Lee Turret selection and setup help

8863 Views 88 Replies 22 Participants Last post by olgutshotwilly, Sep 14, 2012

yoemen66

Discussion Starter · Sep 4, 2012

So I have decided to get a lee turret. What do I need to get with it. Which lee turret should I get? I figure a 4 hole turret. Set of dies. But what extra stuff should I get? Case feeder? Which powder measure, which primer system, etc. Just want to know what stuff is worth getting and what is superfluous.

21 - 40 of 89 Posts

Laudanum

· #21 · Sep 5, 2012

gamma72 said:
The Lee balance scale works! it is .3 grains over but it works.

I did not have a choice about the scale because it came with the Lee Turret kit but i have since upgraded to a Hornady GS 1500 and it works well for now.

Caliper is a must and adjustable charge bar is a life saver. Let us know what calibers you intend on reloading and we might be able to give you more info on things that you will need.

Your Lee beam scale works that well?

Unfortunately, mine was all over the place. I think it's hit or miss with these scales. Some folks seem to get fine results, other chuck them quick. Lee's idea of a knife edge being a thin piece/sheet of metal definitely saves money but it's no wonder some work ok and some dont.

Laudanum

· #22 · Sep 5, 2012

The bench plate mount is nice and solid but, as Gamma mentioned, definitely not needed if permanent mounting the press to the bench. Great for temp. mounting of the press or being able to mount and unmount different presses to the same bench space at different times.

dickttx

· #23 · Sep 5, 2012 (Edited)

The Kempf is the best deal on a kit. It really doesn't include anything you don't need and does include everything you need except a caliper and scale. A Dillon balance beam or RCBS are relatively inexpensive and accurate.
The Classic Turret with the PRO Auto Disk and the Safety Prime used in the auto indexing mode work amazingly well.
When setting it up and learning just remove the indexing rod. After a few sessions insert the indexing rod and go to town.
Wish progressive presses had as good a primer system as the Safety Prime.
Wish powder measures on progressives worked as consistently as the Pro Auto Disk.

gamma72

· #24 · Sep 5, 2012

Laudanum said:
Your Lee beam scale works that well? Unfortunately, mine was all over the place. I think it's hit or miss with these scales. Some folks seem to get fine results, other chuck them quick. Lee's idea of a knife edge being a thin piece/sheet of metal definitely saves money but it's no wonder some work ok and some dont.

Good thing i was staying within recommended ranges based on Hodgdon website data which is on the low side anyway.

WhyteP38

· #25 · Sep 5, 2012 (Edited)

Ditto what everyone said about the Classic Turret.

I have digital calipers, which work okay, but mechanical is the way I'd go if I could do it over again.

Get the carbide dies. Very much worth the minimal extra cost.

Like the others, I prime off the press.

ProAutoDisk works well for Clays. With H335, enough grains get by to interfere with smooth operation at times. I took some sandpaper and VERY CAREFULLY sanded down the two plastic ridges at the bottom of the powder hopper that come into contact with the aluminum body. There is one on each side. I did equal passes on each side, and I was VERY CAREFUL not to take away too much plastic. I stopped when I could barely slide a single sheet of paper between the powder disk and the bottom of the hopper - you need a little space to keep things from binding. Since then, no problems with H335.

Sometimes, the operating spring for the ProAutoDisk binds. Watch for that.

You can get a tumbler, but I found it less expensive and less hassle to wash brass with the NRA vinegar/dishwashing detergent forumula, with the added benefit of no lead dust issues, tumbler noise, electricity costs, or media costs.

Get a set of check weights for whatever scale you get, and use them. My 5-0-5 RCBS scale works well.

When you move to rifle reloading, you'll need to get a case trimmer. I like the Lee system, but it tends to wear down and go out of spec after a while. However, they're so inexpensive that you can get several for the same price as a more expensive system, so it's best to get two or three at the same time to save shipping costs. Also, forget about the Lee deburring tool. It's junk. Get the Wilson deburring tool. And another item for rifle reloading is a primer pocket uniformer. The one I like best is the K&M.

ETA: For rifle reloading, you'll need some case lube. You can make a bunch of it very inexpensively by mixing 1 part pure lanolin to 4 parts 90% (or more) rubbing alcohol. Also, the same solution that washes brass will also clean off the lanolin. It takes two washings, but that's not a big deal. Wash used brass, lube, resize/decap, wash again, load.

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nogoodnamesleft

· #26 · Sep 5, 2012 (Edited)

Laudanum said:
Your Lee beam scale works that well? Unfortunately, mine was all over the place. I think it's hit or miss with these scales. Some folks seem to get fine results, other chuck them quick. Lee's idea of a knife edge being a thin piece/sheet of metal definitely saves money but it's no wonder some work ok and some dont.

I find that the Lee scale is actually quite accurate and repeatable. I'm not going to argue that there aren't "better" scales based on differing criteria, but accuracy is not a problem with it. I will argue that all balance beam scales lie when they are not moving as I learned in chemistry. Most people (and I'm not implying you are one of them) don't know how to properly use a balance beam, especially when trickling powder.

ETA: my Lee scale is accurate to within the 0.1 grain accuracy claim Lee makes.

gamma72

· #27 · Sep 5, 2012

nogoodnamesleft said:
I find that the Lee scale is actually quite accurate and repeatable. I'm not going to argue that there aren't "better" scales based on differing criteria, but accuracy is not a problem with it. I will argue that all balance beam scales lie when they are not moving as I learned in chemistry. Most people (and I'm not implying you are one of them) don't know how to properly use a balance beam, especially when trickling powder.

ETA: my Lee scale is accurate to within the 0.1 grain accuracy claim Lee makes.

I could attest to repeatable but again in my case it is repeatably .3 grains over when checked against my digital scale.

nogoodnamesleft

· #28 · Sep 5, 2012

gamma72 said:
I could attest to repeatable but again in my case it is repeatably .3 grains over when checked against my digital scale.

Yours may indeed be off. Or is your digital scale off? Or are both off?

The problem is that neither is perfect. Balance beams require some awareness and skill on proper use. Digital scales have their own problems too, including ADC resolution and non linearity, thermal drift, software correction for drift, etc.

gamma72

· #29 · Sep 5, 2012

Digital scale is calibrated with check weight and zeroed every session and the scale does not more from that position. Balance scale is zeroed every session.

I did notice that with the digital that when i had it set up next to my refridgerator that everytime the compressor turns on the scale would be everywhere. so I moved it to a better location.

I think the important thing about the Lee balance scale is that it definitely needs to be read at eye level. the pointer and the mark on the base needs some improvement.

yoemen66

Discussion Starter · #30 · Sep 5, 2012

I will probably be buying mine from 10ring in cypress they have pretty good prices and I will be getting most of my supplies either there or Mr. T's in Tx City.

There is a guy who makes bullets and sales them here in Friendswood, but he doesn't allow pickup anymore so I will just buy them at Mr. Ts.

http://www.10ring.com/

http://www.friendswoodbullet.com/storepage132675.aspx

Now it is just waiting until I get the money all together.

yoemen66

Discussion Starter · #31 · Sep 5, 2012

Btw is there a good powder for colt and acp

johnhunter44

· #32 · Sep 5, 2012

I just bought the Lee Classic Turret Kit from Kempf online....

I have had my kit about 2 weeks now and love it. I did buy the Lee hand primer and it works great. The kit comes with the auto prime, but I didnt attatch it because I don't think it is as easy as the Lee hand primer to use. The Lee Auto Disk Powder measure was a $10 upgrage, but get it. It is very accurate. I measured my first 200 rounds on a RCBS 505 beam scale (another great item you will need, and it comes with the funnel-tray that makes it easy to pour the powder into the casing after measuring) and it remains extremely consistent. When I select the disk to dump 5.0 grains of W231, i measure it and get 5.0 grains. Its a nice setup and Kempf ships very quickly.

RustyFN

· #33 · Sep 5, 2012

deadarrow said:
I'm a classic turret user. Forget about priming on the press. It sucks.... spend your money on a RCBS hand primer instead.

You must not have spent very long trying to make it right. After a few tweaks on mine it has worked near flawless for six years. A hand primer also defeats the purpose of how the classic turret operates. By the time you size 100 taking them in and out and hand prime them I will have 100 loaded and ready to shoot.

RustyFN

· #34 · Sep 5, 2012

yoemen66 said:
Btw is there a good powder for colt and acp

I don't shoot colt. For 45 acp my favorite powder so far is WST. It meters great in the pro auto disk, burns clean and is accurate.

Laudanum

· #35 · Sep 6, 2012

nogoodnamesleft said:
I find that the Lee scale is actually quite accurate and repeatable. I'm not going to argue that there aren't "better" scales based on differing criteria, but accuracy is not a problem with it. I will argue that all balance beam scales lie when they are not moving as I learned in chemistry. Most people (and I'm not implying you are one of them) don't know how to properly use a balance beam, especially when trickling powder.

ETA: my Lee scale is accurate to within the 0.1 grain accuracy claim Lee makes.

YOURS is fine and I have no issue with your claim that it is, or the claim of others who have good, working Lee beam scales. MINE was garbage so obviously I have no issue with the claims from other users whos experience with the scale mimics mine. Do some people get good ones? Yes. Do some people get bad ones? Yes. Precisely what I thought I stated previously.

Funny that I have had none of the problems with an old Redding #1 or a Lyman D7 that I had with the Lee. So, while I am definitely not a rocket scientist nor a brain surgeon, using one of these beam scales, fortunately, doesnt require the intelligence of either.

rfd

· #36 · Sep 6, 2012

nogoodnamesleft said:
I find that the Lee scale is actually quite accurate and repeatable. I'm not going to argue that there aren't "better" scales based on differing criteria, but accuracy is not a problem with it. I will argue that all balance beam scales lie when they are not moving as I learned in chemistry. Most people (and I'm not implying you are one of them) don't know how to properly use a balance beam, especially when trickling powder.

ETA: my Lee scale is accurate to within the 0.1 grain accuracy claim Lee makes.

i had that lee safety scale. i also used a friends. for me, and my friend, this scale was/is the pits because it's SO slooooow going, but it is quite accurate. an rcbs 505 is SO much better, imho. it's all good and ymmv.

angus6

· #37 · Sep 6, 2012

The LCT is a great press, there is no issue with the priming system it's a operator issue. Mines seen several blue presses come and go but it's still has it's place on the bench.

Kempfs is a great place to buy from

olgutshotwilly

· #38 · Sep 7, 2012

I ordered my Lee Classic from Kempfs. Great place to do business with. I stocked up on turrets and Lee dies.

The issue with priming: The priming system works just fine. You need to pay attention to that step and not expect the last 2-4 primers to load easily. Reload your tray when you get to those last couple of primers.

The other issue, is that the shell can move in the holder a bit when coming up on the priming stroke which can mess up your priming operation. I have learned to just take my thumb or finger and push the shell firmly into the shell holder in the split second before the upstroke. The system works just fine if you pay attention.

To confirm, you need good light to check your powder level in the cases.

I keep wanting to move to a progressive loader, but the Classic works so well I just have a hard time justifying the money, when I can spend it on more reloading components!

I'm currently loading .45/.38/.44spl/ and .41 Magnum. I load about a hundred rounds an hour. That includes taking my time for quality inspections of every round, and occasionally checking my powder weights.

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cg45

· #39 · Sep 7, 2012

I load for both the 45 Colt and ACP. W231 will work well in both but is very easy to double charge and not know it in the large 45 colt case. Be careful! Recently I have started using Trail Boss with great success in both. I started using it in the 45 Colt and had such good luck, thought I would try it in the ACP. I have a load now that shoots as accurately as my go to bullseye load in the ACP. These are target loads that are a pleasure to shoot and are all about accuracy. If you want a hunting load or something for personal protection you will probably have to find an optimum powder for each. The little cheerios meter well for me from a powder through, however nothing meters as well as a ball powder

zman1

· #40 · Sep 7, 2012

cg45 said:
Be careful! Recently I have started using Trail Boss with great success in both.

what is this you are talking about.

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