Lee Precision Ultimate Turret Press...First look at part no 91910

You have long been my go to guy for Lee Turret stuff. I've been using my Classic for maybe nine years now and have made a lot of rounds with it. Over time I've learned it's foibles and idiosyncrasies and I'm quite comfortable with it. I only load my pistol cartridges with it, using an RCBS Rock Chucker for my more carefully made rifle rounds. This was my first exposure to the new press. Outside of the bullet feeder, I'm not sure I see any advantage over the way I load now. I can already see Lee's famed "fiddling with" design in the indexing scheme which I understand is necessary with the variable number of dies feature. I'll be looking forward to your follow up videos. Had this been available 10 years ago I may have chosen it. But as it stands I'm fine with what I have.

Very well shown to us as always Tree top! I think the "Die Tipping" is more of a thing with almost any progressive press. Its important to have all your dies adjusted about to the same height or tightness" against the shellplate. Just so that the shell plate does not "tip" on most progressives. I agree the vertical turret movement (tolerance) is never an issue with Lees older turret or this newer turret. I bet its just sales hype they wanted to say they got rid of more vertical play. (not that it even matters.) It looks like a great new Turret. I wanted something faster to get more rounds per stroke with pistol so I am very happy with my new 6 Pk Pro as well. I have the Lee 4 tube bullet feeder and the double Alpha powder alarm that beeps for overcharge or undercharge and I can still do seperate seat and crimp. It has a ball detent but also has the locater rod thru the shellplate as your turret does. I love this new progressive press for pistol and even 300 AAC BLK. Lees new 6pk pro is such low muscle effort and smooth I am amazed. For all other longer rifle cases I will still use my Lee Classic Cast 4 hole turret or the 550 manual index Dillon unless I find a buyer and I can get the new Ultimate turret. It looks like a awesome Ultimate Turret ! Happy loading !

Thanks for the great review. I was looking to move up from the classic turret for bulk range ammo and greater speed. I opted to go with the 6 pack, and made the purchase before this was released (I'm very happy with it). This looks like a great press, but I don't see much of an advantage over the 4 hole turret. The slower operation of the turret allows you to keep a close eye on powder, and placing a bullet isn't a big deal. It seems this just creates more pulls of the lever. I think this may be a great option for someone just looking to step up from a single stage, as the 4 hole was in the past, while allowing more opportunity for growth.

Good review. I just don’t trust Lee stuff outside of their great die sets.
Maybe they’ve turned the corner on quality.

Man, I wish they would have come out with this 5 or 6 years ago. I probably have nearly a dozen 4 hole turrets loaded up. With storage for them all.But I am like you I really like the turret over the progressive as I get older. And teaching newbies one case at a time over 5 cases at a time will soothe the nerves. :) Now if the bushings didn't cost more than a 4 hole turret. Thanks for the video.

I'll watch a video of any length from you in this. I wasn't even aware of this product.

When I load 9mm I use all 6 stations in my Lee 6 Pack. I really like the progressive for the high volume stuff and adding a powder check and a bullet feeder was a great addition. I would have had a really hard time choosing between the 6 Pack and this new Lee turret press.

I think I would miss the detent on the indexing, especially when I manually advance the turret, which I like to do. Is there some sort of roller bearing in the turret head, as an improvement over the Classic Turret Press?

I believe that would be a nice press for someone that is beginning to break away from a single set up. Cost and Value seems to be Lee's approach of a Business and in recent years they have came out with many new innovations. Some work, some don't without fiddling and tuning. But, that's the way it is with some Lee products however, they have came out with indispensable products like their factory crimp dies for rifle and a lo-cost universal de-priming die that holds up. anyway, good video. Peace - Dave

Excellent as usual!!! I lean to the progressive side but this would be great for lower volume cartridges. Great intro!

Nice overview, not all that different from pro 4000. I’m definitely thinking of switching to this from the pro 4000. I’m more interested in precision ammo versus bulk. This makes a lot more sense to me.

Luv it need one

Was wondering if dry graphite could be used to lubricate the turret, instead of using oil or grease? I am guessing the maintenance will be pretty close to your video on the classic cast 4 hole turret you had posted a while back.

I recently upgraded from single stage to the Lee 4000 progressive, found that when I change calibers/setup I need to manually feed 1 case per rotation and check function at each die to see if any need adjustment (flare amount, seating/crimp depth) and once getting a complete cartridge perfected several times then I can use autocase feed function for speed. However the bullet seating is on back of press , difficult to double check for powder, have to sit at an angle to be closer and use mirror and lights (especially for those deep 38 cases). I can see the need for 6 die head if want to use a bullet feeder(glad you got yours to work) and a powder checker.

This is the press I've been waiting for! Please make more content on this since you have so much experience with the other lee turret presses. Maybe do some more detailed comparison videos of this vs the less classic and value turret. It's such a new press there is very little video content on it right now.

Treetop great review, I just bought a Lee value turret press for my Christmas present. I know what Lee is speaking of about die tipping, I've seen it when I was to aggressive with the press. The press pushes the tool head up on one side cocking the tool head.

Is the base the same as the 4 hole value turret press? Might it be possible to convert to a 5 hole by switching the top end and the plastic clutch body? I'd like the bullet feeder.

Thanks very much for reviewing this for us TT. I saw the Ultimate advertised and wondered if I should upgrade, you answered my questions -except - why is there no built-in LED ring lighting to see the case?

I'm like @JP1AO - I have already invested in about 30 calibers with complete die and turret heads already set up ready to go, so I'm not keen on replacing all of those. My Classic turret press has been disassembled, lubricated (per TreeTopFlier guidance) and so perfectly adjusted that it almost operates itself! I don't like the lack of an indexing ball on the turret head. I'd probably have to also learn a new powder drop instead of using my Auto Discs. As far as I can see the only real advantage of the Ultimate to me would be the added speed of the bullet feed. I don't load magnum-length rifle rounds and don't really need more than four dies in the turret. Glen

Picked one up got it in about a week ago and got it all setup, ran a few hundred 223 through it so far. Got mine from titan as well. Got the kit and an extra tool head for 9mm ( so I can just change heads and go). Glad to see a real video on this press besides lee’s quick 5 sec vids. Love it so far, VERY well built and a big upgrade from my single stage breach lock

Excellent video--very well explained with objective pros and cons. Thank you!! What is your take on the way the shell holder is captured on top of the ram? I've seen another video review of this press which shows that some non-LEE shell holders are not held in position very well (no spring clip to capture them) and even the LEE shell holders seem like they could slip out of position very easily. I'd appreciate your opinion of the new shell holder system. Thanks again for a great review of this press.

I have always ran a single stage but would like to take advantage of a turret press. This might be the one for me. My only issue is setting up standard dies without the lee locking collars and I like my powder measures (Harrells and RCBS). Thank you for the great walk through of this press.

This press does not make a lot of sense to me.

On an auto-indexing turret press there is a premium, in the form of full (big 50 BMG in this case) handle movement, to pay for each additional station. Plus the larger turret circumference makes the auto-indexing system work harder and wear quicker. So the 5- and 6- stations are too much. I would rather insert the bullet manually, than load the bullet feeder and then add a handle pull to each round. After all, the case is in the most convenient place (for manual operations and visual checking) in front of the reloader at all times.

On a turret press, a 2-station option is worth more than 5- and 6- combined. In rifle calibers, sizing is usually followed by trimming, deburring and wet tumbling to remove the case lube. So what is left for the auto-indexing turret press is just powder drop and bullet seating if we skip the Factory Crimp.

The only situation I can imagine, where 5 stations would be worth it, is factory crimped .357 Sig / .400 CorBon with 2-stage sizing - first the body with a carbide .40 S&W / .45 ACP die, then the neck and shoulder with the caliber specific steel die. Some say it is possible to avoid lubing the cases this way.

Plus there is the issue of hard to change turrets. The option to quickly switch between 3 and 4 holes would be nice. 3 for revolvers with seating and crimping combined, 4 for pistols with the FC die.

I would rather prefer the old style presses, 4 hole max, with their easy to change turrets, just with optional 3-hole turrets and re-worked auto-indexing system to provide the 2-3-4 flexibility.

I watched in stages a Johnny's Reloading Bench video on the RCBS Rebel kit that was over 6 hours long. It's always worth the watch if the content creator is fun and competent and if the subject matter is worth it. Please make the long version of the video, I've really been enjoying your content on the Lee Presses and auto-drum/auto-disc powder measuring.

Nice overview of the press. 👍

Vintage early versions of the Three Hole Turret Press with Auto Index featured adjustable “friction”.

The three hole configuration with 120 degrees of rotation per stroke develops quite a bit of inertia due to the larger amount of rotation in the cycle - it’s a mass times acceleration and mass times velocity squared type of thing. That’s why slowing the handle rate helps so effectively - the acceleration and velocity of the moving mass is reduced.

The large diameter of the new turret increases the effect over the old three hole press - it’s a pretty good flywheel!

I imagine you’ve already revisited your thoughts about needing different detent locations for the various number of stations. The detent on the press would be consistent, and notches on the turrets would be relative to the station holes in the same way the location pin holes are. The challenge would be only using 3 of the notches on the 6 hole turret.

Im going to reload for the first time, so i havent have any equipment yet. This press looks very interesting for me, i'm not going for high volume, as i dont shoot much (max 100 round a week orso) but i don''t want single stage. I want to reload 9mm, 30m1, .223 How is your experience with 223?

good stuff .

Could ai use this for 30 Nosler with the auto rotation?

Looks like another POS from Lee…
I’m over them.
My loadmaster is a POS, then I got a six pack pro, what a joke
Spend the money and get a good press. Lee is JUNK
the dies are good, everything else do t mess with it

And another thing…..looks like the turret was flopping around when you were grabbing it??
The whole purpose of a turret press is to be absolutely rock solid.
If the head is moving .005-.008” when the bullet is seating at top of stroke, how the hell is that going to happen??!!

where did you get the powder dispenser stand ? in your some videos...

where did you get the powder dispenser stand ?in some of your videos. did you build it ?

Thanks!

I've just finished my first 200 rounds on it. I sold my Classic Turret afterwards 😂.

You made an excellent video and confirmed every issue I ran across. Only takes you a couple times and you realize you have to slow down and it works perfectly.

I bought the kit in 40 cal and found it odd it comes with the online bullet feed magazine, but not the die. I already had it, so not an issue, but for someone who doesn't, they should be aware.

I can see Lee adding a ball detent on the station above the ram and slotting all the die stations in the tool head to solve this issue down the road. Great video as always.

I just purchased this press in the Ultimate Kit from Midway USA this past weekend. Im coming from using the old Lee Pro 1000. However im not so sure im gonna like this newer Lee Ultimate Turret press. I was torn between getting this press, or the Lee Classic Turret press.

Would Lucas red & tacky work

just ordered one of them, hopefully i like it.

So you'll see two little boxes underneith the turret. Take off the bearing plate and their labled "5" and "4-6". I drilled two 1/4" holes in the bearing plate where those two boxes are and I installed a 15mm spring and a 1/4" ball bearing, drilled small dimples in the turret where the ball would engage the turret. In the newly published instructions for this press Lee states that the "4-6" hole is for a 5 hole turret and the "5" hole is for the 4 & 6 hole turrets. This will allow you to fully index the press and prevents over-rotation of the turret.

I'm sure by now you've found out lee has a new bearing plate that has holes for an index ball and those two little boxes under the bearing plate allow for a detent ball and spring.

Wich would you suggest between that lee turret and the redding T7?

Great video well explained going to buy one already own a value & classic turrent.

I've been thinking about getting into reloading on and off for years, but single stages always seemed like too much fiddling-- requiring large batches to minimize the overhead of die changes-- and too much transferring the cartridge into and out of loading blocks, while progressive presses just had a scary amount of stuff going on with each pull of the lever for someone like me who wants to watch each stage of each cartridge like a hawk. I recently learned about manual turrets like the Redding T-7, which seem like a big improvement over standard single stages and give you the option to complete a cartridge without the constant transfers of the cartridge to and from loading blocks and I thought that was as good as it was going to get until I saw this video, which did the best job I have ever seen in explaining different kinds of setups possible. This turret has a leg up over the manual turrets in that it saves you from having to rotate the turret after each pull, and it automatically kicks the cartridge out. I'm on the verge of ordering this one, but thought I'd check to see if you know of any other presses from different manufacturers which offer this same kind of workflow just for the sake of completeness. Thank you for making this video, I am extremely glad I watched it before ordering a manual turret.

I don’t understand there still haven’t improved there priming system ,that’s why I sold my Lee ,bought the blue press Dillon 750 XL bad boy

Have you C tried the Lee inline bullet feeder die

Nice...

Hi, I have couple questions so I got Ultimate Turret press kit do I clean the powder drum ?it has said nothing about it in instructions but I saw one of your video lyman powder drum measure, you said to clean with dry graphite and if don't have dry graphite can I clean it with isopropyl?
Thank you

I got mine yesterday and you are spot on about the indexing issues. Coming off of the classic turret I am not a fan of the new system. The only advantage is now I can use the bullet feeder. Honestly for the money I can't see it worth not using your fingers to insert the bullets. Great video.