Older Lee 4 turret with "Turret slop"

[Member 5605]

I picked up locally an older (from what it appears) 4 turret Lee press with the auto index for a price I couldn't pass up.




Upon setting it up with some .223 dies I realized that there is some slop in the turret. When pressing a case in for resizing or seating the bullet I get this gap:
it's around .015" or so.



From what I have gathered it shouldn't be an issue, as the same gap will be accounted for in each round that's produced.


Thoughts?
Options? New Turret?

I can get a replacement for $17, though would suck to replace one piece for nearly the cost of what I paid for the whole unit.

I should also add that this is not my precision press. This will be plinking loads for .223, .40 etc. Accuracy loads go in the single state.

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[Certaindeaf]

Do you have a case gauge or rifle? Try the loaded rounds in either.

 

[Member 5605]

I think I've gotten it figured out. I don't see any issues with the slop as long as it's consistent and the dies are all set accommodating the same slop.

 

[Certaindeaf]

That's the way it works. However, a traditional turret press, unlike a Lee, is essentially a sloppy "C" press, giving/yielding gross lateral runout.

 

[My 3 sons]

I have the same press and the slop is present on all turret I use. It doesn't effect any of the rounds made for the reasons you have already stated.

 

[deadshot2]

How do the finished rounds "Measure up?" If there's no problem with them then don't even look at the press.

If you take a close look at Dillon Presses there's a similar amount of vertical movement on their interchangeable tool heads. As long as the tool heads are hitting a stop that doesn't vary from stroke to stroke, no worries.

Getting a replacement head will probably result in the same amount of slop.

 

[Member 5605]

Deadshot2,
all rounds measure the same +\- .005-ish and that's with my poor measuring ability.

good point on the head. Since I don't know if the slop is in the turrets or head why replace what's working fine.

 

[deadshot2]

Deadshot2,
all rounds measure the same +\- .005-ish and that's with my poor measuring ability.

That's well within the average variance for most bullets if you're measuring from case head to tip (Meplat). If you were to use a comparator on your caliper (I'm assuming you might not be) then you'd probably find them a lot closer.

Of course you realize that the object in a man's life is to continually fix something until it's finally broken, don't you?