Lee Classic Turret Press

[trapper300RUM]

I have just finished loading 150 44 Magnum rounds on my LCT & i must admit that it is the best press for the money on the market today .Seems like the more i use it the better it works I have that 4 die set the Deluxe set that includes that factory crimp die I don't want knowone to think i'a, just being a windbag but when it comes to the Lee Classic Turret it just can't be beat by no other press in it's price range or maybe even some of the higher priced ones also I have the complete outfit the 4 die set in 44 Magnum ,40 S&W9mm Luger & soon to be 45ACP i also have that Lee Saftey Prime & the Pro Auto Disk with the Riser .I checked some of the chargeswith my Smartreloader ISD Scale & Despencer Combo & my Pro Powder Measure threw & they were either exact or just a tenth above the actuall charge i just can't find another outfit with all of th features that comes standard on the LCT . I just love loading with it & yes i have loaded everything i had to load in my shop . Love That Lee Classic Turret Pres Outfit

 

[AR Shooter]

If you are talking about the cast iron model, couldn't agree more. An excellent piece of gear. Not so high on the cheaper pot-metal model. Am using the Lee Classic Cast and the Redding BB2. Think I would get another Lee CC if I had to do it again as I like the ability to switch the handle to left or right and find zero difference in the end result.

 

[stubbicatt]

I like mine for loading pistol rounds, but I have found it gives more inconsistent shoulder setback when loading for rifle cartridges.

 

[brian427cobra]

I wouldn't use a Lee press as a boat anchor, there lack of a lifetime Warranty is a complete deal breaker for me.

 

[ReedG]

I have always been a fan of the Lee turret press. I have never had one of the "new" cast ones and am plenty happy with the original "pot metal junk". I have picked up two of the cheap "Challenger" models over the years and use them for specific tasks. The cream of the crop for me is custom-built turret press by Fred Moreo that uses Lee turrets. It is the best press I've ever used and rivals my Hood in quality and function.

I load several calibers on a weekly or daily basis and having everything set and adjusted in it's own turret and changing calibers by just changing turrets is the only way to go.

Yes, the Lee presses look cheap, utilize many cost-cutting design features and are thought my most handloaders to be undesirable and have no bragging rights at all. I can assure you that even the Challenger presses will load ammo that is as consistent, true, concentric and competition quality as any press on the market.

 

[BigDMT]

I bought one of those for $90 a handful of years ago and I was also impressed for value on amount of money spent. I also agree that the more you use it, the smoother it gets. I have loaded a lot of pistol and varmint rifle rounds with it. Although there is absolutely no chance for it to produce as consistent ammo as my Forster Coax press, it still produces very accurate ammo. When loading for an inherently accurate round like the 20 VarTarg, ammo does not have to be completely perfect to produce very small groups. Of course pistol and my AR-15 ammo doesn't have to be perfect either. Though I would not use my LEE turret press for competition loading or serious long range hunting ammo, it is definitely the best value out there for mass producing handgun and varmint ammo IMO.

 

[ridgeway]

I have a Lee classic cast press and its an awesome deprime machine! That's it, lol

 

[BigDMT]

In addition to my previous post;

Here's a 10 shot group from my 20 VarTarg using ammo loaded on the LEE turret press. Probably would have been a smaller group if I had not shot it from a bipod over the tailgate of my truck. I know there were a few pulled shots in there due to a shaky rest.

 

[broncman]

Now we start with the Lee haters..

Explain why you would not use a Lee for comoetition loads or even long range loads.. NO bullcrap just facts please..

I have 5 presses. A mixture of Lee and RCBS.. Using the same dies I have not found any detectable differences in OAL, runout etc..

I agree the Lee could be made better in some areas, but the cast presses are the best bang for the buck period.

 

[ridgeway]

With mine, inconsistent shoulder bump. There is something with the ram linkage and how it stops at the top of the stroke. I never took the time to figure out and fix it. There is a lack of positive lock at TDC like found in other presses. I don't hate it nor Lee stuff...it all has its uses. Mine is dedicated to depriming...I like the primer catch system on it. ALL my sizing takes place on a Forster CO-AX.

 

[Killshot]

Explain why you would not use a Lee for competition loads or even long range loads.. NO bullcrap just facts please..

I'm not a Lee hater at all, have had a cast iron turret press since I began and it gets a lot of work decapping, expanding necks and pistol loading.

It's only flaw (to me) is the manner in which the turret plate floats while in place on top of the press. There's quite a bit (>.040") of play at the top when the ram loads the case into the die. Very difficult to achieve consistency with that since it's wholly dependent on handle-pressure.

My loads improved when I switched to a Redding BOSS. Lower runout, more consistent BTO (base-to-ogive) and smaller groups. Using the same Redding and Whidden dies.

 

[BigDMT]

Now we start with the Lee haters..

Explain why you would not use a Lee for comoetition loads or even long range loads.. NO bullcrap just facts please..

I have 5 presses. A mixture of Lee and RCBS.. Using the same dies I have not found any detectable differences in OAL, runout etc..

I agree the Lee could be made better in some areas, but the cast presses are the best bang for the buck period.

I was actually commending them for their value, but LEE definitely has it's place.

For one thing sir, OAL don't make two bits a difference in the competition world nor any other serious reloader's world unless trying to fit rounds in a magazine. Base to ogive is where we look for consistency.

As far as runout, I would suppose you are measuring runout with a LEE or RCBS tool of some sort? Get a good measuring device for runout and it will definitely be "detectable" when using a LEE press vs. a Forster or good Arbor style press with Wilson type dies.

And when you find one, just one, person who wins a major sanctioned F-class or Benchrest competition or sets a world record using ammo made by LEE dies and LEE presses alone...you let us all know and we'll be sure to give it a better look

But I still agree that some of the LEE products provide a very good value. Especially for those just starting out or those on a budget. For hunting, varmint shooting, and plinking I think anything LEE would be just fine.

 

[ReedG]

With the Lee turret press, adjust the dies so that the ram pushes the turret tightly against the retainer and there will be no play of any kind. Once the ram pushes the turret up and seats tightly against the base of the die, it is no different than any other press. Adjust the dies until the shellholder in the ram touches the bottom of the die and then just carefully turn the die down until the press handle has just about 1/2" of travel at the end that is very snug. With the ram fully extended and tight against the base of the die, you should be able to grab the dies and have no movement.

The Lee turret press isn't exactly rocket science, but, like all equipment, needs to be properly adjusted to function right and the instructions are barely sufficient to the task.

To my mind, in all handloading the press is just the device for holding the real tools. The dies and how they are adjusted, are the real meat of handloading. I've got/had just about every brand/style of press made from my first old Pacific "C" press, to the Hood BR press that I travel with. I have never seen a press with precise enough linkage to produce consistent results without having the shellholder make firm contact with the base of the die. Once the shellholder makes firm contact with the base of the die, the press is inconsequential and it becomes simply a choice of what you can afford and what you prefer to work with.

 

[BigDMT]

..... Once the shellholder makes firm contact with the base of the die, the press is inconsequential and it becomes simply a choice of what you can afford and what you prefer to work with.

Almost true. If the threads are not cut true to hold the die square to the top of the ram or the shell holder does not match up true to the bottom of the die, etc, then you will be entering the die and pushing on the brass at an angle. I have seen brass come out of a bad threaded press looking slightly like the "leaning tower of Piza" when full sized.

The only way to "truly" get away from a press being a factor is to go to an Arbor style press and dies. That is why many competition shooters prefer that method of loading. If using a threaded press and dies, bottoming out the shell holder or not, there is still a higher chance of inconsistency.

 

[ReedG]

I'm guessing it is possible for a press to get out of a factory with grossly misaligned die threads or ram bore, but I have never had the pleasure. I think there is enough play in most shellholders to alleviate a couple thousandths of alignment error.

And, I don't want to roil the water about Wilson dies (I have several sets and use them often), but my belief is that the popularity of Wilson dies and arbor presses came about in a day when there were not many alternatives to "competition quality" dies and the real factor was the portability. Because all loading for competitive shooting was done at the range, the ability to load in about any scenario was the selling factor of Wilson dies/arbor presses. In my experience, if anyone can load concentric and consistent rounds on the tailgate of a pickup with Wilson dies/arbor press, they could do the same with a Lee hand-held tool. Just my opinion ...

 

[hotrodlouie]

Killshot nailed the problem, the plate has to much clearance to the press head, the ram comes up straight
and the plate moves up on a angle (mine has.012") so the die moves up on a angle also.
Press is good for pistols cases. Rifle cartridge not the best for bumping the shoulder,seating and making straight rounds.
If you want to correct the loose plate problem. I drilled a hole in the center of the plate for a 10/32 socket head and used a 1/4" key stock as a strong back under the press head when tighten up the plate will be locked down solid, making much better consistency rounds. The draw back is you lose the indexing use of the turret due to tightening and loosing of the strong back, just my 2 .