM
I've been using a LCT for two years now, and it's a great first press. No issues.
One thing I didn't see on your list that will be a big time saver and quality enhancer is a powder funnel. Dumping a charge into the pan for weight checks is OK, but getting all those granules back into the case can be difficult-especially with the .223. A funnel makes it easy and fast-no lost granules of powder during the transfer.
WRT to scales, yeah the lee balance is a bit slow at first, but if you are just starting out-slow is a good thing. Once I figured out how to efficiently use mine, it's relatively quick and gravity is always laboratory grade. Electronic scales can be finicky, can drift, and are often affected by other electronic items in the near vicinity-like cell phones.....
At first, I was trying to weigh each charge I checked to see what it was. Then I realized that I didn't care what the exact weight was, I was only interested in knowing if it was the desired weight I was trying to load.
So I learned to use the little lock button on the adjustable scale balance and set it to the desired weight. If the load was a little heavy, I would scoop out a few granules until I got it right, if it was light I would add a little to get there, and finish that cartridge.
Then adjust the charge bar accordingly in very small increments, and check the next load. Repeat this for the first five or so loads until I had the charge bar dialed in, and then go. After that, I would check every tenth round for the first 50, then every 20th round after that to be sure nothing had drifted.
So, I would recommend you save a few $ and skip the electronic scale for now, but just my experience over the last two years.....
propman07
01-21-2014, 9:47 AM
Tagged...also looking at presses....this and the Hornady LNL AP
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 10:02 AM
Nice, added the powder funnel.
All great recommendations - keep them coming!
reckoner
01-21-2014, 10:25 AM
I'd skip the Lee funnel and get one of these:
http://amzn.com/B000N8QKUI
It's a weigh pan with a built-in funnel.
Nowadays, if I'm measuring a charge, I just pull the primed case off the press, tare the scale with the case on it before I charge it, and then charge and weigh the case.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 11:56 AM
I'd skip the Lee funnel and get one of these:
http://amzn.com/B000N8QKUI
It's a weigh pan with a built-in funnel.
Nowadays, if I'm measuring a charge, I just pull the primed case off the press, tare the scale with the case on it before I charge it, and then charge and weigh the case.
Nice - thanks for the link.
DuknBucks
01-21-2014, 12:08 PM
I plan on purchasing the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit to reload 9MM and .223. I would like to have a turret set-up for each caliber for easy conversion. It appears the kit includes most items to set-up one turret except the dies. Here's my current list to set-up a second turret. Let me know if I missed anything or if there is anything I could skip.
Lee Classic Cast Turret Press Kit (#90304)
Lee 9MM Luger Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set (#90963)
9MM Luger Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder (#90153)
Lee .223 Rem 3 Die Set (#90502)
223 Rem Lee Case Length Gauge/Shell Holder (#90114)
Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure (#90429)
Lee Auto Disk Measure Riser (#90041)
Lee Extra 4 Hole Turret (#90269)
Lee Rifle Charging Die (#90194)
Additions Per Recommendations:
Square Ratchet (#TF3567)
Adj. Charge Bar (#90792)
Powder Funnel (#90190)
Frankford Arsenal Reloading Scale
Lastly, my current pricing for everything is $342.52 (+29.06 Shipping) from Titan Reloading. Anybody know of a better price for this set-up?
Thanks in advance for your help.
The rifle die set dosent come with the powder die???
reckoner
01-21-2014, 12:11 PM
The rifle die set dosent come with the powder die???
Nope. Sizing, seating, and crimping only.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 12:16 PM
My understanding is that since I am using the Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, I would need the Lee Rifle Charging Die.
That right, experts?
sniper5
01-21-2014, 12:33 PM
My understanding is that since I am using the Lee Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure, I would need the Lee Rifle Charging Die.
That right, experts?
If you want to run direct powder measure through die, yes you will. You may also need an extender to keep from hitting the safety prime if you use one. One of the nicer things about the LCT is the quick change out of turrets. With the cost of the Pro Auto Disk I keep one on each turret, and I have a turret preset for each pistol load I use. Change out time is about 10 seconds. I use the press as a single stage for rifle rounds and do my charging off press. For the PAD I use the disks rather than the adjustable disk so when I preset there is nothing to get out of adjustment. When you set your turrets up with powder measures make sure you run some powdered graphite through the measure to lubricate everything and kill the static electricity. I throw in about 3 or 4 tablespoons and shake it around and cycle it through a junk casing. Keep a close eye on your loads until you've run 1-200 rounds through the powder measure to make sure it's settled in. That's probably a good idea for any measure.
sniper5
01-21-2014, 12:42 PM
Depending on how you set your stations up on your turret, you might want to look at this:
http://leeprecision.com/deluxe-quick-trim-case-trimmer.html
And these:
http://leeprecision.com/bench-plate.html
have turned out to be a really handy way to mount the press. I have 2 on the bench and have a c-press, a Perfect Powder Measure, and all my Dremel bench tools set up on plates so I can interchange and move things around. Make sure your mount is REALLY SOLID. I took the workbench of a industrial strength shelving system that has about a ton of stuff on the shelves, and used heavy bolts and 2 inch angle iron to bolt through the worktop and secure it to the frame. The press feels like it's stuck in cement. Vibration WILL DEFINITELY affect the consistency of your powder drops.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 12:49 PM
^ Good Info, Sniper5- Thanks.
Does the bench plate provide more stability? Or is its primary purpose to allow the press to be moved when needed?
sofa88
01-21-2014, 1:11 PM
You need the double disk kit for the autodisk to be able to drop enough powder for 223
sofbak
01-21-2014, 1:25 PM
You need the double disk kit for the autodisk to be able to drop enough powder for 223
Not necessarily. You can "double stroke" it using a disk that throws half the desired weight. I had some .45 colt loads I wanted, but no single disk would do it, so I found the disk that dispensed half the desired load, and double stroked the lever at the charging station.... Yes, you have to be careful and concentrate while counting to two, but it works.
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 2:01 PM
You need the double disk kit for the autodisk to be able to drop enough powder for 223
It looks like one set comes with the kit. Since I am setting up 2 complete turrets (9mm & .223) I would another set of disk. Thanks.
sniper5
01-21-2014, 7:50 PM
^ Good Info, Sniper5- Thanks.
Does the bench plate provide more stability? Or is its primary purpose to allow the press to be moved when needed?
Depending on how your bench is built it could provide stability because it is a 1/8" approx thick plate of steel with 4 bolts. Mainly it allows you to change out presses, or vises, or powder measures quickly and easily. My bench top is 1/2" MDF so I just used the plate to bolt into angle iron and bypass the bench top entirely. I enjoy the ability to have a right and left station and change from c-press to turret to powder measure to Dremel drillpress/workstation, to Dremel vise, to Dremel router table, to torch (clear the bench of powder and primers first!!!!!!!!!) for annealing in about 2 or 3 minutes. I can choose to operate stations on the right or left and/or clear a station for more room. I just make plywood inserts out of baltic birch that lock into the plate and extend off the bench for the Dremel tools. I also have just a plate that locks in and extends off the bench to give me a 12x12 flat work surface to give more room for small operations or tools.
It's turned out to be a pretty nifty piece of gear.
sniper5
01-21-2014, 7:56 PM
Maybe this will give you an idea of how I'm set up:
glock7
01-21-2014, 8:09 PM
I didn't see a bullet puller on the list or a tumbler. If you already have one, then carry on! Oh btw, I ended up getting another beretta. I ended up missing that one I sold you! That lee tp is great. It's what I use. Enjoy!
glock7
01-21-2014, 8:11 PM
Maybe this will give you an idea of how I'm set up:
Nice and neat!
Soul_Cal
01-21-2014, 8:46 PM
I've got a tumbler & ultrasonic cleaner. Just finished cleaning 1k 223 and 2k 9mm over the weekend.
Bullet puller is another thing I need eventually.
I'm glad you found another Beretta. I felt bad taking that pistol off your hands.
Enfield47
01-21-2014, 9:12 PM
I love my Lee classic cast turret press. I do all of my rifle loading in single stage mode (remove the indexing rod). Most are too large for the powder measure even with the double disk kit, but I still use single stage for .223. It will make it easier to do them in single stage mode so you can concentrate on each step and make sure everything is done correctly.
If you don't have a swager, you should pick one up. RCBS makes one for the press (that's what I use) but be aware the popper is the same size as the ram so it won't pop off the case on the upstroke. If you want a bench top model, both RCBS and Dillon make good ones.
Soul_Cal
01-22-2014, 6:06 AM
A swager is something I need also. Thanks for the recommendations.
I'll post my final purchase in a couple days. Thanks everyone.
LCT is my first press and just love it. I always check powder before seating a bullet. This light strip helps me a lot and is bright.
http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Light-Strip/dp/B00AU6C4X0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390409328&sr=8-1&keywords=hornady+led
Soul_Cal
01-22-2014, 8:08 AM
LCT is my first press and just love it. I always check powder before seating a bullet. This light strip helps me a lot and is bright.
http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Light-Strip/dp/B00AU6C4X0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390409328&sr=8-1&keywords=hornady+led
I like that alot - added. Thanks!
sofa88
01-22-2014, 9:28 AM
You could but I wouldn't recommend it for beginners. Also it won't necessarily be so simple for all loads if you need two different disks to get a desired weight; you'd have to stop production to change disks for every case slowing you down a lot.
Not necessarily. You can "double stroke" it using a disk that throws half the desired weight. I had some .45 colt loads I wanted, but no single disk would do it, so I found the disk that dispensed half the desired load, and double stroked the lever at the charging station.... Yes, you have to be careful and concentrate while counting to two, but it works.
sofbak
01-22-2014, 9:50 AM
You could but I wouldn't recommend it for beginners......
I did point out that you have to be careful and concentrate when counting to two........ Looking into the cartridge to check the load height is a must do anyway.
... Also it won't necessarily be so simple for all loads if you need two different disks to get a desired weight; you'd have to stop production to change disks for every case slowing you down a lot.
Only a fool would change the disks between each cartridge. You throw the first charge in each case and put them in a case holder-that's what they're made for. Remove the indexing rod if necessary so the press works in single stage mode. Then you change disks , put the indexing rod back in and throw the second charge, check total weight and move on........
sofa88
01-22-2014, 10:03 AM
Sofbak, my response was with the idea of using the press with the indexer. All I'm saying is if you have the option to touch the case just one time given the way this press works why not take advantage of it.
OP both methods Sofbak and I described will work, try both and do what ever is comfortable for you. It's just multiple ways to get from A to B, the nice thing about your press is it does double as a single stage. The important thing is to be safe.
roc_my_tims
01-22-2014, 10:36 AM
Tag
sofbak
01-22-2014, 10:45 AM
Sofbak, my response was with the idea of using the press with the indexer. All I'm saying is if you have the option to touch the case just one time given the way this press works why not take advantage of it.....
I agree with that, but the specific example you gave was charging a .233 case and the need for the double disk kit. All I was saying was that with a simple modification to the process, you don't need the double disk kit.
.....
OP both methods Sofbak and I described will work, try both and do what ever is comfortable for you. It's just multiple ways to get from A to B, the nice thing about your press is it does double as a single stage. The important thing is to be safe.
I totally agree with this, and this highlights the value of the LCT. WRT to process and procedure, it is a very flexible press that can be used in many configurations to "get from A to B" as you described.
Another example of its inherent flexibility, is the ability to use a "modified" double disk stack. The adjustable charge bar can be used in conjunction with a fixed diameter disk, with a couple of limitations.
The adjustable bar has to go on top of the fixed diameter disk, and the fixed diameter disk should be equal or larger in size relative to the cavity size on the adjustable charge bar.
So if you need a large rifle charge, and can't get it with a combination of two fixed diameter disks, you can possibly get it with one fixed disk and the adjustable charge bar on top.
A very flexible press system indeed........
knucklehead0202
01-22-2014, 12:30 PM
I think once I begin loading for pistol i'll be investing in this press. been going for years on my lee single-stage, which I plan to ugpgrade to a classic cast for eventually doing 577/450 martini-henry, but I also intend to start loading pistol and it'd sure be handy to have this turret press. guess we'll see how it goes.
I bought this kit and it already contains the auto disk riser so no need to buy another.
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