Author Topic: Lee Hand Press? (Read 456 times)

DakotaElkSlayer · « **on:** March 24, 2005, 04:41:41 AM »

So far my reloading experience has been with the Lee Loader for .45-70 and .280Rem. I don't shoot those rifles that much so the Lee Loader has been PERFECT for me.
Well, I just took my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter .45 Colt to the range yesterday....I AM IN LOVE!!! I am definately going to have to progress... I was thinking about the Lee Hand Press and a set of carbide dies... I don't have anything suitable to mount a press on at this time and I don't want to buy a big heavy table since we may be moving within a month or two.
What do you think? Is the something else I should consider?

Thanks,

Jim

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2005, 05:07:05 AM »

You are better off with a used single stage press. You will also need a good scale and a little dandy powder dispenser.

I use my Lee hand press only for de-priming the cases.

BigBrass · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2005, 07:20:00 AM »

The Lee Hand Press works just fine. It is a perfectly good alternative for someone who does not want to set up a bench-mounted press, although the bench-mounted presses are a little bit easier to use.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2005, 07:30:15 AM »

A hand press would work. I would however suggest a regular bench mounted press. If you don't have a place to mount it you could mount it to a Black & decker workmate type bench which can be folded up and stored and can be used for other projects when you have a permanent set up.

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2005, 07:58:39 AM »

Brasskeeper,
What an outstanding idea! Guess who happens to have one of those work benches in his garage still in the box?

Jim

AZ223 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:01:38 AM »

Quote from: brasskeeper

A hand press would work. I would however suggest a regular bench mounted press. If you don't have a place to mount it you could mount it to a Black & decker workmate type bench which can be folded up and stored and can be used for other projects when you have a permanent set up.

I found a similar bench at Harbor Freight Tools for $10, and it works great. I had been using the Lee Loaders, but got some carbide dies and a Lee Cast Press, and it's much easier and faster. One of my concerns was noise; I live in an apt. and pounding with a hammer in the late evening hours wasn't what I wanted to do. So I agree, the hand press will work, but for the convenience, go for single-stage press and a folding bench.

brasskeeper · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2005, 08:36:36 AM »

Quote from: DakotaElkSlayer

Brasskeeper,
What an outstanding idea! Guess who happens to have one of those work benches in his garage still in the box?

Jim

That is great. Let us know how it works out. :-)