.223 reload on a lee turret??

[tequillaeagle]

i have been loading 45 and 38 for a while and i would like to start reloading .223 on my lee classic turret press 4 hole. now i have the dies but unlike the pistol there is no powerd through charge die. is there one that i can buy so i can deprime size then powder then seat then crimp? also will i need the double disk thing? or can i stack some of the disks that i have together to get the charge that i want?

 

[rondog]

I have the same press, but haven't started loading rifle rounds yet (very soon though, powder and primers have been shipped!). I get the impression that most folks prefer to charge rifle cases individually, by putting them all in a loading block and charging them one at a time with a measured charge and a case funnel. So you can insure the proper amount of powder, then visually inspect each case with a light to verify. Squibs bring the bad ju-ju.

At least that's how I'm going to do my .30-06 cases, when I get the remaining goodies to do it, and the nerve to try. The whole "gauging and trimming to length" process kinda intimidates me. And I have several thousand cases to load.

 

[ny32182]

You won't be able to do it that quickly, no... you will need to re-tumble to remove lube, then check length and possibly trim/debur if necessary, possibly remove primer crimp if necessary, then preferably check the size in a gauge, then prime before charging.

Once the brass is fully prepped I believe you can load in a progressive sort of fashion if you want to, though I hand measure each charge and load them in a loading block with a funnel.

 

[Landric]

I load .223 on a Classic Turret. Lee offers a powder through charging die for rifles, its not an expander, just a charge die, but it is case activated just like the pistol dies. I do brass prep, then tumble to remove lube. On the turret set up for loading I have a Lee Universal decapper(to knock out any media stuck in the flash hole), the powder through rifle die with a Pro Auto Disk attached (the powder I use can be used with the single disk kit), then a seat die and crimp die. Resizing is done during prep, not loading.

The double disk kit is just four extra disks and a set of longer screws (which are, for some reason, still not really long enough for two disks). I'd skip it and use the disks you have. Buy a set of screws that are long enough at a hardware store. I made the mistake of buying the double disk kit and I don't use it.

 

[freakshow10mm]

I never had to trim .223. I make small runs on my LCT. Lube, decap, prime, charge, seat, crimp, then tumble to remove lube and give a final polish. Yes it's safe to tumble live rounds. The ammunition factories do it all the time. I do it all the time.

 

[angus6]

The double disk kit is just four extra disks and a set of longer screws (which are, for some reason, still not really long enough for two disks). I'd skip it and use the disks you have. Buy a set of screws that are long enough at a hardware store. I made the mistake of buying the double disk kit and I don't use it.

Don't forget the side spacer

 

[Mags]

I have the Lee Turret and have reloaded 223 on it I find it best to not powder on the press. I lube the cases, push out the primers and size the case on the press, trim the case, pop in a primer on the press, then put the cases into a load block which I made from a 1x8 and use the lee powder dipper and a funnel to fill the cases with powder. I then go back to the press and seat the bullets and factory crimp.

 

[FM-793]

As Landric pointed out, you have to use the Rifle Charging Die if you're using the Auto Disk - if you're using the Perfect Powder Measure, you have to use the Universal Charging Die. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use the press in the index mode to load the .223.

The only reason I didn't start charging my 7mm-08 on the press is because I bought the wrong #@&%&#@ die. By the time I figured out that the 7mm loads were too heavy for the AutoDisk with charge bar, and that I needed the Universal Charging die with the Perfect Powder Measure, I'd already moved on.

I hate the disks; not casting stones at those who use and like them, I'm just not one them.

TequilaEagle - if you use the AutoDisk and want my rifle charging die, send me a PM with your contact info and I'll mail it to you; that way you can try it out for yourself. The only thing I ask is that you publish your adventures with on-press loading here so that we can all observe and learn.

 

[Landric]

I like the disks for handgun loading. I've found them to be very accurate and consistent, plus they are easy to set up and use. The powder I use for .223 gets to the charge weight I want with a single disk in the auto disk, so I use it for .223 also. I use different presses and powder measures for my larger caliber/charge weight stuff.

I did not care at all for the double disk kit or setup. I found it to be much less consistent and less reliable overall. I was also not impressed with the adjustable charge bar, I found the disks more reliable. I don't like the auto disk for rifle loading (except .223 with the right powder), but I think its great for handgun.

 

[tequillaeagle]

FM 793 thats very generous of you and I think that ill take you up on that offer , ill just have to work up some loads with it to see if it work and how accurate it will be,

 

[RustyFN]

TequilaEagle - if you use the AutoDisk and want my rifle charging die, send me a PM with your contact info and I'll mail it to you; that way you can try it out for yourself. The only thing I ask is that you publish your adventures with on-press loading here so that we can all observe and learn.

That's what I like about most of the forums, generous people helping out others. Way to go FM-793.
tequillaeagle I would also recommend the double disk kit. I use it for 223 and it has been very accurate for me. When you stack them with different size holes make sure the smaller hole is in the top disk. This isn't me but it's very close to how I reload 223 on my classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpN9iYOyE8
It is very easy to load 223 on the classic. Make sure you lube the cases before you size also.
Rusty

 

[y5e06]

I've been wanting to reload .223 on my turret press but have hesitated as it takes so long to do rifle rounds. lots of prep and extra steps. I do 7.5 swiss, 8mm, and other rifle using the turret press... I just remove the indexer and run in single stage mode.
I do however enjoy the press for doing my pistol rounds. I can do up to 150/hour if I concentrate & have everything setup. Problem I have w/ commiting to doing .223 is the amount of time it takes to prep bottle neck rifle rounds.
Is the .223 in some way faster than other, larger cartidges? For those that remove the lube after loading, do you just not lube the inside of the neck intially? or do you just not remove the lube? I figure the load is crimped for a reason and the lube just counter acts case tension/friction. Also, w/ .223 how often do you find the need to trim the case length? if loading light to mild is it if you've done it once you're good for a long while?
I'd plan to load for an AR, so 200-300 rounds at a time would be the commitment. I think for ar plinking purposes the autodisc would work fine. I find it consistent w/ the smaller pistol charges (haven't tried ~20gr loads for .223 etc)

thanks

 

[Landric]

I have a separate turret set up for .223 brass prep. Station one is a Lee universal decapper, two is a RCBS lube die, three is a Dillon Carbie Sizing Die, and four is a RCBS trim die. I run each piece through the press in auto index mode, then chuck it in a box to be tumbled to remove the lube.

 

[tkcomer]

Basically the way I do it is take the index rod out then size and decap. Tumble clean, then check for length. Trim if necessary. The back into the press for priming. Now then, the Lee auto Pro Disk with the double disk kit can charge the case with powder. But I can never find that "precise" charge I'm looking for. For that, after priming the shell, I charge with a RCBS Uniflow. For plinking, the Pro Auto Disk is just fine. I then hand turn the turret, seat the bullet, then hand turn it again to crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp Die. Trust me, it's a lot quicker than using a single stage press.

 

[RustyFN]

Landric that sounds like it makes case prep a lot easier.

Rusty

 

[rdhood]

You need the rifle charging die and the double disk kit (mostly for the side risers). If you can come up with the correct paring of disks in your current set up, you could probably hobble together a riser to suit your needs. I use tkcomer's method, but throw powder, seat bullet, crimp with the index rod in (and then double pump to line back up for the next charge).

Except for lube and trim, it is pretty much the same as a pistol round.

 

[aerod1]

I am loading 223 on my LCT and I never take the case out of the press after resizing and priming, I just go ahead and finish the job. It seems to have worked well so far. Is there a reason people don't resize and just keep going?

 

[1moa@500]

I have found that I get better results by doing all the prep work before using the turret press. I tumble, then deprime,size, trim, and prime brass in lots of 100. i then use the press to run through them. I can load preped brass at a rated of 250 plus an hour. I wish I had the classic turret so oal was not an issue because I have to ease each case out of the crimping die before I reach the bottom of the stroke or else they hang up

 

[RustyFN]

I am loading 223 on my LCT and I never take the case out of the press after resizing and priming, I just go ahead and finish the job. It seems to have worked well so far. Is there a reason people don't resize and just keep going?

Yes. Rifle brass needs to be checked after sizing to see if it needs to be trimmed. Also if you have any primer pockets that need to be swaged that will need to be done before a new primer can be seated.
Rusty

 

[FM-793]

That's what I like about most of the forums, generous people helping out others. Way to go FM-793.

Thanks, Rusty. People here have been more than generous with their time and expertise - glad I could help out for once.

TEagle - don't forget to PM me your mailing address.

 

[TX1911fan]

I use my Lee Turret Press to reload .223. My procedure is lube, resize and decap, clean off lube, charge (using the double disk kit), seat and crimp. I use all Lee dies. Works great.