Benchrest accuracy with Lee Classic Turret Press?

[marchboom]

I been looking at a few turret presses and really like the Redding T-7. But at $300 it seems a bit high. Looked closely at the Lee Classic Turret Press and was impressed with what I saw on You Tube videos. Was also impressed with the price. I like the cast iron base and the steel stands and turret ring. It really looks sturdy.

I want a turret because I want to set the dies and be done with it. I also want the press to be sturdy. I will be using this as a single station press only, turning the die turret by hand. Watching some of the videos I noticed that the turret does raise up approx .010" when a case is raised up into the die. I'm sure the Redding does not raise up, or if it does it is so small that is doesn't affect anything. To eliminate this turret rise I was wondering if shimming this gap would take the slop out of the press. I don't see anywhere else there could be any slop that would affect accuracy.

Has anyone done any "tightening up" of this press to make it less sloppy? Unless I'm missing something here I think this could be a very accurate, benchrest grade press at a great price.

 

[ledward]

You should consider the LEE classic cast press. Set you dies once and your done. This is a heavy duty single stage press and built to last,I have had one for years and would not use anything else.

 

[Richard Coody]

you can set your dies and be done with it with any single stage press. simply put.lock rings on your dies.

as for presses, some are better than others. with some experience you will learn the difference

 

[JamesnTN]

Some may disagree with my statement here, but sometimes a tight fit press can do more harm than one that's loose. Ok let me explain, if a press that's tight and out of line will just cause trouble with sizing and seating. You'll never get concentric loaded rounds. On the other side of that a press loose (within reason) can self align itself when sizing and seating bullets. This is more true when using dies such as the Redding competition dies you get the floating sleeve and a press with somewhat of a loose ram that now will align your cases with the ram and dies.
Some of the most concentric and accurate loaded rounds I've ever produced came from a Dillon AT500 and the Redding competition dies. I liked this setup because my tool head would float, the case floated,in the shell holder, and finally the case floated inside the dies. All this produced concentric cases and loaded rounds. With everything floating as mentioned the cases will self align into the dies and not be forced and sized off centerline.