[greg_r]

I have been revamping my loading benches lately. Fixing to sell off a bit of reloading stuff. One thing I had decided to sell is my Lee Classic Turret. Just waiting on my new Lyman turret to arrive which should be next week. I have ordered a Lee Breech Lock Pro which is going to be set up on the Lee reloading stand and be dedicated to 9mm Luger.

To that end I sat down today and used the Lee Classic Cast Turret for what I figure will be the last time. I really like this press but am sure I will like the traditional turret press better. (The All American 8 will be replacing the Lee Classic Cast Turret and a Lyman Spar-T Turret) I am wondering what I am actually gaining by using the Breech Lock Pro over the Classic Cast Turret? Obviously I am gaining speed, once the shell plate is full each pull of the handle will produce a cartridge, vs 4 pulls to complete a round with the Classic Cast Turret. But what am I giving up?

in the end I will have my Antique Bench, which will have the RCBS Jr Press. The other antique presses, 2 Lyman Spartans, the Lyman Spar-T turret, and the Hornady/Pacific Multi-Power presses will be sold. My second RCBS Jr has already been sold. I will have the Hornady bench which has the Iron press. And my turret bench, which will have the All American 8. The Ideal press will reside on a portable stand. The Lee Breech Lock Pro will stay at the second house on the Lee stand next to the antique bench. Unless of course I decide to send the Breech Lock Pro back and just keep the Classic Cast Turret.

 

[greg_r]

Thought I would post up a couple of Lee Precision videos showing both presses in operation. Of course the Breech Lock Prow allows for more automation. I would likely just move a powder measure and the priming system from the Classic Cast Turret and feed the cases and bullets manually.

 

[Bill whitney]

I believe you will give up accuracy at least, reliability is another concern once ammo is loaded. My buddy runs a dillon progressive (started with a 650 that was problematic, then he upgraded with similar results). Iv even declined ammo from him cuz i see what it puts out.. caveat, he does do funky loads for his race gun, which i think is a large part of the reliabilty issues.

 

[greg_r]

A few years ago I decided on 9mm, 223, and 308 as my go to cartridges. Since that time the Classic Cast Turret has only really been used to bulk load those 3 cartridges.

My plan was to use the Breech Lock Pro for 9mm, and the ALL American 8 will have 2 heads set up. One dedicated to 308, the other dedicated to 223.

Another cartridge that I shoot a lot of, although I do not consider it a primary is the 300 Blackout. It is set up on a dedicated Turret Press, the Lyman Spar-T. The tool head for that one carries a fill length resizing die, empty die station (for priming), case mouth expander die (I shoot a lot of cast), powder through charging die, bullet seating die, and a factory crimp die. A neck sizing collet die is set up in either the empty hole, or another press for those times I don’t want to full length resize. I will likely set up a 3rd tool head for it and sell the Spar-T.

 

[lklawson]

I believe you will give up accuracy at least, reliability is another concern once ammo is loaded. My buddy runs a dillon progressive (started with a 650 that was problematic, then he upgraded with similar results). Iv even declined ammo from him cuz i see what it puts out.. caveat, he does do funky loads for his race gun, which i think is a large part of the reliabilty issues.

I thought single stage was what you used when you wanted more accuracy. Turret and progressive is what you use when loading bulk and are happy with "acceptable accuracy."

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[RACHGIER]

I though single stage was what you used when you wanted more accuracy. Turret and progressive is what you use when loading bulk and are happy with "acceptable accuracy."

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Unless you use your turret press, like I do, and make precision rounds with it. The key to precision rounds are the individual checks between the stages of reloading. Each pull of my classic cast turret is just another step in the process that doesn't involve switching dies. I feel I can get stricter tolerances on my ammo because I'm not losing time switching dies and they're set exactly where I want them right off the bat. Each round goes from start to finish in one 4-pull process.

 

[lklawson]

Unless you use your turret press, like I do, and make precision rounds with it. The key to precision rounds are the individual checks between the stages of reloading. Each pull of my classic cast turret is just another step in the process that doesn't involve switching dies. I feel I can get stricter tolerances on my ammo because I'm not losing time switching dies and they're set exactly where I want them right off the bat. Each round goes from start to finish in one 4-pull process.

I use powder drops for almost everything. On very very very rare occasions, I will weigh every charge, but for the 99.9% of shooting that I do, a calibrated drop by volume does everything I need.

I assume that when you load for accuracy, you're using weighed charges which you manually drop through a funnel.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[RACHGIER]

I use powder drops for almost everything. On very very very rare occasions, I will weigh every charge, but for the 99.9% of shooting that I do, a calibrated drop by volume does everything I need.

I assume that when you load for accuracy, you're using weighed charges which you manually drop through a funnel.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Perfect powder measure and trickled to final weight for precision loading and ladder testing. Auto-disk spot checked for weight every 5th round for everything else.

 

[lklawson]

Perfect powder measure and trickled to final weight for precision loading and ladder testing. Auto-disk spot checked for weight every 5th round for everything else.

My singlestage I use Perfect Powder Measure and spot check every 25. I have the Autodrum for the turret but I've been lazy and haven't used it yet. I intend to spot check every 25 with it, same as for with the Single Stage stuff.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[moona11]

My singlestage I use Perfect Powder Measure and spot check every 25. I have the Autodrum for the turret but I've been lazy and haven't used it yet. I intend to spot check every 25 with it, same as for with the Single Stage stuff.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

I check the powder every 5 like Rach or 10 if its going perfect after 200 rds

 

[ajole]

I use powder drops for almost everything. On very very very rare occasions, I will weigh every charge, but for the 99.9% of shooting that I do, a calibrated drop by volume does everything I need.

I assume that when you load for accuracy, you're using weighed charges which you manually drop through a funnel.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

For real precision 308 and 5.56, I put the empty brass on the scale, zero it, Auto drum dump, weigh it, and if it’s heavy, I dump it and re-drop, if it’s light, I trickle.
I bought some spare drums, to get set up for a few other calibers, but not there yet.
Some powders are wonderfully boringly consistent, some are less so. But none of the ones I’ve tried are bad enough to scare me.
My non-precision stuff gets dipped directly into the case for pistols, or dipped into a pan and weighed for rifles, with some trickling if it’s out of my range of acceptance.

 

[moona11]

I started out with tire group. It taught me to be cautious. And for those extra special kill u from the otherwise of the planet rounds I measure and weigh every thing to adjust each Round. I don't make many as I'm not into long range shooting much.

 

[greg_r]

The Lee Classic Cast turret press loads surprisingly good ammo. I think it’s the one shining star that Lee Precision has left in its lineup. I would handily recommend the Lee Turret Press as a press to learn on.

When I load on my turret press as a semi-progressive, I measure about everyb10 drops. Same if loading 300 BLK on my SpaT.

For my varmint loads I weigh each load, and I will weigh bullet and sort them as well, although that’s something I do not do as much anymore.

 

[moona11]

The Lee Classic Cast turret press loads surprisingly good ammo. I think it’s the one shining star that Lee Precision has left in its lineup. I would handily recommend the Lee Turret Press as a press to learn on.

When I load on my turret press as a semi-progressive, I measure about everyb10 drops. Same if loading 300 BLK on my SpaT.

For my varmint loads I weigh each load, and I will weigh bullet and sort them as well, although that’s something I do not do as much anymore.

When I started. You and Flash had really good ideas and info. Made it easy to learn. No here loaded anymore or did it. Now everyone here (mytowny) friends re load. Because of me. Lol

 

[GoesBang]

I’ve got 7 turrets for my Lee Classic Turret press. Numerous RCBS Uniflow powder measures (way more than probably necessary). I’ll more than likely set up more turrets with dedicated Uniflows. I see an investment in a lot more case activated linkage kits sometime in my future.

 

[moona11]

I’ve got 7 turrets for my Lee Classic Turret press. Numerous RCBS Uniflow powder measures (way more than probably necessary). I’ll more than likely set up more turrets with dedicated Uniflows. I see an investment in a lot more case activated linkage kits sometime in my future.

I think I have 8 or 9 . makes life so much easier.

 

[greg_r]

I load 22 Hornet on a Spartan, and 30-30 on a second spartan. And have a Spar-T dedicated to 300 BLK. I had turrets set up for 308, 25-06 and 280. I now load them on the Hornady Iron.

The Classic Cast Turret has turrets set up for 223, 7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel, 350 LGND, 32 Long, 380, 9mm, 45acp, 38 spl, 357 Magnum (2 separate turrets) 45 colt, 44 Magnum, and 45 BM

I load 7.62x54 and 45-70 and 6.5 Japanese on the RCBS Jr, and 12 gauge 2.5" brass shells on the RCBS RS5.

I have a Pacific/Hornady Multipower that I use for case prep and forming.

I have not even mounted the Lyman Ideal. The Lyman All American 8 delivered Monday....except it was a pair of headlights for a tractor trailer truck. They shipped a replacement, but its lost in transit.

 

[RACHGIER]

The Lyman All American 8 delivered Monday....except it was a pair of headlights for a tractor trailer truck. They shipped a replacement, but its lost in transit.

How bad was the WTF face?

 

[greg_r]

i do imagine it was pretty bad.

 

[greg_r]

How bad was the WTF face?

hey @Rachgier Look what FedEx just dropped off. The WTF face was still an "about effin time" face though.