Lee Turret Opinions

zuke said:
I'm still using that press. After 25 year's still no problem with it.
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Actually, what led me to the Classic was I went to Budget as I thought as I was only going to load pistol on it, the original turret was available in a 145 dollar kit for a turret! That is cheap to start with. But then I did what I shouldn't and spent more money again... Damn loading addiction!!
 
I have gotten 5 years out of the Lee turret press that I bought used, use it for .45acp, .455, 357Sig, 7.62x 51 and 54, .303. Also deprimes all my rifle brass, swages and factory crimp for .223 which I load on my Pro 1000.
 
zuke said:
I'm still using that press. After 25 year's still no problem with it.
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I was just using that one as an example as it has had so many complaints against it that old Richard Lee even came out of retirement to design the Classic Turret Press replacement. I have no idea if the original just had some bad batches or what the complaints were. I just remember there were lots of complaints.
 
07blackwater said:
I'm the farthest thing from a Lee anti.
I agree, keep the single stage. One of my favorite pieces of equipment is the Lee universal deprime die. I decap everything before tumbling. Best $12 I ever spent and once I get my turret it will live in my rock chucker.
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That was I was planning to do as well but haven't done it yet.
This way the primer pockets get cleaned when you clean the cases and you don't get any primer lead in your media.
 
My original Turret Press (three hole), I got second hand for $25 at a flea market, 15yrs ago. Not sure how many rounds have been through it, but I have done hundreds and hundreds. I do know the guy who sold it to me owned more than 5 handguns at the time. It is a great piece of kit!!

I got a classic cast single stage for Christmas (I have had a Challenger for 25yrs and it keeps on going), but my wife saw me ogling the classic cast turret so she ordered me what she thought was the one I wanted. When I wasn't as delighted as she thought I should be, she asked why since I had been drooling over it. I explained. I have a WONDERFUL wife. She immediately ordered the right one. And let me keep the single stage!!! Now I have SUPER tools on the bench. A Rock Chucker, and BOTH Classic Casts!!! Old single stage and turret in the locker. Waiting for my Son to start. All he will need is to buy dies.
 
I bought the cheaper Lee Deluxe turret press and reload .45ACP and .45Colt using the auto index mode but have to disable the auto indexing to load 30-30 rifle ammo because the case is too long to rotate under the dies. I have three turrets with four dies in each and changing calibres is easy, no adjustments required. So far nothing has broken and I am satisfied with the ammo it produces.
 
I have two Lee turret presses (and a Dillon 550, a Lyman turret, and a Lyman Orange Crusher, plus a Lee shotgun press). One of the Lee turrets is about 32 years old I think, linkage needs rebuilding. Other then that never had a problem, and I've built thousands of rounds on that press. They are a very good press. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
I have two Lee turret presses (and a Dillon 550, a Lyman turret, and a Lyman Orange Crusher, plus a Lee shotgun press). One of the Lee turrets is about 32 years old I think, linkage needs rebuilding. Other then that never had a problem, and I've built thousands of rounds on that press. They are a very good press. - dan
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While it wasn't a turret press, the very first Challenger press (actually the first press for me ever) I had given to me for next to nothing. The aluminum cam was cracked and a piece was broken out of it so that the handle slid through it. I taped the handle above and below the cam and used it that was for years. When I was a little more flush, I bought an anniversary set from SIR (gave me a little more equipment to utilize) and put the other to use only for seating bullets or crimping. I broke another part on the turret press I had. I dialed Lee Precision right there, explained the situation and was told to box up the turret, the die and the case and send it to him. So I did. I figured, what the heck, since I am sending something anyway, I might as well send along that old cam link. Long story short...not really ;-) They sent me a new turret and...oh yeah, a brand new STEEL (no more cast pot metal crud) cam link. I put it on the press and kept it as a spare for a couple more years and last year gave it to a young man who wanted to start reloadiing. I had explained that I had bought the press that way and had used it for years. They sent the new one at no charge. Just send the broken / worn parts back (cost me $6 postage both ways) and you get new ones from Lee. Can't get better than that.
 
I got into reloading recently using a Lee Classic kit and I have to say it is pretty much everything you will need. I've been very satisfied with mine. There are a few bits about it that are finicky but on the whole at the price I found this was the best deal and have not been disappointed. It is pretty much ready to rock out of the box, but I agree with the sentiment others have that it's a good idea to buy a different turret plate and holder for each caliber you reload. Once I found the perfect seating depths, crimps, and so on, I really didn't want to take my dies out and mess with it, and dropping a new turret plate in is a perfect solution.

For reloading rifle, I use the press in single-stage mode by taking out the indexing rod and have had no issues. I considered purchasing a separate single-stage press for this, but now having used the Classic Turret in single-stage operation I feel no need. Unless you're producing HUGE quantities of ammo this should satisfy you. I make a hundred and fifty handgun rounds a week in about 90 minutes with absolutely no rush, and produce about a hundred .308 rounds a month (no idea how long that takes me, I've never looked at the clock doing it). I'd absolutely endorse this press for anybody.

The only thing I'll advise is that you really clean it up when you first get it, and make sure it stays well-lubed. It won't explode into flames if you don't lubricate it routinely or anything... but there's noticeable difference in how pleasant operation is.
 
The Lee classic turret is a great press for the money. I use it to load 38 spec/357 mag, 44 sp/44 mag and 45 acp. No problems after several thousand rounds reloaded. I have a pro 1000 for 9mm and it was a real pain to get set up but once the initial setup was done I have cranked out thousands of rounds without a problem.
 
Just make sure you are getting a LEE CLASSIC CAST TURRET. The other turret has an aluminum base that has seen odd breakage as posted in other forums. I have a Classic Cast Turret Kit for almost a year now. Loading 9mm, 2-sets of 4 holes plate (one for decapper and re-sizer and the other one to load). Priming tool is a little problematic so I am now using RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool. Powder Scale is not accurate so I bought a separate MTM Digital Scale. A set of Deluxe Pistol Die with factory crimp and a powder check since you will have a spare hole after the powder charging sequence. You can also use it as single stage by removing the indexing rod. The main point you have to consider when reloading. F O C U S. Do not multi-task or do not do it when you are having a bad day. Do a lot of readings (manuals), try a small run, do not over-charge from a recommended load. Better to go as 10%-20% under the recommended load. Shoot your trial loads one load at a time to see if the firearm cycles. Then work your way up to your desired powder load.

It might not be the best press in the market, but surely is a good starter turret press. The Classic Cast Turret Kit is the best bang for the buck.
 
Well it got here, and like a giddy school boy I rushed the box down to dad's sacred meditation, de-stress, forget about the rest of life private alter to the bullet gods and set er' up. I like it. It was easy to attach once I made the run to the Co-Op (damn commies) and picked up the required mounting hardware. Anyway, here's the set up.

First, for loading brass:

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And when I decide to load some of those nasty 525 grain Lyman Sabot slugs I just finished casting earlier today... :

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I'm pretty proud of my setup. Added that extra 3/4 sheet to an old heavy table, and built the hutch as I wanted it. I think I'm done now. Though I am interested in that Lee Load Master now and I could use some more shelves... Anyway, its a good home for the turret.

Anyway, Hornady LnL Classic for rifle on the right, new Lee Classic Turret on the left. The Lee Load All II is simply placed in the middle and 2 5/8 bolts with wingnuts hold that down for shot shells. It works pretty good for my uses. I'm finding the Lee equipment allows me to do a little of this and that without going "balls in" money wise. I still load my precision stuff with the Hornady and an RCBS Competition die set, but I needed to speed up production for pistol as my wife shoots too now.... we can go through 300 10mm for me and 300 .40 for her in a couple hours pretty easy when we get together with the gang for pistol games (my personal favorite is Poker at 25 yards). The new addition should allow me to keep up a lot easier. I just got a 6 cavity Lee 10mm mold, so that should make things considerably cheaper.... As well, as some one mentioned, I decap with that Lee hand press while watching TV and throw it in my vibrating cleaner. But I will size pistol and prime on press I think.

That's Kirby in the one photo. He says Hi. He sits right there while I load and sleeps. He can't wait for bird season again....

Thanks guys. Any other tips will be appreciated.
 
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