friesepferd

diff btwn classic and normal turret is that the classic is built more sturdy and can do rifle.
i have a friend with the pro 1000. he had some problems with it. i didnt like it as much. i dont think it can do rifle. having dealt with both im really glad i went with the classic turret. yea the progressive is a little faster, but unless you are shooting a TON the turret is better
(i shoot at least 3 times a week and can only reload when im home - every 3rd weekend- for the little time im there, and the turret is plenty fast enough)

Tubby45

The Lee Deluxe turret is a three or four hole press but the base is made of cast aluminum. It can only load pistol cartridges and rifle up to .223 length.

The Lee Classic Turret is a four hole press and made of a cast iron base. It can load rifle cartridges up to .375 H&H Magnum length and yes I've loaded the .375 H&H on mine. Works just fine.

Since you are loading rifle cartridges I suggest the Classic Turret. You will be very pleased. The Classic Turret is more robust than its predecessors and is built to last a lifetime. I used to work for a steel mill in Green Bay that made parts used in Lee presses. I can attest to the quality of Lee equipment as I made the steel that the parts are made up of. If you look on the press (and other tools), any steel part came from the mill I worked in. We were the exclusive supplier for all Lee Precision steel.

It is harder and more time consuming to change calibers on a progressive than a turret. With the turret press, you change out the turret (raise the ram all the way and twist the turret clockwise while lifting up) and change out the shellholder (pop out the shellholder and pop the new one back in). I can change out from 223 (small primer assembly) to 45 Auto (large primer assembly) literally in less than a minute. I should take a video of a complete caliber change out with dies, shellholder, primer arm, and primer feed assembly. You need to change out the powder dispenser which takes a little more time but that can be brought in with the component swap, and not counted as a "caliber change".

Hang on a bit. I'll see if the wife can take a quick video clip of me changing out the shellholder, turret, priming arm, and primer feed. I just timed myself with taking the stuff out, counting to "two" (to simulate grabbing the next caliber stuff laid next to the press) and putting it back in. Took 17 seconds.

Ghuqu2

I see many people extol the virtues of Dillion presses, but the upfront costs, hidden add-ins/ extras, and expensive caliber conversions make me (and my small budget) leery. I guess I'm too cheap to go blue.

Just a dumb question: I know 38 and 357 are the same dies but to get the most out of turrets/ shell plates don't you need 2 sets?

__________________
"The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." Patrick Henry 1775

Vegetarian: Indian for inept hunter.

P95Carry

For my convenience I have 2 sets - that tho is to keep one turret set for .38 spl, the other for .357. One set will do if you are prepared to reset the dies for that 1/10" difference each time but 2 sets sure save a bunch of time IMO.

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

Tubby45

Here you go. I dropped the primer arm on the floor but that simulated enough time to grab the other size one, etc. Took me 18 seconds.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEtTd551JIA

P95Carry

Not bad!!!

I guess my turret change and shell holder swap in my regular turrets is about same ... anyways - doesn't take long!

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

Tubby45

Thanks. That was only the second time I did it tonight. First time was a dry run with no camera. Second time was with camera.

P95Carry

Haha - gotta chuckle - I'd probably have ten dry runs and then still screw up Cameras do this

__________________
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

Tubby45

First thing I noticed when I bent down to pick up the primer arm was "Holy crap I'm getting bald". I shave my head real close but it's weird seeing my hair thinning.

5.56_Spartan

I have the Lee Loadmaster and it works good for my needs. So far, I am only reloading pistol calibers (9mm, .357mag, .44mag) and hope to get into .223 and 30-06 soon.

Once everything is setup it is a stong performer and I can crank out a few hundred without issues. Since it is progressive, I have never had a double load, but do check religiously.

I wish I could tell you the cost but I got it from a friend who upgraded his unit for about $50 with all accessories.

The one thing you will want to do is pick up a whole bunch of the ancillary parts and keep a supply kit on hand. The plastic parts seem to get chewed up pretty easily.

....hmmm.... just talking about it makes me want to go and do some reloading right now.