Picked up a Lee Hand Press - Pretty sweet!

Smaug · July 13, 2008, 09:59 AM

I do all my other reloading with my Lee Classic Cast.

I picked up the Lee Hand Press because I thought it would be cool to do loading in front of the TV or stereo in a recliner couch.

I did 100 rounds of 45 ACP with it the other night, and it took me about 3 hours.

The main weakness of this press is that it has no power or leverage on the down-stroke of the ram. So flaring the case mouths was really tough. If the tightness releases gradually on the downstroke, such as resizing straight-walled brass, it is no problem. But when it releases all at once, it is kind of awkward. Do-able, but you don't want to be doing hundreds of rounds this way. I do all my priming with the Lee hand priming tool; seems to be less hassle.

All in all, I've been really happy with my Lee stuff. It is always adequate, plus a bit extra, instead of being 40X stronger, heavier, and more expensive than necessary. I really like the thought they put into the design too. Like the decapping pin that is held with a collet, and other simple designs that no one else seems to have thought of. Lee always manages to do more with less.

mniesen89 · July 13, 2008, 10:29 AM

Well, you could have just moved the tv and recliner to the reloading bench!

The handloader will loosen up a bit, when I started in reloading last year I frst bought the Lee to do rifle cartridges! 1 sore arm and 10 hours later it got the job done. Its definitely not made for speed but after the break in time its great for pistol calibers.

BntBrl · July 13, 2008, 03:06 PM

I got a Lee handpress to. I use it to deprime with mostly. I have used it to size a box, then later on Id deprime and bell, and get them ready to load later. It is easier for me to do a box of 50 or 100 throughout a day or two than to sit down once a week and make 800 bullets.

Before I started reloading I shot up maybe a box to two boxes a week. Now I will shoot 2 or 3 boxes a day. What happened?

yammahoppy · July 13, 2008, 04:08 PM

I am just getting into this "hobby" and got the hand press. I plan to start hoarding brass for what I want to load then get a different press (when the funds are more available). I bought some brass from GIbrass and am in the process of de-priming it. I have the Lee decapper in it right now and it works great.

Just a note to all the helpfull folks here. The new guys that come here are very lucky to have this knowlege here and at THR.

Thanks.....

Hook686 · July 13, 2008, 08:16 PM

I have two Lee Hand Press units. I only reload straight wall pistol cartridges with it and use the Lee Carbide Speed Die for those. During this 'Single stage' reloading process I use an old Lyman 310 too for priming. The 2nd Lee Hand Press has a Lee Factory Crimp Die in it for the .357 and .44 magnum rounds.

I find it a useful portable press that I can produce 30-60 rounds an hour with ... a nice tool.

striker55 · July 14, 2008, 12:21 PM

When I first started reloading in the early 80's it was one of those Lee kits you used a hammer. No press at all, did my reloading in front of the tv banging away with the hammer.

Hanzerik · July 14, 2008, 12:44 PM

Your right about the sore arms. I got mine last week and have loaded right around 420 rounds of 45ACP. I found that a couple of tuper-ware bolws come in handy for catching the cases after de-capping/sizing, priming, expanding, and taper crimping. I turn the shell holder to face away from me and just tilt it over and they fall right out and into the bowl, speeds things up a little.

zxcvbob · July 14, 2008, 12:46 PM

I use mine mostly for doing .30 Carbine case prep while watching TV. I don't watch TV when actually reloading, but sizing, capping, and trimming cases is a great mindless activity to do in the easy chair.

gandog56 · July 14, 2008, 10:00 PM

If you just wanted a workout, should have moved a TV in front of your weight bench!

July 13, 2008, 09:59 AM	#1
Smaug Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 3,210	Picked up a Lee Hand Press - Pretty sweet! I do all my other reloading with my Lee Classic Cast. I picked up the Lee Hand Press because I thought it would be cool to do loading in front of the TV or stereo in a recliner couch. I did 100 rounds of 45 ACP with it the other night, and it took me about 3 hours. The main weakness of this press is that it has no power or leverage on the down-stroke of the ram. So flaring the case mouths was really tough. If the tightness releases gradually on the downstroke, such as resizing straight-walled brass, it is no problem. But when it releases all at once, it is kind of awkward. Do-able, but you don't want to be doing hundreds of rounds this way. I do all my priming with the Lee hand priming tool; seems to be less hassle. All in all, I've been really happy with my Lee stuff. It is always adequate, plus a bit extra, instead of being 40X stronger, heavier, and more expensive than necessary. I really like the thought they put into the design too. Like the decapping pin that is held with a collet, and other simple designs that no one else seems to have thought of. Lee always manages to do more with less. __________________ -Jeremy "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." - Eric Hoffer

July 13, 2008, 08:16 PM	#5
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	I have two Lee Hand Press units. I only reload straight wall pistol cartridges with it and use the Lee Carbide Speed Die for those. During this 'Single stage' reloading process I use an old Lyman 310 too for priming. The 2nd Lee Hand Press has a Lee Factory Crimp Die in it for the .357 and .44 magnum rounds. I find it a useful portable press that I can produce 30-60 rounds an hour with ... a nice tool. __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.

July 14, 2008, 12:46 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I use mine mostly for doing .30 Carbine case prep while watching TV. I don't watch TV when actually reloading, but sizing, capping, and trimming cases is a great mindless activity to do in the easy chair. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 14, 2008, 10:00 PM	#9
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2006 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 979	If you just wanted a workout, should have moved a TV in front of your weight bench! __________________ Some people think I'm paranoid because I have guns. If I have guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?

July 13, 2008, 10:29 AM	#2
mniesen89 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: deland,fl Posts: 238	Well, you could have just moved the tv and recliner to the reloading bench! The handloader will loosen up a bit, when I started in reloading last year I frst bought the Lee to do rifle cartridges! 1 sore arm and 10 hours later it got the job done. Its definitely not made for speed but after the break in time its great for pistol calibers.

July 13, 2008, 03:06 PM	#3
BntBrl Member Join Date: June 8, 2008 Posts: 95	I got a Lee handpress to. I use it to deprime with mostly. I have used it to size a box, then later on Id deprime and bell, and get them ready to load later. It is easier for me to do a box of 50 or 100 throughout a day or two than to sit down once a week and make 800 bullets. Before I started reloading I shot up maybe a box to two boxes a week. Now I will shoot 2 or 3 boxes a day. What happened?

July 13, 2008, 04:08 PM	#4
yammahoppy Junior Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Posts: 1	I am just getting into this "hobby" and got the hand press. I plan to start hoarding brass for what I want to load then get a different press (when the funds are more available). I bought some brass from GIbrass and am in the process of de-priming it. I have the Lee decapper in it right now and it works great. Just a note to all the helpfull folks here. The new guys that come here are very lucky to have this knowlege here and at THR. Thanks.....

July 14, 2008, 12:21 PM	#6
striker55 Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 86	When I first started reloading in the early 80's it was one of those Lee kits you used a hammer. No press at all, did my reloading in front of the tv banging away with the hammer.

July 14, 2008, 12:44 PM	#7
Hanzerik Member Join Date: February 23, 2007 Location: Wyoming Posts: 41	Your right about the sore arms. I got mine last week and have loaded right around 420 rounds of 45ACP. I found that a couple of tuper-ware bolws come in handy for catching the cases after de-capping/sizing, priming, expanding, and taper crimping. I turn the shell holder to face away from me and just tilt it over and they fall right out and into the bowl, speeds things up a little.