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Posted: 4/15/2013 6:58:54 AM EDT
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I've decided to take the plunge and start reloading. At this point I've read pretty much everything I could get my hands on so I feel comfortable with the general process. I'm stocked up on brass and have dedicated a side of my shed to a reloading bench. The one area I'm unsure about is choosing a press.
I'd like to get a press in a kit form that already includes a lot of the extra gear so I dont have to buy the individual components seperately. I also would rather start with a turret type press instead of a progressive setup. I will be loading primarily handgun, .223 and .300 BLK and maybe some .308/7.62. Does anybody have any first hand experience with the Lee Classic Turret Press? It seems like a good starting point and it comes in a nice kit with a lot of extra goodies. Can anybody reccomend another setup? What is a fair price for an all inclusive kit like this? |
| I started with a Rock Chucker Master kit for $289 from Natchezss with a $50 mail in rebate which brought it down to $239. Came with everything I needed to reload except for the dies and shell holders and I've been extremely happy with it. Natchezss also exclusively sells a kit called the RCBS AR Tactical Reloading Kit which includes all the same stuff but includes dies and shell holders for .223, .308, .300blk, and 7.62x39 so if you have any interest in reloading those calibers, this might be the way to go. I priced out all the components of the kit that I bought and it was around $200 cheaper than if I bought everything separately so I think its a really good value. Good luck. |
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RCBS Press Kit
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-single-stage-press-kit For reloading rifle, you will also need to add a case trimmer http://www.midwayusa.com/product/817007/rcbs-trim-pro-2-manual-case-trimmer-kit I highly recommend the RCBS X-die sets, you trim your brass once, then after you fire it, just run it through the X-Die sizer and you do not need to trim the brass again http://www.midwayusa.com/product/194698/rcbs-x-die-2-die-set-223-remington Dont forget shell holders http://www.midwayusa.com/product/797095/rcbs-shellholder-10-17-remington-204-ruger-223-remington and calipers http://www.midwayusa.com/product/604242/frankford-arsenal-electronic-caliper-6-stainless-steel That should be everything to get you started, just add consumables(brass, powder, primers, bullets) Down the road you may want to add a case gauge in case you start running into issues with your rounds not chambering, etc. |
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I started with a Rock Chucker Master kit for $289 from Natchezss with a $50 mail in rebate which brought it down to $239. Came with everything I needed to reload except for the dies and shell holders and I've been extremely happy with it. Natchezss also exclusively sells a kit called the RCBS AR Tactical Reloading Kit which includes all the same stuff but includes dies and shell holders for .223, .308, .300blk, and 7.62x39 so if you have any interest in reloading those calibers, this might be the way to go. I priced out all the components of the kit that I bought and it was around $200 cheaper than if I bought everything separately so I think its a really good value. Good luck. ^ what he said. I started with the exact same set up. You will learn more and have less issues running a single stage. sure some people will tell you its slower...blah blah ..... thats good when your starting out, i reloaded on mine for 4 years before getting a dillon progressive. I still keep the rock chucker for loading 22-250 / 44 Rem Mag / 300 Win Unless your planning on loading 300-500 rounds in one sitting id start with a single stage |
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Just my experience, I did not like the turret press. I got it, used it for about 6 months, sold it and bought the Hornday L-N-L. Here's my logic:
If you want high precision rifle ammo, buy a single stage press that has the highest tolerances (surely the turrent press with rubber gaskets isn't as accurate as a single stage press) If you want high throughput pistol loads, get a progressive press (L-N-L AP for me). If you want both, get both. In my honest opinion (and YES I OWNED ONE), Lee tried to fit inbetween these two categories and didn't really hit the mark.. I started with the classic cast lee (which I still have and use primarily for sizing). Now I use the Hornady L-N-L classic (single stage) and AP (progressive). I say you invest in a good single stage to learn on. If you decide to go high production, get a progressive and be done with it.. Edit: I still use my single stage press more than my progressive, I care about accuracy more than high output. Ask yourself why you want to reload, then answer your own question. |
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If you want high precision rifle ammo, buy a single stage press that has the highest tolerances (surely the turrent press with rubber gaskets isn't as accurate as a single stage press)
If you want high throughput pistol loads, get a progressive press (L-N-L AP for me). I say you invest in a good single stage to learn on. If you decide to go high production, get a progressive and be done with it..
This is a line of thought I hadn't considered. Great advice from everybody, thanks for the input. As soon as the Chinese cut me a refund check for my taxes I'll be ready to make my purchase 
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Quoted:
If you want high precision rifle ammo, buy a single stage press that has the highest tolerances (surely the turrent press with rubber gaskets isn't as accurate as a single stage press)
If you want high throughput pistol loads, get a progressive press (L-N-L AP for me). I say you invest in a good single stage to learn on. If you decide to go high production, get a progressive and be done with it..
This is a line of thought I hadn't considered. Great advice from everybody, thanks for the input. As soon as the Chinese cut me a refund check for my taxes I'll be ready to make my purchase If its "mostly to learn on" then Lee makes OK quality products at a GREAT price. For single stage strength at a good price, the Lee Cast Iron press is a sturdy monster - it will even do 50 BMG from what I have read. You won't out-grow that one - ever. -For pistol, all I use is Lee carbide dies. -For rifle, I avoid Lee - OTHER than the excellent Lee factory crimp die. -for powder measures, I use the Dillon (proprietary dies) but I hear the RCBS is a good powder measure. First bought a Lee "disc" measure (you can have it; not planning on using that again). Can you tell yet that I have a kind of "love/hate" relationship with Lee? Get a Pact or Dillon electronic scale (NOT the cheapest Lyman electronics - ask me how I know  ).
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If you want high precision rifle ammo, buy a single stage press that has the highest tolerances (surely the turrent press with rubber gaskets isn't as accurate as a single stage press)
If you want high throughput pistol loads, get a progressive press (L-N-L AP for me). I say you invest in a good single stage to learn on. If you decide to go high production, get a progressive and be done with it..
This is a line of thought I hadn't considered. Great advice from everybody, thanks for the input. As soon as the Chinese cut me a refund check for my taxes I'll be ready to make my purchase If its "mostly to learn on" then Lee makes OK quality products at a GREAT price. For single stage strength at a good price, the Lee Cast Iron press is a sturdy monster - it will even do 50 BMG from what I have read. You won't out-grow that one - ever. -For pistol, all I use is Lee carbide dies. -For rifle, I avoid Lee - OTHER than the excellent Lee factory crimp die. -for powder measures, I use the Dillon (proprietary dies) but I hear the RCBS is a good powder measure. First bought a Lee "disc" measure (you can have it; not planning on using that again). Can you tell yet that I have a kind of "love/hate" relationship with Lee? Get a Pact or Dillon electronic scale (NOT the cheapest Lyman electronics - ask me how I know ).I also have a love/hate with lee. I have more Lee dies than any other, but I just couldn't make myself like the turret press. I'm now obsessed with Hornady! But for Gods sake, do not get that piece of shit Hornady digital scale, it is the single most worthless piece of reloading equipment ever produced! I think I have a love/hate relationship with almost every brand. Advice: Put a whole lot of emphases on product reviews and forget going after specific brand names. |
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The LCT is a great press, put around 25K through mine before I finally moved on. There are 2 issues you will see people talk about, the square washer and the priming system. Both are a operator issues not a press issue The priming system isn't bad, you just have to have it aligned just right (square it up) so that the primers don't sit cock-eyed as you dispense them onto the primer holder thing. Lee Classic Turret with Auto Disk pro is hands down the best way to go for a new reloader. Forget over spending on a rock chucker. If you load in any decent quanitity the single stage press will get old after a few hundred rounds. I know it did for me. I use it for processing brass and that's about it now. Forget starting with a progressive, LCT will suit you very well even IF you decide to go to a progressive system down the road. LCT is an amazing bargain, you will not have invested that much up front, you won't regret your purchase because it will always have its uses no matter what you do in the future. Without a doubt its the best bargain in the reloading world. I have the regular Lee Turret (not as good as classic) and it has suited me well for thousands and thousands of rounds. The only time I've had problems is because I've done something stupid or not taken the time to align something properly, and that is a rarity. I really just have no understanding whatsoever about why people have issues with Lee products that work so well. For example their auto disk pro works great. You just need to get the double disk and adjustable powder charge bar for large and small loads. Can you spend 3x more for something that works a bit better? I'm sure but when it works so damn well for I'm not gonna spend any more money. I hate how people become so brand loyal in the reloading world as everything else however I just have to give people my $0.02 about starting with Lee over anything else... as far as I'm concerned its about as simple of a decision as it gets, well that is if you know what I know now. I too debated Green/Blue etc but couldn't stomach the high cost of the green kits ($550 for a freakin' single stage kit!) so went with Lee and have absolutely no regrets and in fact can't imagine I even thought about spending 3x the cost. My brand loyalty to Lee comes because no one else really comes close to them as far as trying to create a great value for the average reloader Yes if I shot 2000 rounds a month I would probobly have a Dillon or LNL by now but I do not. |
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Lee tried to fit inbetween these two categories and didn't really hit the mark.. I just can't even begin to grasp how someone could have such an opinion. Was your mark 100% perfection? Well if so then no they didn't hit that mark. Was your mark a great priced press that is still accurate (my shooting speaks for itself with loads from this press), infinitely faster than a single stage press and far easier to setup and change out calibers for those who shoot many various loads in moderate number? Well if so then they hit that mark right on the head. Seriously there should be no other option for a new loader as far as I'm concerned other than the LCT kit with Auto Disk pro. That is for the average person who shoots rifle/pistol in moderate numbers. If all you shoot is 9mm and thousands of round per month they yes get a progressive. But for the vast majority of shooters, the LCT kit could not be any more perfect balance of speed/simplicity and low cost to start loading on unless it was free. I just don't get why more people don't recommend this press. Maybe people way over spent (like $600 on a green colored single stage kit) or think that everyone needs a press that can load 1000 rounds in an hour, even though most won't shoot that much for a few months. |
| This thread is relative to my interests. I got a Lee Classic Turret last year for Christmas and I STILL have not set it up yet. What are the best parts and accessories to compliment this particular press? Right now I would say I will mostly be reloading .303 and .45 with a few other rifle calibers mixed in. Eventually I would like to move up to a complete Dillon set up but thats a little ways off. |
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This thread is relative to my interests. I got a Lee Classic Turret last year for Christmas and I STILL have not set it up yet. What are the best parts and accessories to compliment this particular press? Right now I would say I will mostly be reloading .303 and .45 with a few other rifle calibers mixed in. Eventually I would like to move up to a complete Dillon set up but thats a little ways off. Basically I'd get everything that comes in the LCT kit. Safety Prime, Auto Disk Pro, Safety Scale etc. Plus throw in a powder charge bar, 3 jaw chuck and drill adapter, double disk kit and auto disk riser. You have everything you need to trim and load. Then you'd just need dies and a tumbler or ultrasonic cleaner depending on what you choose. |
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Redding and Lyman make great heavy duty turret presses. They are to be used as a single stage press that you can mount more dies in. The Redding has 7 holes and the Lyman has 5 or 6. You can get both in kit form for a little more than a Boss single stage. Dies, I prefer Redding rifle, dillon pistol. I had Lyman 4 die set for 9mm that I used on single stage, but the carbide ring pulled out last year. The set was only 20 years old and has processed >10,000 rounds. I now have a Dillon Square Deal for my pistol rounds. I'll never look back.
Have fun and buy what you can afford. I used a Redding Boss for everthing for over 25 years. It worked. The turret would be better. |
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Lee tried to fit inbetween these two categories and didn't really hit the mark.. I just can't even begin to grasp how someone could have such an opinion. Was your mark 100% perfection? Well if so then no they didn't hit that mark. Was your mark a great priced press that is still accurate (my shooting speaks for itself with loads from this press), infinitely faster than a single stage press and far easier to setup and change out calibers for those who shoot many various loads in moderate number? Well if so then they hit that mark right on the head. Seriously there should be no other option for a new loader as far as I'm concerned other than the LCT kit with Auto Disk pro. That is for the average person who shoots rifle/pistol in moderate numbers. If all you shoot is 9mm and thousands of round per month they yes get a progressive. But for the vast majority of shooters, the LCT kit could not be any more perfect balance of speed/simplicity and low cost to start loading on unless it was free. I just don't get why more people don't recommend this press. Maybe people way over spent (like $600 on a green colored single stage kit) or think that everyone needs a press that can load 1000 rounds in an hour, even though most won't shoot that much for a few months. I did not deny you can load great ammo, but I don't see why someone would invest money in a fairly cheap design when you could add $100 for a better turret press or $200 and get a progressive. Complaints: 1) the turret heads are held tight via a gasket, too much wiggle room for me... 2) the piece that determines indexing is a plastic square. Yes, plastic... If that plastic strips out and you don't have an extra, a $0.001 piece of plastic prevents it from functioning properly. 3) everything about the priming system. Just saying, spend the extra $100-200 and get a good solid press that will last a lifetime. My philosophy, buy one keep forever. You'll save hundreds and hundreds of dollars reloading, no reason you shouldn't invest that In a press that isn't based around plastic pieces... Note: I do have the Lee classic cast and load all 2, I'm not a lee hater. Just didn't like that press |
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I did not deny you can load great ammo, but I don't see why someone would invest money in a fairly cheap design when you could add $100 for a better turret press or $200 and get a progressive. Complaints: 1) the turret heads are held tight via a gasket, too much wiggle room for me... 2) the piece that determines indexing is a plastic square. Yes, plastic... If that plastic strips out and you don't have an extra, a $0.001 piece of plastic prevents it from functioning properly. 3) everything about the priming system. Just saying, spend the extra $100-200 and get a good solid press that will last a lifetime. My philosophy, buy one keep forever. You'll save hundreds and hundreds of dollars reloading, no reason you shouldn't invest that In a press that isn't based around plastic pieces... Note: I do have the Lee classic cast and load all 2, I'm not a lee hater. Just didn't like that press I was just looking at my Lee Classic Turret and I do not see the "gasket" holding the turrets to which you refer. I'm not seeing any wiggle room. "Rotation" is controlled by a piece of plastic. However, "indexing" is controlled by a detent ball-bearing. If the plastic thing (nylon actually I think) gives out, it won't rotate, but it will properly index manually, which seems to be how all the other turret presses are rotated. $5.00 will get you 10 of the spare square ratchets. Add them to an order when you buy spare turrets or something. You'll be set for life. I'll give you that the Safety Prime system is a bit fiddly to get set. But once it is set up correctly it works a treat. (It's all in the angle of the mounting bracket.) Saving $200 is a lot of components. I wouldn't have gotten into reloading when I did if the press had cost me $200 more than I spent. |
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