That sounds familiar! I have 7 turrets all set up the same way you do as well, .357, .44, 45-70, 30-30, 223, 308 and 300WM. I used to have 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP and .45LC but I have given up on handguns for the most part so the dies have been sold and the turrets are re-used as listed above. Lee stuff works for me. Many tens of thousands of rounds of handgun ammo over the past 20 years, and by now, ten thousand plus rounds of bottleneck rifle ammo as well. Only within the last couple of years have I changed some of my precision reloading to a Redding T7 press, but there is still a Lee collet neck sizing die in each of the four Redding turrets I have. Not sure why anyone would disparage Lee dies. They always worked for me. Never had a problem. For the most part, the only problem I have had is with the priming tool and the little square nylon/plastic turret drive. Pretty inexpensive parts to fix it up like new.
Want to start to reload
- Thread starter Rctic
- Start date
That sounds familiar! I have 7 turrets all set up the same way you do as well, .357, .44, 45-70, 30-30, 223, 308 and 300WM. I used to have 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP and .45LC but I have given up on handguns for the most part so the dies have been sold and the turrets are re-used as listed above. Lee stuff works for me. Many tens of thousands of rounds of handgun ammo over the past 20 years, and by now, ten thousand plus rounds of bottleneck rifle ammo as well. Only within the last couple of years have I changed some of my precision reloading to a Redding T7 press, but there is still a Lee collet neck sizing die in each of the four Redding turrets I have. Not sure why anyone would disparage Lee dies. They always worked for me. Never had a problem. For the most part, the only problem I have had is with the priming tool and the little square nylon/plastic turret drive. Pretty inexpensive parts to fix it up like new.
Same here, the cup on the large primer arm gets flared out and hangs up in the ram. I just roll it back into place on a hard surface, one day it may finally break. I think I will have gotten my money's worth out of it by the time it does. I used to go through more of those plastic squares until I started giving the operating rod a light wipe of oil. Now they last many times longer but I keep a bunch of spares anyway. The occasional 80 cent expense is just not that big of a deal.
Your setup sounds very similar to mine, I have four turrets set up for the different calibers. And so far after thousands of rounds that I have made, only the little plastic square required replacement, thats pretty good when a .60 cent wear item gets you up and running after a couple of years of use.
I think I am on my third one now. The first one I managed to mangle when I didn't recognize the warning signs and just pushed a little harder on the lever. Of course I didn't have a spare at that time and I probably only had a couple of thousand rounds on it. Lots of cussing and down for about two weeks until I had 4 replacements in hand from Higginsons. The second one I simply wore out. Don't know how many rounds really. Lots. Years, and years, and years of straight wall handgun cartridge reloading and all with Lee deluxe carbide dies. The third drive 'nut or whatever it is called is doing fine and probably has about 2000 straight neck rounds on it. It doesn't get the use it used to since I single stage load and manually rotate the turret for my bottleneck cartridges; the drive bar is removed for that. Yes, I wipe down the drive bar/rod with an oily rag for storage and just before use as well. I think that light layer of protective oil has helped immensely with mine too. Anyway, lots of the Lee stuff is good, some of it is really good (collet neck die is a good example). From my perspective, there are a few misses in the Lee line-up too though, like their balance scale and progressive press but overall I am pretty happy with most everything I have owned.
I'm pretty sure he is talking about the kit from c@belas and not other sites like prophet river, most of the rock chucker kits are around 500 however the other one is so pricey because it includes the chargemaster. I realized that after plenty of searching when I was looking for my first kit. I ended up getting the lee 50th kit and so far after a little over a year of reloading 308 win I am quite happy with it. I'm definitely looking into either a turret of progressive for reloading my pistol ammo though.
You have a great start with your equipment. A powder trickler is the only thing that I can see that might be missing.
- Location
- Kitscoty Alberta
Yup a powder trickler will help with measuring out loads on the scale.
I know people complain about the lee scale,but if you take your time and go carefully you can produce some accurate loads with your set up.
I have produced three shot clover leaf,almost 1 hole at 100yards with the same set up. For my 7mm have not changed my load for that gun in years works for me- has taken quite a few deer, moose,
Just make sure you start with loads 10% below max and work up your loads watching for pressure signs. I find in some of my guns the best accuracy is below max loads in some of the reloading data books. Every gun will usually be different,
Have fun you have now started down the addicting path of reloading, it can be reasonably cheap or expensive depending on how far it draws you in. LOL
I know people complain about the lee scale,but if you take your time and go carefully you can produce some accurate loads with your set up.
I have produced three shot clover leaf,almost 1 hole at 100yards with the same set up. For my 7mm have not changed my load for that gun in years works for me- has taken quite a few deer, moose,
Just make sure you start with loads 10% below max and work up your loads watching for pressure signs. I find in some of my guns the best accuracy is below max loads in some of the reloading data books. Every gun will usually be different,
Have fun you have now started down the addicting path of reloading, it can be reasonably cheap or expensive depending on how far it draws you in. LOL
Trickler not needed but makes life easier.
Grab a pair of digitalcalipers when they go on sale at canadiantire
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Wahlaa, wahlaa ....http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-digital-caliper-0586800p.html#srp
These are not the best but they'll get the job done. Wait for them to go on sale
I've been reloading since 1964.
So my experience might help you.
Buy only the big Lee press, [it is very good], and heavy duty.The cheap one broke on me and Lee would not replace the part.
Don't buy the cheap lee, [safety scale]. crappy you will want a better one real quick.
Get a good Lyman or RCBS scale
RCBS Rockchucker is a real good press.
I only buy Lyman and RCbS DIES.
Get a good Caliper [Stainless steel.]
I had 2 45-70's, lots of fun to reload for.
Get to meet somebody who molds bullets, then you will save money.
Lee molds are good for 45-70 bullets and they have a good cheap sizer.
So my experience might help you.
Buy only the big Lee press, [it is very good], and heavy duty.The cheap one broke on me and Lee would not replace the part.
Don't buy the cheap lee, [safety scale]. crappy you will want a better one real quick.
Get a good Lyman or RCBS scale
RCBS Rockchucker is a real good press.
I only buy Lyman and RCbS DIES.
Get a good Caliper [Stainless steel.]
I had 2 45-70's, lots of fun to reload for.
Get to meet somebody who molds bullets, then you will save money.
Lee molds are good for 45-70 bullets and they have a good cheap sizer.
Broadsideofbarn
New member
- Location
- CentralAlberta Canada
I agree. The Canadian tire calipers are accurate to 3 decimals. Show fractions. And go on sale for $12.
The Lee Anniversary has served me well. For rifle and pistol. The primer feeders are a bit delicate. I've broken 2 internal springs.
The Lee Anniversary has served me well. For rifle and pistol. The primer feeders are a bit delicate. I've broken 2 internal springs.
