...in my dad's basement. It's a Lee. Looks like a 3-hole classic turret press with 9mm dies. Does anyone know anything about this at all? I've been thinking about reloading lately, could I start here and piece missing things together?
-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
Found a reloading press...
- Thread starter KingSanchez
- Start date
TayNinh_66
NES Member
Lee sells parts for their presses, http://leeprecision.com/ also a lot of videos, although youtube probably has better ones. Lee Turret is a good place to start.
Post a few big pics of it here, and people that own them will be able to tell you if there's anything you're missing.
Here's the manual: http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/lee_turretpress.pdf
Here's the manual: http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/lee_turretpress.pdf
These are the 2 main parts I found. There was nothing else left behind. Turns out this press is about 20+ years old. I know I need a powder feed. I plan on hand priming. I think this will be a great start so far.
xtry51
NES Member
There should be a little L shaped primer seater with it. Primes on the down stroke. Like this:
If you're going to hand prime instead get the XR. I just bought one and it's nice. I like the square tray over the RCBS with the round I was using.
If you're going to hand prime instead get the XR. I just bought one and it's nice. I like the square tray over the RCBS with the round I was using.
Last edited:
I noticed it wasn't part of the find. I did decide to hand prime though, since I want to learn all I can step by step.There should be a little L shaped primer seater with it. Primes on the down stroke. Like this:
xtry51
NES Member
It looks like you have a sizing die and a seating die. Is that third die a powder drop die for manual charges? If so you'll want to replace that with the newer style which is two parts:
Lee Universal Powder Charging Die:
http://leeprecision.com/universal-charging-die.html
Lee Autodisk Powder Measure:
http://leeprecision.com/auto-disk-powder-measure.html
And I would highly recommend getting the Lee Adjustable Charge Bar:
http://leeprecision.com/adj-charge-bar.html
It will allow you to fine tune, versus having to empty the powder completely and change the charge disk.
You don't need the riser for the powder charge UNLESS you also get the primer feed for those little L's I linked in my first post.
I use the newer 4 hole turret. It's great if you want to reload just a few hundred rounds at a time. You can also buy extra 3 hole disks and have each setup for a different caliber. I have one for .223 and one for .308.
I use factory crimp dies in the fourth spot, but I wouldn't worry about crimping. It's kind of a black magic/voodoo cult thing. I think it improves my rifle rounds accuracy, especially when reloading batches of mixed brass. I don't think it will make any noticeable difference on pistol rounds, but I don't reload pistol yet.
Lee Universal Powder Charging Die:
http://leeprecision.com/universal-charging-die.html
Lee Autodisk Powder Measure:
http://leeprecision.com/auto-disk-powder-measure.html
And I would highly recommend getting the Lee Adjustable Charge Bar:
http://leeprecision.com/adj-charge-bar.html
It will allow you to fine tune, versus having to empty the powder completely and change the charge disk.
You don't need the riser for the powder charge UNLESS you also get the primer feed for those little L's I linked in my first post.
I use the newer 4 hole turret. It's great if you want to reload just a few hundred rounds at a time. You can also buy extra 3 hole disks and have each setup for a different caliber. I have one for .223 and one for .308.
I use factory crimp dies in the fourth spot, but I wouldn't worry about crimping. It's kind of a black magic/voodoo cult thing. I think it improves my rifle rounds accuracy, especially when reloading batches of mixed brass. I don't think it will make any noticeable difference on pistol rounds, but I don't reload pistol yet.
Last edited:
I'm definitely interested in the 4 hole. Yes that 3rd die is the powder drop die for manual charges. I really was hoping something would come up where I could change it, and then you opened the door for me. Thank you very much. This seems like it could be a great start for me. I want to load pistol right now, specifically 9mm before I even try something like .223. How would a 4 hole help me out better than this current set up? Besides everything being out of stock on Lee's website, are there any other vendors that may have these things in stock? And lastly (for this post) can I use other dies from other companies, is this a "universal" size die set up?It looks like you have a sizing die and a seating die. Is that third die a powder drop die for manual charges? If so you'll want to replace that with the newer style which is two parts:
Lee Universal Powder Charging Die:
http://leeprecision.com/universal-charging-die.html
Lee Autodisk Powder Measure:
http://leeprecision.com/auto-disk-powder-measure.html
And I would highly recommend getting the Lee Adjustable Charge Bar:
http://leeprecision.com/adj-charge-bar.html
It will allow you to fine tune, versus having to empty the powder completely and change the charge disk.
You don't need the riser for the powder charge UNLESS you also get the primer feed for those little L's I linked in my first post.
I use the newer 4 hole turret. It's great if you want to reload just a few hundred rounds at a time. You can also buy extra 3 hole disks and have each setup for a different caliber. I have one for .223 and one for .308.
I use factory crimp dies in the fourth spot, but I wouldn't worry about crimping. It's kind of a black magic/voodoo cult thing. I think it improves my rifle rounds accuracy, especially when reloading batches of mixed brass. I don't think it will make any noticeable difference on pistol rounds, but I don't reload pistol yet.
TayNinh_66
NES Member
Dies look old but are probably useable. You can find a new set of Lee carbide dies for around $35 on ebay. RCBS might be a little more. If you start loading rifle cartridges, then redding.
3 hole turrets have been around for a long time. It will get you started. You might think about getting an extra turret or two.
Set 1 turret to deprime, size, and prime. Set another to powder drop, bullet seat, and crimp. 4 hole sounds easier and quicker, but it adds complexity and a lee requires tweaking and adjustment. I find it faster to deprime/prime on my 3 hole. on some of my lower volume calibers.
3 hole turrets have been around for a long time. It will get you started. You might think about getting an extra turret or two.
Set 1 turret to deprime, size, and prime. Set another to powder drop, bullet seat, and crimp. 4 hole sounds easier and quicker, but it adds complexity and a lee requires tweaking and adjustment. I find it faster to deprime/prime on my 3 hole. on some of my lower volume calibers.
Last edited:
xtry51
NES Member
Amazon has a bunch of vendors that carry Lee stuff. A bit more pricey, but evens out if you're a Prime member.
Also check out places like MidWayUSA.com and http://www.natchezss.com
As for the 4 hole, it doesn't serve any extra purpose at all unless you want to add a crimp die. Having the crimp die is the only reason I went 4 hole.
I would use the dies you have there if there's no heavy rust. Hit them up with a scotchbrite pad and check the insides.
Also check out places like MidWayUSA.com and http://www.natchezss.com
As for the 4 hole, it doesn't serve any extra purpose at all unless you want to add a crimp die. Having the crimp die is the only reason I went 4 hole.
I would use the dies you have there if there's no heavy rust. Hit them up with a scotchbrite pad and check the insides.
We aim to please.
Is there a shell holder on that rig? I couldn't tell from the pics.
Is there a shell holder on that rig? I couldn't tell from the pics.
I've tried every hand priming tool available. I use them in my NRA Basic class. This is the best one (by far). I have 5 of them:
http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Universal-Hand-Priming-Tool/dp/B000KKB86A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8
(It works on every caliber except .45 Colt because the rim is too small)
xtry51
NES Member
Good catch on the Shellholder. Any brand shellholder will work.
Reference list:
http://www.handloads.com/misc/shellholders.asp
Reference list:
http://www.handloads.com/misc/shellholders.asp
Most Lee pistol sizing dies are carbide. Look at the mouth of it, you should see what looks like a ring shaped insert near the opening. That's the carbide.
To save you trouble down the line, set the height of your sizing die so that it just barely misses shell holder by a few thousandths when the ram is all the way up. Run the ram up, screw the die down until it hits, and back it off 1/10th of a turn.
To save you trouble down the line, set the height of your sizing die so that it just barely misses shell holder by a few thousandths when the ram is all the way up. Run the ram up, screw the die down until it hits, and back it off 1/10th of a turn.
