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Posted: 10/7/2009 3:22:45 PM EDT
So, do these work, or am I just going to be sad that I didn't buy a proper press and throw this one in the trash after long hours of frustration? ETA: I'm new at this, and won't be going for speed. Accuracy is far more important, though I would rather avoid spending $700 to get me started. |
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An old post of mine............
The LEE hand press (#90179)............ www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1215231733.1744=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html It's about half way down the page. BTW, personally.........I don't recommend it as a starter. May I suggest a LEE single station press kit…….. http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1234936218.1113=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#breech Also, read the reviews. Or, a LEE "C" press. (#90700) It goes for about $35 and comes with a FREE LEE re-loading manual (you'll need it anyway). www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1215231733.1744=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#LeeAnniversaryPack And, as for trimming brass on the cheap www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1205456436.339=/html/catalog/casecon.html BTW, LEE products are frequently discounted. So, shop around. Story time: I started with a used single station press. After years of experience, with the single station I graduated to a Dillon progressive press. Somewhere along the way, I bought a LEE hand press. I thought, I could get some simple re-loading in, during breaks at work. So, having owned and used one (LEE hand press) with .308 Win........well, let's just say it wasn't RIGHT for ME. So, I sold it off. If it's your FIRST PRESS..........I'd stay away from it. That's just, MY OPINION. It's just so much faster and easier to use a regular single station bench mounted press. It can be mounted on a scrap 2" x 8" then C clamped to a bench or table. And, the cost of a single station isn't that much, over the hand press. Then.........there was this guy with "problems" with his hand press. It came down to the FACT that he wasn't re-sizing his brass "all the way." Yes, it takes some MUSCLE POWER to get those handles together all the way, to F/L re-size brass in the larger calibers. I suspect that, if he had used a regular single station bench mounted press, he would have benefited by the extra leverage. And, not to mention, the balancing act while bullet seating can be difficult with the hand press. May I further suggest: Get a good manual (or several) and a mentor. As always: YMWV. Aloha, Mark |
| Just get the bench mounted version of the kit. It's proably the same price and a little more effective. Then as you add things you won'y have to trash things. Some people will knock lee but I drink the red Koolaid (Lee) and the green Koolaid (RCBS). you'll figure out what works for you lee just lets do it cheaper. |
I've loaded with the hand press before... in fact it's around here someplace. It's a great tool for someone living in a small space and on a tight budget.... I used it when traveling with some supplies. It was a good way to kill down time.... that little scoop is not the best way to measure powder.... RCBS makes a small pistol primer that"s a better choice than the scoop. Everbody has to start reloading someplace. 
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Quoted: An old post of mine............ The LEE hand press (#90179)............ www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1215231733.1744=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html It's about half way down the page. BTW, personally.........I don't recommend it as a starter. May I suggest a LEE single station press kit…….. http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1234936218.1113=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#breech Also, read the reviews. Or, a LEE "C" press. (#90700) It goes for about $35 and comes with a FREE LEE re-loading manual (you'll need it anyway). www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1215231733.1744=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#LeeAnniversaryPack And, as for trimming brass on the cheap www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1205456436.339=/html/catalog/casecon.html BTW, LEE products are frequently discounted. So, shop around. Story time: I started with a used single station press. After years of experience, with the single station I graduated to a Dillon progressive press. Somewhere along the way, I bought a LEE hand press. I thought, I could get some simple re-loading in, during breaks at work. So, having owned and used one (LEE hand press) with .308 Win........well, let's just say it wasn't RIGHT for ME. So, I sold it off. If it's your FIRST PRESS..........I'd stay away from it. That's just, MY OPINION. It's just so much faster and easier to use a regular single station bench mounted press. It can be mounted on a scrap 2" x 8" then C clamped to a bench or table. And, the cost of a single station isn't that much, over the hand press. Then.........there was this guy with "problems" with his hand press. It came down to the FACT that he wasn't re-sizing his brass "all the way." Yes, it takes some MUSCLE POWER to get those handles together all the way, to F/L re-size brass in the larger calibers. I suspect that, if he had used a regular single station bench mounted press, he would have benefited by the extra leverage. And, not to mention, the balancing act while bullet seating can be difficult with the hand press. May I further suggest: Get a good manual (or several) and a mentor. As always: YMWV. Aloha, Mark The good news is that my best friend's father is nearby, he reloads. I could probably pick up a set of dies, and get a couple of tips from him. He's been shooting reloads out of his Glock 22 with zero problems for the last 20 years or so, I bet he'll know what he's doing. I was worried about getting enough leverage with the hand job model. I've got strong hands, but it kind of defeats the purpose of a "hand" press if I have to stomp on it to resize brass properly.  |
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Small cases aren't the problem...........
But, I was loading .308 Win. (actually, LC- machine gun brass) and gave up on it. It was just too much of a hassel vs. my single station O press. Aloha, Mark PS.............but to be fair.........some have bought it and really liked it for their reloading needs. Checkout the thread about "reloading benches." There are some really innovative ideas about hand press kits and small apartment set ups w/ single stations. |
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Apt re-loading………
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=270700 Aloha, Mark PS............Reloading Benches……..the ultimate…….. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=262015&page=1 Ammo Can Set Up- Lee Hand Press http://www.thehighroad.us/showthread.php?t=363325 |
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Quoted: Small cases aren't the problem........... But, I was loading .308 Win. (actually, LC- machine gun brass) and gave up on it. It was just too much of a hassel vs. my single station O press. Aloha, Mark PS.............but to be fair.........some have bought it and really liked it for their reloading needs. Checkout the thread about "reloading benches." There are some really innovative ideas about hand press kits and small apartment set ups w/ single stations. I'm liking the .50 ammo can kit, I don't have much space to do this, and it would be handy to pack it away easily while not in use. As long as I can resize 10mm and .223 with the hand press, I would be happy, as those are the only two calibers that I plan on reloading, maybe I'll reload 9mm eventually, but that's readily available in the area, so it's not a big concern. |
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I know I am little late, but I have just purchased a Lee Anniversary Kit, and the carbide dies to load 44 magnum. I bought the ABC's of Reloading and the 7th Edition Hornady handbook of Cartridge Reloading. Have really enjoyed the reading, really interesting stuff especially the historical data on some of the different cartridges.So far I have not even spent $200. There is a gun show this weekend and I hope to buy powder , primer and bullets. I know they are all in short supply as I have been looking for large pistol primers for a week now. Still no luck.
My main problem is trying to find a recipe to follow. I want to load some target, range use types of rounds to start out, then later on maybe get into hotter loads. There is sometimes too much information to go through... |
| I have both the hand press and a bench-mounted single stage. I use my hand press for brass prep, and getting all set to load. I can do this while sitting with the wife in the living room. Then, all I have to go when I'm ready to load is sit in the reloading room and charge cases and seat bullet. |
| .223 and 10mm are no problem to FLS with the hand press. I learned to reload with one. The largest I loaded was .223, and there is plenty of leverage for that round. I loaded a lot of ammo with mine, but after I got a bench press I didn't use it much, because it is slower. One of these days I'm going to try to FLS some .308 brass with it, just to see how hard it is to close. |
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