Upgrade to Turret? Or Progressive? Or Not?

[hodgepodge]

I'm reloading .45LC on a single stage Lee Challenger press. OK, it's a pair of Challenger presses after I inherited one from a neighbor.
While I have the dies for some 7.5 Swiss brass that I will reload next month, it's primarily .45LC.

The other day I produced 200 rounds in about 2.5 hours and 100 rounds the next day. It's certainly doable.

But lately I've been looking at the Lee turret press, wondering if it would be easier and faster. I've half a thought for a progressive press, but I'm probably at 200-300 rounds at a time ever month or two.

Is a turret better?
I'm still looking at Lee as they've been berra berra good to me. Incredibly better options?

Is it worth looking at a progressive for the quantities I'm looking at?

Thanks!

 

[Squaregrouper]

I'm reloading .45LC on a single stage Lee Challenger press. OK, it's a pair of Challenger presses after I inherited one from a neighbor.
While I have the dies for some 7.5 Swiss brass that I will reload next month, it's primarily .45LC.

The other day I produced 200 rounds in about 2.5 hours and 100 rounds the next day. It's certainly doable.

But lately I've been looking at the Lee turret press, wondering if it would be easier and faster. I've half a thought for a progressive press, but I'm probably at 200-300 rounds at a time ever month or two.

Is a turret better?
I'm still looking at Lee as they've been berra berra good to me. Incredibly better options?

Is it worth looking at a progressive for the quantities I'm looking at?

Thanks!

Turret will make things easier and faster. For that volume, I would pass on a true progressive.

 

[4g64loser]

All about how you value your time. If you are OK with current production rate, no change needed. If you upgrade, buy a dillon. A 550 is very easy to use and not an auto index unit. The 750 is what most of us go with and it auto indexes.

 

[Growler215]

With experience, you should be able to knock out 200 per hour with a Lee classic turret press.

Another advantage is quickly switching between multiple calibers - just buy a turret for each (for $10 or so) and leave the dies set up. Drop in the already set up turret, switch to the corresponding shell holder, and you're ready to go.

One of these should speed reloading up a little, too:

Case ejector system for the LEE Classic turret. (Reverse rotation) - Inline Fabrication

Demonstration video below. This system ejects your cases for you, allowing you to leave your right hand on the...

inlinefabrication.com

 

[Micktaco]

My lee turret press scattered powder everywhere when I reloaded, I got annoyed and eventually upgraded to a progressive press.

 

[Dirty_Civilian]

I went from single stage to turret. I should have skipped the turret and gone with a progressive.

 

[LGood48]

Been using a Lee turret for over 12 years and have never had issues. Use it on .45 Colt; ACP; 9mm and .223. Takes minutes to change calibers. For range fodder I use an on press powder measure. Hand measure for defense loads.

 

[emerald]

I don't think you can go too wrong with a turret, but I went from a Lee Challenger to a Hornday progressive, and never looked back. The Lee still has it's place on my bench, but I mostly use the AP.

 

[Rockzilla]

As mentioned "time" and your value of time turrets work nice, so do progressive presses..
What your real needs are and where you will be at down the road.
A turret will be a nice addition, for the amount you plan on reloading, and if your plan is to reload more quanity, then a progressive. So if your looking for more production / quantity, less time then a progressive.
I'll be honest I don't own any Lee presses other than the APP. Nor a Dillion 750, 1050.


What your gonna find is most are gonna say "Dillon". But a Hornady LNL-AP will do just the same even the LEE will work, know people who really like their LEE's. They all need tuning, they all have quirks and they all have their followers.


Just some thoughts

-Rock

 

[guzma393]

From my personal experience, I started with a lee 3 hole turret and I knew I needed a progressive to reload the quantities I needed to not wind up with a diminishing return every single time I go to the range.

I always stuck with lee progressives, from the Lee breech lock pro and the loadmaster because they were cheap and worked fine when you excluded the primer systems and primed off the press. I then upgraded to the lee six pack pro progressive press and I am a happy camper that the priming system is actually good. I still keep my turret press around for 5-10 one off loadings, but I switch to the progressive to really crank them out with a load that I like, fill up a 30 cal or two, and move on with other calibers to stock on.

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