LEE Classic 4-hole turret press

[Chief Rick]

I have someone interested in starting reloading on a budget and also just getting into CAS (meaning he's going to be looking for guns and leather as well).

 

Is the LEE Classic 4-hole turret press robust enough to turn the turret after each operation and hold up?  Use it like a semi-progressive (Dillon 550) but instead of turning the cartridges, turn the dies?  Or is using it this way going to cause problems really fast with wear & tear?

 

The other option I was thinking of was the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic single-stage press.  It's a little more expensive but the Lock-N-Load bushings would make changing dies easier.

[Sedalia Dave]

Sent you a PM

[Cemetery]

I have this press, parts that work the auto indexing are flimsy plastic, and wear out/break easily.  Even after getting new parts from LEE, it still didn't hold up.  Now I rotate the dies manually.  Been like this for 10 years now.

[Sam Sackett]

I have a 4 hole classic cast turret press. I have loaded thousands of rounds with it without issue. I found out early on that a coating of light grease inside the frame where the turret head rides is key. I have never replaced any parts, even though some are nylon and can be replaced. 
 

If you are getting resistance when the turret spins, stop and find out why. Don’t just crank the handle and force it to move. I would recommend them to a beginner. You can remove the drive rod and use it as a jungle stage press, or as mentioned above, rotate the turret by hand. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I bought my 3-hole Turret used 25 years ago, converted it to 4-hole a few years later.  It is supremely fast and easy to change calibers.  Turn the turret a quarter turn and lift out.  I have never used the auto-advance, always turned it by hand.  Since I size/deprime first, then hand prime with an RCBS primer, I am skipping that station during the loading process.  On a few calibers I seat and crimp in one step, so I'm just moving the turret back and forth from powder drop to seat/crimp and back.  Anyways, I got a used 550 several years ago and that cranks out lots of .38's and 45's, but I still use the Turret for everything else.

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

The turret advance works but sometimes I don't use the advance mechanism.  I have two 4 hole turret presses and a Dillon 550.  I use the turret presses for .43 Spanish, 

45-70, 45 ACP, and 50-140. My older turret press is the aluminum base and the newer one is the cast steel base. The newer one has more height clearance so I use it for

the 50-140 without the advance mechanism.

Horace

[Wild Eagle]

Started with the Lee Value 4 hole turret press.  Loaded about 15K with it then gave it to my BIL when I got a good deal on a Lee Classic turret press.  I have loaded over 20k with it without any problems.  I always use the automatic advance feature.  In my opinion either of these presses is a great place to start learning to reload.  I bought the Value turret press kit that came with the automatic powder measure and lee powder scale.  All I needed to buy was a caliper, dies, and a loading manual.  If I had it to do all over again I would do the same thing.

[DeaconKC]

My ancient 3 hole Lee Turret is still going strong.

[SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER]

I used a 3 hole for years, converted it to the 4 hole, didn't mess with auto index, just turned the die turret by hand. I couldn't tell you how many thousands of rounds it loaded before I wore it out. I replaced it with a new 4 hole even though I have a Dillon 650.

[Long Fingers, SASS#56813]

Started with a Lee 4 hole over 20 years ago. Loaded 1000’s of rounds without issue before moving to a Dillon. Still use the Lee for all my low volume loadings. Easy press to start reloading on, would not hesitate to start someone on the Lee turret. 
LF. 

[Mister Badly]

I use a Lee 4 hole turret press. I visually confirm powder drop and doing one cartridge at a time allows me to catch splits that I didn't during visual inspection. You can feel the difference. It's slower than a progressive press but I haven't had any bad reloads out of it in the four years I've used it. The auto disc powder measure is remarkably accurate. The priming system works well once you get used to it. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Go with a Dillon 550 and never look back

[Texas Maverick]

As others have stated, it works just fine manually turning the dies. I use mine for when I do load black powder or when loading my 45-70's. Works great with no issues.

 

TM

[slow poke gear]

The 4 hole turret was my first press. Used it while supplying 4 shooters, it ran just fine till about 5000 rds deep then the plastic racket that sits in the lower collar broke I bought a 8 pack off ebay for $5. They only lasted 1000 rds. Bought a 3 pack from Lee they still only last about 5000 rds. I still use it for rifle stuff. I think it's a great entry lvl press.

And yes you can take the progressive part out and use it like a single stage press by turning the turret by hand and doing all of one operation before going to next one. 

[The Surgeon]

I also have a lee 4 hole turret and loaded thousands of rounds. clean it every so often and lube the turrets never replaced any parts and never manually index it. i used it for 38s and 45s until i got the new lee 6pack pro. still use it for 45. 

[Roy Goode - SASS 114620]

I also have a well used Lee 4 hole.  For the money I don't think you can beat it.  The indexing cam in mine is not plastic - it's metal.  I do manually advance mine most of the time because it's more accurate to make sure they full advance.  I love mine and typically sit down and do 100-200 rounds in a session.  It's relaxing process with a ballgame or music on.

 

Someday I might go big blue, but the cost of entry is still steep and frankly I'm not sure I would use it enough.

 

Jeff

[Stump Water]

14 hours ago, Cemetery said:

I have this press, parts that work the auto indexing are flimsy plastic, and wear out/break easily.  Even after getting new parts from LEE, it still didn't hold up.  Now I rotate the dies manually.  Been like this for 10 years now.

 

My experience also.

 

I use it like a single-stage press.  Decap/resize all the brass on the press, prime off the press, charge off the press, seat & crimp on the press.  So the only advantage is I get to leave the dies in the tool head.  I use it for 44 Mag & 45/70.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

I took the 4 hole off the bench , put my old SS Lee back to work , figure the old press has untold 10000s run on it 

 

 I did leave Dads old small die Lyman on the bench , just used to it being there , rarely gets used 

 

 got another Lee O press in reserve and a SS Rock Chucker waiting in the wings to boot 

 

  a tad slower , but I get by , just fine 

 

  CB 

[Wrangler Bob]

I'm "new" to reloading [2017], but I bought a Lee value, four port head and dies from Lee. I load .38 special, and am the only one I load for. The press has done what I need it for and while I know there are other presses available I won't purchase another brand. At 85, I don't see myself wearing this press out and for the number or rounds I use, this press will outlast me. A good entry level press IMHO.

[Eyesa Horg]

16 hours ago, Chief Rick said:

Is the LEE Classic 4-hole turret press robust enough to turn the turret after each operation and hold up?  Use it like a semi-progressive (Dillon 550) but instead of turning the cartridges, turn the dies?  Or is using it this way going to cause problems really fast with wear & tear?

Back to the OPs original question! Is it ok to rotate the dies for each case being loaded similar to a  550 or is it better to do one function on all cases and then turn the die head and do the next procedure? I load my 45-70's and 30-30 on an old 3 die Lee turret classic and am curious as well. I've done it both ways

[Dantankerous]

After somewhere around 20,000 rounds I had to replace the small indexing ratchet. Other than that, I reload 8 different calibers on my Lee Classic Turret with zero issues. It is a great affordable press for reloading.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

while I had mine on the bench , I would do all cases , then turn it 

 

  It just better for me to go back to the Lee O press 

 

  CB 

[Sam Sackett]

Thought my reply answered this question. Went back and reread it. Maybe not. 
 

The Lee Classic Cast Turret press is robust enough to use as a semi-progressive in my opinion. I usually pull the drive stem while setting up the dies and powder measure. Once set up, I install the drive stem and use it semi-progressive. I use Lee dies and a Lee disc powder measure. I load 380, 9mm, 38 Spec, 357 mag and 45 Colt semi-progressive. I also use it for rifle cartridges, mostly 30/30, in the manual mode. 
 

Hope this helps. 
Sam Sackett 

[Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104]

I use a Lee Classic press for all of my rifle reloading.  Thousands of rds through it and have not replaced the auto index piece yet.  You can use it as a single stage, manual index, or auto index depending on what you need at the time.  New turrets are inexpensive and take about 30 seconds to change out.

 

For high volume, a Lee is good for about 150-200 rds per hour so I use a Blue XL650 that I have a love hate relationship with to do pistol rds.  

[Fordyce Beals]

The 3 hole Lee press I had was a pain with the nylon ratchet needing replacement often.  I hate to manually index, just my problem.  After the meth heads needed it more then I did I moved and replaced it with the cast 4 hole Lee.  The 4 hole is much better, still on the original ratchet.  Never the less IMHO, the Dillon 650 is more then a little better for bulk reloading and the cost is long forgotten.

 

Fordyce

[Diamond Jake]

I used Lee and RCBS single stage presses for years, then got a Lee 4-hole turret a few years ago.  Wish I'd started with the turret.  I also manually advance it; usually decap and expand neck on press, then prime with a separate priming tool.  I do a big batch of these after tumbling, then depending on if I'm loading BP or smokeless I do the powder charging and bullet seating on the turret press.

 

I have individual disks ready set up with complete die setups for 260 Remington, 45 Colt, 38 Special, and 40-65 WCF.  The turret press is plenty strong to handle the chore of forming 40-65 brass out of 45-70 cases, so it will handle anything needed for Cowboy Action.

[DeaconKC]

I do a lot of the reloading ordering and sales at the gunstore I work at. I sell a LOT of the Lee 4 hole starter kits because the new guys can start with it as a single stage then start advancing as they feel comfortable.

[Hoss]

I have a D750, a D550 and a Lee Classic Turret. The Dillons are very good presses. But if I could only have one, for loading multiple calibers, it would be the Lee Classic Turret. The most likely part to break is the plastic square Rachet. If you buy a couple of extras at .50¢ each you will never need one.   

 

do not confuse the Classic Turret with the Value turret. The value is pretty flimsy.