Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press Kit

It is not often that something new and different in the way of a reloading press comes out, so when Lee Precision introduced the Ultimate Turret Press Kit, it was bound to be interesting. The press is available on its own or in kit form, as tested here.

Turret presses
Turret presses are for people who enjoy reloading on a single-station press, where they can focus their attention on just one operation rather than having four or more all going on at once, like you get on a progressive press. But they also want the convenience of having all of the dies already set up on the press. This is where the turret press shines, as it rotates the next die into place over the case with each stroke of the lever, making it quicker than a single-stage press, but easier to control and watch than a progressive tool.

The Ultimate Turret Press
This latest tool from Lee Precision definitely takes the turret press to the next level with an extremely heavy and rigid build. The base, columns, linkage, and ram are all constructed out of steel, with the ram being over an inch in diameter. The actual turret that holds the dies and rotates on the top of this type of press has been replaced with a ‘tool carrier’, which is also made of steel. The kit is supplied with a five-hole tool carrier, but it can be switched out for a three, four, or even six-position version to suit your needs. The three and six-position options are actually provided by the same carrier, with a different indexing rod supplied to alter the degree of rotation required for either option. The tool carrier can be changed by simply removing three bolts with the supplied wrench.
The tool carrier is precision-machined and has several perimeter support lugs, which lock into the surrounding support ring to ensure it is rigidly held in place to prevent any die-tipping for optimum precision. Each die position offers a quick-change facility, by using the Lee Breech Lock system, so that they can be removed or inserted without disturbing their settings.

Also included
The kit includes several additional items needed to get you up and running: a Breech Lock three-die set (available in a limited number of calibres), a Deluxe Auto Drum Powder Measure, a Safety Powder Scale, a Safety Prime, a bin and bracket for catching completed rounds, and an Inline Bullet Feed Magazine. Each item is supplied with full instructions.
Having a press-mounted powder measure and a scale to check your powder charges is really useful, although this particular powder measure does take a lot of time to bed in and get set up to ensure it works consistently.
The Inline Bullet Feed Magazine can only be used with Lee’s Inline Die, which is not included in the kit, oddly, so you have to spend another £45 to be able to use it. That said, the Inline Die and the Magazine are very useful, and they work extremely well. It also makes great use of the fifth die position. Not having to insert bullets manually really speeds things up and also ensures that bullets are all started straight and consistently.

Setting up
The actual press is very easy to set up, and the length and angle of the operating lever are adjustable. The roller handle grip is well-sized and comfortable to use, and the press operates very smoothly despite the large size of the ram and the tool carrier. It is actually smoother to operate than the Classic Cast Press.
The process of inserting and setting the dies and powder measure is just like that of any other press, and once secured in the Quick Change Bushings, they are held firmly in position.

Operating
Once the dies are all set up, the press is really easy and smooth to operate. With five dies all in one carrier, you can carry out each stage of the process smoothly, quickly, and of course, individually. Completed rounds are pushed out of the shell holder and into the collecting bin, and spent primers are dropped down through the ram into a disposal tube, keeping the dirt and grit away from the press base and ram.

Any complaints?
Lee Precision is using more and more plastic parts in their presses, and their durability is something that might be a concern. On this particular press, the completed rounds are pushed out of the shell holder by a Case Ejector, which is a curved and ‘springy’ plastic part. The shell holder is also retained by a small C-shaped plastic part. As a bit of a cynic when it comes to plastic, these parts were tested extensively, and although they seemed flimsy at first, they did exactly what they were supposed to do and did not malfunction at all. The thing to remember is that the function they perform is only possible because they are plastic, and the material has the required characteristics. Some jobs done by plastic cannot easily or economically be done with metal, and their presence on the press should perhaps be considered a positive and not a negative.

Conclusion
This is a great piece of kit and represents a significant step forward for turret presses. The strength and rigidity are very good, and the tool carrier moves smoothly while being held firmly. Lee Precision’s equipment is always well-made and good value for money, and this is no exception.
Although it is not included in the kit, the Inline Die makes a worthwhile addition, and having bullets fed directly into the case alone makes the switch to a five-hole carrier worthwhile.
The kit is not cheap, but it is worth every penny, and with additional tool carriers with different numbers of stations available, you can set one up for each calibre you reload. The press will auto-index with cartridge overall lengths up to 4”, and manually index rounds up to 5”.

Reviewer: Mark Underwood