Lightest and smallest reloading press?

HighValleyRanch · January 2, 2019, 06:14 PM

I already have a Rock Chucker 1 press setup, but thinking about looking into a very portable, lightweight moblie setup for car, camping, prepper, etc.

This will be mainly for 9mm and .38 spl/.357 pistol/rifle loads.

Any other choices between the lyman and lee hand presses?
A super lightweight stationary press?
Advantages and disavantages of the lyman 310 tool vs. lee hand press.
The lyman looks outdated and expensive, but very portable.

LeverGunFan · January 2, 2019, 06:58 PM

The Buchanan Precision Machine hand reloading press is a remake of the older Huntington hand press, it's spendy but looks well made, seen here.

Another option is the Harrel's Precision compact reloading press, also expensive, at this link.

I have no experience with either press, buying one of these is too extravagant for me.

Mobuck · January 2, 2019, 07:20 PM

LEE open front C-type

HighValleyRanch · January 2, 2019, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the links. Very informative. I wasn't aware that existed.

GWS · January 2, 2019, 07:34 PM

Maybe not the lightest, but it's very portable has a small footprint. Love it when away from my Rock Chucker, and I like it mounted next to my Rock Chucker as well.....excels at pistol, handy used right along side the R.C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i9phIfc0SE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rp7lYXvbMw

hounddawg · January 2, 2019, 07:44 PM

if all you are doing is seating an arbor press works great, I have also used the Lee handloader and have a Lee O press mounted on a board that I take along with a couple of woodworking bar clamps. I have used all three and if you have well prepped cases you would no difference in runout and of the three the Lee O is the most useful

**Unclenick** · January 2, 2019, 09:53 PM

I've used the Lee Hand Tool at the range for decades for in situ reloading. Not easy resizing bottleneck rifle cases, but for what you are doing it is a breeze. Uses standard dies.

ms6852 · January 2, 2019, 10:11 PM

You may want to consider an arbor press from Sinclair.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcwn0aM2l6U

jmorris · January 3, 2019, 07:13 AM

The Lee breech lock reloader is small, light and cheap.

This one cost me $20 with a bunch of extra bushings.

They are $35 new.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/80...content=807734

It’s a lot slower than other mobile setups I have though.

Hammerhead · January 3, 2019, 11:07 AM

I bought the Lee 'C' style press for the same purpose. Mine is unusable. The ram binds terribly.
I would choose another brand and get a small 'O' frame press like the RCBS Partner.

TX Nimrod · January 3, 2019, 11:48 AM

I’ve been using an RCBS Partner press for over 25 years, it is a great light duty press. It may be fine for heavy duty too, but I always use my RS-5 for that. The Partner is very light and reasonably small - mine is high quality, but then it is pretty old.

.

Pond, James Pond · January 3, 2019, 02:56 PM

I have a Lee Turret but until I can move it to my farm house I don’t want to sit in an un heated garage. This has been the case now for about 4 years and in that time I have reloaded in the warmth with a Lee Hand Press. It’s not always the most ergonomic to use but I have done everything with from .38 to .308 with the exception of pulling rifle bullets from surplus ammo. For the price I’d say it’s hard to beat.

jag2 · January 3, 2019, 03:20 PM

If weight is your concern, wouldn’t it be lighter to just bring lots of extra ammo to begin with? Sorry but that makes much more sense. Now if you’re just looking for an excuse to buy a new toy I can understand that.

reddog81 · January 3, 2019, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag2

If weight is your concern, wouldn’t it be lighter to just bring lots of extra ammo to begin with? Sorry but that makes much more sense. Now if you’re just looking for an excuse to buy a new toy I can understand that.

That's what I was thinking.

Hauling around primers, powders, and bullets seems like a much larger inconvenience then hauling around loaded ammo. Loaded ammo can be stored in anything - magazines, ammo pouch, ammo cans, ziploc baggies, etc. Unless your planning on shooting the same brass again and again and again the weight saving won't be much.

Sevens · January 3, 2019, 03:46 PM

Hahaha, pretty sure he's talking about on-the-fly load development and testing far more than having a tiny portable setup so he can lounge around a gun range and feed his guns rather than bringing ammo.

gwpercle · January 3, 2019, 03:56 PM

I've been using two Lee Hand Presses for several years. Does all my handgun and 30-30 loading. The cost is affordable , uses standard dies and shell holders , the press and everything you need to reload fits into a gym / tote bag . I bring my "range bag" to work and do a lot of reloading at my desk ! That's important work in my book !
I have three bench mounted presses but I use the hand press most often.

The Buchanan is the Lexus model of hand press , by the time it came along I was happy with my two Lee presses.
I find the Lyman units somewhat costly .
Try a Lee Hand Press you can always upgrade and you will always find a use for the Lee doing little odd jobs.
Gary

HiBC · January 3, 2019, 04:23 PM

It somewhat depends on the details.One cartridge,or multi-cartridge? Is a bunch of primed brass practical,or do you need to size decap? There are options.

You can charge and cork in bullets with a Wilson in line seater.

I have comfortably loaded .223 ,sizing and all,with a Lee hand press

Even if you have a Dillon 1050 a press such as a Partner is a useful tool on your bench. It can come off with wing nuts.

All around and simple? There is not much risk in the price of a Lee hand press.
Its light,compact,and capable.

Metal god · January 4, 2019, 02:08 AM

It's kind of a no brainer really . The Lee hand press is what you're asking for although it may not be what you actually want . I have one and it works just fine but I rarely use it other then seating depth adjustments at the range .

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSear...temsPerPage=48

jmorris · January 4, 2019, 09:31 AM

Quote:

If weight is your concern, wouldn’t it be lighter to just bring lots of extra ammo to begin with? Sorry but that makes much more sense. Now if you’re just looking for an excuse to buy a new toy I can understand that.

With the setup in #9, the 2nd photo. I can work up loads to PF using 4 different powders with 4 different bullet types and load enough extra for testing in under 3 hours. Loading at home then going to the range (before I built one in my backyard) would take weeks to do the same and/or leave me with a bunch of ammunition I would need to pull down.

jag2 · January 4, 2019, 10:53 AM

So now if your goal is load development you would need to add your calipers and scale (not sure how well that would travel) to the load and I just remembered some sort of case lube and maybe a variety of powders. Just keeps getting worse.

hounddawg · January 4, 2019, 11:23 AM

I used to try the range loading drill and found it a pain.

Now for rifle I load up 40 to 50 cases at home for my tests. The first 4 to 10 are pressure tests set .3 to .5 grains apart seated .025 off lands.The next 20 I seat at various seating depths from .100 from lands to on the lands using a mild charge weight in the middle of the test weight range. I shoot the pressure test first. Then the 20 to get a rough idea on seating depth.

The last 20 or so are loaded at home with the powder charge weight test with three or five rounds in increments of no less than .3 gns and no more than .5 rounds and seated at max length to the lands. I do a final seating at the range using the Lee and seat them at the best length determined by the seating depth test. These are shot these across a chrony to look for velocity nodes and grouping patterns. Completely Eliminates the pain of measuring powder at the range and allows optimum seating depth determination with fewest rounds fired.

here is a thread with pics and a better explanation. Turned out the 43.5 and 2.281 used in the seating depth test had the best numbers. I followed this with a 15 shot test at 300 the other day and it held a .6 MOA test group so I am loading 25 more to do a test at 600 and 800 to get the scope dope next week

I just lucked out on this one, sometimes follow up trips are needed to tweak in and fine seating depth and charges

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=599693

Don Fischer · January 4, 2019, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag2

If weight is your concern, wouldn’t it be lighter to just bring lots of extra ammo to begin with? Sorry but that makes much more sense. Now if you’re just looking for an excuse to buy a new toy I can understand that.

I could see where the small lite press could be handy! It's 3 mi to where I shoot so if I'm testing loads I could haul along enough primer's, powder and bullet's to put together some new loads to try right there! On the other hand if the loads are already worked up and I'm out somewhere, I think simply bringing a bunch of ammo is the thing to do.

hounddawg · January 4, 2019, 12:23 PM

Quote:

I could see where the small lite press could be handy! It's 3 mi to where I shoot so if I'm testing loads I could haul along enough primer's, powder and bullet's to put together some new loads to try right there! On the other hand if the loads are already worked up and I'm out somewhere, I think simply bringing a bunch of ammo is the thing to do.

Decapping and neck sizing is the easy part. From my experience measuring powder at the range is a pain in the butt even on the calmest days. You need to have a wind proof enclosure for measuring and transferring. Not a problem if you are throwing directly to the case like the benchrest guys do but trying to get down to a tenth of as grain is a different story. I made up a rig where I could weigh and trickle out of the wind but Murphy's law would kick in when I was getting the pan to the case and the wind would suddenly kick up and send half a grain to the range gods

I saw one of our club members set up his reloading station in the men's room one day when he was developing a load. Even a 1 mph breeze will blow powder or send the scale reading off into the ozone.

good luck though and if you can come up with a workable rig post pics, I would love to be able to get good measurements at the range on occasion

jmorris · January 4, 2019, 11:35 PM

Quote:

So now if your goal is load development you would need to add your calipers and scale (not sure how well that would travel) to the load and I just remembered some sort of case lube and maybe a variety of powders. Just keeps getting worse.

Take a closer look at the 2nd photo in #9. The calipers are sitting on top of the 3 ring binder so I can write down what I learn. In the cake pan lid, on top of the cooler, is the scale, so I can zero the scale and then weigh powder charges without air drafts effecting readings. You really don’t need any case lube for anything if you are just working up loads.

If you plan ahead all your brass is already sized, trimmed if needed and primed with your choice of primers, so you are just dumping powder, seating a bullet and maybe crimping.

You don’t need a super “strong like bull” press for any of thoes operations.

In any case the op is talking about 9mm, 357/38spl. Just not that complicated unless he is going to try to shoot benchrest with them. Against better suited rifles and rounds, further efforts wouldn’t do him much good anyway at that point.

oldscot3 · January 5, 2019, 09:10 PM

Lyman has a small c-frame press they call a "Brass Smith". I've been looking at it but haven't purchased yet so I couldn't tell you how solid it is from experience yet. It's made of cast iron so it might not make your weight requirement but size-wise it appears pretty compact.

Lyman makes pretty good stuff; I think I'm going to order one soon just to use with my universal depriming die. $75.00 at the usual internet suppliers.

January 2, 2019, 06:14 PM	#1
HighValleyRanch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2005 Posts: 4,066	Lightest and smallest reloading press? I already have a Rock Chucker 1 press setup, but thinking about looking into a very portable, lightweight moblie setup for car, camping, prepper, etc. This will be mainly for 9mm and .38 spl/.357 pistol/rifle loads. Any other choices between the lyman and lee hand presses? A super lightweight stationary press? Advantages and disavantages of the lyman 310 tool vs. lee hand press. The lyman looks outdated and expensive, but very portable. __________________ From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail"

January 2, 2019, 06:58 PM	#2
LeverGunFan Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 407	The Buchanan Precision Machine hand reloading press is a remake of the older Huntington hand press, it's spendy but looks well made, seen here. Another option is the Harrel's Precision compact reloading press, also expensive, at this link. I have no experience with either press, buying one of these is too extravagant for me. __________________ *Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition*

January 2, 2019, 07:34 PM	#4
HighValleyRanch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2005 Posts: 4,066	Thanks for the links. Very informative. I wasn't aware that existed. __________________ From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail"

January 2, 2019, 07:34 PM	#5
GWS Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 688	Maybe not the lightest, but it's very portable has a small footprint. Love it when away from my Rock Chucker, and I like it mounted next to my Rock Chucker as well.....excels at pistol, handy used right along side the R.C. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i9phIfc0SE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rp7lYXvbMw Last edited by GWS; January 2, 2019 at 07:40 PM.

January 2, 2019, 07:44 PM	#6
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	if all you are doing is seating an arbor press works great, I have also used the Lee handloader and have a Lee O press mounted on a board that I take along with a couple of woodworking bar clamps. I have used all three and if you have well prepped cases you would no difference in runout and of the three the Lee O is the most useful __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

January 2, 2019, 07:20 PM	#3
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	LEE open front C-type

January 2, 2019, 09:53 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	I've used the Lee Hand Tool at the range for decades for in situ reloading. Not easy resizing bottleneck rifle cases, but for what you are doing it is a breeze. Uses standard dies. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 2, 2019, 10:11 PM	#8
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	You may want to consider an arbor press from Sinclair.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcwn0aM2l6U __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

January 3, 2019, 07:13 AM	#9
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	The Lee breech lock reloader is small, light and cheap. This one cost me $20 with a bunch of extra bushings. They are $35 new. https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/80...content=807734 It’s a lot slower than other mobile setups I have though.

January 3, 2019, 11:07 AM	#10
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I bought the Lee 'C' style press for the same purpose. Mine is unusable. The ram binds terribly. I would choose another brand and get a small 'O' frame press like the RCBS Partner.

January 3, 2019, 11:48 AM	#11
TX Nimrod Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2009 Location: Zona Posts: 423	I’ve been using an RCBS Partner press for over 25 years, it is a great light duty press. It may be fine for heavy duty too, but I always use my RS-5 for that. The Partner is very light and reasonably small - mine is high quality, but then it is pretty old. .

January 3, 2019, 02:56 PM	#12
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	I have a Lee Turret but until I can move it to my farm house I don’t want to sit in an un heated garage. This has been the case now for about 4 years and in that time I have reloaded in the warmth with a Lee Hand Press. It’s not always the most ergonomic to use but I have done everything with from .38 to .308 with the exception of pulling rifle bullets from surplus ammo. For the price I’d say it’s hard to beat. __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

January 3, 2019, 03:20 PM	#13
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	If weight is your concern, wouldn’t it be lighter to just bring lots of extra ammo to begin with? Sorry but that makes much more sense. Now if you’re just looking for an excuse to buy a new toy I can understand that.

January 3, 2019, 03:46 PM	#15
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Hahaha, pretty sure he's talking about on-the-fly load development and testing far more than having a tiny portable setup so he can lounge around a gun range and feed his guns rather than bringing ammo. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

January 3, 2019, 03:56 PM	#16
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	I've been using two Lee Hand Presses for several years. Does all my handgun and 30-30 loading. The cost is affordable , uses standard dies and shell holders , the press and everything you need to reload fits into a gym / tote bag . I bring my "range bag" to work and do a lot of reloading at my desk ! That's important work in my book ! I have three bench mounted presses but I use the hand press most often. The Buchanan is the Lexus model of hand press , by the time it came along I was happy with my two Lee presses. I find the Lyman units somewhat costly . Try a Lee Hand Press you can always upgrade and you will always find a use for the Lee doing little odd jobs. Gary

January 3, 2019, 04:23 PM	#17
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	It somewhat depends on the details.One cartridge,or multi-cartridge? Is a bunch of primed brass practical,or do you need to size decap? There are options. You can charge and cork in bullets with a Wilson in line seater. I have comfortably loaded .223 ,sizing and all,with a Lee hand press Even if you have a Dillon 1050 a press such as a Partner is a useful tool on your bench. It can come off with wing nuts. All around and simple? There is not much risk in the price of a Lee hand press. Its light,compact,and capable.

January 4, 2019, 02:08 AM	#18
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	It's kind of a no brainer really . The Lee hand press is what you're asking for although it may not be what you actually want . I have one and it works just fine but I rarely use it other then seating depth adjustments at the range . https://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSear...temsPerPage=48 __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

January 4, 2019, 10:53 AM	#20
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	So now if your goal is load development you would need to add your calipers and scale (not sure how well that would travel) to the load and I just remembered some sort of case lube and maybe a variety of powders. Just keeps getting worse.

January 4, 2019, 11:23 AM	#21
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I used to try the range loading drill and found it a pain. Now for rifle I load up 40 to 50 cases at home for my tests. The first 4 to 10 are pressure tests set .3 to .5 grains apart seated .025 off lands.The next 20 I seat at various seating depths from .100 from lands to on the lands using a mild charge weight in the middle of the test weight range. I shoot the pressure test first. Then the 20 to get a rough idea on seating depth. The last 20 or so are loaded at home with the powder charge weight test with three or five rounds in increments of no less than .3 gns and no more than .5 rounds and seated at max length to the lands. I do a final seating at the range using the Lee and seat them at the best length determined by the seating depth test. These are shot these across a chrony to look for velocity nodes and grouping patterns. Completely Eliminates the pain of measuring powder at the range and allows optimum seating depth determination with fewest rounds fired. here is a thread with pics and a better explanation. Turned out the 43.5 and 2.281 used in the seating depth test had the best numbers. I followed this with a 15 shot test at 300 the other day and it held a .6 MOA test group so I am loading 25 more to do a test at 600 and 800 to get the scope dope next week I just lucked out on this one, sometimes follow up trips are needed to tweak in and fine seating depth and charges https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=599693 __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

January 5, 2019, 09:10 PM	#25
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	Lyman has a small c-frame press they call a "Brass Smith". I've been looking at it but haven't purchased yet so I couldn't tell you how solid it is from experience yet. It's made of cast iron so it might not make your weight requirement but size-wise it appears pretty compact. Lyman makes pretty good stuff; I think I'm going to order one soon just to use with my universal depriming die. $75.00 at the usual internet suppliers.