50 BMG---Lee Classic Turret

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I am going to order a set of Lee's for the BMG along with 50 case holder. Hopefully the threads are the same.
 
They won't work on the Classic Turret because the threads won't accept the larger dies. As the other poster said, you need the Classic Cast of which the nut on the top can be removed to reveal the correct threads for the larger dies. I have that press and have been considering loading for the 577 Snider which is the same size dies as the 50. Clearance on that press isn't a problem.
 
I gotta say, that is a VERY misleading statement:
Deactivate the Auto-Index and cases as long as the monster 50 BMG can be loaded.
Click to expand...

It cannot accept the dies for 50 BMG, but it can reload other cases that are that long, but that have standard size dies. Like what?

It seems like they could either sell a turret plate with one (or more?) holes that would accept the larger diameter 50 BMG dies, or a whole new replacement top end that would take the larger dies. The latter would be pretty simple to have a local machine shop fabricate, but that does not make their statement any less misleading.

The turret press has the same ram, but the shell holder adapter is different between the classic cast and the classic turret presses. Either is probably interchangeable with the 50BMG shell holder. If you had a way to use 50BMG dies!

Andy
 
[/I gotta say, that is a VERY misleading statement:
Quote:
Deactivate the Auto-Index and cases as long as the monster 50 BMG can be loaded.
It cannot accept the dies for 50 BMG, but it can reload other cases that are that long, but that have standard size dies. Like what?

It seems like they could either sell a turret plate with one (or more?) holes that would accept the larger diameter 50 BMG dies, or a whole new replacement top end that would take the larger dies. The latter would be pretty simple to have a local machine shop fabricate, but that does not make their statement any less misleading.

The turret press has the same ram, but the shell holder adapter is different between the classic cast and the classic turret presses. Either is probably interchangeable with the 50BMG shell holder. If you had a way to use 50BMG dies!

Andy]

You said it Andy, this is really misleading. Do I have to buy a different press to use my 50 BMG dies?? Lee needs to clear this up...
Click to expand...
 
The Lee Classic Cast press of which the Lee Classic Cast Turret press is a derivative can load the 50BMG; obviously, the 7/8” die insert will not suffice and has to be removed for the correctly sized die. IMO the LCCT also has the strength to load the 50BMG round as evidenced by the RCBS Ammomaster and identical press offered by Hornady. How do you do this, visit a machine shop or friend with a home fabrication shop. Then you either redrill and tap one of the die station holes in an extra turret plate or for potentially greater strength have some steel plate fabricated into a single hole turret plate. At this point you would of course disable the auto index feature on the LCCTP.

creekwalker
 
I realize this thread hasn't been active in quite some time, but I ran into the same issue today.

I read that the Classic Turret can be used for 50 BMG, just as everyone else seems to have understood.

E-mailed Lee to say it was misleading and disappointing and got a simple response from the pres.:

"Sorry you feel that way."

That was it. End of story.

Doesn't quite live up to the customer service everyone has bragged about regarding Lee Precision.
 
Lee's Classic CAST [single stage] "O" press will except the .50 BMG dies...The steel insert will come out exposing the threads that accept the larger dies.

The Lee Classic Cast Turret (or the other lee turret) will not...
 
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Wow. On one hand I can see how they can get away with that wording. After all it doesn't say it can load .50BMG, just cases that are as long as a 50BMG case. On the other hand though thats a pretty flimsy defense, and I am pretty sure that they know the majority of people that read it would assume it means that it can be used to load .50BMG. Bet there is a lawyer somewhere at Lee to thank for that. :mad:

I was also wondering, someone mentioned that the Lee Classic Cast press can load .50BMG, anyone know if the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press can? Looking at pictures on the Lee site they look fairly similar. Both are O frame, but I can't find anything that says whether the Breech Lock Challenger can do .50BMG or not.
 
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I have the classic cast turret press too, and now I am curious if 50 BMG can be loaded on it or not...
 
Interesting, I came across this thread and not having any experince with the Lee Classic Turret press I checked the link and after reading I can honestly say that it's not misleading what so ever to me. It simply states it can load cartridges as long as the 50 BMG and in no way says in handle the 50.

Ok with that said I can only shed some light with some pictures. I have been using the Classic press for the 50BMG and can say that for the money, it works well. These are to give you an idea about the physical size of the dies as some think they are the standard 7/8-14.

IMG_9240.jpg

IMG_8912.jpg

IMG_8913.jpg

IMG_8917.jpg

IMG_8919.jpg
 
I see. I had been comparing what images I could find, and thought that maybe taking out the breech lock from the breech lock challenger press might allow it to take the larger dies.
 
It simply states it can load cartridges as long as the 50 BMG and in no way says in handle the 50.
Click to expand...

Show me a set of 7/8-14 threaded dies that will load any cartridge (and a rifle chambered for it) "as long as" 50 BMG, and I will concede that it is not misleading. Until then, I believe it is a blatant LIE.

Andy
 
This is the quote from the Lee web site.........

The long stroke allows rifle cases over three inches long to be loaded using the automatic index. Deactivate the Auto-Index and cases as long as the monster 50 BMG can be loaded.
Click to expand...

The way I see it if the turret press could handle the 50 BMG, the wording would have been something like this......"and cases as long as and including the monster 50 BMG can be loaded"

I would think as the manufacturer of the press, Lee knows if it is capable or not and if it could, they would sell more. They do have a winner in the Classic cast press, it handles the 50 BMG just fine.


There are a few case that use 7/8-14 dies that measure over 3 inches, the 45-120-3 1/4" Sharps and 475 Nitro #2 come to mind. I dont recall any being as long as the 50 BMG which is appx 3.9"
 
I like Lee Precision, I think they make a fine assortment of products. I'm a fan of alot of what they do, but I gotta agree that this is total mislead. I bought the Classic Cast Turret because of that line "as long as the monster 50 BMG". Most reasonable people (not having their lawyer hat on) would interpret that to mean that this press is big and bad enough to handle the 50 BMG. When I found out that the threads wouldn't match for it, the immediate question was "where's the adapter plate that can be used for these threads then?" No such adapter plate, no explanation given other than "oh, it can handle cases as long as the .50 BMG, just not the BMG, sorry!":rolleyes: I think it's a total way to insure they keep selling their Classic cast single stage press. (which I've heard is kinda lame on the lever part as it tends to bend and snap) This is one where I have to agree that Lee really is pulling a fast one on it's customers by keeping the wording the same in the item description. They could at least put a little disclaimer mentioning that it can't load the .50 BMG in the turret press.
 
There are a few case that use 7/8-14 dies that measure over 3 inches, the 45-120-3 1/4" Sharps and 475 Nitro #2 come to mind. I dont recall any being as long as the 50 BMG which is appx 3.9"
Click to expand...
Most all of the NE's (e.g. 475 NE, 577 NE, 600 NE, 700 NE) have a case measurig over 3" and some over 3.25". I can't find any load data for the 577 Tyrranosaurus but I'm pretty comfortable stating that the brass on that chambering is at least equal in size to, say, a 577 NE.
 
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