Even though it rubs me the wrong way I helped get my adult son set up to reload using LEE equipment. We started with the above kit and 357 Mag first. He will eventually need that and 9mm, 44Mag, 30-30, 308, 223, and 45-70. But 357 Mag came first.
The positive things I can say about the press are it seems well made, it auto indexes perfectly, and it seems sturdy. I actually like the design. The flaring tool (part of the powder die) does a perfect job of flaring once set up correctly. I added the 357 Mag Collet Factory Crimp Die and it too works well. But the negatives are the very poor instructions on all the LEE parts and pieces. The key parts for the auto indexing are plastic with a history of not wearing well, so we bought plenty of spares. The primer delivery system is unique and seems to work OK but the powder measure bumps into it every revolution (this is the latest one with the triangular primer tray). The primer anvil needed to have the head of the ram rotated a small amount to allow it to fit in-between the bumps on the press base per the design. The powder measure seems to work fine as well and is light years ahead of the crummy old LEE measures. Removing the powder tank was tough because of burrs on the inside of the metal casting powder measure body. We were about to reload a batch of once fired 357 cases but then a major problem hit us…The powder scale.
What a piece of junk that scale is! To start with, the pivot is not a knife edge or jewel, making the measurement iffy. The pan is so rough the powder sticks to it even after a though cleaning of the pan and a wipe down with an anti-static dryer square (powder was HP38, a fine powder). The pan is a stamping with rough edges that catches the powder as you attempt to pour the powder out. Reading the tenths scale is so ambiguous as to make the use of this scale very inaccurate. Touching the scale almost anywhere disturbs the scale weights. It was so bad and with a fear of highly inaccurate measurements (not something a new reloader needs to deal with !!) we bought a digital scale almost instantly (Hornady 5108 through Amazon for delivery tomorrow).
The LEE Classic Turret Press itself is remarkably better than any of the older LEE presses I have used or seen. I understand the founder has died (??) so whomever took over is doing a much better job. Their standout products that I have used or inspected is this press and their Collet Factory Crimp Dies for both some pistol cartridges and most rifle cartridges.
More to come after we get to actual reloading on this press. I expect success!
LDBennett
The positive things I can say about the press are it seems well made, it auto indexes perfectly, and it seems sturdy. I actually like the design. The flaring tool (part of the powder die) does a perfect job of flaring once set up correctly. I added the 357 Mag Collet Factory Crimp Die and it too works well. But the negatives are the very poor instructions on all the LEE parts and pieces. The key parts for the auto indexing are plastic with a history of not wearing well, so we bought plenty of spares. The primer delivery system is unique and seems to work OK but the powder measure bumps into it every revolution (this is the latest one with the triangular primer tray). The primer anvil needed to have the head of the ram rotated a small amount to allow it to fit in-between the bumps on the press base per the design. The powder measure seems to work fine as well and is light years ahead of the crummy old LEE measures. Removing the powder tank was tough because of burrs on the inside of the metal casting powder measure body. We were about to reload a batch of once fired 357 cases but then a major problem hit us…The powder scale.
What a piece of junk that scale is! To start with, the pivot is not a knife edge or jewel, making the measurement iffy. The pan is so rough the powder sticks to it even after a though cleaning of the pan and a wipe down with an anti-static dryer square (powder was HP38, a fine powder). The pan is a stamping with rough edges that catches the powder as you attempt to pour the powder out. Reading the tenths scale is so ambiguous as to make the use of this scale very inaccurate. Touching the scale almost anywhere disturbs the scale weights. It was so bad and with a fear of highly inaccurate measurements (not something a new reloader needs to deal with !!) we bought a digital scale almost instantly (Hornady 5108 through Amazon for delivery tomorrow).
The LEE Classic Turret Press itself is remarkably better than any of the older LEE presses I have used or seen. I understand the founder has died (??) so whomever took over is doing a much better job. Their standout products that I have used or inspected is this press and their Collet Factory Crimp Dies for both some pistol cartridges and most rifle cartridges.
More to come after we get to actual reloading on this press. I expect success!
LDBennett
