Another Gearnasher Special...

[Ian]

Some of you know I'm a fan of certain Lee Precision products. Some of you also know I treat their reloading presses like Legos.

Here's the latest fabricobbling job, a THREE hole, auto-indexing, CLASSIC press. You can only buy these in four-hole versions, but they can be converted.

I started with an antique auto-index upgrade kit from the dusty shelf of my local hardware store, they haven't made these kits in probably 20 years and this one has the old die-cast ratchet housing instead of the plastic one that comes on everything now. The cast version is especially neat because it allows rod index adjustment by loosening the clamp bolt and turning the rod guide slightly, whereas the plastic kits require torquing the nut at the top in relation to the rod, which is tricky and often requires permanent threadlocker. If you've had to adjust one you know what I mean and what a pain it is. The kit also came with the old-style, three-hole turret head which has an adjustable, spring-loaded detent and knurled lock nut instead of the later, permanently-staked detent ball which is not adjustable for tension.

The only problem with converting a Classic press to three hole is the columns are about 7/8" longer, and the auto-index rod is too short to work. About two years ago I threw in a <12" x 1/4" hex rod drop in an order from On-line metals, and it's been sitting by the press ever since, waiting for me to get up the nerve to twist it 120°, turn down the top, and thread it a very fat 1/4x20. My dies won't go big enough to be a super-snug fit in the nut, but I have a lathe so I single-pointed the threads to fit tight. A little judicious head from oxy/acetylene and a twist with a 1/4" socket and away we go! It works like a champ and really feels good to get this press going like I always intended it, it's super-handy for three-stage loading that I don't want to do, or can't do, on a Pro-1000 progressive.

The new rod next to the old one:



The press, set up for .458 Socom currently, with a Lyman 55-to-Lee PTE die adapter by Bill/MtnGun44:

 

[Intheshop]

Nice having threading capabilities(lathe)huh?

Some ham fisted knuckle draggers tore the storm door lock off the old house we're resto'ing.Beautiful aluminum storm dr lock......knob setscrew MIA.Completely oddball proprietary thread.....hit the right levers on the lathe,presto.

Lathes and how they fit into a toolroom really needs to be experienced. They're one of those pcs that you sort of don't know what you're missing.....till you get one.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Ian
You probably already know this. If you would have put the twist on the center rod in the opposite direction. You can also add a conviant case kicker to the rod so you don't have to hand remove the loaded case.
Can I ask why (other than you just wanted to) you changed from a 4 hole to a 3 hole?

 

[Ian]

Kevin, it's a time-saver for cartridges I can load in three steps. Generally I start with cleaned, deprimed brass, sometimes I hand-prime it, so all I need is a resize, expand/powder dump, seat/crimp station. I like the Classics because of leverage, sturdiness, primer disposal, and height clearance where I can easily see in the cartridge to check the powder before seating a bullet.

 

[pokute]

Your local hardware store must be on the other side of a wormhole. I doubt anyone in L.A. has found reloading press parts in a hardware store since Western Auto stopped selling guns.

 

[Ian]

We have one of the last two Gibson's Discount Centers left on the planet.

 

[Will]

I love my lee classic turret. I load most of my revolver rounds on it now.

To be honest I also really like using the auto disc powder measure on my turret press. Several times I’ve thought of putting the auto disc on my hornady LNL AP due to its simplicity and accuracy.

 

[pokute]

We have one of the last two Gibson's Discount Centers left on the planet.

And I bet you see guns at garage sales. It's like another planet!

 

[freebullet]

Well, I like Lee presses about as much as the average home rust blue job but, your ingenuity & determination is quite commendable.

We need a collection for Ian's new lnl ap. I would say Dillon but all the red le'frankin presses might run off a blue one or, he'd feel a need to paint one white & change the mounting order.

Nice work.

 

[Ian]

Wanna know the truth? This is going to sound really stupid to most of you, but the whole reason I refuse to buy into either Hornady or Dillon presses purely because I can't stand tube priming systems.

I also think the Lee Loadmaster is a cumbersone pile of overcomplicated junk, and the Pro-1000 presses are only suitable for lightweight loading. So, I took a Classic Turret and made a progressive out of it. Works really well, too.

 

[Rcmaveric]

My only complaint about other brands besides Lee is that i like them, i want them, but i can afford them. Champagne taste on a beer budget. I have not used anything else but the Lee Challenger press so i can't compare apples to oranges. I am saving my lunch money for one of the Lee turret presses.

 

[RBHarter]

I'm dumbfuddled by the prices people will pay for used , incomplete equipment and more so by what people think they have .

I just saw an RCBS A4 with an asking price of $375 . The one I bought was $100 and the guy threw in 200 7.62x39 Win brass . I did have to source a universal shell holder for it but even then I have half of the asking price in it .
Sadly its overkill for most of what I do all the time .

For the Lee presses , I've had 4 at different times and 3 of them I actually set up and ran some loads on . I had a 3 hole , 4 hole and a load master . The load master was amazing for the first 3-4 runs then stuff stopped working , I did finally get it back running but it needed a new home by then .
I can honestly say there wasn't anything wrong with the 3-4 hole turret presses . I don't know what the exact thing or things were that I didn't like about them . I suspect the it is the lack of cam over and the mechanic in my head being on about wear on the turret and drive rod bushings that were major things .

 

[Ian]

The drive bushings wear out about the 12th of never IME, and I have run tens of thousands of rounds on a couple of them. Spares cost pennies. The Classic Cast series has real cam-over, unlike their lightweight turret models with the primer catcher in the base. Lots of people swage jacketed bullets with the Classic Cast.

 

[freebullet]

sound really stupid to most of you, but the whole reason I refuse to buy into either Hornady or Dillon presses purely because I can't stand tube priming systems.

Nah, everyone has their own preference.

I'll tell ya though, the lnl ap priming system is top notch. In 10k rounds I might get 5 or 6 stoppages due to priming system(but really it' s due to the orphaned trash brass mostly) & one or two upside down seated. Usually just a sliver of brass needs brushed out of the slide or seating ram, easy 3 second fix.

With the vibra prime I can load 600 primers in tubes in less then 10 min. Nothing I know of requires less time & effort or gives as consistent results. Hand priming gives more issues ime.

My only real complaint with the ap is the additional cost of die bushing, but they sure are easy time savers once ya buy them.

Not trying to convince you it's good, but thinking a mechanical fella like you would really like & do well with it.

 

[JonB]

The new 4 hole Pro-1000 replacement is getting close to production, I guess.

 

[Ian]

Freaking FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like they totally blew it, though. Dropping powder on the rear station is a fail, can't see in the case. If they made it on a Classic Cast foundation with a real ram and real linkage, and basically built it 180° different with the ram in the back still under station one, it would be perfect.

 

[fiver]

I would be fine with a press that:
I turn manually.
I put the bullet on with my left hand while I lower the handle to seat it.
I had to place a primer on the rotating shell holder by hand.
I had to place the case in the rotating shell plate by hand.
something close to the Dillon 450 squashed down but with a 5 place shell plate similar to the Hornady 366 shot shell loader.
it doesn't even have to be rifle capable, they could offer a separate press for that.
it should have a solid frame that I have to screw dies in and out of.
the smaller frame and lower 3-3 1/2" deck height would mean a shorter handle and throw length.
a decent powder dump that runs smoothly and consistently without the press needing jarring or vibration.
heck a harrels type would be great.

simple, straight, no twisting parts.
everything under stress moves straight up and down.

 

[waco]

I started reloading and casting in 1999 when my uncle passed away. I bought all of his gear from my aunt. A Rockchucker single stage and a Dillon 550 is all I've ever used.
I like the idea of a turret press for several reasons and may buy one at some point and let the RCBS retire.

 

[Tomme boy]

Ian I want to know how you get that POS primer feed to work? I have tried for hours and hours and hours.................. At least 10 times and still can not get it to work on 3 different pro1000 machines. I just went to hand priming in front of the TV when I am bored then just load like normal minus the size die.

 

[fiver]

I will tell you how I fixed mine but you probably still want to use the machine.