Lee turret press issue

[skyjerk]

I've been using a 4 hole Lee turret press to reload .45 ACP

I just bought dies for .308 Winchester and set them up in an extra turret.

Problem is that after seating the bullet, the turret starts to rotate before the round clears the die and hangs it up.

The round is well under the max length.

What am I doing wrong? Can the .308 only be used in a 3 hole turret?

[skyjerk]

Ya think the rain will get the rhubarb wet?

[Xringshooter]

I would hazard a guess (because I don't have a LEee Turret Press) that the 4 position turret starts indexing quicker than a 3 position would and as such that is the cause of ther problem. Many people use 4 die sets for pistol to crimp the round at the last stage. Typically a rifle loader doesn't do that. However, to be sure I would go onto the Lee Website and see if there is any info there or drop them an email and ask the question.

Oh, and yes the rain will get the rhubarb wet unless it is being grown in a greenhouse.

[Hawk]

You didn't say what model you have. The auto-indexing is typically at the bottom of the stroke on most models. If it starts indexing before the bullet clears the die, it must not be designed to handle large rifle calibers. I think you can disable the auto-indexing and manually turn the turret, depends on your model.
This may be a wild shot, but you may have the dies incorrectly adjusted, the die seating depth should make contact with the ram at it's maximum height minus (typically) 1/2 turn of the dies (see manual on the dies for correct setting). If the dies are set to low you'll run into the problem you are describing.

[skyjerk]

Originally Posted by Hawk

The auto-indexing is typically at the bottom of the stroke on most models. If it starts indexing before the bullet clears the die, it must be exceeding the design of the press. I think you can disable the auto-indexing and manually turn the turret, depends on your model.

Thats what I ended up doing...

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by skyjerk

Thats what I ended up doing...

I edited my original response with additional info.

[skyjerk]

Originally Posted by Hawk

I edited my original response with additional info.

That was my very first thought, but alas no. It could not be something so simple :-)

the finished 308 cartridge is just too long to use the 4 hole turret, so I disabled the indexing
for those.

It works great for the .45 ACP though ;-)