Author Topic: Best "hand press" for the range... (Read 1096 times)

Atomic Chicken · « **on:** May 31, 2004, 11:57:24 PM »

Greetings!

I am looking for the best "hand press" for use on the range when experimenting with loads. I don't want to take a rock chucker and bolt it to a board and C-Clamps or anything else extreme (and heavy) like that.... just a compact (but reliable) hand operated press I can fit in a small tool box with a can of powder, scale, calipers, bullets, dies, etc.

This will be used ONLY for loading maybe 3-5 rifle cartridges of a particular load between shooting sessions, it doesn't need to be fancy or progressive or anything like that. Being able to quick-change dies is also not necessary.

Don't really want the cheapest, just the best - if they are the same thing then great!

Any good recommendations?

Best wishes,
Bawko

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2004, 12:34:37 AM »

Lee has a hand held press that uses standard dies.
http://leeprecision.com/catalog/browse.cgi?1085740592.5855=rlpress1.html

Lyman has the 310 tool, sturdy tool but die selection is limited.

I have seen a hand held press in the past that could be bench mounted as well but cannot remember who made it. Sometimes being able to mount a second press on the bench is as handy as a pocket on a shirt. I'd like one of these as well if someone can guide us in the right direction.

BruceP · « **Reply #2 on:** June 01, 2004, 05:24:12 AM »

I use the Lee handpress also, but I load my test loads on my rockchucker at home and load them all to the longest OAL. Then I adjust only the OAL at the range.

The press that can be hand held or mounted on a bench is the Lyman Accupress. I did not see it in the new Midway catalog and had to look in my 2002 Midsouth Shooters Supply catalog (the newest one I have). So I'm not sure if Lyman still makes that press or not.
BruceP

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2004, 11:03:57 AM »

loaded many a thousand rounds on a lee hand press. As a matter of fact i wore one out and am on my second. Beleive me it took alot of rounds to wear out.

John Traveler · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2004, 11:19:24 AM »

I guess I'm the odd nut out here.

I size, bell, and prime my rifle cases on the bench press ahead of time, and take powder, bullets, and Lyman 310 tool to the range. Everything fits into a small fishing tackle box.

Load development is simple: I adjust powder charges, play with bullet seating depth and assemble ammo using the Lyman 310 tool and seating dies. It's worked well for over 30 years, and have no complaints about the quality of my ammo!

John

1911crazy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2004, 12:59:24 AM »

Checkout the prices at MIDWAY USA for the lee reloading stuff. BigBill

The Shrink · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2004, 02:00:07 AM »

Gentlemen

Fred Huntington and I think RCBS have Fred's press that can be fixed to the bench or used as a hand press. It's head and shoulders better than the Lee or the Lyman 310 in design and manufacture. There's at least one other one out there that I can't remember, but remember seeing the ads in my Single Shot Rifle journal.

Wayne the Shrink

Zcarp2 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2004, 04:51:37 PM »

Best one that I have seen is the Huntington's backpack press. I've seen it on the advertisements in Gun Rags, but it is not on their website that I could find. Anyone know where you can get one?

Plibby · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2004, 08:44:45 AM »

Register my vote for the Huntington press. Check their web
http://www.huntingtons.com/Presses.html

"HDS Compac Tool Home Order Form
This unit is designed with the Back Packer, Black Powder Shooter, Bench Rest Shooter, and those that require a small portable reloading tool. This unit is made with high quality aircraft aluminum and steel parts. This unit accepts any 7/8"-14 dies and standard shell holder heads. The tool works especially well with window type seating dies. The unit can be mounted on a bench. If space and portability are important to you, this is your kind of tool. Size 3-1/2" x 9". [HDS ComPac Tool]
Part # Description Retail
89100 Compac Tool 81.98"

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2004, 09:21:39 AM »

I'm a C clamper. The Lee Reloader Special does fine for this job and is very light. I'm another who takes a supply of sized, primed cases so all I need to do at the range is charge and seat.

Flash · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2004, 04:07:31 AM »

Check out the Sinclair arbor press. It's made of stainless steel and light enough for range loading. The operation of the arbor allows you to seat and neck size without clamping it to the bench. No pot metal garbage in this press!