Author Topic: Lee Handpress Question? (Read 1448 times)

Miller · « **on:** February 04, 2005, 12:43:41 PM »

Can you do everything with the Lee handpress that you can do with a bench mounted press, or are there certain functions that you can't do with such a press, like using an expander to widen a case mouth, etc, full case resize, neck resize, etc.?

Flash · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2005, 02:19:52 PM »

You can do everything except swage bullets and form cases, unless you are Samson.

Mark whiz · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2005, 04:13:12 PM »

Like Flash said............ you CAN do anything that is normally associated with reloading with the handpress. I used one for 2 years to reload pistol and .308Win ammo. It is a snap to work pistol cases with it, working rifle cases DOES require some arm strength (make sure to use plenty of good case lube) - but it is do-able.

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2005, 04:35:17 PM »

I would use a seperate priming system.

akpls · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2005, 05:56:58 AM »

I used Lee handpresses to reload everything from .22 Hornet to .338WM to .450 Marlin. Sometimes I found myself having to put my foot on one of the handles and pull to full length resize the larger stuff. But hey, I always figured it was a good workout for me! Since Santa brought me a Redding T7 the Lee's are semi-retired, but I doubt I'll give up on them completely.

jh45gun · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2005, 12:06:17 PM »

I have two of them. I use one and one is brand new in the box. I bought one new and then found one for 10 bucks like new at a gun show. I would not trade them for anything. I only reload rifle cartridges and have loaded 8mm, 6.5x55, 30/30, 308, 762x54 and 45/70 with out any problems. They are great if you want to test loads at the range and if you live in a apt where a bench is not doable the hand presses work great. They are all I own I got rid of my old Herters C press when I saw how good the Lee Hand presses work. I even use mine to size cast bullets.

kmystry · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2008, 04:43:05 AM »

A Lee Hand Press is all I load with. I load .38's and .357 mags. using Lee Carbide Pistol Dies. I think that the Lee Hand Press is wonderful for these calibers. I carry all my reloading gear in a Sportsman's plastic dry box and I can even get a bottle of Unique in there too. I love to take this rig to our cabin in the mountains of Southern Utah...I've got all I need to make great ammo. I tend to be a bit of a minimalist anyway (I'd like to be a re-enactor, actually) and I like to do things "the old way" before everything became a big process with lots of machinery...I think you learn things if you have to observe every step. I still light my campfire and wood-burning stove with traditional flint and steel! But mass producing ammo at hundreds of rounds per hour doesn't sound like fun to me...a Lee Hand Press fits the bill nicely.

FW Conch · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2008, 07:20:56 PM »

I agree with all of the above statements !

Jim

243dave · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2008, 04:38:46 AM »

Full length resizing can be tough especially with a magnum case like a 300win mag. A 308/243 isn't the easiest but it helps if you put some lube on a Q-tip and lube the inside of the necks. If you neck size only(which I usually do) its a snap. Pistol cartridges are easy also. As for loading accurate ammo, it does very well. I had a 308 that I loaded for that would shoot .25 to .30 moa for five shots, and all I used to load with was the Lee Hand Press and Lee dies. Not too bad for under $60 worth of equipment. Dave

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2009, 10:39:46 AM »

Miller,

You can do anything with a Lee hand press that you can do with just about any single stage press. They are great for sizing cases when watching football in the living room. I got one when I was kicked out of my house and didn't have access to all my stuff. (I'm back Now!) Seriously, these are very handy, precision tools. Just takes a little work and getting used to. Lot's of bang for the buck!

Blowtorch

wncchester · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2009, 12:19:15 PM »

"I would use a seperate priming system."

You surely would!

Catfish · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2009, 12:57:10 PM »

They are better than a Lee bench press bench press in my oppenion. The reason is you don`t expect much from them. If your only going to load a few boxes of ammo a year they will do it. If your going to be loading larger volumes of ammo I would recomand a RCBS press or any thing other than Lee. I load several 1,000 rounds a years and the Lee stuff never held up under the volume I load.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2009, 01:46:35 PM »

Catfish youv'e never checked out a Lee classic cast press have you? They are stout and then some.

wncchester · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2009, 06:28:12 AM »

"...youv'e never checked out a Lee classic cast press have you? They are stout and then some."

That's a FACT, it makes my Rock Chucker a second class citizen! And the Lee is made in the USA instead of China!

JustaShooter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2009, 04:27:44 PM »

Catfish, what Lee stuff did you have that wouldn't hold up? I've been loading thousands of rounds per year with a Lee Pro 1000 and Lee dies and the press and dies are still going strong...

Just a Shooter

SM Bob · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2009, 10:22:42 PM »

I have a Lee Hand Press. I use it to reload all of my straight wall handgun ammo
and seating the bullets in my rifle ammo. I have reloaded thousands and thousands
of rounds with it and it's no worse for ware. This thing will outlive me. I use
Lee carbide dies for all my handgun reloading. I prefer to full length re size and
use the Lee Factory Crimp Die on my rifle ammo with the bench mounted press.
The Lee Hand Press is awesome. I can knock out 500 rounds in a couple of
nights after work while I'm watching TV using the Hand Press and the Auto
Prime. I have never had any trouble with any of Lee's reloading stuff. Great
price and they work great too. I think that makes the other manufactures
jealous.

Robert

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2009, 02:22:09 AM »

only problem ive run into with them is full lenght sizing rifle cases. When sizing cases shot out of bigger chambers or trying to size down enough to insure funtion in a semi auto, the press tends to have to much stretch in it. You can screw you die down past flush and the press will just spring. I once loaded about 500 .223s like that and found out the hard way they wouldnt funtion in a mini 14. They ran in my ars so i used them up in them but i have to use a good strong o press to do my sizing for the black guns so that im sure they will function everytime.

3006bluffhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2009, 02:19:15 PM »

Does the hand press take a special set of Dies? I'm newby looking to get started reloading? So i need things spelled out clear! I hope you understand Dale P.S.in a catalogue I see they have Lee pace setters dies, delux rifle die set,factory crimp dies So do any of these fit the lee hand press?

FW Conch · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2009, 05:20:25 PM »

THEY ALL FIT !

Read the LEE book closely, go for it, you'll love it ! Jim

SM Bob · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:38:19 PM »

Quote from: FW Conch on January 06, 2009, 05:20:25 PM

THEY ALL FIT ! Read the LEE book closely, go for it, you'll love it ! Jim

So do RCBS dies, Hornady dies, Redding dies and any others with the standard thread.

Robert

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 07, 2009, 05:29:46 AM »

Guys,

Lee makes good stuff and I use all of it. It's a matter of personal preference and mine is Lee. Their case trimmers are the quickest and best ever. I like their dies because they are finger adjustable. It's just good stuff that works for me. I started buying it years ago when money was tight and now that I have a little bread, I see no reason to change. The table top "hammer to fit" $9.95 (now $20 or more) Lee Loaders are a "miracle" IMHO and they have loaded some of the most accurate ammo. I ever made. This was long ago and it disturbed the neighbors greatly! Their little hand priming tools work great also and I have two with all the shelholders. If you are on a tight budget, get a Lee hand press kit with a good manual and load your butt off! Just MAKE SURE you follow the instructions.

Blowtorch