Lee Classic Turret Press?

[Phil A]

I've got the old "pot metal" turret press and have been content with it. I was thinking of upgrading to the Classic Cast because I wanted some means of controling the spent primers. I don't like the lead styphinate dust all over.

Instead I drilled a hole in the bottom of the bench under the press. I ran 3/4" PVC pipe from the hole into a plastic bottle. Now the spent primers are directed into the bottle.

I don't see the need for a Classic Cast, unless there's some guys here who've had both the old turret and the Classic Cast that can convince me there's sufficient reason to upgrade.

I had the original 3 hole turret press but eventually bought the classic turret press. Here are some other advantages over the 3 hole press.

1. Larger and stronger for rifle cartridges.
2. 4 stages allows separate seat and crimp (better for roll crimping cast).
3. Safety primer is much better and faster than the 3 hole primer (improves rounds per hour).

- Phil

[compass will]

the original press now comes with 3 or 4 holes, and can use the safety prime. The biggest complaints I have heard is the kit comes with the lee auto disk, and everybody will buy the safety primer, but nether comes with the required auto disk riser.

If you were looking at the original, and was thinking of loading rifle, you might also consider getting the lee perfect powder measure.

Plus the fact that the original can't even load 22-250 when in auto index mode. the bullet hits on the size of the bullet seating die when you raise the press and the turret starts to turn.

[Dale53]

>>>Plus the fact that the original can't even load 22-250 when in auto index mode<<<

Exactly!

Dale53

[Alan in WI]

I have one now on order from Cabela's. Lee must be doing something right if most of their stuff is on backorder! Maybe I should apply for a job over there.

Alan in WI

[JesterGrin_1]

Alan great move. I have said it before and will say it again lol. I like my Lee Classic Cast Turret Press lol. The only real down side I have found is if you use dies other than Lee you will need smaller lock rings from probably Lee since the dies are set so close together.

[Ugly Dwarf]

I've been planning to get the 'standard' Lee 4 hole turret press for sizing bullets and doing single stage reloading operations...

... based on my reading here about the Classic Cast (many great reviews found in my search), it sounds like it's worth the extra $25-$30.

[JesterGrin_1]

Yes it is worth it. You can get them here for a decent deal. http://www.kempfgunshop.com/

I sold my Lyman T-Mag II and even put away my single stage Rock Chucker and went with the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

[be603]

Anyone had any luck adapting other brands of pwdr throw to the CC Turret?

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Yes, I have. You can use an RCBS Uniflow with either the Hornady LnL case activated powder drop or the RCBS version. I tried using the Hornady LnL powder measure, but it's too heavy and doesn't balance well on the press. The Uniflow, however, works great and rotates smoothly/comfortably on the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

I use the Uniflow with the Hornady case activated powder drop for extruded rifle powders and use the Lee die set powder through expander with the Lee Pro Auto Disk for spherical or disk pistol powders. Both have proven effective in their respective tasks and I'm happy with both.

Yes, the Hornady LnL case activated powder drop (CAPD) with an RCBS Uniflow on top will clear the Lee Safety Prime.

Regards,

Dave

[Alan in WI]

Well it's here! It arrived yesterday. I bought the Cabela's kit. I got it mounted on the bench and the primer feed set up, but I have got to tell you that Disc Powder Measure is throwing me for a loop. Lee's instructions leave a lot to be desired. If anyone can give me some help on this I sure would appreciate it. I have been doing a bunch of searches. There are some pretty nifty videos on YouTube, but none for the Disc powder setup that I could find. Any help would really be appreciated as the weather in Wisconsin is keeping indoors this coming weekend and I sure would like to start some serious reloading.

Thanks

Alan

[Dale53]

Alan;
You really need to ask a specific question - otherwise it would take a book and you may have figured most of it out already...

At any rate, the advantage of the Lee PRO disc is that you can swivel the barrel and turn off the measure. Then just remove the thumb screws and remove the barrel and dump the powder into the original container. Just MAKE SURE that you have it turned off before you take it off or it'll go all over EVERYTHING.

Read the instructions for a suggestion on which cavity to use. It is a little confusing to determine WHICH cavity is in use. However, if you watch closely while you are operating it, you can determine this. Soon, it will become second nature. The amounts each cavity will hold are only approximate (each lot of powder will be a little different). THAT is why a scale is extremely important. Sometimes I have to use a cavity on either side of the designated one to give me what I want. Again, it'll become second nature after you use it a bit.

I prefer to use ball powder, mostly, with my progressives. I often use the Lee Pro with my Dillon 550B's as well as with my Lee Classic Turret. I really like these powder measures. As a matter of interest, Dillon pays Lee a royalty for each Dillon powder measure sold (the idea is a Lee patent).

Ask ahead for any specific question you need answered.

Manuals are a pet peeve of mine. ALL manuals. I am a photographer, amongst other things, and you won't believe some of the camera manuals. There is actually a cottage industry grown up producing camera manuals written by people who understand problems MUCH better than the original manufacturers.

Good luck and SHOOT CENTER!

Dale53

[Alan in WI]

I am have a difficult time just figuring out how to get the thing set up to operate. The instructions leave a lot to be desired. I have never seen one operate except what I can see on YouTube and there is no good picture of that. All I can tell is that somehow when you pull the handle it tips the measure to drop the powder.

Alan

[Dale53]

The powder measure is activated by the "powder through" expanding drop tube. With pistols, the drop tube expands the case (after it has been full length sized by the "full length sizing die"). You adjust the die with an empty case (nothing in the powder measure either) until the case is belled "just right". The proper bell is the least amount of bell (saves wear and tear on cases) that allows you to seat the bullet without shaving lead. The action of "belling" moves the expander activating the powder measure. When setting the press up you can watch the movement of the powder "disc" and see how it dumps the powder into the "powder through" expander.

I am discussing operation for pistol and revolver rounds.

It would be much easier if you could meet up with an experienced reloader to show you the basics. Does your local gun club have someone who can help you? I have helped a number of people get started. Most everyone could benefit from a mentor.

The first die in the turret is the full length sizing die. Follow the directions that come with the die.

The second die is the powder through expanding/powder drop die. The die expands the case mouth and drops the powder charge using the Pro Disk measure.

The third is the bullet seater die (three die sets do the crimping and bullet seating in one stage).

I MUCH prefer four die sets where the third die ONLY seats the bullet and the fourth die crimps. However, for many years, I got by with a three die set.

Dale53

[Alan in WI]

Thanks Dale,
But understanding the basics is not the problem. I have loaded on a Redding turret press with very good results. It is just that I am having a hard time trying to figure out how to get that Auto Disc Powder dispenser set up.

Alan

[Maximilian225]

do you have lee dies? The auto disk screws in the powder through expanding die that comes in the lee carbide pistol die sets. The traveling expander activates the autodisk when you bell the casemouth.

Maybe some of these pictures will help

Here

and here pics 18 & on

These are not my pics found with google

[JesterGrin_1]

do you have lee dies? The auto disk screws in the powder through expanding die that comes in the lee carbide pistol die sets. The traveling expander activates the autodisk when you bell the casemouth.

Maybe some of these pictures will help

Here

and here pics 18 & on

These are not my pics found with google

Go with this one that Maximilian 225 was nice nough to research. Here

As the Lee Classic Cast turret press does not need the chain to use the powder measure.

[Dale53]

When you use the "riser" on the powder through die, there is a need for an extension to the original case flaring/powder through expander (called expansion plug by Lee).

The extension is called the Auto Disc riser. It allows the powder measure body to clear the rest of the dies in the tool head. The riser has a "tube" that extends through the riser to the expander and makes up for the extra length needed to operate the measure. Is it possible that you have left the extension tube out of the ass'y?

It is also possible that the wrong expander has been sent you. Each different caliber requires it's own expander (they are different lengths).

Dale53

[Alan in WI]

Thank you Maximilian225! Now it is starting to make sense. I have ordered the Lee Colt 45 4 die pistol set and the 44 special & mag pistol set. When they arrive I should be able to get the press going. Those pictures help alot.

Alan

[dfwdon]

Yes, I have. You can use an RCBS Uniflow with either the Hornady LnL case activated powder drop or the RCBS version. I tried using the Hornady LnL powder measure, but it's too heavy and doesn't balance well on the press. The Uniflow, however, works great and rotates smoothly/comfortably on the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

I use the Uniflow with the Hornady case activated powder drop for extruded rifle powders and use the Lee die set powder through expander with the Lee Pro Auto Disk for spherical or disk pistol powders. Both have proven effective in their respective tasks and I'm happy with both.

Yes, the Hornady LnL case activated powder drop (CAPD) with an RCBS Uniflow on top will clear the Lee Safety Prime.

Regards,

Dave

Any possibility of seeing the RCBS measure on the setup?

Thanks,
Don

[silverbuzzard]

Well, now you guys have done it,hear that sqeaky noise? thats my wallet opening to order one. Been using a Rockchucker since '76 when I started. guess I should enter the next century !