Reddit mentions of LEE PRECISION Classic Turret Press (Red)

Press. The minimum I suggest to start with is a Lee Turret press. ~120.00. The turret allows you to perform multiple operations without removing the brass. When I loaded on the turret I would deprime/size then expand before pulling the brass into the bin. I primed off of the press. When ready to load I would drop the powder, set the bullet and crimp. So I only had to place the brass on the press twice. With multiple turrets you can set your dies up once and not need to go through the entire process each time.

https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E/ref=sr_1_3?crid=24AI5JDUR2S42&keywords=lee%2Bturret%2Bpress%2B4%2Bhole&qid=1565045386&s=gateway&sprefix=lee%2Bturre%2Caps%2C478&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1


You will need dies. ~40.00-60.00. Lee dies work. I don’t like them as much as I do RCBS. If you get the Lee set get the set with the factory crimp die. If you get the RCBS or other company (the only other I have experience with is Lyman and they were awful) get a Lee factory crimp die as well. Crimping in a separate step from bullet seating will help you diagnose problems. Getting the crimp right is probably going to be your first struggle.


You will need a way to prime the case. $35.00 to 65.00. Do you want to prime on the press or off? I suggest off. Lee hand primers are decent. I suggest the RCBS hand primer however. When priming hundreds of cases at a time it is nicer on the hand. I use the universal. The only issue I have ever had is priming .45Colt. It did not want to hold onto the case very well. (I see that Lee has some newer models that I have not tried, these may be easier on the hands) To prime on the press just buy the tool for the press that you choose.


Powder scale. $35.00 to $100.00. I use the Frankford arsental digital. I check it with check weights before I start but usually don’t need to recalibrate. I have checked it against my Dillon scale as well as laboratory balances at work with acceptable results. They are not perfect and not as precise as other scales. Some have reported having problems with this model. I am using it for loading pistol loads on my progressive and the precision is good enough. Maybe I just got a good one. Get the type you are comfortable with. If you go with a beam scale don’t get the Lee, spend a bit more on a better RCBS scale.


Powder thrower. ~70-100.00. I use a Hornady powder thrower. I had the Lee Perfect powder measure. It is junk, don’t waste your money. Fine powders leaked past the barrel and large flake measured poorly. It is stiff even with ball powder. Get a Hornady, or RCBS and it will last you forever.


Brass cleaner$40.00-100. I use water with stainless pins.
Pros: No dust in the air of my basement, no cob bits in the flash hole, really clean brass, and media lasts forever.
Cons: Expensive to get setup, stainless pins can get lodged in the brass, it is necessary to dry the brass after cleaning.
I think the pros outweigh the cons but it’s my opinion. The cheapest way to go with this method is the harbor freight rock tumber, a piece of PVC (4” I think), an end cap and a removable fitting. If you want the particulars I can send you what I do.
Starting off it is probably easier to just go with the corn cob tumbler.


Brass trimmer. $40-60.00. I use the lee delux qk trim on my turret. I have used the lyman cam lock style trimmer, it works but is just not as convenient. The cheap Lee case conditioning kit is junk. You only need to trim your rifle cases but it is worth getting a decent trimmer.


Calipers. 35.00+. I use a set of Mitutoyos. You don’t need those, though they are nice. Just don’t get the cheap harbor freight calipers. I have used a friends Frankford arsenal calipers and they were decent.


Then you will need bins and hardware. Get some stackable bins that you will be able to get more of as you get more brass. Keeping my brass well sorted and put away is my difficulty. Usually there are bins, jugs, mesh bags etc. littering my benches of brass.
I usually tell people to expect to spend $500.00 as your startup cost. You can try to spend less but you will end up spending more by replacing the cheap components.

Opinions will vary wildly, but if you're going to start and really aren't sure if you'll stick with it, get a quality single stage press. Scour Craigslist and keep an eye out for deals on Amazon. If you don't stick with it a quality single stage will be easiest to get most of your money back on. If you like it, a quality single stage will always come in handy when you make special pet loads for accuracy, even if you upgrade to a progressive some day.

If you're fairly certain you're going to stick with it, and plan to load for bulk, a turret/progressive press hybrid like the Lee Classic Turret press where you can take the indexing rod out and use it as a single stage if need be might be a good middle of the road choice. Opinions on progressive presses vary and usually generate a lot of discussion, but for your current situation it's a great way to check off a lot of boxes, and it runs only slightly more than Lee's single stage.

As far as cheapest route without buying crap, not everything that's cheap is crap, but there are a few plces where not skimping gets you way more value. Because of this, you are much better off getting stuff separately to get better value. Buy the dies from whoever you want, .223 and 5.56 are the same set, and quality level is up to you. For most plinking purposes Lee is just fine, but if you're loading for a bolt action the Hornady or Redding dies can get you more accuracy for a lot more (relatively speaking) money. Then buy a good digital scale, a good chamfer and deburring tool (not that shitty Lee abomination. Seriously, fuck that thing. Your hands will thank you), a cutter (plus associated gauge and shell holder for a drill), a powder funnel, a puller for when you dick it up, and a nice set of calipers and you're off to a solid start for under $350.

Lee classic turret https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E

Kits are not always that useful. You end up with certain things you need, and things you don't. Price out the items you need, and you might be happier with what you get.

Powder throwers can be their own thing, and sometimes work together in ways (my lyman powder thrower fits into Lee charging die caps nicely for example).

this is true! Think I'm going to go with this lee precision turret press if I do decide to start reloading!

I know this debate is an endless one but I'm going to put in my two cents for the Lee Classic Turret.

It's more flexible in it's usage than a single stage, but can also be used as a single stage.

Check out http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-precision-reloading-equipment/lee-presses/lee-turret-press/lee-classic-cast-turret-press
or
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-90064.html

If you have Amazon Prime this will be the cheapest new press
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495526802&sr=8-2&keywords=lee+classic+turret+press

I highly suggest that if you go with the Lee, get the Classic Cast Turret, not their "Lee Precision Turret". The classic cast is built far superior. I own one of every type presses Lee makes, except the 50 BMG. I had the 50 BMG, but chose to go to the Hornady, because it had more leverage for resizing and better Die's for making competition loads.

I use my Lee presses for the other 25 different calibers I reload and compete with.

The kit would not have a tumbler, it would have a press (a thing w/ a lever that raises the shell up and down against the dies, is bolted to a table/workbench). The dies include a deprimer usually. You need a sturdy bench/table that you can mount a press on btw.
You could probably buy $400 of the expensive/good stuff, and let him round out the cheaper stuff.

Here’s a list of important stuff:
This press is great: Lee Precision Classic Turret Press (Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BWTF1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LThgAbTFN5PNG

The 4 hole thing is interchangeable. So u can swap out different calibers quickly w/our adjusting the dies again.


Lyman Gen6 Digital Powder Measure https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AU6CIUO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9WhgAbJDKEQ14

I learned a digital powder scale is what you want, this thing increases productivity a lot.

Could recommend a few more items

If you want the classic turret press, its $30 cheaper here and free shipping.

http://www.amazon.ca/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426120812&sr=8-1&keywords=lee+classic

or this will show you their other options.

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lee+press&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alee+press

My only concern with that Lyman press is the amount of room (or lack thereof). When loading rifle cartridges it seems like it might get a little tight and hard to work with. I've also heard that Lee has 2 different models of turret press and one of them is garbage. But I've heard this one is actually pretty decent. https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541975573&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lee+turret+press&dpPl=1&dpID=41QzMUGtesL&ref=plSrch

It has the auto indexing feature and is less than $100 and plenty of room to work with...it's pretty tempting. Or it it really that bad?

Im trying to keep everything below $500 to start with. Can you recommend some good dyes for 223/308?

This is my current plan, tell me what you think I should do different.

Press

Bullet puller

Scale

Dies

Caliper

Book

Tumbler

Media

Media Seperator


Case Prep Tool

Trimmer And also the needed shell holder