Lee turret or other good press recommendation?

[Sam1]

Can't remember if I asked before or not but we need to get some equipment fairly soon to avoid taking out a loan to buy a box of .308 ammo. Am leaning more towards a turret press for it being less of a hassle, and it looks like the Lee classic comes recommended around here. Is that pretty much the standard or are there better ones that actually provide the functionality that would justify the higher expense? We don't mind to spend a little bit of $ to get quality equipment up front and not have to replace it a year down the road.

 

The only thing we will be using it for is mainly .308, some time in the future we may start doing .45's, but not too worried about it right now.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Sam1

[GoneBallistic]

Lee classic all the way

[krunchnik]

I have the Lee Turret and they work real well.Whats handy about the press is the ability to purchase extra turret plates,that way a person can mount the dies in their own plate.All adjusted and ready to go the next time you need to reload that caliber.

[MississippiBoy]

I am getting one after the new year hopefully... I think it matches my needs best. Graf and sons had a good price on them and had some in stock last I looked.

I have to get my bench built and the holidays over then will get into the reloading.

[vujade]

This isn't a turret but i use a Dillon 550b. 

 

I just change out the tool head and I can go from 45apc to 308 neck sizing to 308 full sizing.  45 can be really easily done with the progressive set up.  For 308, I like to go slow and accurate so I use it as "single stage".

[Dolomite_supafly]

I use a Lee Classic Cast but I installed Hornady Lock-N-Load conversion bushings. They allow you to set the dies and never have to reset them again when changing calibers.

If you are mostly going to load rifle rounds I would go with a single stage.

Dolomite

[AdotOdot4]

If you are in the market for a Lee Classic kit I would also recommend checking the Kempf Gun Shop website.

[mikegideon]

I use a Lee Classic Cast but I installed Hornady Lock-N-Load conversion bushings. They allow you to set the dies and never have to reset them again when changing calibers.

If you are mostly going to load rifle rounds I would go with a single stage.

Dolomite

I'm loading blaster rifle ammo with my turret, and will still use a single stage for my picky stuff.

[GoneBallistic]

Check out http://fsreloading.com. Best prices I have found on Lee stuff. I bought the Classic Cast Turret Press kit and several other things and was up and running in no time.

[Sam1]

[quote name='Dolomite_supafly' timestamp='1355977453' post='864008']I use a Lee Classic Cast but I installed Hornady Lock-N-Load conversion bushings. They allow you to set the dies and never have to reset them again when changing calibers. If you are mostly going to load rifle rounds I would go with a single stage. Dolomite[/quote] The rifle is just for now, when all is said and done it'll be 45, 308, 357 and 380(possibly). When we go to the range, we normally run through 500+ rounds of 45, and I would like to start doing that weekly or biweekly Think the single stage would take a lot longer at that rate Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

[gnmwilliams]

Check out https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=630&category_id=190&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41

[Jonnin]

I love my lee classic turret.   Lee stuff gets a lot of trashing but this product is quite good, reasonably priced, and a sweet in-between choice (between a single stage and full blown ammo factory setup). 

 

For rifle rounds, I am not sure the turret offers a huge advantage because you have to size, remove from press, trim, put back on the press....  a single stage is "almost" as useful.    But if you ever decide to make a bunch of pistol rounds, it will really crank them out in a hurry.   (meh I said pistol and rifle but what it really means is necked & needs trimming vs no neck and no trimming, size of the round is not the issue).

 

 

It will pay for itself if you do the 380 and 45 acp rounds.  380 is like $20 a box, I can make it for 3.   45 is more expensive, but its still 1/3 the price of factory rounds.  I have a very bad habit of buying GOOD bullets for my rifles, and save very little on those because of it.

 

I can make 50 rounds of 45 acp in 15 min on my lee classic turret using the powder disk tool.  Crafted target ammo with precise charges takes longer, but just to shoot at stuff at short ranges, the quick made stuff is great.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Jonnin

[Sam1]

Went to the store today and had the guy walk me through the differences in the ones he had and ended up getting a 550b, as with what people here recommended with using a single stage with rifle ammo while being able to do pistol rounds faster and it was pretty heavy duty compared to the Lee. There was a few things that led me to it over the classic.

 

 

Now I just need to wrap it up and surprise myself for Christmas 

Edited December 20, 2012 by Sam1

[Sniper23]

I was looking at the Lee classic turret as well and got confused. I see 2 different presses. 1 is the Lee classic turret and the other is the Lee classic 4 hole turret. What's the difference and which do you all recommend?

[mikegideon]

I was looking at the Lee classic turret as well and got confused. I see 2 different presses. 1 is the Lee classic turret and the other is the Lee classic 4 hole turret. What's the difference and which do you all recommend?

4 hole.

[Sniper23]

Is the Lee pro 1000 any good? I've found one at a decent price but don't know if its worth buying. I just know I need to buy a press so I can get to reloading.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Is the Lee pro 1000 any good? I've found one at a decent price but don't know if its worth buying. I just know I need to buy a press so I can get to reloading.

I have one and it sits on the shelf. I have used it in the past but it is a little to finicky for my liking. If I were to use it for anything it would be to load already primed brass.

 

 

Dolomite

[Raoul]

I'd stay away from the Loadmaster also. My experience with one was not satisfactory.

[Sniper23]

That's all I need to know. I guess I just need to go ahead and get a lee turret or lee classic. I'll check to see who has the best deal and hopefully get one this week.

[Sam1]

Was finally able to pick up the supplies tonight

 

 

Thanks for a great deal Dave/Sam :)

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