First video on the Lee Ultimate turret press

My ultimate turret press arrived 5 days ago and am pretty pleased with it. Loaded some 38 Super, 357 Sig, and 45 ACP on it so far. Only issue I've had is the indexing is slightly off, but the post that sticks up through the turret head keeps it positioned correctly on each stage as you index. Much less "slop" in the turret head than on the previous turret presses (about 0.005" turret head rising when reloading on the older presses).
 
Please don't take this the wrong way but halfway into the "video" I got tired of hearing words and seeing hands waving but nothing being done on the press.
I may be different but I want to see what it can do.
In 4H leadership for archery training we were taught to get them moving within five minutes.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way but halfway into the "video" I got tired of hearing words and seeing hands waving but nothing being done on the press.
I may be different but I want to see what it can do.
In 4H leadership for archery training we were taught to get them moving within five minutes.
That vid is NOT the OP's vid...
and I doubt the vid's author will see your criticism here...
jmo,
.
 
My ultimate turret press ... pretty pleased with it ... Only issue I've had is the indexing is slightly off, but the post that sticks up through the turret head keeps it positioned correctly on each stage as you index.
That's likely from slight production variation in index rod/bar twist as there are 4 different rods/bars for 3/4/5/6 station indexing.

Bottom of each index hole is coned/flared out to guide the tip of detent pin as demonstrated during my testing for single station operation with index rod/bar removed - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...iguration-turrets.926488/page-8#post-12843618

"Since the detent pin has cone shaped tip and bottom of tool carrier/turret index holes are also cone shaped, when operating with index rod removed, even if tool carrier/turret rotates slightly, cone shaped opening with cone shaped tip will help the detent pin align with the top opening by rotating the tool carrier automatically as ram/detent pin rise."​

Bottom of tool carrier/turret showing larger cone shaped/flared opening

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Top of tool carrier/turret showing smaller holes for detent pin

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Nice. It seems to use the one-way bearing and rod with a twist like the RCBS Ammomaster and Piggyback units do.
Here's the index rod/bar with case ejector

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Bottom of index gear that rod/bar goes through

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Disassembled index gear

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I will be the first to admit that Richard Lee or his designers are geniuses. I've been using Lee products since before probably a lot of you were born. That said, and I presently have four presses, dozens of dies, and a five gallon bucket of peripherals, Lee seems to find a way to leave a secret issue for you to solve in many products. I swore off their progressives after two Pro1000s and a Loadmaster. I currently use the turret, an O press and the cheapo C.
The dies, other than the "powder thru" are uniformly great.
I will continue to support Lee in dies, moulds, sizers, and others but have to be shown conclusively that a progressive will meet my standards. (My Starr progressive from the early sixties. I will buy the first non fiddle press they come up with.
 
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The dies, other than the "powder thru" are uniformly great.
All the "powder thru" expanders (PTX) are being replaced with stepped "M" style expanders as new standard for Lee Precision die sets (Call customer service to see if your caliber has been replaced already) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-through-expander.916523/page-4#post-12725787

New stepped "M" style PTX on the left compared to pre-production beta test PTX in the middle and old PTX on the right

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Bullets seated with old PTX showing single case bulge around bullet base

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Bullets seated with new stepped "M" style PTX showing distinct second bulge just under the case mouth from stepped expander

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All the "powder thru" expanders (PTX) are being replaced with stepped "M" style expanders as new standard for Lee Precision die sets (Call customer service to see if your caliber has been replaced already) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-through-expander.916523/page-4#post-12725787

New stepped "M" style PTX on the left compared to pre-production beta test PTX in the middle and old PTX on the right

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Bullets seated with old PTX showing single case bulge around bullet base

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Bullets seated with new stepped "M" style PTX showing distinct second bulge just under the case mouth from stepped expander

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I just received today from Lee my new stepped expanders for 9mm and 38 special I am in the process of changing them out now I got a list from the CS I talked to I will try to find it and post it on here I hope I didn’t delete it. I am going to try the 9mm tonight.
 
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So, if I send them my pile of sticky expanders, they will replace them with the new, improved ones?
 
I will be the first to admit that Richard Lee or his designers are geniuses. I've been using Lee products since before probably a lot of you were born. That said, and I presently have four presses, dozens of dies, and a five gallon bucket of peripherals, Lee seems to find a way to leave a secret issue for you to solve in many products. I swore off their progressives after two Pro1000s and a Loadmaster. I currently use the turret, an O press and the cheapo C.
The dies, other than the "powder thru" are uniformly great.
I will continue to support Lee in dies, moulds, sizers, and others but have to be shown conclusively that a progressive will meet my standards. (My Starr progressive from the early sixties. I will buy the first non fiddle press they come up with.
I’m old enough to used the Starr progressive at our club. No one but the most mechanically inclined were allowed to use the press. It was factory set up for a 38 special load. You really had to concentrate to use the press. It was all but impossible for the average person to convert to another cartridge like the 45 acp so we had to get a second press.
I’m pretty sure those starrs cost more than Lees latest six pack. The six pack is faster and is so much easier to clear a damaged case. It only feeds powder if there is a case to accept it you can reload one case at a time with out wasting a single component and I think the press weighs as much or more than the old Starr. I admit there was some thing classic looking about the Starr that is missing on the six pack but it works sooo much easier even a cave man can use one.
 
All the "powder thru" expanders (PTX) are being replaced with stepped "M" style expanders as new standard for Lee Precision die sets (Call customer service to see if your caliber has been replaced already) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-through-expander.916523/page-4#post-12725787

New stepped "M" style PTX on the left compared to pre-production beta test PTX in the middle and old PTX on the right

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Bullets seated with old PTX showing single case bulge around bullet base

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Bullets seated with new stepped "M" style PTX showing distinct second bulge just under the case mouth from stepped expander

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You just did that to show off your photography skills:)
 
You just did that to show off your photography skills:)
Oh no, those were just quick shots taken without any lighting work - Point and shoot offhand with my $100 Samsung Galaxy A12. (I have two 5000K bright white LED lights in goose neck pointed at white ceiling for diffused lighting without shadows. Most of recent pictures posted in 2023-24 were taken on Home Depot bench on the right ... You can see wood grain background. Picture shows left goose neck light turned down for 2023 Pro 1000 detail picture)

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This shot took some work with lighting (I used high intensity LED flashlight) and steady holding of LG C800 smart phone to show different anvil shape/tip profile and moisture barrier cups of primers - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...dity-at-the-bench-today.829073/#post-10700529

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This is highest zoomed in picture I took with $50 LG Premier smartphone showing details of flattened "ball powder" W231/HP-38 with different ball sizes into flat disk sizes compared to cut extruded Sport Pistol with same diameter granules. (Even with supplemental lighting, foreground field is dark due to extreme zoom in but near black and white showed higher contrast and detail so I didn't add anymore lighting)

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Close up of RMR 9mm 124 gr FMJ with .378" taper crimp loaded to 1.130" to show sharp 90 degree edge of case mouth to headspace with the chamber along with gradual taper from Lee combo seat/taper crimp die and even case neck bulge around the bullet base to indicate good neck tension. Shadow on right side of bullet was used intentionally to show square edge of case mouth.

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Oh no, those were just quick shots taken without any lighting work - Point and shoot offhand with my $100 Samsung Galaxy A12. (I have two 5000K bright white LED lights in goose neck pointed at white ceiling for diffused lighting without shadows. Most of recent pictures posted in 2023-24 were taken on Home Depot bench on the right ... You can see wood grain background. Picture shows left goose neck light turned down for 2023 Pro 1000 detail picture)

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This shot took some work with lighting (I used high intensity LED flashlight) and steady holding of LG C800 smart phone to show different anvil shape/tip profile and moisture barrier cups of primers - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...dity-at-the-bench-today.829073/#post-10700529

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This is highest zoomed in picture I took with $50 LG Premier smartphone showing details of flattened "ball powder" W231/HP-38 with different ball sizes into flat disk sizes compared to cut extruded Sport Pistol with same diameter granules. (Even with supplemental lighting, foreground field is dark due to extreme zoom in but near black and white showed higher contrast and detail so I didn't add anymore lighting)

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Close up of RMR 9mm 124 gr FMJ with .378" taper crimp loaded to 1.130" to show sharp 90 degree edge of case mouth to headspace with the chamber along with gradual taper from Lee combo seat/taper crimp die and even case neck bulge around the bullet base to indicate good neck tension. Shadow on right side of bullet was used intentionally to show square edge of case mouth.

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Primer guts are my favorite!
 
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