Mod to the Lee Classic Turret Press

[Ben]

I maybe one of the few that likes to prime my cases with a priming tool that has " an adjustable stop ". When I use priming devices that don't have a " stop " , it is very easy to seat a primer high or deep seat one.

The more I use the Lyman Ram Prime , the better I like it. I have an old Lyman All American on my bench that I keep a pair of Lyman Ram Primes in for large and small primer seating. WORKS SUPER ! I couldn't be happier. May not be the fastest, but for me it is the most precise.

As a consequence, the priming devices on most reloading presses are of little use to me. My Lee Classic Turret press is a good example. There is no " stop " on the primer seating operation, it is all done by feel.

I decided to remove the primer arm on my Lee Classic Turret. Problem # 2 arises. If the primer arm is removed, spent primers will come shooting out the slot milled in the ram for the primer arm.

My solution for this problem was to cut a " deflector strip " out of hvy. gauge aluminum and JB Weld it in place. This has worked 100 % flawlessly for me. Not a single primer has been lost since this modification. I also removed the red cap from the end of the vinyl hose. I placed a fairly large container under the vinyl hose to catch my spent primers that travel down the vinyl hose . I probably won't have to empty it but about once a year. The system with the red cap on the end of the vinyl hose required much more frequent attention.

I'm a happy camper now !

If you own a Lee Classic Turret Press and like to prime " off the press " , this modification may be something that you're interested in ?

Thanks,
Ben


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[geargnasher]

When I converted one of my Classic Turret presses to a Pro-1000, the shellplate carrier stopped just a hair lower at the bottom due to the un-machined base (no boss for the primer punch), so in use the primers get seated by feel instead of by the positive stop of the machine. MUCH better. The stop on the handle still keeps from damaging the primer chute by over-extending the punch, but it's really nice to be able to finally seat primers all the way home rather than just flush which is the normal setup. I think the Classic Turret normally stops the primer punch with the handle stop rather than on the primer itself when it bottoms, but that's a variable depending on exactly how the ram adapter is oriented. If you remove the auto-index housing the top of the ram unscrews and can be positioned in any direction, but of course that affects the primer seating depth.

What all this rambling is trying to express is that priming on the press can be quite effective if a) you don't mind the funky feel, and b) you tune the machine for the right depth of seating. I'll have to agree, though, nothing beats the confidence of priming with a good, dedicated, off-the-press tool, and the bench-mounted priming tools are some of the best.

Gear

[Ben]

Gear,

Some reloaders are about the " speed " of reloading, as long as it is done quickly they are happy.

I'll have to admit that at one time I was one of those types also.

Now I've shifted over to precision and quality trumping the speed aspect of reloading. I guess it all boils down to what your goals are.

Ben

[44Vaquero]

Hands down my favorite way to prime is the Lee Auto Prime II! Same idea as the Lyman but with out the hassle of touching the primers.

[ktw]

Re: aluminum filler strip

A short section of drinking straw works well for the same purpose and isn't quite as much work to install or remove. One of the larger diameter ones from a resturant wedges in the slot quite nicely.

-ktw

[geargnasher]

Gear,

Some reloaders are about the " speed " of reloading, as long as it is done quickly they are happy.

I'll have to admit that at one time I was one of those types also.

Now I've shifted over to precision and quality trumping the speed aspect of reloading. I guess it all boils down to what your goals are.

Ben

I do both kinds, and it does require a different mindset for each, and there certainly is better tooling for precision vs. speed like you point out.

I only mentioned the modifications to the Lee equipment because it isn't so much about speed for me as it is reducing case handling. I have carpal tunnel syndrome and the beginnings of osteo arthritis, and the less I handle components repetitively the better. I wipe cases off on a clean towel a hundred or more at a time, dump them in the collator, load the primers and powder, and start pulling. When done, the cartridges get cleaned hammock-style in a towel damp with paint thinner and get dumped in a plastic coffee can. The only thing that gets handled individually are the boolits during seating and the cartridges when I put them in ammo boxes.

For precision shooting, I load far fewer cartridges, in batches of 20 or 30, and I take my time. That's when the bench-mounted primer gets used.

Gear

[Ben]

Ditto Gear ! ! !

Ben
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44Vaquero :

I have one also, I'm bad to let the primers get low and it starts jamming. If you can remember to keep the primers full,( and I seem incapable of doing that ) ...........YES, it works very well.

Ben

[crossdraw]

I bought one of the new auto-prime XR. It ran fine for the first 5-600 and now it bunches up all the time..

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Looking for alternate.

[Ben]

I realize that placing one primer at a time in the Lyman Ram Prime is a bit slow. But then again, it works 101%. If the primer pocket isn't a crimped in pocket, this tool will seat the primer properly. That is as much as I can ask of the tool.

Ben

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