Lee Classic Turret press

[Nueces]

Well, you nailed the two big Dillon hickeys right there. I've had to tune and retune my RL450 priming system (files, lube, cuss words), but they work well now, as long as I watch carefully, which is not bad practice when loading anyway.

The Redding powder measure also works well. It's hand-thrown, but accurate. I don't have time-motion numbers, but my impression is that overall production rates did not suffer very much, because of fewer stoppages and goofs.

Mark

It occurred to me to mention that I've installed a mini spot lamp that illuminates the mouth of the just-charged case. I visually confirm the powder charge before putting the slug in place.

[Dale53]

My Dillon 550B's (I have two) have been utterly reliable in every regard. I have loaded tens of thousands of various calibers, both rifle and pistol, without problems.

My Dillon's powder measure is SPOT ON with 231, 5066, Bullseye, Unique, and H110 (incl WC 820). I mostly use ball powders, even in rifle, as they measure so well.

Dale53

[dukers65]

it is a vaery good press at a reasonable price.add to that how easily and
and how inexpensive the turrets are,you begin to understand its' popularity. dan

[405WIN]

Well. I to must express my joy with the Classic Turret. I have been using two Loadmasters for a few years now and yes sometimes I want to pull my hair out.
I bought the Classic turret because LEE doesn't make a shell plate for the 475 Linebaugh. Besides, I just needed an excuse to buy one. I was so pleased with it that I purchased an extra die head and started loading 32-20's with it. Same great results. O.k, how about the 38-40. Great also. I then switched my 10mm auto dies to it and am haveing of course great results.
If not for the speed of the Loadmaster when it is working properly, I would change all of my dies calibers to the Turret. I load about 10 different handgun calibers on a regular basis. I would highly reccomend it to anyone looking for a great tool. I can load 200 rounds an hour.

[870TC]

I have to agree with Dale53. I've had a Dillon 550 for years, loaded many thousands of rounds each year with no problems. My Dillon powder measure is as accurate as, my RCBS uniflow or the old Lyman 55 I used to have.

[enfieldphile]

I love my LEE Classic Cast Turret Press!

W/ a Pro Disk Powder measure & primer feed you can really turn out the ammo!

I have 3 turrets set up now, one for .45 acp/AutoRim, one for .38/357, and one for .44 Special/.44Mag

I use the LEE 4-dies sets. The LEE carbide crimp die is not used though for .45acp, for that I finish up w/ a LEE Taper Crimp die.

[hedgehorn]

I wish I would have bought one long before I did. I really think that they are well built and a great value.

[PatMarlin]

Bought 10 turrets on sale last year at Midway for less than $5 a piece.

That's enough and a lot of set ups.

[OldBob]

Well, I read all the good stuff about these so I went and sold my Lyman T-Mag and bought one. Man am I ever sorry I did............... NOT !! The hype about these is all true, I couldn't be more pleased. I mounted my Lyman 55 measure on the powder-thru die for now, until my Lee Pro Auto measure gets here and it works well, loaded a batch of .45 ACP last night and it was just amazing how fast and flawlessly this works.

[docone31]

Every once in a whle I have to click my turret but aside from that, for the price, it is GREAT!
I had some Lyman stuff for a while, now I am all Lee.

[John Boy]

Bought 10 turrets on sale last year at Midway for less than $5 a piece.

Pat - nice score. I missed that one.

I do all my rifle reloads with the Lee and:
One thing I don't like about the Lee 3 or 4 holers ... the die plate moves up when the shell goes in any of the dies. I reload to specific COAL's. But the issue has been resolved ... put a C-clamp on the the turret to hold it to the press.

Pistol calibers - Dillon 550B ... IS THE PRESS!

[Dale53]

John Boy;
I don't understand your problem. The die plate moves against the top of the press and it is consistent in it's movement. That is one of the GREAT things about the Lee Classic Turret. Other turret presses tend to "tilt" when pressure is applied while the Lee Turret moves up against the precision machined surface of the inside top of the press for absolutely consistent and well aligned cartridges.

Dale53

[Heavy lead]

John Boy;
I don't understand your problem. The die plate moves against the top of the press and it is consistent in it's movement. That is one of the GREAT things about the Lee Classic Turret. Other turret presses tend to "tilt" when pressure is applied while the Lee Turret moves up against the precision machined surface of the inside top of the press for absolutely consistent and well aligned cartridges.

Dale53

Me neither, it's very consistant and straight up and more importantly square.

[JudgeBAC]

Just took the plunge on a Lee Turret. I really like the press. My only complaint is I have so many sets of RCBS dies and the lock rings are too big and you cannot place two dies side by side without replacing the lock rings with Lee lock rings. Small price to pay I suppose for a well thought out turret press.

[454PB]

I use RCBS dies in my Lee. I just remove the lock ring set screw.

[Dale53]

The "new" Dillon small lock rings (1" across the flats) are available for $1.05 each and a bag of those will solve the lock ring problem for both the Lee Classic Turret and the Dillon 550B. I got enough to change all of my die sets. Dillon also makes an inexpensive wrench to fit them. They leave enough room between the dies to make adjustments MUCH easier than the stock lock rings.

FWIW
Dale53