Upgrade from single stage to turret?

[jeffy1021]

I am new to reloading and purchased a lee hand press because I don't have space for a typical workbench setup. I currently reload pistol calibers and no rifle calibers at the moment and shoot no more than 200-300 rounds per month. Priming is done individually using the ram prime and I have modified a few lee powder dippers by tapping the bottom with machine screws so I can adjust the volume. After figuring out a consistent dipping technique, I can get within +/- .1 grain most of the time. The few hundred plinking rounds I have loaded so far have worked well and it is nice being able to reload anywhere at home and to separate the various stages over a few nights when I am able to make time.

But of course, I am always looking to improve on things and looked into the lee classic turret press with the safety prime which can be mounted on a lee reloading stand and have a few questions about the set up.

1. Would I save any time with this set up over the hand press if I still weighed my charges manually using powder dippers?

2. Would I be better off with the pro auto disk with the turret setup? For those that use them, do you still find yourself spot checking the charges periodically or is it pretty much set and forget?

3. What about keeping my hand press and picking up a automatic powder dispenser / scale combo? I do like the small footprint of the Lyman Gen 6 and of course there is the tried and true RCBS chargemaster.

[16in50calNavalRifle]

For (1), probably, but that depends on how you use the turret, including .... (2), in which case almost certainly "yes" (you'd be better off).

The Pro Auto Disk works well, and is usually very consistent. A few quirks can be part of the equation: the powder reservoir can gradually turn itself towards "Off" with the turret rotation, so you have to monitor that; sometimes there is a balky or sticky operation to the powder measure if surfaces aren't clean; you have to adjust your powder/expansion die to make sure it operatest the powder measure correctly.

But none of this is really a problem, if these things happen the solutions are easy, and over time as you get used to things you'll probably not encounter them. The Adjustable Charge Bar attachment makes small changes in handgun loads very easy, and makes the Pro Auto Disk even easier to use.

My powder charge "quality control" method is as follows: 1) visual check every charge as the case moves from powder to seating die (this is more to guard against large over- or under-charges, but you do get to sort of recognize the right amount of powder after a few rounds), 2) dump and weigh every 10th round. For test loads when I'm working up a recipe, I weigh each load just to save time and make sure my "testing" isn't wasted.

I have found the Pro Auto Disk to be quite consistent. Of course different powders, at different humidity levels, can introduce some variation. But the every-10th-round check catches this. And I have never experienced any variation that was important - I load low to mid-level charges, so my margin of safety easily accommodates small variations.

It's really about your shooting volume and number/type of calibers. If you shoot no more than 300 rounds/month, not sure the cost (though modest) and hassle of a turret set-up makes sense for you. If that round count should rise above 500, and include any "expensive" calibers (44, 357, 10mm), then the cost and hassle would be repaid.

And as others will point out and you already realize, one big non-financial aspect that's great about reloading is the ability to customize loads for your shooting style, guns, and objectives.

[jeffy1021]

Thanks for the feedback, I added an option 3 to my original post. I need to stop watching youtube videos of people with their turret and progressive setups until I start shooting more rounds!

[Eljay]

The turrets are great. I use mine with the charge master during load development and the auto disk or bar in production for the most part. I weigh occasionally but it's quite stable.

[stilly]

Keep the single stage around but swap it out for the Lee Classic Turret. (THe one with the ARROW looking base).

THAT is the logical next step and will suit you just fine. The main advantage is that you will use one hand to pull the lever and one to manipulate components instead of having to balance everything with the handpress.

The LCT will allow you to still watch your loads closely and the pro auto disk is a decent dropper for most powders. I do not really care for it, but I am spoiled with the LNL dropper I got and the case activated linkage.

What you do is about what I do too if I am unfamiliar with a powder or using 800-x. with a MOUNTED press you will only be faster and pulling in the shells and what not but you should get a digital scale to be faster. The gemini pro 20gram scale is prolly the BEST scale money can buy for making pistol loads. It will weigh 20 GRAMS and has a resolution in miligrams or hundredths of a grain. The weighing portion is made for ammo too. It has a little disk with a ring around it and it fits .44 mag and .45 acp shells perfectly. I will put a primed shall on the center, TARE it out, put it on the press, drop the powder, pull it off and place it back on the scale and see what the drop is. I have never had any issues with doing things that way and it is super fast and easy. The scale can be purchased at AMAZON.com or HERE: http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh...american+weigh

[Enfield47]

Upgrade to the classic cast turret and don't look back. It's a great press and is relatively inexpensive to get fulley set up with extra turrets for each caliber you reload. I use mine with the safety prime system and it does speed things up when using the auto index mode. I do have the Lee ergo prime too so I can hand prime while watching TV. Both are good priming systems, but for speed priming on the press is the way to go. The auto disk powder dispenser works really well and is very consistent, even when using stick powder - flake powder (700x) is only so, so. Be sure to get a charge bar and the double disk kit. The charge bar allows for for more fine tuning than what the disks offer and the extra disks are necessary for rifle rounds. Check out Titan Reloading, they have excellent service, ship fast, and have good prices.

[jeffy1021]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, it sounds like the LCT is the way to go. Also, thanks for sharing techniques on how to verify loads using a digital scale as I will probably end up doing that with flake powders. And when I am working up loads, I can just use a funnel on top of the powder expanding die instead of the auto disk so I can probably get rid of the hand press to recoup some of the cost.

After browsing the reloading bench sticky, I think I will pass on the $100 Lee reloading stand as I can just bolt the press to a 2x6 or 2x8 and then clamp it down to my sturdy dining room table. Any reason why that wouldn't work?

[jeffy1021]

On second thought, I may try a powder dispenser / scale combo first and then switch to a turret later as my rounds per month goes up. I actually could see myself ultimately using the dispenser / scale with a turret to give me piece of mind that I know exactly what is going into each round. I guess I still have time to think about it...

[Eljay]

It doesn't really matter how you attach it as long as it's rock solid. There are definitely people who bolt it to a big chunk of wood and then clamp that onto their table. Not how I do it but I've seen pictures.

In terms of what order to upgrade things, it's really up to you. It's definitely handy to have a dispenser / scale unit. It's definitely going to speed you up to get a turret press. The turret press is really quite cheap as reloading gear goes. The good dispenser / scales are pretty expensive and are more of a luxury item (although you need a good scale in any case).

[jeffy1021]

Good point, the scales are pretty pricey. I will try out the LCT and safety prime and will measure the powder using my "adjustable" dipper and a scale to verify which would still be faster than what I am doing currently with minimal investment.

I can always pick up the auto disk or dispenser / scale at a later date.

[stand125]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, it sounds like the LCT is the way to go. Also, thanks for sharing techniques on how to verify loads using a digital scale as I will probably end up doing that with flake powders. And when I am working up loads, I can just use a funnel on top of the powder expanding die instead of the auto disk so I can probably get rid of the hand press to recoup some of the cost.

The hand press is mighty nice if you want to load develop at the range and even though I never forsee it happening, My hand press will be in my bug out bag with 1/2 lb of powder, some primers and bullets. How much can you really expect to recoup and is it worth giving up a portable reloading station.