Lee classic turret press

I regularly load 100 rds in 30 minutes or less.

You can definitely go on "sprint runs" with the LCT where you are jamming them out pretty quickly. If you need 100 rounds to take to the range for a little plinking, that's painless.

Trying to crank out 500 or 1,000 for a major match or a full-day class... not much fun.

I have comfortably loaded 200+ rounds per hour on my LCT with the auto-index rod installed. I could probably do 250, but I wasn't trying to set any records. Most of the time, though, I leave the auto-index rod out and load as single-stage, batch mode. Most of the batches I do on the LCT are 100 rounds or less, usually big-bore revolver, or rifle loads.

lonewolf5347 said:

For me reloading is like piece of mind
Relaxing
Turn the radio on to do-wop music and kill sometime out in the garage away from the wife
I run about 400 rounds a month which h include one IDPA match and one USPSA

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Much of my reloading is like that.

My efforts to keep up with my USPSA shooting are of a different nature.... thus my acquisition last year of a used 650. But the LCT is for the other dozen or so cartridges I load and can be more leisurely with.

I'm confused, which Lee product are we trying to sell in this thread? Is it the LCT or the Lee auto-bushing progressive super fast nitro burning hot rod?

lonewolf5347 said:

Well was going to order the new Lee progressive press just the other day.
I been reading lots of reviews on the press
Yes it too early to see how she holds up over time.
I went ahead and wanted to see how long it will take to get a box of 50 rounds complete on the classic press
Time wise was 9 minutes
I can't keep that up for 1 hour but would think 100 rounds give of take 25 min.

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So, what's the verdict? Are you buying the new press or not? I'm still undecided though leaning towards the new press.

I enjoy seeing these LCT threads and how many rounds per hour people can produce. You guys are much faster than I am but it gives me something to work toward. I regularly do 150 rounds of 9mm an hour. That includes stopping to check powder drop, OAL and case gauge.

I considered getting an Inline Fabrication Case Ejector system but my LCT runs well as is and I could probably do plenty to pick up speed before I need to alter the press.

Dave

lonewolf5347 said:

I went ahead and wanted to see how long it will take to get a box of 50 rounds complete on the classic press
Time wise was 9 minutes
I can't keep that up for 1 hour but would think 100 rounds give of take 25 min.

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I don't find it a good idea to try to go as fast as 9 minutes per 50. I can sustain 11-12 minutes per 50 but find I'm just rushing things attempting to go any faster and there's an increased chance of me making an error and definitely won't get the bullets started as straight. When I'm rushing it's also hard to be as consistent with my motions, which hurts the consistency of the powder drop. For me finding a way to average 200 round per hour, every hour, is the most efficient.

There will always be Lee bashers, some of which have never used Lee equipment.
Is everything LEE makes great, no, some just ok, some stuff is better than others, some is pretty darn good.
There will always be people who for some reason think you can't load good pistol ammo unless it is on a Blue press.
I have a LNL progressive and a Lee turret. I like both.
Both are capable of making ammo that shoots as good as I can.
Some people doubt the numbers people get on Lee turrets, all people are different, I for one am not going to say what someone else can or cannot do.
From Dillons web site

Truly the state of the art, our XL650 features automatic indexing and is capable of producing up to 800 rounds per hour, or more if you are using both the case and bullet feeders.

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800 rounds per hour with no case of bullet feeder?
So it holds 800 primers??? Nope, One would assume it takes some time to add primers or change tubes, and it has to take time to fill the tubes. Maybe we just don't count that time.
(Different numbers for an LNL progressive but same thing, not to single Dillon out)

I wonder how long it would take to stab 500s primers into 1 tube by hand for my LNL(that's what it came with one tube of each size, from the manual a 650 appears to be the same).
Sorry I just don't see stabbing 800 primers in an hour and getting 800 rounds loaded in the same hour.
I never practiced stabbing primers a lot so I never got fast at it.
I'm sure most people don't fill 1 tube by hand but that's what the press comes with......
So those numbers are not real numbers, since they are quoted for the press but it does not come with the things necessary to make it possible.
Don't see people mention this often.

I have never used a Dillon but I am sure they are fine machines, lots of people like them, so I am not trying to bash Dillon as I pointed out Hornady's #s for an LNL take liberties as well.

In the end it does not matter how fast it is as long as it is fast enough for you and your needs, it does not matter if other people hate the brand as long as it works for you and you like it.

Anyway I am straying from the High Road so to get back on track,

Fast is also not necessarily what it is all about.
On a empty golf course I might be able to play 18 holes in 2.5 hours if I rushed (and had a good cart), but would I want to?
Probably would not find trying to do it real relaxing or enjoyable.

Some people see reloading as cranking out enough rounds for the next match, others enjoy it and find it relaxing, rushing to crank out rounds is not relaxing to me.
I reload at a moderate volume so one month I might shoot 500 rounds another I might shoot 3000 but my presses are fast enough for my needs so I take my time and enjoy reloading.

It seems like Lee is having some issues with the new little progressive press, but is getting them worked out, only time will tell.
(I still think Lee should have sent out a couple hundred to THR members for beta testing....are you listing LEE free beta testers waiting to sign up!)

My Lee Classic Turret has well over 10k rounds on it with never a problem until the other day I was changing turrets and the little ball that keeps the turret in place shot out along with the spring. One phone call to Lee and I had another top plate in 3-4 days. I am able to get 150 rounds an hour if I push it but now days I use the Lee only for .357 mag mostly. I normally load 200-300 of each of the 3 magnum loads I hunt with at a time and its plenty fast for that type of loading. For my high volume .38 target loads, I use a Dillon 650. Much faster. I don't have a case feeder on mine due to lack of room but I can still can do over 400 an hour if I push it.

Toprudder said:

... Most of the time, though, I leave the auto-index rod out and load as single-stage, batch mode. ...

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I always leave the rod in but often use my LCT in single-stage mode.

Rather than remove the rod (and the rather fragile-looking plastic "square ratchet"), I do a quick-change (takes a few seconds) on the arm setting:

GBExpat said:

I always leave the rod in but often use my LCT in single-stage mode.

Rather than remove the rod (and the rather fragile-looking plastic "square ratchet"), I do a quick-change (takes a few seconds) on the arm setting:

View attachment 799236

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I'm confused. The rod takes all of a few seconds to pull out, with no tools required. I'm guessing by your photo that you are simply preventing the ram from going down far enough to activate the auto-index with the rod installed. This means that you can't prime on the press. Or am I missing something?

Dudedog said:

Fast is also not necessarily what it is all about.

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I don't disagree with you. Personally, I overall enjoy handloading. But... I still work full time and have other things to do besides making ammo. I also go thru a lot of said ammo. There are times, more than just once in a while, when even with the best of pre-planning I find myself in a ammo deficit and need some fast. During those times I'm glad that I can pump out 400+ rounds/hour. Even at that rate it sometimes seems like faster would be nice.

Toprudder said:

I'm confused. The rod takes all of a few seconds to pull out, with no tools required. I'm guessing by your photo that you are simply preventing the ram from going down far enough to activate the auto-index with the rod installed. This means that you can't prime on the press. Or am I missing something?

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Nope, that about covers it.

I hand-prime my cases when using this mode.

The alternate method that I presented takes only a few seconds with the wrench that I keep on the desk, limits the required arm movement (both the LCT arm and the one attached to my shoulder) and, most importantly to me, keeps me from having to remove/replace critical components from my press.

Since I developed this method, I could probably do the remove/replace method with no issue (especially since I have a number of backup "square ratchets" in my kit) but I hesitate to remove/replace critical components because that often seems to be when parts failures happen.

It is simply a Choice ...

I didn't think this was a Lee bashing at all. I have the Lee Classic Turret, it does what I want when I want to. I load a lot of 9 mm on it, I did pay a high price for the clockwise indexing rod and accessories. It may or may not save much time but I use it on 9 mm. I don't handle the brass but one time. I prime off press ahead of time. Load my rifle cartridges on my ole Pacific "O" press. Both presses shine in some areas and stink in others, but it is what it is. I've had enough birthdays to forget about doing almost anything fast.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

No bashing in this one. The LCT is still the best thing out of the Lee factory if you want to load everything from small auto pistol to big rifle.

The LCT was on my short list after I purchased my first single stage,,, (Looking for faster pistol reloading)
Eventually ended up with a LNL AP, but still think the LCT is a pretty darn versatile press for not a lot of cash.

Something mentioned in the thread just rubbed me the wrong way, bad day yesterday at work..

I have my Lee Classic Turret Press for over 12 years now and I have no complaints. I can safely load between 180 to 200 handgun rounds an hour with it.

I sometimes load rifle ammo on it but without the auto-index rod as a single stage, the advantage is having all the dies available at once. Other times I use one of my two single stage presses.
(an RCBS Rockchucker and Forster Co-Ax)

i load everything with, but i resize on a O press