Lee Hand Press opinions???
- Thread starter Suther
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I understand full length sizing can be tedious with rifle cases, but for a 303 I will be neck sizing only, so I think it'll work alright.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Get a Lee Classic Cast Turret which can double up as a single stage press. Well built, and a good step-up from a single stage press. Lyman, Hornady, RCBS offers similar presses. Look and ask around for options. Budget Shooters Supply is a good place for reloading equipment and components but I believe they will be close for the rest of summer. And before you start reloading, do lot of reading, youtube videos and have some manuals handy. Stay safe!
Except that one press is the same cost as the Hand Press, and a die set, and the other small tools I need (trimmer, chamfer tool, ect.)
If I had the space and money, I would probably want a turret press, but I cant afford it, have nowhere to set it up, and dont really want to spend that kind of money for something I dont really know how much I will use it.
- Location
- West Quebec
Was thinking about one of these but have a Forster and a RCBS Chargemaster it seems to have sped up my reloading a lot, so not sure what I can speed up now.
Priming takes awhile, I hand prime so not sure if I would see much of an advantage..
Anyone gone thru this without making the Forster & Chargemaster redundant and kept the accuracy.
I have seen the hand press in action, don't know if I'd want to do a lot of rifle calibre reloading with it though. IMO you'd be happier with a lower end single stage press than the hand model. I caught the Lee Anniversary kit on sale for $99 a while back. I think the press itself goes for $70-80. It works well enough, not quite as smooth as my RCBS #5, but it does the job. If you're tight on space the aforementioned B&D Workmate is a handy solution. Or screw it to a chunk of plywood and use a couple of padded wood clamps to fasten it to the kitchen table.
...i'll check in with a vote for the hammer
...some of this is nostalgia...it's where i started in 1976...went to an RCBS press in 1979, which i still use...but for nostalgia's sake i still go back to the hammer some time...as for a primer seater, i ALWAYS seat my primers by lee hand primer seater...part of the routine of polishing, cleaning primer pocket and brushing neck, trimming, deburring, all with hand tools...for me it's about enjoying the process...although this isn't meant as a slight to people who shoot a lot more than me and need a system that produces a lot of ammo...i just enjoy being slower...allows me to notice problems with casings, etc....feel the love, man, feel the love...
...and don't forget, early on that's all there was, sitting around a fire in the bush at night, pouring lead (even beating a round ball back into shape after being retrieved from a carcass earlier in the day), and doing your hand loading (when it really was HAND loading)...
(and hopefully not too much love around those fires if ya know what i mean!)
...some of this is nostalgia...it's where i started in 1976...went to an RCBS press in 1979, which i still use...but for nostalgia's sake i still go back to the hammer some time...as for a primer seater, i ALWAYS seat my primers by lee hand primer seater...part of the routine of polishing, cleaning primer pocket and brushing neck, trimming, deburring, all with hand tools...for me it's about enjoying the process...although this isn't meant as a slight to people who shoot a lot more than me and need a system that produces a lot of ammo...i just enjoy being slower...allows me to notice problems with casings, etc....feel the love, man, feel the love...
...and don't forget, early on that's all there was, sitting around a fire in the bush at night, pouring lead (even beating a round ball back into shape after being retrieved from a carcass earlier in the day), and doing your hand loading (when it really was HAND loading)...
(and hopefully not too much love around those fires if ya know what i mean!)
If you are only going to reload for one calibre, I think the classic loader is a good option. It makes good ammo, and it's cheap, portable, and well made. Used, you can pick them up for $20 or so, new they're $40 or so. When you start to add on calibres, it rapidly gets cheaper to get a single stage where most of your expensive purchases can be used over all calibres.
I cooked off a primer with a propane torch in my garage once to see how loud they where and it made my ears ring. I know primers in open air are louder than some .22lr rounds in a rifle.
My guess as to why it was so quiet in the case (can't remember if it was .303B or 6.5x55) is that the case acted like a suppressor. The gasses could expand into the case rapidly and the tight fit between the rod and the case neck caused the gas to more slowly escape out of the case. If it where to happen in a straight walled case, and my theory is correct, then you would get the full volume as there is not enough space inside for the gas to expand and get the suppressor effect.
All I can say for sure is I've had it happen twice, both times with bottleneck cases, and both times it was quieter than a cap gun.
This is why I am leaning towards the hand press, actually. The classic loader is the same price as a mid-priced die (~$40) with cheap/used dies being as low as $20
The Classic Loader is neat, and if I had no intention of loading anything but .303 brit, then I would just get one. But unless I find reloading to be super-lame (which I highly doubt) I will also want to start reloading for my SKS (still gotta prove to a buddy SKS will drop a deer. Hes one of those 300win mag minimum kinda guys...) and whatever other calibers I buy with time. Im thinking a Swedish Mauser or a k31 might be my next purchase, and I would want to reload for them too...
I started with a classic loader, but considered a hand press as well. I would seriously think about getting one in your shoes. It's relatively inexpensive, and if you enjoy the reloading process enough to upgrade to a bench style, all components other than the press itself are usable, and you can keep using the hand press as well for certain tasks, or as a traveling press, or whatever. No money wasted.
If I could suggest, borrow or purchase Lee's book, "Modern reloading". Maybe you can even have your local library bring it in. Great source of info from the guys you want to deal with.
Now the good part: At the back, there is a 60% discount for first time reloaders. Cut it out of the book, and make a shopping list. It's good for one order, and make it count! Mine had 14 items, including the classic turret press.
This was 4 years ago, but likely still valid. Enjoy the process
Now the good part: At the back, there is a 60% discount for first time reloaders. Cut it out of the book, and make a shopping list. It's good for one order, and make it count! Mine had 14 items, including the classic turret press.
This was 4 years ago, but likely still valid. Enjoy the process
OP,
I use the hand press heavily at the range. Once I have determined the best load for me in a work-up, I then take the fired cartridges, neck-size them, clean up the case, re-prime, charge (powder measure set up in my truck), seat the bullet and sight in the rifle. Done, without another trip home and back to the range. At home I have numerous presses, both single stage and turret. I also have 4 Classic Loaders in .45ACP, .303Br, .30-06, and .308. I wish they made them for 7.62X39mm.
I use the hand press heavily at the range. Once I have determined the best load for me in a work-up, I then take the fired cartridges, neck-size them, clean up the case, re-prime, charge (powder measure set up in my truck), seat the bullet and sight in the rifle. Done, without another trip home and back to the range. At home I have numerous presses, both single stage and turret. I also have 4 Classic Loaders in .45ACP, .303Br, .30-06, and .308. I wish they made them for 7.62X39mm.
This is strange to me. I have never set off a primer inadvertently, especially in the Lee Loader. On presses, I have crushed several primers, I have had primers flip and gotten inserted upside down, but NEVER one went off. I have only been doing this for 33yrs. YMMV.
