RCBS Uniflow with Lee Turret

[brettkeating]

I am seriously considering getting a Lee Turret press to accompany my RCBS Rock Chucker, in order to boost handgun ammo production efficiency. I'm not really interested in a progressive, so please don't go there. I am happy with the Rock Chucker for how often I shoot, but I figure another press for $100 on Amazon is chump-change. I'm not interested in spending $500+ for this because I just don't shoot that much (I'm not a competitive shooter, etc.). Depending on how things go with the turret, I may even "chuck" the Rock Chucker, since it doubles as a single-stage press.

I have a Uniflow powder measure that came with my Rock Chucker kit, and I have Lee dies for most of my handgun ammo. I also have a Uniquetek powder measure adapter for Uniflow to Lee powder-thru expander dies.

I am thinking I can just put my powder measure into the die as usual, and go ahead and have it travel around as I pull the lever. I would have to dispense the powder myself (unless I can find a way to have this work automatically), which is fine.

My only real concern is whether or not this setup is stable. Am I going to be spilling giant amounts of powder on my reloading floor if I'm not careful? Is this not recommended? Has anyone combined a Uniflow with a Turret before?

[MarkG35]

Search or PM Stilly

[brettkeating]

I've done some searching but in what I've found, it's not really clear that others have had success with the setup I'm proposing. There are case activated linkage kits for the Uniflow that some have combined with the Turret, but that would almost double the cost, and I don't require automation. It's intended for progressive setups. I'm happy with manually dispensing the powder for the time being.

[wilit]

I'm using the Hornady case activated powder drop on my Lee Classic Cast Turret. Takes some time to set it up right, but works well. It should work with the Uniflow as well. My only complaint is having to use the Hornady powder through expander instead of the Lee die. I think the Lee die is a better, more simple design.

[stilly]

I am seriously considering getting a Lee Turret press to accompany my RCBS Rock Chucker, in order to boost handgun ammo production efficiency. I'm not really interested in a progressive, so please don't go there. I am happy with the Rock Chucker for how often I shoot, but I figure another press for $100 on Amazon is chump-change. I'm not interested in spending $500+ for this because I just don't shoot that much (I'm not a competitive shooter, etc.). Depending on how things go with the turret, I may even "chuck" the Rock Chucker, since it doubles as a single-stage press.

I have a Uniflow powder measure that came with my Rock Chucker kit, and I have Lee dies for most of my handgun ammo. I also have a Uniquetek powder measure adapter for Uniflow to Lee powder-thru expander dies.

I am thinking I can just put my powder measure into the die as usual, and go ahead and have it travel around as I pull the lever. I would have to dispense the powder myself (unless I can find a way to have this work automatically), which is fine.

My only real concern is whether or not this setup is stable. Am I going to be spilling giant amounts of powder on my reloading floor if I'm not careful? Is this not recommended? Has anyone combined a Uniflow with a Turret before?

Yeah you can do that.

BUT, case activated linkage is what you want, forget this uniquetek crap where you gotta turn it YOURSELF BY HAND each time... That will get old after 8 rounds. I have one too, guess where it is right now? Your guess is as good as mine.
Powder on the floor? HAH! only if you spin the dial with no case to catch your mess.

You gotta go with a case activated linkage from hornady (or rcbs if you are rich) and you gotta reverse the drum on the Uniflow though so the handle is on the other side. If you can get a quick change dropper even better but I think not, so powder change will be a pita... Oh well, if you want a better powder drum, use anything but a Uniflow, but they ARE decent droppers from what I heard. I of course am using a lnl dropper but that thing does not leak powder and I just got two more o-rings in...

Also, get yourself the POWDERFUNNEL.COM Universal PTX bushing that will expand .25-.50 caliber brass for you.

You will also want to get some lower quick change powder bushings from Hornady as well if you will be swapping out between turrets. They cost about $22 + shipping each but in the end it might be worth it,else you will have to adjust your die every time you change it out to a different caliber.

Here is what your setup will look like.

All bolt on/ drop in parts, no adapters or dremeling or ANY MODS needed.



Quick change powder die from midway is about $22 but hurry and get that case activated hornady made linkage for $57.00



You can see the powderfunnel.com PTX die poking out for $30 + shipping. That means that if you buy about 3 Hornady bushings for different calibers, you are about neck and neck (no pun intended).

[brettkeating]

Wow thanks for that stilly.

I'm also considering the Lyman turret if I'm going to go the spendy route. Any opinions on that? Love hearing from experienced reloaders, I so appreciate the freely offered advice on here. What a great community.

[BigBronco]

Go with the Hornady LnL measure. There are features that make it a lot quicker should you load for more than one caliber.

[stilly]

Wow thanks for that stilly.

I'm also considering the Lyman turret if I'm going to go the spendy route. Any opinions on that? Love hearing from experienced reloaders, I so appreciate the freely offered advice on here. What a great community.

From MY understanding, you can use ANY rotary/drum powder measure with the LNL case activated linkage. HOWEVER, I have only tried it on the uniflow and on the LNL dropper. The uniflow is nice in that the bottle is thick and not cheap tubing that Hornady uses, but that tubing is also easily replaced. I THOUGHT and I can SWEAR that I have seen a RCBS Quick Change Uniflow out there, but if I am wrong or if it does not exist, then the LNL dropper/measure IS WAY better. The only bad part is that the Uniflow, whether Quick change or Not costs MORE than the LNL typically, And the QC uniflow is around $89.00 when I last say it about 7 months ago...

I have been so happy with my LNL though that I run that with no issues and no desire to really go for anything else. PLUS it comes with a baffle...