Major epiphany.. You can turn your autoindexing Lee Classic Turret into a single stage by removing the center pivot rod!
Simple solution to all my problems! Now I can set it to single stage and size and deprime to my hearts content. Then change it back to auto-index after sizing all that brass, to finish the job. Leave the rod off and it's a manual indexing press (not sure why you would want to do that, but hey, it's an option!).
Then, with my extra turrets, loaded with my other dies, I'm ready to load.
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Return to “single stage or turret press?”
- Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:07 pm
- Forum: Reloading Forum
- Topic: single stage or turret press?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4966
- Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:10 pm
- Forum: Reloading Forum
- Topic: single stage or turret press?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4966
- Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:53 am
- Forum: Reloading Forum
- Topic: single stage or turret press?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4966
In my limited experience as a reloader, I've found that the cases must also be trimmed before the operation if using a crimp. Everytime I've resized after trimming, the case buckles below the neck when I crimp. If I resize it and then trim, the crimping operation is flawless. Obviously, resizing alters the length and affects the crimp.
This makes using a turret less than ideal, unless I'm missing something. You have to stop and remove the case from the press after the resize/decap step in order to trim it. I like to trim 100% to ensure a good crimp. This is .223 I'm speaking of right now. I haven't tried pistol ammo on my turret yet.
Of course, I am probably missing something... I'm getting nowhere near 350/hr, maybe 50-75/hr.
This makes using a turret less than ideal, unless I'm missing something. You have to stop and remove the case from the press after the resize/decap step in order to trim it. I like to trim 100% to ensure a good crimp. This is .223 I'm speaking of right now. I haven't tried pistol ammo on my turret yet.
Of course, I am probably missing something... I'm getting nowhere near 350/hr, maybe 50-75/hr.
- Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:30 pm
- Forum: Reloading Forum
- Topic: single stage or turret press?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4966
I'd figure the opposite, turret for small batches, single stage for large, no matter what you are loading.RKirby wrote: Seems to me it would be much faster than a single stage setup for loading pistol ammo. I would think that the single stage press would be better suited to smaller batches of rifle rounds.
With the single stage, you can do large quantities one step at a time, so you don't have to change dies so often.
Size and decap your entire collection of used brass, then after trimming them all and adding your primers, your next step can be charging and bullet seating. Then later you can crimp them all. This can be done rather than completing the process one round at a time.
Another method is to use a speed die. I have one for .45acp and dedicate it to my single stage press.
I also have a Lee Classic Turret press. It has it's disadvantages. If you decide you want to do one operation at a time, I don't think you can do it. Once you get going, though, the process seems to go pretty fast. You can do small batches or large.
However, I am just starting out and learning as I go. Either method can produce plenty of ammo in a reasonable time, it just takes practice.