my review of the lee classic turret press

[@CM-ve1bz]

Wheel bearing grease on the head makes the feel of the rotation so much better. Without it, the head is jumpy and more likely to not be lined up as it should with the ram.

[@davespin9034]

I have been using my Classic Turret press for a few months now and love it. I added a RCBS powder checker in addition to my resizing die, bullet seat and powder measure. Its worth doing a secondary crimp because the powder checker saves me so much time not peeking at the powder each round. wish it was 5 hole. but top notch quality and rigidity.

[@andy79z28]

I have the LEE Value Turret press - same press but the base is different. Does a good job on making bullets.

[@HobbiesHobo]

Same here Andy, Value Turret, it'll load longer calibers than the Classic, as Kenny from Eagle Eye pointed out long ago when I was looking to buy. Mike.

[@larryguevara3350]

You can get five of them for the price of one dillon . Mine work great for the amount that I shoot .plus sure keeps the cost of ammo down.

[@kevinthorrington2131]

I shoot IDPA\USPSA, I have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds through this press. After 1000 rounds it smooths out. The plastic drive is designed to break if things bind up. The plastic drive coast $2.00 each, I bought a six pack and after thousands of rounds I've used one plastic drive. I paid $115.00 for mine brand new, it's a hell of a deal for a decent semi progressive setup.

[@ocean374]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the lee press

[@andrewslagle1974]

You have a beautiful reloading room !I bought the same press every thing you said is what i experienced. For the price i think its a good press .I wanted to try out a auto indexing turret press to see if i would like it, and i do .

[@jimabel7458]

I’ve used one of these for years. What I like about it is the option to not use it as a progressive press. My method of reloading has always been to do one stage at a time. This allows me to inspect and validate each step. Many other press’s trap your case in the press, thus making inspections difficult. I also like it’s a set up once and done press. Having multiple calibers, I just had to change the die holder and base and could go from pistol to rifle loading in less than 5 minutes. In my method, I primed off press, and charge the case with powder off press. IMO progress presses encourage the chances of improperly charging the case. Since it’s too convenient to trust the powder measure without weighing the charge. I also reload to have better ammunition than factory loads. How can I do that if I essentially use the same manufacturing process as the factory? What’s worse, I won’t even use statistical controls such as checking 10-20 percent of my rounds to verify powder weight consistency? Since I never hear anyone on KZbin ever mentioning anything about quality controls. This press in my opinion is very good for its purpose. Allows flexibility in use, allows quick changes if or caliber. It is not the type of press I would use for F class ammunition, but for any other use it’s acceptable.

[@unclejim2330]

Love that press for test loads a quickie batches, you can change calibers in seconds and it has loaded very accurate ammo. I use it stripped down like a single stage or your T 7 and throw powder in trays but have the option when loading hundreds, it primes great and you can feel each fingers to the bar. Best $90 I’ve ever spend and great choice for a new reloader . Nothing has failed in 6 ish years though the plastic slave parts are designed to fail first to save the rest. Love how it free floats also.👍 You can make a sleek turret rack with old 06 brass and did a vid on that if interested. Love the price of turrets also! Enjoy! 👍

[@macman039reloading5]

yes you are right jim for the money it is a great press

[@travispowell2471]

That’s exactly why I just bought one of these. Easy test batches. I use my 7 station progressive for large runs of bulk ammo. But this simple little press is great for small batches

[@davespin9034]

​@@travispowell2471 i moved to a Lee 6000 for .223 but for .308 its perfect 👌 very precise and bullet proof

[@WhalerGA]

Honestly, with all those high-end presses in your shop that you're accustomed to, the fact that you didn't totally hate the Lee press is a testament to its quality for the price. Fortunately, when I get mine, it will be the only press I've ever used I have nothing to compare it to.

[@l800x8]

Presses like this Classic depend a lot on personality and your style of reloading. If they jive, you'll love the press. I run this Lee Classic Press, a Redding T7 and a Hornady AP. They're all good in their different ways. I mainly use the Redding for working up loads, the Lee Classic Turret for moderate runs of pistol, say 150 or so, and the Hornady AP for 5.56 quantity. I find the Lee Turret to be a very satisfying, and relaxing, press. If you do wind up getting one, set the timing so that the turret slips nicely into place at the pace that you're comfortable running the press.

[@MCamp-ll9mf]

I want to get one of these.

[@macman039reloading5]

yes it a good press for the money

[@robertbush8327]

In my opinion, owning or having experience with all kinds of presess, the Lee Classic Turret is the best bang for the buck period.

[@macman039reloading5]

You are right there

[@marcthomas2482]

Great review macman! I just got one of these presses and I'm really liking it so far. Thanks for the honest opinions and suggestions!

[@macman039reloading5]

Yes it is a great press

[@davespin9034]

​@@macman039reloading5 yes I enjoy your delivery very much, I should be so concise. My press does not have plastic which engages the turret head, its all steel. The plastic indexing mechanism on the ram has a small square clutch which is a high wear item and if you do not have the ram extended, it can hurt the clutch, at the very least throw it out of time. Compared to many other turret presses without an auto index feature I'll take the plastic. I imagine the square plastic clutch could be made of steel. But then better to sacrifice that part than damage the index case. Thoughts anyone? Lastly I am going to ask Lee if they've tried a longer duration indexing rod which rotates the turret slower.

[@reloader7sixtwo]

Get some extra parts for the press, like an extra indexing rod and a couple of extra square ratchets for just in case. I've had mine for about two years now and had no issues with it at all, I've loaded lots of 9 mm, 45 ACP, 38 and 357 Mag. as well as 7.62 x 39. The press is design more along the lines of budget minded reloaders that want a turret press, refinements cost extra. The Lee Loadmaster is a much smoother operating press, but honestly as long as the press puts out consistent ammo time after time, thats all that really matters.

[@macman039reloading5]

yes it did surprise me how consistent they were

[@hercules1073]

I've had three of these presses and I always liked them, but found them overkill for most of the things I used them for. When they changed the smaller value turret to steel base I bought one of those and it's the only turret press I currently have. I use it now for anything I don't want to do progressively and even for smaller rifle stuff I'd rather use it than my rockchucker most times. I've even been using it instead of the APP for depriming. I don't like the roller handle though and didn't care much for the handle on the classic...I actually prefer the old wide Aluminum handle and adjustment's of the original 3 and 4 hole turret presses. I loved the adjustment and leverage felt right to me and I no longer own any of those either.

[@knallis.hjemmelading]

I use that press too load 3 different 38 special loads and a have dies and powder ready so I can change in seconds and for that the press is perfect

[@macman039reloading5]

yes it a good press for really fast caliber changes

[@UncleMilty]

Interesting review Mac Man. Surprising that the best part was the powder drop l always thought spinning them around whether on a turret or rotor would give inconsistent drops. Hmmm 👍

[@macman039reloading5]

thank you, yes that powder drop is very good

[@rwhit79L]

Had a classic turret press. It worked ok but just did not gel with it. Clunky is a good description.

[@slotcarfan]

Curious why you don't use Lee's powder thru expander die to expand neck and drop powder in one pull? I've done well over 12k rounds in 4 pistol calibers with no issues in my Value Turret press (very similar Lee product). I use auto indexing to move to each stage and do A-Z cartridge loading with 3 pulls of the handle using proper Lee die sets: 1) size, decap and prime 2) expand and drop powder 3) seat bullet and crimp. I can easily do 150 per hour while watching carefully that each round is properly and safely loaded. I do load 223 in single stages by removing index rod. Makes very accurate rounds for my Ruger M77. As accurate as my friends Dillon😮. Dillon is much more refined, but Lee will also get you to goal line.

[@macman039reloading5]

I do all my sizing and depriving on my Dillon auto drive so I like to do the expanding and powder drop on two separate stations

[@todddewell6314]

Very fair!!

[@travispowell2471]

I have a dumb question. You are using an expanding/flaring die. And then the Lee auto drum. Doesn’t the auto drum also flare the case? Or can you buy something that keeps it from doing that. I don’t care for the flare my auto drum powder measure makes.

[@curtislong1987]

👍👍

[@AldapesExpress]

1k viewer ✌🏼