Setting up new Lee Classic Turret

[AnselHazen]

Have a new cast iron Lee Classic Turret mounted to the bench. Transitioning from a row of 3 single stage presses. I have removed the auto index rod so it's not in progressive mode. Having learned to do things in batches on the single stages I am comfortable with that for now.

I pulled out some .223 and started to decap and size tonight and I can see the turret plate move upward as I run the shell up into the die. I put my calipers on the plate and the plate holder and it moves from 1.109 to 1.122. So it's rising up .013 every time I run a shell up in the die.

I know it isn't going to matter in the decap stage, but it seems like it would be hard to seat bullets consistently down the road with it moving that much.

What can I do to clamp that turret plate so it stays in place?

 

[Dudedog]

You may have a little change in OAL but not bad.
(my old 3 hole turret has 20000+ rounds and is usually good to about .01, bullets may be off that much)
The turret head moves up a tiny bit but it will move up the same each time.

I would load some and see if you have an OAL issue before doing anything else.

 

[snakeye]

I have never loaded rifle on the Lee but loaded thousands of 9mm and 40sw and that play had never been a problem with the OAL

 

[AnselHazen]

Ok

Once I get a few trays of cases ready to fill with powder I'll give it a go.

 

[Bula]

I have found that the "give" is consistent. Set the finished oal and load them up. A match grade ammo press this is not. If you need exact, go single stage. RCBS or the Lee cast single stage. Precision seating dies may be in order if tolerances reeeeealy matter.

 

[gspn]

I put my calipers on the plate and the plate holder and it moves from 1.109 to 1.122. So it's rising up .013 every time I run a shell up in the die.

it seems like it would be hard to seat bullets consistently down the road with it moving that much.

So you measured the plate...and it's moving up the exact same amount every time? That sounds like the definition of "consistent".

If you are concerned about OAL then measure OAL.

The movement of the plate is by design. I've used that same press for over 7 years for over 15 calibers. 4 or 5 of those calibers are hunting rifles. I use a bullet comparator and my OAL's are very consistent. It turns out very accurate ammunition.

Have fun.

 

[RandyP]

Once you are comfortable with the setup of the various stages, try putting that auto-index rod back in place. 4 pulls and a quality finished round is ready to go bang.

I reload as a pass-time not a piecework chore, and at MY super relaxed pace 150-175 rounds per hour is the norm.

I have found over the years that the Lee CLASSIC 4-hole is the perfect match to MY realistic ammo needs and budget. Yes I could save up the big bux and buy a Dillon but I simply don't need the speed, complexity and expense of a progressive. Loading a year's worthy of ammo in 2 hours is not my goal - lol

 

[JamieC]

Don't worry about the plate moving up, it does it the same each time, (as has already been said). For 223 reloading, work on what case lube works for you, what's the best way to prep your brass. That's two areas where 'effort' got results for me.

 

[BigBore45]

i make sure my shell plate or w/e you call it hits the die and i can feel the camover they i know it is at the same place every time.

 

[AV8TOR]

I was first concerned with that as well but as mentioned it is not an issue because when it raises it tops out on a secure surface and then is rigid

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

It's not an issue seating bullets because you set the die body so that the shell holder firmly contacts the base of the die body (not the turret plate) at the top of the stroke. Thus you have the bottom of the case at the same point in relation to the seating plug whether the turret plate moves or not. So movement of the turret plate does not affect the COAL. Note the same control happens with the FCD because it also is adjusted so the shell holder contacts the bottom of the die body and the crimp plug is adjusted while the cartridge held in place at the base of the die body.

 

[AnselHazen]

Lol ok then hearing it from so many who have this press it must be a non issue.

I have this press probably for the same reason as many others, I'm not trying to bash out a whopping pile of ammo. This is relaxation. Winter is long. I have the garage to myself.

 

[stubbicatt]

Skinned Knuckles, if I set up my seating dies the way you just suggested, the crimping ring will totally crush the brass casing. You must be using the Lee "dead length" seating die or something?

 

[higgite]

Just be sure the tongue and groove surfaces on the die plate and the press are free of dirt, debris, spilled powder, etc. and the amount of movement will be consistent.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

Skinned Knuckles, if I set up my seating dies the way you just suggested, the crimping ring will totally crush the brass casing. You must be using the Lee "dead length" seating die or something?

You are correct. I was thinking of how the FCD worked and "remembering" the seating plug worked the same. My apologies for the confusion.

 

[Dudedog]

If it makes you feel better after using it as a SS leave the index rod out and rotate the turret by hand for a while. That way you can still check before the turret rotates and it will be almost as fast as with the index rod in because you can rotate the turret when you place a bullet in the case mouth.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have been using my classics turret press for 10 years now and I have not had any problems with OAL either. As for not using the auto-index rod, why not give it a try. I can safely load between 180 to 200 rounds an hour with the turret press. That's what it was designed to do. I still load on my Rochchucker but when I want to turn out some handgun ammo I use the turret press. You made a good choice IMO, good luck with it.

 

[AnselHazen]

I imagine I will get to that point. Right now I am learning to load so I don't want any speed really. Also I am playing with loads and bullets so pretty much doing things in smaller batches.

Once I settle on a load I feel will do well through this years meets at my local club I can see myself wanting to be able to make up enough for all the matches.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Welcom to the forum and thanks for sharing with us

When I use my Turret press, I use the autoindexing. While it allows greater output (fewer hand movements since there I only put the cartridge case into the press once, rather than multiple times), that is not the more compelling reason.

I like the concept of taking an empty case and putting it through all the loading steps and producing a finished cartridge, ready to shoot, and then moving on to the next empty case. The work flow just seems more natural to me. Continuous processing rather than batch.

Now, having said that, there are compelling reasons for batch processing, not the least of which is the fact that when you have a tray of primed and charged cases, you can visually inspect the powder level in the entire batch (where a double charge or light charge will be obvious by comparing each case to its neighbors). There is a safety factor in that.

Just go with what feels more natural to you. You are operating an ammunition factory (albeit a small one). Design your factory and your operations with no less care than any manufacturing plant deserves, whether it is automobiles, ammunition or whatever. You are your own quality control department.

Enjoy your loading.

Lost Sheep

 

[Reefinmike]

As others stated, the turret rises consistently so your oal will be consistent. I too have never found a use for the auto index. I like to size and prime my cases as i shoot them and once i have enough cases saved up to fill a 50 can i load them. Just thumbing back and forth between two dies(powder drop and bullet seat) there is no reason to use the auto index having to cycle past the two unneeded stations. If i were using one of those silly lee factory crimp dies i could see the benefit of auto index but no need for me when im only using two dies to load.

 

[AnselHazen]

That's looking like how things will be for a bit. I'm waiting for Lee rings to lock down my 9mm set. And another plate. I have a universal decap maybe I'll add it to the plate with .223.

 

[Lost Sheep]

(edited for brevity)I like to size and prime my cases as i shoot them and once i have enough cases saved up to fill a 50 can i load them. Just thumbing back and forth between two dies(powder drop and bullet seat) there is no reason to use the auto index having to cycle past the two unneeded stations. If i were using one of those silly lee factory crimp dies i could see the benefit of auto index but no need for me when im only using two dies to load.

If you think the autoindexing would be advantageous for your two-die operation if only it weren't for "having to cycle past the two unneeded stations", I have a solution for you.

Fill the two empty stations with a second pair of powder drop and bullet seat dies. All the even-numbered cases will be operated on by dies 1 and 2 and the odd-numbered cases operated on by dies 3 and 4.

True, it is a bit more expensive to have duplication of the dies and powder measure, but that is a on-time cost. The slight time savings of autoindexing is forever.

Just a thought.

Lost Sheep

 

[Reefinmike]

Lostsheep- i have actually thought of doing that and I do have two 38/357 die sets and i do have two autodisk measures. I dont know if it would be worth the effort switching between 38 and 357 settings. I use my hand thats on the lever to thumb back n forth between dies and im pretty darn quick at it. 450rds an hour.

 

[Dudedog]

I started rotating it by hand while I was waiting for a replacement plastic piece to rotate it. Since I have to place the bullet after I drop the powder my hand is already there to rotate it.
(got the plastic piece, decided I kind of like rotating it by hand)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's looking like how things will be for a bit. I'm waiting for Lee rings to lock down my 9mm set. And another plate. I have a universal decap maybe I'll add it to the plate with .223.

If you have the space are are willing to spend an additional $35 Lee has a single stage press that is perfect for a dedicated decapping station. I used one until I gave it away but still decap on my Rochchucker when I feel the need to remove the primers separately.

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-reloader-press-90045.html

Of course you can use it for other things too like swaging primer pockets in military brass.