So This is so exciting.

 

Alot of people are just starting to get into reloading, including myself, so I figured why not Chronicle what I am doing.

 

A little background, after careful consideration of budget, amount of reloading, space, etc... I broke down and ordered the Lee Classic Turret Press, along with all of the extra stuff that goes along with it. Got the Tumbler from Cabelas, scales etc from Midway.

 

Everything came yesterday and was in boxes. Today, finally had a chance to bust it out.

 

The setup on the Lee Press is still a work in progress. lol., but it is easy. There really is nothing to setting up the press.

 

The press was all assembled in the box, minus the lever handle and the awesome PVC tube that captures the spent primers.

 

Since I did not want to set i up at home due to space, I decided to set it up in my office, where I conveniently have a nice corner cube avail that is being unused that can be perfect for reloading. I still do not want to have the press permanently mounted into the office furniture, so as per online reading and advice given, I mounted the press onto an Oak board, which I clamped down with C clamps onto the desk, which is quite sturdy. Drilled the pilot holes, and then tightened the lag screws.

 

In order to test out the turret and all, and lets be honest, the excitement, I put on the universal decaping die from Lee, and went to work. Snapped in the shell plate for the 308, put the spent brass in, pulled the lever, and was hooked instantaneously to the new passion as soon as I heard, and felt the old primer go down the ram into the primer tube.

 

Fast forward.... 80 rounds later. =) couldnt stop. So now opened the Cabela's box and got out the tumbler.... wait, this is weird, the warranty card says to return it to Berry's Mfg. Quite interesting that the Cabela's tumbler is made by Berry's. Overall, nice tumbler, smaller than I imagined. Put the media in, dropped the newly deprimed 308 brass, along with a bunch of 223 brass, put the polish in, closed it up, tightened the seal, and turned it on.

 

will have pics later.

 

First impressions on the Lee press, sturdy and well made. The linkage is top notch.

Maks a little piece of advice for the future. Put the polish in first, and run the tumbler for a few minutes to distribute all of the polish to the media. If you don't your going to get stuck clumps inside of yoru brass and it's a pain to get the media out!!

 

Glad to hear your hooked, its addicting!

good one. I put the polish on the media, not the brass.

Actually, the polish sort of gunks up the media. I don't use polish until the media is nearly dead, and my brass is super shiny....

 

Recently got some block/solid polish, which I flake off with a knife. Doesn't gunk up the media, but makes the brass even shinier....

. I put the polish on the media, not the brass.

 

I buy the rolls of industrial paper towels. I put a small amount of polish on them and run it into the towel. that way it can't clump and the towel soaks up the dirt. But you really don't need much, if any at all. I use it once or twice out of many cleanings. You want the brass clean and free of dirt. Polished to a high shine isn't necessary.

Maks welcome aboard to a fulfilling hobby.

clean them before resizing and knocking out the primer, and the media will not be stuck in your primer pocket, then you can just clean the pocket with your primer pocket cleaner..

do not forget the used dryer sheets in the tumbler to catch the dust. Or a cut up paper towel.

So it is 1:48 and I am now going home. lol

 

Overall, I love the press. Once in full turret mode, I can see how you can quickly load up a ton of ammo.

 

Loaded up a box of 308, looks nice and perty.

 

40.9 gr of imr 4895 with CCI LR primers and 168gr Sierra Match King HPBT.

 

Have fun and be safe. Load in small batches in the beginning until you get a feel for what you like and what loads work well in your guns. You don't want to have 300 rounds of something loaded up just to find out that the pressure is too high, or accuracy is not that good. This is important for rifle more so than pistol. Your load sounds good on the .308 though. Good Luck! By the way, not sure if you are local but I got an email from the owner of Ramsey Outdoor (Stuart Lenive) confirming that he is bring back the reloading department. Few weeks stuff should start coming in.

Maks I was wondering why you weren't in chat last nite. You think it's fun making your own wait till you shoot it it gives you a sense of accomplishment.

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So it is 1:48 and I am now going home. lol

 

Overall, I love the press. Once in full turret mode, I can see how you can quickly load up a ton of ammo.

 

Loaded up a box of 308, looks nice and perty.

 

40.9 gr of imr 4895 with CCI LR primers and 168gr Sierra Match King HPBT.

 

You need to give up your apartment and Just move into your office. Think of all of the supplies you can buy with the saved rent money.

Nice going Maks....glad you started!

 

I've been giving my brass to my FIL, he reloads it for me. I'd like to at least clean the brass and remove the primers for him....what do I need to get? A tumbler? How do you remove the primers?

some folks punch the primers out, but easiest is to just get a press. =)

Wow, I'm right behind you. I picked up most of the accessories on sale at Midway and Cabelas. A friend and I did a run to T & T so I have powder and primers. I bought Zero bullets from Roze. I have to give Brian Enos a call on get my press and a few more odds and ends. The big thing to do is make my reloading bench. Since I am getting a 550, it has to be rock solid. I should be up and running in a couple months. I am starting with 9mm and then .45ACP.

Maks,

 

I use these for my auto pistol calibers. They work well to make sure I have a good fit for tight match chambers. After seeing some of the problems you had Tuesday with sizing, I would suggest a headspace/max length gage.

 

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?p ... ber=880646

It was adjusted. =)

 

The tightness in some was from the collet dies. I didnt push the lever all the way through... 5 out of the 40 had that issue, but all good now. Same with the seating. lol. The first 4 I seated... wayyyy too low... but at the end, they were all fine.

It was adjusted. =)

 

The tightness in some was from the collet dies. I didnt push the lever all the way through... 5 out of the 40 had that issue, but all good now. Same with the seating. lol. The first 4 I seated... wayyyy too low... but at the end, they were all fine.

 

Yeah, be careful of those low-seated high-pressure rounds. That is a recipe for bad stuff.

:text-worthless:

 

Nuff Said!

It was adjusted. =)

 

The tightness in some was from the collet dies. I didnt push the lever all the way through... 5 out of the 40 had that issue, but all good now. Same with the seating. lol. The first 4 I seated... wayyyy too low... but at the end, they were all fine.

 

Yeah, be careful of those low-seated high-pressure rounds. That is a recipe for bad stuff.

 

They were at the starting loads. No where near the high end. =)

Just be careful, even at min loads a bullet seated too far can push you over max pressure which can mean you now have a parts gun.

Time for a quick update.

 

Very very happy with the turret press. It is a terrific value for what you are getting. Even better, just did some cost calculating....

 

308, loaded with 168gr Sierra Match Kings = $.41 per round.

223, loaded with 55gr Sierra Matck Kings = $.265 per round.

45 Gap, 185gr JHP, $.245 per round.

 

The 45gap ends up costing $12 a box simply because I went and loaded it with jacketed hollow points, that I paid $20 per 100. simply wanted to reload. If I was to order in bulk, which I have, the cost comes down even more.

 

But..... being a rifle shooter now. lol, shooting loads equal to or better than Federal Gold Medal Match..... for 1/3 the cost is the real bright side.

 

Only downside of the press.... get another pro disk powder measure.... switching between the double disk and single disk is a major pain in the ass trying to get the screws out and changing them, going back and forth between rifle and pistol loads. The single disk is only good to apx 20gr.... anything higher requires the double disk upgrade.

 

Now, the other side, even with the double disk upgrade, you are limited to dispensing apx 50gr of powder.... so if you are loading 338 or higher calibers, you need a double charge, or use a powder funnel.

 

Having said that.... the pro disk powder measure is extremely accurate. 95% of the loads have been within .1 gr.

 

now... off to the range.

 

ooh, final note... the new imr powder, xbr 8208 measures extremely well. much better than imr 4895.

Maks, have you considered the charge bars? Some say that they are easier then the disks. Glad to hear you're getting accurate powder drops. That was one of my biggest concerns that held me off from getting the Lee Classic Turret.

Now you gotta start casting!

Maks, have you considered the charge bars? Some say that they are easier then the disks. Glad to hear you're getting accurate powder drops. That was one of my biggest concerns that held me off from getting the Lee Classic Turret.

 

 

Out of all of them, the lee pro disk powder drop is the most accurate? Ie, same repeatable drop, from one to another.

 

For adjustability.... people recommend getting the charge bar.... which I do have... but dont use it yet.

 

The pro disk with double disk upgrade, you use two disks, or disk and bar.... cant use two disks and bar.

 

in any case, just got back from Dix.....

 

WOW.

 

finished up a box of loads for 308 with imr 4895, about 10 rounds of factory loads, and 40 rounds of 308 loads I did with the new imr 8208 xbr.

 

8208 is an awesome powder. From the start.... it meters extremely well. It shoots even better. I started out with 41gr of 8208 and already sub moa at 100yards. will get exact tomorrow. Fairly mild on the recoil scale too.

Now you gotta start casting!

 

Aint casting here.... FMJ or TMJ for me. =)

I told you that was a good press. I am glad you are adddicted to it.

I told you that was a good press. I am glad you are adddicted to it.

 

 

Yep... only thing is... I need more powder drops, and a few 3 hole turrets. I bought extra 4 hole turrets, so on the 3 die sets.... extra crank. =P