Progression

[Calguns77]

There is a top end and a bottom end on reloading equipment. The middle is mostly useless.

Since the OP already has a decent single stage, he should go full bore to a progressive. Blue or red, I don't care.

I agree. I don't see the point of "uprgrading" to a turret especially when you plan to ugrade to a progressive in the future anyways. A Hornady LnL or a Dillon 550 is the way to go imho. I have a SS press and I'm deciding between the LnL and 550 myself, at no point have i considered a Turret.

[blkside]

Only reason I think a turret would make some sense is cause I could put better money into all of the peripherals and still make a marginal increase in round count.

[stilly]

Only reason I think a turret would make some sense is cause I could put better money into all of the peripherals and still make a marginal increase in round count.

A turret will allow you to kick up your speed to about 200+ per hour. If you have prepped brass and all, then maybe even up to about 300 + per hour.

The Lee classic turret (4 hole iron base) is better than a 550 in this case IF you are not ready to move to a progressive because:
1. Costs about $120, maybe $150 complete with priming setup.
2. Will MORE than double your output if you are doing 60 rph now.
3. With case activated linkage for your lnl powder dropper it will allow you to be very quick AND accurate.
4. You can still afford more things like another book and puller...
5. The cost of a 550 is the BASE cost. You still need to make is usable with bins and tools and magical unicorn oil that they sell so that will make the price jump up to about $700+ to be configured as "AS IT SHOULD BE!" or whatever . There is a little button you press on their site that tosses in all kinds of crap to make it better, actually it includes a second press too... Yeah whatever.

So there ya have it. Plus, another nice thing about the Lee Classic Turret is that your batch size will drop for 50+ to 1. That means that you can walk by, make a few pulls and have 1-2 completed rounds in a matter of seconds. You can not do that with a single stage, and a progressive with 5 or more stations can do it also, if you do not mind having shells left sitting there on the plates when you are done.

Looking at your shoot list, you are reloading go-fast calibers so if you think you are ready to step up to a progressive. I would recco the LNL AP OR wait and see what Lee unveils this fall as their new super duper aqua killing progressive flagship press... We will see what they do, but it could be a very nice press that is priced at the $400 COMPLETE line with no additional accessories or who knows what. I have no clue what it will run, but if you can wait till The end of the year, it might be worth it.

[Calguns77]

Only reason I think a turret would make some sense is cause I could put better money into all of the peripherals and still make a marginal increase in round count.

Yeah, i guess i personally dont think the marginal increase is worth it especially if the end game is a progressive anyways. I'm 99% settled on a LnL and going to a turret as a stop gap will only cost me more in the long term. If i added up the cost of my single stage set up with a potential turret set up its not much different than the cost of a progressive. The rebate for 500 free hornady bullets is also an added incentive.

[tanks]

... The rebate for 500 free hornady bullets is also an added incentive.

That is pretty restrictive I heard though on the type of bullets.

[Calguns77]

That is pretty restrictive I heard though on the type of bullets.

Its not the entire lineup. But includes 9, 357, 10mm, 44, and 45 XTP's and various popular rifle calibers. Not bad considering the cost.

The rebate can be downloaded here on Cabelas page and they have the LnL on sale for $389 right now with no sales tax and free shipping. Hard to beat.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornady-reg-Lock-N-Load-Auto-Progressive-Press/739991.uts

[jimmythebrain]

With the hornady lnl I have run into problems using the Lee factory crimp die. The factory crimp die with its post sizing ring adds enough resistance that throws the overall length of my loaded rounds way off between rounds.
I wish I had gone with the blue press.
Also look at the cost of the die bushings for the lnl progressive at $4 a bushing, times 4-5 dies it really increases the costs to switch calibers. And with the die bushings you cannot just use shims to switch between 38 sp and 357.
But I would give the Lee turret press a try, at academy sports web page these have run about $111 shipped. If you do not like, you can sell it to a
fellow calgunner without too much of a loss or initial investment

[Calguns77]

With the hornady lnl I have run into problems using the Lee factory crimp die. The factory crimp die with its post sizing ring adds enough resistance that throws the overall length of my loaded rounds way off between rounds.
I wish I had gone with the blue press.
Also look at the cost of the die bushings for the lnl progressive at $4 a bushing, times 4-5 dies it really increases the costs to switch calibers. And with the die bushings you cannot just use shims to switch between 38 sp and 357.
But I would give the Lee turret press a try, at academy sports web page these have run about $111 shipped. If you do not like, you can sell it to a
fellow calgunner without too much of a loss or initial investment

Still cheaper than the $25 for each additional 550 toolhead though. And with a lee you'll be paying $12-$16 for each additional turret, depending on the amount of holes, not much of a difference.

[jimmythebrain]

Just pointing out that with the lnl you are stuck paying money to change calibers. Many Think that if they already have dies then they can switch between calibers without extra costs.

[Calguns77]

Just pointing out that with the lnl you are stuck paying money to change calibers. Many Think that if they already have dies then they can switch between calibers without extra costs.

Never heard that before. Interesting how many people will pay $400 for something without doing any research.

[stilly]

I do not understand some of these statements. If you want a Quick Change on calibers with dies, then you get a bulk order of bushings for whatever the price, about 2.50-4.00 each. Okay You do not NEED to get that, only if you want to get it. I would imagine that the press comes with a 5 pack but I do not know since I do not own one, but it is still not a deal breaker. If you want to be fast on ANY progressive you gotta spend the cash for tool heads. If you wanna be fast on the Lee turret, it is the same thing, buy several when they go on sale at Titan or Midway or whereever for $8.00 each. I can usually pick the 4 hole turret up for around 7.99 on sale, but normal price is just around $10.00 at Titan reloading.

This is the deal on all presses though if you want that speed. You are paying for the convenience. If you do not wish to pay, then you will need to screw and unscrew your dies and set them up every time. Nothing new here. Am I missing something?

Also, just about EVERY progressive needs to have a different shellplate when you move to a different caliber - not always, but sometimes calibers are doubled up onto a shellplate and other times they are not. You will most likely need a new shellplate when you go from .223 to .45 or 9mm, but maybe not from 9mm to .380 or .40 cal. AND also the priming might also need to be changed over. But all presses are like that.

Single stage and Turrets are also like that. They need to have a different shell holder for different calibers.

You also need a new PTX to match the new caliber too.

What did I misread here?

I see FCD being used on a Progressive...
I LOL at ANY FCD being used unless it is to deglock the brass...


I will add though that the 111.xx price for the press is an EXCELLENT purchase price. If that photo is correct, then that is the correct press to get, but buy any other LEE accessories at Titan or FSreloading. Do not get ripped at other places.

[sargenv]

Seems I was mistaken about what you wanted.. Square deal B is good for basically 1 caliber and pistol to boot. I didn't know you wanted to do lots of different calibers.. The question is, which calibers are you wanting to churn out lots of and which can you wait on?

My wife bought me a basic Dillon 650 - 20 years ago when she saw what sort of time it took to load 200 rds of 45 on a single stage. I had to buy the case feeder and every other accessory since. We bought it initially in 45 acp and eventually over time expanded it to 9mm, 38 super, 40 S&W/10mm, 38/357, 30-30, 223, 308, and in the near future... 458 socom. I did not feel the need to get everything all at once. I also used the same powder measure for all calibers buying upgrades along the way.. I know people who had the LNL Hornady and later sold it to get the Dillon.

My last upgrade was pricey but worth it as I've developed a light case of tendinitis loading all the ammo I have.. I am in the process of setting up said 650 on a Mark 7 auto drive. Price is sort of secondary.. buy once, cry once.. in the long run, if it works and works well, you won't ever really think about what you paid.. unless that's something you obsess over.. It's not something I worry about.

[DougMurray]

You've gotten some well reasoned opinions here and now have about all the useful info you're going to get. My only thought is that I too almost went to a Lee progressive (turret?) but after a lot of research, dropped the additional coin to go to a LnL press, which I'm very pleased with. It is really a toss-up between red and blue - just go with what you are comfortable with. I'd advise actually using one before buying it, though, to make sure the workflow matches how you want to proceed. The Dillon works differently than the LnL but both are very good machines and would do you proud. I'm afraid if you go the Lee route and really get into reloading, as most of us have, you will soon want to move up to a better machine so why not start out with the one you want and skip the intermediate path?

[Calguns77]

This is the deal on all presses though if you want that speed. You are paying for the convenience. If you do not wish to pay, then you will need to screw and unscrew your dies and set them up every time. Nothing new here. Am I missing something?

One of the first things i bought for my Rock Chucker was a LnL conversion kit and bushings for my dies. Not sure why someone would cheap out on extra toolheads or turrets.

[stilly]

You've gotten some well reasoned opinions here and now have about all the useful info you're going to get. My only thought is that I too almost went to a Lee progressive (turret?) but after a lot of research, dropped the additional coin to go to a LnL press, which I'm very pleased with. It is really a toss-up between red and blue - just go with what you are comfortable with. I'd advise actually using one before buying it, though, to make sure the workflow matches how you want to proceed. The Dillon works differently than the LnL but both are very good machines and would do you proud. I'm afraid if you go the Lee route and really get into reloading, as most of us have, you will soon want to move up to a better machine so why not start out with the one you want and skip the intermediate path?

A Turret is a Turret. IT is called a Turret because it is NOT a progressive. A progressive turns the shell plate, a Turret press turns the top or turret portion where the dies are.- Thus the Turret action. And tourettes while using a Turret means there might be a lot of yelling involved...

Lee Progressives are either going to be a Lee Pro-1000 or a Loadmaster. The Lee Classic and Precision Turrets are still just turrets. The Lee Classic Turret is the better of the two Lee Turrets because it has a heavy base and can do a few more rifle rounds IIRC. Even if I am wrong on that though, it is still the better of the two turrets.

Given the above, you can not really compare a Turret like the LCT to any progressive, such as the LNL since they are two different actions. You can contrast them, but compare not so much. I am very happy that I have my Loadmaster but right now I have my LCT mounted and soon I will be moving towards the Loadmaster again for 1000 .44 mag and possibly another 10k 9mm.