Should A Beginner Get The Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press? I Tested It To Find Out!
Sam Jacobs
Writer | 2A Advocate | Outdoorsman
Website: https://ammo.com/our-team#sam-jacobs
One of the best ways to save money on ammo is to make your own by reloading spent casings or handloading new ones.
I was introduced to reloading at a young age. My grandpa and I spent hours upon hours together cleaning his guns and reloading. However, since I was still a kid, my job was ensuring Grandpa didn’t run out of materials and loading the fresh-off-the-press rounds into the plastic ammo containers.
I took more interest in how firearms worked and in using them for hunting than I did in ammo manufacturing, so eventually, we stopped reloading together. I didn’t come back to it until recently.
As ammo prices continue to rise, I remain on the lookout for the best deals and ways to save on ammo, which is how I ended up getting back into reloading.
I looked at simple single-stage presses and thought about going with one of them; however, I’m a busy guy and knew that a turret or progressive reloading press would save me time and money in the long run.
So, I decided to give the Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press a shot.
After setting it up and playing with it for a few hours, I compiled a list of pros and cons for beginner and intermediate reloaders.
To be fair, most beginners start with a single-stage press, get comfortable with reloading, and then advance to a more sophisticated setup. The Ultimate Turret Press is named so because it’s not ideal for beginners. This machine is designed to maximize the reloader’s efficiency, not as a learning tool.
Even though the Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press was not designed for beginners, purchasing this setup initially has many benefits.
I was surprised to see how much less expensive the Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press was than other similar reloading presses. It arrived at my door about a week after I ordered it. Despite the speedy shipping, I was happy the package wasn’t damaged.
I had never set up a reloading press (I’ve only used my grandpa’s), so I was a little worried about it being overly complicated. Several parts needed installing; however, the process was straightforward, and I had it ready in about 1-1 ½ hours.
While there are some plastic parts, they are not the moving parts that are most likely to break. Instead, the parts that will encounter the most abuse are constructed of steel, and I could tell this from picking the box up and while installing the press on my bench because it was heavy for its size.
The automatic indexing feature is excellent for beginners for two reasons. First, it comes preinstalled, and second, it never requires adjustments because it will automatically correct itself. This definitely helps lessen the learning curve for beginners like me!
I ordered the 9mm kit; however, changing the cartridge is quick and simple. You can go from reloading 9mm to any other cartridge in seconds. This is perfect for shooting enthusiasts like me who own multiple calibers and cartridges.
Lastly, the Ultimate Turret Press is much more efficient than a single-stage press because it essentially creates ammo using an assembly line and performs multiple tasks with each pull of the lever.
As much as I’ve been impressed with the Ultimate Turret Press, there are a few places where I see room for improvement.
My biggest complaint was the need to purchase more tools and accessories to complete the press kit. For example, it did not come with a stand or bench mounting bracket, and it also did not come with the 35 cal. inline die. While these parts are not mandatory, I would like to see them included in the kit.
Even though the setup was pretty simple, there were a few times I got lost in the instructions, as they weren’t as clear as they could have been. I’m sure the instructions were sufficient for someone who was used to setting up a reloading press; however, since this was my first time, I was a little uncertain about some steps. More pictures with arrows pointing to the parts would be very helpful.
Once everything is set up and ready to be used, it feels a bit overwhelming for a beginner trying to keep up with the process. A lot is going on each time you pull the lever, and you need to have everything adequately dialed in so that the ammo you make is safe to fire. This is often why beginners should learn on a single-stage press and then advance to a turret press after learning the basics.
I might have a bit of a jump on other beginners, as I spent many hours watching my grandpa reload. However, I was still nervous about ordering the Ultimate Turret Press until I received it, set it up, and began using it.
There is a bit of a learning curve, but I’ve found it well worth the effort. I look forward to using this reloading press for many years to come!
