This conversation made me look at the lee classic turret and im impressed. i love my dillon 550 but i kinda think i was brain washed into thinking thats what i needed, kinda thinking ill add a lee classsic turret to my traveling reloading set up
This conversation made me look at the lee classic turret and im impressed. i love my dillon 550 but i kinda think i was brain washed into thinking thats what i needed, kinda thinking ill add a lee classsic turret to my traveling reloading set up
I have the Lee old-school 3 hole turret press. I like it. It is a whole lot faster than single stage, inexpensive, and works fine in pistol calibers.
On large rifle like 30-06 full sizing, it feels anemic, but so what? Just use it to drop powder and seat bullet. Do your heavy sizing on single stage.
For pistol it is fine.
It does work like a single stage tho, but just having all the dies preset on the common turret does seem to make it faster.
the powder drop thru neck bell die is a big plus.
I'm not real familiar with turret presses but I believe you can buy individual turret heads and set up your dies accordingly. I've 2 650s and a single stage for things that the Dillon isn't designed for.
Dillon which one your choice. I have 2 turret presses and use them as a single stage then turn turret for next step. All it does is save setup time of the next die.
For the price I think I'm going to grab the Lee Pro 4000. One thing I like about Lee is how many accessories are out there for them.
Looks cool, just take your time with it.
Last edited by dannyd; 07-09-2022 at 08:48 PM.
I’ve been using the old Lee three hole turret press, as a single stage, for close to thirty years. Been great press. I have loaded everything from 32acp to 45/70. I just recently bought a Lyman 8 hole turret press. The Lyman is built like a tank. No wiggle, no flex. Been wanting one for some time, finally got one. Also have a Dillon 1050 for 45 Colt in bulk.
Always amazes me that people do not ask the important question...."How many rounds a year in each caliber?"
But it looks like you have made your choice...good luck.
Don Verna
Totally agree with the Redding T7. I’ve owned three Dillons, an RCBS single, and now use my Redding exclusively. Unless you shoot a LOT (500+ per week) the Redding will fill all your needs and it’s a quality built press. Add an extra turret or two and you’re good to go for everything.
Long, Wide, Deep, and Without Hesitation!
I have been using two LEE Loadmasters besides my single stage RCBS presses (IV and Rebel). If you want flawless operation, don't get into these - however, for loading 5k to 10k rounds a years, and not minding the re-tuning once in a while, these worked great for me. I am loading 9mm, .40, .44, .45 and .223 on the Loadmasters, other calibers (.500, 45/70 etc.), I use my single stage presses.
NRA Certified Instructor Pistol
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I load 15 calibres with a Lee classic turret and swapping out between calibres takes seconds once the dies are set up in their own turret.
I use the on-press Lee safety prime and with the indexing rod in place for pistol calibres, I can crank out 175+ rounds an hour without breaking into a sweat.
I remove the indexing rod when loading rifle calibres and just move the turret by hand which helps to monitor each stage.
ukrifleman.
LEE makes some nice stuff, but there progressive reloaders are not reliable.
reliable is important.
do it right, get the DILLON XL650/XL750
.
NRA LIFE Member
USPSA/IPSC
I do the same thing as ukrifleman and am totally satisfied with the Lee turret. The quick change from one caliber to the next is great.
When I was in your spot, I bought a Redding Turret press and haven't looked back. Of course, its no Dillon but I can put 7 dies on each turret and spin the turret quickly to select the die I need. Comes in VERY handy for working up a new cartridge or forming cases (i.e. 45-70 to .33 WCF).
Dillion makes very good equipment and they definitely hold their resale value.
But a lot of guys buy one and then get the bill and end up selling them. I have seen a lot of 750's on the local gun trader.
Use what you can afford and like my Two LNL's will do anything that my SBD and 550 did.
I only a living for the guy's selling the equipment to US it's a hobby don't go in debt over it.
...a turret press on steroids.
priced accordingly, of course_
http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/pr...-henry-harrell
Last edited by wilecoyote; 07-10-2022 at 05:49 PM. Reason: picture
Food is overrated. A nice rifle is way more important.
Rob
If you don't like setting up dies on a single stage, you are going to hate setting up dies on a progressive press, especially to do a short run. You will have all the setup for a single stage plus setting up the powder measure and getting everything timed just so. I have 3 Hornady LNL progressives. One is set up for 45 Auto, the second 9mm, and the 3rd will most likely be 40 S&W. The 45 and the 9 are set up to load a specific bullet and powder charge. If I load for my BIL, or another caliber or different bullet, it's done on a single stage. Progressive presses in my mind only come into their own if you are loading over 250 rounds at a single setting. This is my observation, your results and other may be different.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |