March/April 1983 - American Handgunner

LeeTheret PressBy Philip C. BriggsDiehard Lee entered the reloading prod­.l'... ucts field with his Lee Loader, a simpleset of tools and dies that used a malletfor motive power; he slowly built a uniqueproduct line from there.His first tools were simple, efficient, inexpensiveand innovative, as are those thatfollowed over the years, as Lee expandedhis line into bullet casting equipment andshotshell loading presses.But never a metallic cartridge press. Untilnow. The new Lee Turret press has allthe attributes we've come to expect fromLee, and more than his usual share of innovations.Add the new reloading dies thatcome with the kit, and an old-fashionedstorage, carrying, and wooden mountingbox, and you have an inexpensive combothat's going to stand the reloading press46Complete metalliccartridge kit includesdies, powder dipperand shell holder-allpackaged in a hardmaple box.business on its ear.ihe Turret press is a full-size reloaderthat just brims with clever features.Let's start at the top-with the turret. Itholds three standard JIB inch X 14 threaddies, and lifts out to allow rapid change ofa complete set ofdies. The kit comes with afree extra turret; additional turrets areavailable so you can set one up for each ofthe cartridges you load.The turret is of die-cast aluminum alloy(as is most of the press) and locks into asteel ring that forms the top of the frame .There are six lugs in the ring, and a matchingset of six on the bottom edge of theturret that are offset from another set ofsixlugs along its top edge. The top lugs keepthe turret from being pulled down and thebottom lugs keep it from being pushedout; a circumferential groove betweenthem allows the turret to rotate in the ring.open up the press for either left- or righthandoperation.The base ofthe press is also die cast aluminumalloy. It holds the ram and togglestogether, supports the priming arm, andserves as a primer catcher.PRIMERS HANDLED SMOOTHLYThe priming arm is T-shaped, holdsAMERICAN HANDGUNNER· MARCH/APRIL 1983