Lee Turret Press

[Yoder]

Are these pretty good reloading presses? The price is really good, but do they hold up? If these are pretty good, I think I'm going to buy one in the next month or two. I know RCBS is really good, but I don't really want to spend that much. Let me know what you think, thanks.

[knight0334]

I have a gun snob uncle that prefers the Lee turret, and he's used his since the late '80s when he gave me his antique RCBS Jr. single stage. He, his kids and my aunt shoot more reloads in a couple months of the summer than most do in five or ten years time.

[WVBob]

Your right, it's not an RCBS Rockchucker. But nothing is wrong with it. Just don't try to load some of the large, heavy rifle rounds. It's not made to do a lot of that kind of reloading.

[DeadHead]

I have the "classic" cast Lee 4-turret press and I love it. For the volume I reload and in the various sizes, it works very well for me. I picked the "classic" over the "deluxe" after reading the various reviews and finding out differences like cast vs. aluminum, overall case size acceptance, spent primer holding options, etc. I have used/ borrowed a rcbs press in the past and liked it, but I went with the Lee mainly due to the price and I have not regreted it. I also use the Lee dies as well and use a different turret for each caliber. (I mainly reload 9mm, 38 Spl/ 357 Mag, and 30-06.) I also enjoy the time savings of the prime on the press feature. I figured that the cost of my equipment paid for itself in about 2 months. (I shoot at the range about a half mile from my house when I get free time or just want to take an extended smoke break from work at my house.) Do some research and you most likely wont find a better semi-progressive press (new) for the money. I find it very relaxing to reload and I usually crank out 100-150 rounds per hour for handgun ammo. I take out the turret advance rod for rifle rounds and use it like a single stage press - just hand advancing the turret where and when needed.

Depending on what you're planning to reload or if you need some serious volume, you may want to look at a full progressive press instead. Some of those guys are really putting out the rounds in a quarter of the time it takes me. Obviously cost is more also.

[Karl/PA]

Just consider Lee as the Chevrolet of presses. Not great or fancy but it will get you where you want to go.

[mjporreca]

I used to reload on my dad's single stage Redding, and I think a Lynman Turret. Those were bought in the 50's or 60's and built like buicks. I just setup a Lee 4 stage turret a month ago and I like it. It's not the tank that the others were, but it looks like it hold up and I love the auto advance.

I'm reloading at about twice of the speed of a single stage.

I may get a nice single stage to do rifle case resizing and crimping for my fwc .38, but so far I'm enjoying the Lee.

Mike

[Lone Wolf]

I have a lot of Lee equipment and have never had any problems. Some think it's "cheap", but it holds up well. In the first edition of "Modern Reloading", Richard Lee explains how his company's equipment is at least several times stronger than it needs to be to do the job. IMHO, you cant go wrong with any reputable brand. If you want the Lee press, go for it.

[Flash]

I'm a happy, long-time user of LEE equipment.

I DO have a Rockchucker for the one-at-a-time rifle and other experimental loading, too. I like it for its own reasons.

I've had Lyman, Pacific, and Herters as well. They all work. Some have idiosyncracies, but the end reslt is the same. Fun, safety, economy, precision, satisfaction. YMMV

Welcome to the fraternity of seeing primers, powder, projectiles, and cases as individual items.

Flash

[andrewjs18]

I've been thinking of buying a turret press to speed things up over a single-stage, but haven't had the money and definitely can't afford a progressive...

for the people that do have them...is it a big time saver with a turret press over a single-stage?

[Flash]

I've been thinking of buying a turret press to speed things up over a single-stage, but haven't had the money and definitely can't afford a progressive...

for the people that do have them...is it a big time saver with a turret press over a single-stage?

Yea, verily.

Your ratio will go up from hundreds per day to hundreds per hour.

Flash