Thank you for the thorough explanation. This is the best video I've been able to find on this particular press. I've been looking to up my game after using the Lee Classic Loader for about a year. Who'd a thought you could make sub MOA ammo with a mallet! Thanks again!
I like the Lee loaders have a few of them. I just bought one of these presses and a couple sets of dies. Did you end up buying one also? If so has it worked out well.
@@TreeTopFlier Did you ever find a good 7.62x39 AR 15 barrel with the .300 blackout feed ramps? I know priorities change and life happens I was just wondering
@@barrycantrell5124 Yeah, I never followed through on it. Its not off the table I just lost interest for now. Who knows, maybe this winter Ill put together an upper to fool around with.
@@TreeTopFlier I bought the BCA barrel SKU 1910-B762CHB16110(P And it has taken all the different ammo I have ran through it that barrel does have the .300 Blackout feed ramps I really like mine.
Im not just saying this. This is by far the most in depth and comprehensible video for this press out there, extremely well done sir. Thank you for doing this!!
Absolutly true! I would say, even .300 wm or 7mm rm... That's about the limit for this handy litlle press. Ask me how I know it... Lee stuff is great! Owning "Higher end" stuff, Lee is my most used brand, from moulds to dies, presses, scales... All work well for a fraction of the price. Only MEC worths the extra price... 👍👍
as someone just looking into reloading for the first time this video is invaluable because you show how it's possible to get great results without spending thousands!
Thats great, glad you found it useful. I have a 4 part series for new and basic reloaders at www.thereloadersnetwork.com/channel/treetopflier/ if your interested. I do my best to give an understanding of the tools and principles of reloading to keep the new loader safe. Called the Minimalist reloader... for beginners.
I truly appreciate this video. I’m a total beginner to reloading. I just ordered this same press and a set of 357/38 dies from Lee Precision. Content was all valuable information for me. Thank you sir.
Thats great, welcome to a fun hobby! I have a 4 part series on beginning reloading if your interested. Had to pull it from YT but its on Rumble. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html
14:15 Priming will be faster and easier if you raise the cup all the way up through the shell holder, before you put a case in the holder, and put the primer in there, instead of trying to work inside the "C'. Raise cup, place primer, lower cup (just enough to clear the shell holder), place shell, raise ram, prime.
I was watching the video, and decided I look to see if anyone else gave this tip of putting the cup up thru, add the primer , lower just enough to insert the case into the holder. Ive used a lee reloader for years on the bench, almost exclusively for priming. Awesome review !
In the 70's I owned everything from 22LR all the way to a Ruger #1 375 H&H magnum rhino gun, pistols galore and some military stuff. Sold it all in the 80's for much needed $$. I bought an Uberti old model Colt single six in 44 Special and a Taurus 856 stainless steel 38 Special recently. I flipped out at todays ammo prices. After watching 100's of hrs. of reloading videos I settled on this. Lee Challenger to size, de-cap and prime for step #1. A 90045 to flare and drop powder with the Lee measure for step #2. Then 1 more 90045 to seat and crimp. Three little presses in a row moving the case down the line right to left, bing bang boom done. Change over to factory crimp on #1 for revolvers and finish. I buy once fired brass (no cleaning "ugh"). 200$ for the presses on Ebay and a few bucks for bushings, dies and etc. Reloading should be fun not a race. Loved your video. These little presses are awesome!!
Kust set mine up today. Everything was already snug on it. Just wiped it and applied a drop of oil. Set up the dies and ran a small batch of 357's. Very pleased with the consistency! Your presentation here made it easy to put mine into good use! Thank you!
So nice you got some use out of the video. Its a great little press, maybe not the end all be all, but it will certainly handle 357 all day long. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
I never, ever considered reloading (because I don't want yet another hobby to take over my life), but as I recently switched from micro 9 EDC to .32 revolver family over reliability issues, the cost of that ammo makes reloading a necessity for frequent range time. This is the FIRST video out of many that really presents the process in a practical manner. Now I want to watch all of your channel! Big extra points to you for having a working vocabulary >250 words, and your obvious consideration for us newbies out here. A local gunsmith is putting together a package of serviceable used gear for me that should have me hitting the ground running. Lee's entry-level turret kits look enticing, but that's asking very cheap parts to accomplish something (like precision feeding and indexing) that require extremely good engineering, tight tolerances, and QC that can't be met at those price points. I wonder how many novices go with those and give up out of frustration with the machines. Truly great work, sir!
Thank you for your kind comment, it really means a lot. I struggle with being over descriptive, but also being aware that I may be engaging someone new to this craft. As for Lee... The Lee Classic Turret Press is awesome. People malign it because its affordable and uses a couple plastic parts and.... because its Lee. Mine is 10 years old and if stolen, I would order one the same day. Lee handgun dies are exceptional with carbide ring inserts. Curmudgeon reloaders and gunsmiths will crap on them all day long for no real reason other than they are perceived to be cheep. If you are referring to the performance of a progressive press, Dillon is the best in that category in my opinion. On my Rumble channel I have a 4 part series on basic reloading rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html It was very popular and taught reloading on RUclips till it was removed. Anyway, you made my day with your comment...Thanks. Let me know if you have any questions...Happy to help.
Well, since you left the door open for questions, here's one: Most of what I'll be loading will be range ammo, so that means using cheap projectiles. For .32 the only copper plated stuff available is 71 grn Berry's Bullets. Do you have an opinion on them? Oh, and I have started working my way through your Rumble channel. Wishing you all the best, Bill @@TreeTopFlier
Hey Bill, Not sure what cartridge you will be loading for in .32 but I will assume 32 S&W Long. If so, the 71 grain will be a little light for that cartridge if you want to practice with rounds that will feel close to defensive loads. If you just want a fun time at the range they would be a good place to start. Maybe even consider synthetic coated lead for a cheep option. The coating on lead bullets, be it a jacket, plating or synthetic is to protect the barrel from leading, a problem with raw lead projectile pushed at higher speeds. Lead bullets will generally be sized about .001" larger than copper coated bullets. The .32 is not a cartridge I have loaded for so my comments will be general. Still happy to help. @@billoetjen
@@TreeTopFlier I passed on the Berry's plated, and ordered 500 Acme 100grn coated rnfp. I hope that it's not a mistake. Should be loading them and testing at the range in the next couple of weeks.
@@billoetjen They are a great option for range ammo. You will need to flair the mouth a little more due to the larger diameter and soft synthetic coating...finish with a crimp to remove the bell. Good luck
An enjoyable and quite informative video. Like my Dad used to say, "Son, the best things in life are simple...and round!" You've proved my late father to be right once again! I feel very fortunate to have found your RUclips Channel! Great content!!!
Thanks for the video. I'm getting ready to start reloading for the first time in 50 years . Remember as a young kid reloading with my dad in the garage late at night, memories. My purpose for wanting to reload again is to pass this process to my son. We are shooting 9mm and 45acp pistols and I think this press I have been looking at fits both space and budget. Again thanks for the informative video.
This press will certainly do hand gun cartridges with ease and a single stage press is good at separating the stages of the task for new loaders. If you find yourself looking for a more rapid way to load higher volume cartridges the Lee value turret press is a nice option. Good to get the kids away from the electronics and into something real and tangible that gives them a sense of confidence and accomplishment. Thanks for watching.
This is an excellent press to get started with and have a second press to travel, do decapping, etc. I just started reloading and looked at many presses and kits. Then decided to buy this and jump in. I found some scrap wood ( a piece of a 4X4 and a 2X4), screwed them together, and mounted the press and the Lee Auto priming press. Next, I bought two cheap 8-inch bar clamps. I can easily mount this to my kitchen table or my desk. I do lots of things at. Then, when I'm done, I loosen the bar clamps and store the press and primer press, and it's out of my way. This is a must with apartment living. This is easy to change and experiment with without buying much stuff or putting much time into it.
I had one years ago that I use as a de-capping station. I built a mount out of 2 x 4's and 2 x 6's. I mounted a universal de-capper die in it and had drilled a hole in the stand mount to let the used primers through to drop into an old coffee can. I would de cap out on the deck with a carafe of coffee as company. lol Thanks for the video!
I've seen a couple of mods like that. Now guys smarter than me are 3d printing cool mods for them. They make that Lee APP press but it doesnt interest me. I guess I'm with you, I just like to sit down to an old school press with a cup a joe and punch primers.
Great in depth video. I am looking to start handloading my own 223 rem and looked at this press and the value and your video really impressed me as to the versatility of this press. Sometimes I believe less is more.
It's a nice little press and certainly worth the money. The challenger breech lock press would also be a good choice and have a little more leverage. Lube is your friend, especially with smaller presses.
Aint one damn thing wrong with getting a good press at a great value. It's plenty rigid with a nice smooth cam-over. I've made as many accuracy rounds with this press as I have on my RCBS Rebel. At 1/3 the price! Good video!
Yes, the price is reasonable. I want the Layman C press kit or just the press, but it's twice as much. I got this because of the price and reasonably decent reviews. It's easy to start with and use as a 2nd press, a portable press, ect.
I have two of these..an older one and a newer breech lock. A few years ago, there was something of a price war going on at Amazon, and I got the breech lock unit for just a little over $20. It has been a true workhorse for me. When back from the range, I deprime on it. For less than 100 bullets, I size on it. When loading on another nearby press, sometimes there is occasion to size a case, or whatever and this press fulfills that function as well. The 3D printed base, available from TRN, allows for primer collection and is a ‘must-have’ IMHO. Nicely presented TreeTop! 🤛🏻🔫🇺🇸
It really is a great press, especially for accessory functions. I think I paid around $40 for this press in inflation world. I wish I would have made some comments in the video about being realistic about the demands people put on the press. It never occurred to me that someone would want to use it for 300 win mag but some do. Thanks for checking it out Viejo.
If you load .308, 8x57, .30-06 and smaller or similar that press is mighty fine! You can easily kill it when pulling on it like a gorilla, but than you're the problem, not the Press. There is far too much hate regarding that Lee-Stuff, but to be honest, everything works, especially when considering it's price.
I agree this press would do those larger cartridges, especially if your carful with your lube. However, If those were my primary rounds, I personally would step up to an O frame press with a little more leverage for resizing. I agree there is way to much hate for Lee. Lee has made reloading affordable and accessible to so many loaders. Hard to imagine the industry without them.
Very well done. You articulated all the steps and processes better than any I've seen. I just purchased this press and the Lee ultimate set in .243 win, to begin my reloading foray. I have been wanting to try my hand at reloading for years. I don't shoot any long action or magnum cartridges, and I believe this press will work nicely for me. Thank you sincerely. I am sure I will be coming back to this video for follow up instruction.
Thank you for the nice comment. I would think this press will handle 243 well. As always, lube, carefully applied is your friend and makes resizing easy. Redding case wax is probably the slickest I am aware of. If you make a go of reloading and do it enough you will probably move up to a larger set up which is still ok because this press moves nicely into an accessory roll and doesnt take up very much space. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. No question to simple. I have a set of starter reloading videos for the beginner on Rumble if your interested. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html Its 4 parts. If you stop by say hello in the comments, its lonely over there LOL.
Great review….you are good in articulating your comments and giving a balance descriptions of form and factors of this little press. Thanks, from Montana
@@TreeTopFlier Good morning….you as well. Its snowing out side now…lol…May 20, 2022 ❄️❄️❄️😂. Decided to re-visit some of your posts and landed on this one…while snowing outside before I go to work… Actually just picked up this little press, purchased a primer catcher from Reloader channel and mounted on and Inline base plate…handy little press/system to deprime my 45-70 gov’t and resizing bullets….a nice addition to my Lee Classic Cast Turret and Lee’s Breechlock Pro progressive. Any ways….have a super day from a wintery montana in spring…lol
Have one for almost 10 years now, it's a great press for pistol cartridges, Lee has accessories for dealing with case buldge remediation, lead bullet swaging and lubricating, ect. That works beautifully with that press. But it is cast aluminum frame fatigues out if you resize full size rifle cartridges of 30-06 or 7.62x54r. But it's hard to beat for the price. I still have mine but now it's sits on a inline fabrication quick change plate for 9x19mm only or universal decapping. Replaced in 2000 with an RCBS Summit press for my rifle reloading.
Your post is spot on! This little press and the Lee perfect powder measure are some of the best value in all of reloading land. Sometimes Its nice to have a press for odd jobs that has a short stroke....less wear and tear on the operator. I wish I had brought up the metal fatigue with the aluminum base in the video. Thanks for watching sir.
Make a hole through the table to drop primers. Put jar lit on screws with hole in it under table. Collect primers in jar, you will not need remove press to empty.
two seconds in two turns, of the lightest pressure, of the bullet to get your reading, don't make it read what you want it to read , let the calipers do their job.go easy🎉 Thanks for sharing this 🍸
I guess an explanation is in order. While using head space comparators or CBTO bushings I rotate the cases in the calipers because it squares them to the bore of the bushing. When im talking and recording I tend to fiddle with whatever im doing, making it look awkward 😅. Also, I realized part way through I didnt have the display in view of the camera so I went back and measured again. I assure you I have no motive to be deceptive and Im sorry I gave you that impression. I resist refilming parts I screw up on because it makes them look inauthentic. Thanks for watching anyway.
Great video. I want to start reloading mostly pistol rounds and some .556. And want a basic set up to get started before I get into turret presses and all that fancy stuff. Made more sense in this one video than ten others I watched. Thank you for the explanation
Thanks for the comment! This press will do all that and more. The only operation in reloading that requires force is resizing. Careful application of sizing lube will ensure success. After upgrading it will still be very useful as an accessory press.
Yes, it is possible. The only press function that really requires strength, is resizing. Much of the force required for resizing can be reduced by carful application of lube. That said, if I was going to do a large quantity of 308 I would get an Oframe press. Depending on the quantity of rounds you plan to produce and if you plan to expand, you could get the reloader press as a "first step" into reloading. It is always useful as an accessory press if you get another press.
@fmmlobo You could definitely do that volume on this press. Again, lube is your friend and will reduce stress on the press during resizing. The weak link on this press is the cast aluminum in the area where the ram passes through the body. Some people have had them break over time. Lee does have a good warranty though.
i got a mossberg patriot 300 win mag, it shot 8 moa at best, tested a bunch of factory ammo with no luck so i started reloading with one. im getting 1.5 moa 5 shot groups now.
Wow, I bought the progressive press the summer of 2020, the elections came, shortage of ammo, then shortage of primers, stuck for a year and a half plus covid hit. I purchased primers for the first time like 6 months ago. It just so happens that tomorrow I should receive this breech lock press tomorrow. I have a late start but I have it all, and now with this video you helped me in a big way. Thank you Sir. Good day.
On mine, I cut a small C shaped piece of board (3/4” thick) to mount under it so I can access the primers that are removed. Keeps me from removing the press. One could also drill a hole through the bench and mount a plastic screw lid container under to catch them and then dump. It’s a good press for the use cases you provided in this video. Great review.
Thanks! There are guys 3D printing raised mounts with cool slide out trays now. I cant for the life of me figure out why I didnt mention that in the video. LOL.
My first center fire cartridge press I got over 30 years ago is a RCBS Rock Chucker and I still have and use it often. I later added a Dillon RL-550B a little over 20 years ago. I then added a Dillon XL-750 about 3 years ago. I added a LEE #90045 elcheapo single stage for sizing cast bullets and doing other case prep work to keep my other presses free and setup. I just ordered and got a Redding T7 Turret on sale from Midway USA this week at a really good price. Pretty sure I am all set for any kind of center fire cartridge reloading once and for all now.
Wow you got your bases covered equipment wise... Now, where are the primers LOL. The little Lee reloader press is hard to beat for accessory functions.
@@TreeTopFlier I'm still using my 2018 -2019 stockpile of primers I bought during the Trump Slump when nobody wanted them and weren't really buying guns or magazines either. You could roll a bowling ball down a aisle at a gun shop or gun show and not hit anybody. Walmart had .22 bricks of 500 and 550 for $14.88 and 19.88 overflowing the case shelf and everybody walked right past them. They also had 9mm Winchester White Box for $17.88 per 100 and nobody buying them. The price of the primers I am using?.........$128.50 per 5000 ct cases! 😄
well, this is a very good, informative video on this tiny press. I received on in a "care package" because my uncle was cleaning out his extras from a life time of reloading and is sorting his retirement reloading setup. Mine is older, no breech lock, but its very much the same. When I found it in the box I was like, what the heck is this dinky thing for? Very educational.
I'm Glad you got something out of it. If you're interested I have a 4 part series on Rumble, its basic reloading with a minimalist focus. Its long but instructive. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html Let me know what you think.
Your videos have inspired me I'm going to mount my press in a old sewing machine cabinet i picked up at a yard sale cheep and it had the pedal and cord with it so my case trimmer will will have it's own now. 😁
I started with on of the C presses without the breech lock. It works. It still does. I have it holding a powder measure now, but I keep it around as a backup press.
I bought one of these about 6 years ago for an extra press new for around high twenty's... and it’s still sitting in the box! I was gonna move it to a bench in the garage to use for resizing Cast Boolits.
Probably should take it out if the box sone day…lol. I stopped casting “hard” alloys for cast. Anything under 12.5 BH does not put pressure on my bench when sizing now so I never set it up. Probably would work good “unbolted” for a portable bug out press?
You’re probably could cut a hole in that piece of wood underneath the press and then mounted forward from the bench so it just drops primer into the trash or round the floor if you’re not careful.
Greetings from New York Tree top flyer. I also have this press! But I use it only for my .45 ACP and dedicated de-primer. Now I had to drill a hole on my bench!
They make a riser that spaces it off the deck with a little primer tray for easy removal. I linked in the description for one that's sold on the reloadernetwork.com
@@TreeTopFlier Greetings from NY. I already bought from loads of Bacon. I upgraded that with something different. Which I think is better. I’ll send you a picture when I figure how to do that’s it for now.
I found using Forster Dies gives the least Runout after using Lee and Hornady. Believe its mostly to do with Seating die supporting case and bullet during seating. As well as During sizing the neck expansion is better supported as well from pulling little off center. But very impressive for that little press.
Thanks for the comment. I have never used Forster dies. Based on my experience, I feel like the brass itself really has the most to do with concentricity issues. Due to brass spring back, the die can only manipulate the brass so much and the brass springs back. Lee has the opinion that a well formed neck is the best guide for seating a bullet straight. I am somewhere in the middle. thanks for watching.
I mounted mine on a section of 4x4 and drilled a hole for a section of hose that I inserted to catch the ejected primers. The primers travel through the hose and land in a small plastic box. No need to remove press the empty the collected primers.
As far as the primer collection stuff goes, on these type videos I try to show the item the way it is so people get a vibe for it out of the box. in retrospect I should have probably mentioned some of the 3d printed accessories people make for this press for primer catching.
I just got one to leave my Universal Deprimer die in (on?). Sounds like that is a common approach. I mounted it on a Lee Bench Plate so I can swap it with my Lee Auto Bench priming tool. I've got a pretty tight reloading area.
Its defiantly a nice little accessory press. I failed to mention in the video, creative folks have made some accessories for it to aid with primer clean out. www.thereloadersnetwork.com/product/depriming-base-and-guide-clip-for-lee-precision-reloader-press/ I like the kits that have the adaptor to narrow the gap behind the ram. Sometimes the small primers can miss the hole.
I bought this with the intent to use it as a decapper and dirty process press. It is great for that and at minimal space usage. It's great for gas guns and handgun ammo. But with that said, why couldn't I belt out PRC and F Class grade ammo with it? You certainly could. It plenty good enough. Then you can spend your money where it matters more for that. Another thing, you can always tell an experienced reloader by how he runs that bullet seating operation the way you did. Very good video!
I havent tried it yet but I suspect it might be hard to nail down a slight shoulder set back technic as is common in long range accuracy shooters. I think its possible if you use a Redding competition shell holder set that lets you still use the shell holder to die contact and pick the shell holder that gives you the set back you need. You are not wrong, much of what we attribute good and bad to the press and even dies is a problem with the brass, not the equipment. Thanks for the comment.
I agree totally. The APP press is a really nice addition but for some reason, as much as I love gear, it never called to me. I guess in the end, I dont need a lot of volume and I enjoy the process of running an old fashioned press.
This press will do hand gun cartridges all day. If your looking for volume work maybe check out the Lee turret press options. Single stage can get a little tedious after a while. Good luck.
I have two Dillon 750 completely set up for large volumes. I just need to automate one because my arm isn't long enough to pull two handles at the same time 🤣
When greasing any of these lee presses I found out if you just add the lube on the ram outiside like you did the grease gets removed right away... What you should do is take the press apart and add the grease inside the press where the ram goes and you'll be in business for a really long time and the grease will stay evenly distributed for the long haul.
There's nothing wrong with taking the ram out to lube but putting it on the top and bottom works fine, you just need to wipe off the excess. Keep it simple.
You actually want a little bit of play in the ram. That is why the more expensive press kits are specifically designed to have some play in the tolerances. That way when you are seating bullets there is enough wiggle room for the bullets to self align. If you have a press that is 100% solid with super tight tolerances then it is all on you to get the bullet seated the exact same way every single time. I have heard people complain about cheap reloading presses but honestly I have never had any problems with them. I have a few different Lee and Hornady reloading presses that I have used quite a bit. So long as you are using good quality reloading dies and you prep your brass properly you can get extremely consistent results. There are a few people in my local PRS/NRL inspired rifle club that load all of their match ammo on lee classic and hornady lock and load kits with only the addition of a good electronic scale and some brass prep tools. These C style reloading presses are cheap enough that you could buy three or four of them and set them all up next to each other instead of using a turret press.
Really true. I dont think people realize how little the press has to do with the quality of the outcome. The brass itself has way more to do with precision than a press. I mostly advise people to buy a press for the features you want and the system you want to use vs thinking of it as the component that will fix everything wrong with your rounds.
I've seen another reloader video where they said to bring the die down to the top of the ram and loosen the die a 1/4 turn to start and check fit in gun with bolt closing no firing pin in bolt should feel very slight resistance on closing ...of course its gun specific...
That's a solid technique, and you can do a version of that in most cases. Your average reloader is going to use the die instructions as I did here. This will produce SAAMI spec ammo usable in every SAAMI spec chamber (basically factory dimensions). I didn't show that on this press because I am skeptical that (although I haven't checked) It wouldn't produce equal shoulder set back each time without the definitive shell holder to die contact. The technique you are referring to is usually called "shoulder set back" or "bumping the shoulder back" The concept is this. Why resize the brass below what your actual needs are? Doing so only works the brass more than needed and produces brass that doesnt fit as optimally in your application. Version 1 is what you described using fire formed brass in single bolt action. Version 2, what I use, check all of your fire formed brass with a headspace comparator to find the shortest chamber of multiple rifles. Take this value and subtract about .002" for bolt action and .003-4" for gas guns. Then adjust your die to give you this much adjustment from the fire formed brass. Picking the shortest chamber of multiples will still produce ammo that shoots better and works in every firearm you have. I would consider this technique a little more advanced, requiring a greater level of experience and tools than your average beginner would be ready for. One last thing... Probably the best solution for adjusting shoulder set back is using Redding competition shell holders. They come in a variety of dimensions (5 pack) or different heights and let you select the one that gives you the set back you need while maintaining the die to shell holder contact for repeatability. This would enable this technique to be used on this press for sure. Hope you can make some sense of all this.
Great review! Do you think the cast iron, Lyman Ideal Press (similar open frame design) would be stronger and perhaps a better option for the long haul?
Yes the Ideal press would be stronger. The Lee press is aluminum and although a handy little press, particularly for accessory functions, long term sizing of larger rifle cases would probably find a weak spot. The only down side of the Lyman press is its only threaded for 7/8-14 so you cant adapt it to use quick change bushings.
Wow what an awesome video, thank you. Really enjoyed it! Would you suggest I go for this or for the challenger? Currently have a pro 4000 and its brilliant on 9mm but for .223 its more convient to do some stages individually. Which should I go for? regards
Thank you! This is an OK starter/ budget press for small cartridges. But, it is aluminum, so it will wear and there are folks who have broken them. The challenger is the next step up. It's also aluminum frame. You won't break it but wear over the years may start to show up, but we are talking many thousands of cycles. If you're likely to be a life time reloader, you might want to find a steel frame press. At this level I don't think there's a bad one so I would look at the system you're stepping into. Is it compatible with breech locks or lock and load type bushings. Priming on press? Ergonomics? How well does it fit with what I already have? Check used market in your area. Hope this helps.
Could you make a big enough hole in your mounting surface for the primers to go into a catch can underneath the table? It seems like the bottom of the press is the cavity that holds the primers.
You could do that and it would work. Some guys are 3D printing a riser that raises up the press with a neat little tray to pull out and dump spent primers. Pretty sure you can find them on Ebay
I have a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved, 7mm Mauser, 6MM Remington and a .308 Winchester. Those cartridges should be within the range of the breech Lock Reloader's strength, correct?
Could you size these cases? Yes, especially if you are careful with lubrication. That said, I would step up to a larger press like the challenger press. Its an O frame and it has better leverage. Those are pretty large cases your planning to load.
havent reloaded before, but want to start, i got alot of range brass. maybe you can do a video with that but do the whole reloading process, from that to gun powder an done. thanks...
I have to be careful about how detailed I am here on RUclips. I do have a 4 part series covering the basics on Rumble to help people get started if your interested. Sub and you can see the other videos in the series. Here's the first.. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html
I linked to a primer clean out spacer at TheReloadersNetwork.com in the description. I didnt think of de-bulging pistol brass, that's another good use!
This video is pure gold; just the info I was looking for. I sold my Challenger Breech Lock press a few years back and only have a (non-breech lock) Lee Hand Press now. Looking for a basic press to get back into it cheaply, in case it doesn't take. I plan to use it mostly for straight-walled pistol caliber reloads and necked rifle loads, but without full length sizing. (no automatic rifles for me) Is this a good choice?
Yours is a tricky question. This press will do straight walled pistol cases all day for years. The comment about full length sizing is a little different. Sounds like you just want to bump the shoulder back. I wouldnt use this press for that unless you are using oversized shell holders like Redding makes to provide a physical stop. If you just want to adjust the die down to a desired headspace, I would go for a more robust, steel, O frame press to help you get the stop in the same spot every time. Hope this makes some sense.
@@TreeTopFlier For stepped rifle cartridges, I would not size at all with a press; just trim to length, as I like the fire-formed brass for my bolt actions. By the way, I got the press, set it up as you have (minus the elegant mounting board) and have reloaded a couple hundred rounds already. (357 Mag, 38 Spl and 44 Mag) I think it uses the same linkages as my old Lee Hand Press.
I greatly enjoyed this video, especially the rather on the nose joke about alec lol. Im looking at one of these for 8mm lebel (8x50/51R) the first round i'll be reloading as my "starter setup" till I get something better. But I do have a real basic question. Does brass need to be resized after each time its fired ?
Glad you liked the video! I would encourage you to move up to an O frame press for this larger round. Maybe a Lee Challenger press if economics is a factor. Re sizing older cartridges can take some force. Do you need to resize after each firing? Not necessarily, If you're reloading for a single rifle you can customize by limiting your amount of resizing or performing neck sizing only. You have to at least resize the neck so it will hold a bullet after firing otherwise the bullet will just fall into the case. Many would limit how far they screw in the die to limit how much they resize the brass. This is usually done just enough (through trial and error) to the point you can close the bolt on an empty case without abnormal force. Its a more advanced operation for a reloader and requires a greater understanding than a basic default die setup. The advantage would be less working of the brass and better accuracy. You would probably want a head space comparator to measure your target shoulder set back to formalize your settings for repeatability. This is one of the measurements I showed in the video, AKA CBTO. Hope this helps.
Yep this helps a ton!! From what I gathered with the die, since Lee is the sole producer of them, it's a full length sizing not just the weird double tapered neck. Lee's website says "2 die Set includes a full length sizing die, bullet seating die, powder dipper" and severely underpowered load data. I take it that it's all that I need for the basic stuff. Thanks again!
The kit is a good start. You can gradually screw the die in till the shoulder gets pushed back to let you chamber the round. This will also resize the neck to hold the bullet. This is more of an advanced move and should be done with understanding of the goals you're trying to achieve. Its certainly acceptable and maybe advisable to use the exact instructions for die set up as skills and equipment develop. Also, controlling the set back is easier on a more robust and tight tolerance press for repeatability. Enjoy the process.
Hey Anthony from Germany 👋 I wouldn't recommend it, you need an O frame press for the big boys. The frame around the ram won't handle the stress of resizing. Good luck.
Its in the video, but the primers go into the hollow base of the press and store there till you take it off and dump them out. There are some clever 3D printed base risers with a tray you can pull out and dump as well.
You think this press would work fine for 30-06 & 300 win mag? Or should I get a bigger lee. I just got this not not to long ago. Thank's again. 🇺🇸 2A 🇺🇸
Its a great press for starters and as an accessory press. I'm using it for bullet seating. If those are the cartridges you intend to load I would encourage you to get a larger O frame press. Its nice to have a small press for light jobs but Its also nice to have a larger high leverage press for resizing brass. Good luck to you.
This is one of the best press reviews I've seen, thanks!. I am just about to start reloading, I bought a Loadmaster PP, but also wanted a single press, was thinking the Lee Challenger, but now wondering if it's worth the extra , or if this will give same results ???
It really depends on what you want to use if for. Case resizing is the most stressful operation you will do on a press. The larger the cases you wish to size the more you will benefit from a heavier duty press. Without knowing the range of cartridges you wish to support, I would probably be inclined to recommend the larger press.
Thats tough for me to answer, I dont have a progressive press. Much of accuracy is in the brass with things such as consistent neck tension, shoulder position, concentricity, and a square base. The only thing I could say that would contribute to inaccuracy is the shell plate deflecting during resizing or bullet seating. We attribute a lot of magic to the press that isnt warranted in my opinion. As I showed in this video, you can measure things that may be attributed to the press or dies. This is one of the joys of reloading for me. Theorizing, tying and testing results. Have fun.
Really appreciate the feedback, thanks much ! I went ahead and ordered a single also, have all my kit and excited to get started. Not being able to find 6.5 Grendel is what pushed me to jump in, so those will be my first loads.
Great video!!! I’m just beginning to peel back the layers of the reloading onion. I went from thinking I needed an xl750 to realizing that this would be more realistic for my current demands. Thanks for including some of the other gadgetry needed to get the job done.
This press is OK for light duty. If you plan on doing large volume and or full size rifle cases, I would move up to an O frame press. This press is a good starting point and slides nicely into an accessory press. Lastly, careful case lubrication is your friend. Happy reloading!
With an odd one with the runout, use it for a fouling shot, just put a F on the case with a marker pen, or what ever mark someone want's to make on the case, so long as you know which one to use first.
I like them better and, once set you should never have to re zero them. Also the batteries never go dead. That said, the digital ones are great for filming. Its already hard enough to keep the glare out of the camera from overhead lights.
Its just a good wheel bearing grease. Brand is Valvoline. Pretty sure its the same stuff we used on aircraft in the military. Called it WTR for Wide Temperature Range grease.
Good question! Also a tough one. I would judge by function and accessories. My first interest would be does it cam over or use stops like the Lee press. Some arguments for both but cam over in a high end press like Redding BB with tight tolerances or linkage stops in a budget like Lee challenger. If you have stops you just need to learn how to go easy on them for accuracy. After that I would look for good accessories like on press priming, easy swap die systems, maybe handy ram access. All of our manufactures make great products that will last a life time but for instance, the Lyman brass smith do not have removable bushings that you can install a breech lock kit. The MEC Marksman looks interesting to me.
@@TreeTopFlier I am literially buying one today. Gotta 2,000 rounds to load up. I'd rather buy bullets than an expensive press. Good vid. Thanks again.
@@tunnelrabbit2625 Welcome to reloading! This is a capable little press for the money. It is likely that if you stay with reloading you will move into something more robust and in that case you will use it for accessory functions. If your new to reloading I have a series over at TheReloadersNetwork.com that I worked up for beginners 4 part with a hand press. TreeTopFlier
You probably could use two nuts tightened to each other on those dies and those dies probably wouldn't come out of adjustment or they would be harder to fall out of adjustment .
for the price you pay with LEE you have to exspect some of the pit falls but for $50 I think I can live with them as long as a bullet oesn't go off during relaoding I will be fine.
Stock up on 9mm....RELOAD rifle and shotgun ammo instead. 9mm is as low as 10 bux a box of fifty now. Rifle ammo is down in price too (THANKS to PSA's IAAC ammo division) BUT you can bet your BIPPY that 5.56 and 300 AAC will be taken off the shelves when the SHTF..Especially the 300 AAC because it works so well in an SBR/AR Pistol even out of a barrel a short as 5 inches!. Doing your own 7.62x39mm for you comm-bloc ammo fans is wise as well (Look at the 7.62x39mm shortages in just November/December 2023!).....
Do yourself a favor and buy something else! If you want a (Bug Out Press) get the Breech lock hand press, it's cheaper, smaller and does not need to be mounted to anything! I broke my #90045 at the base where the ram comes up and out of the bottom, and it broke while sizing 5.56 military brass primer pockets because it's so damn thin there and that's where the force sheering stresses come together! If you already have one, I'd melt some Zinc, Tin, or Lead, sand blast the red color off and fill the bottom void, and both sides where it says LEE with whatever metal you choose to add some strength, and perhaps drill some connecting holes through the tower for the metal to connect from one side to the other!🙁
I know many Reloaders are VERY FUSSY about the brand/type of Press they will chose to use at their bench. And that's just fine! In your own house/shop YOU are the Boss. It's your hard, earned cash 💸 so YOU DECIDE how to spend it. As for me? I'm not a bench rest shooter, I'm just looking for "Practical Hunting Accuracy". If I can keep all my bullets from a 5 shot group in a 6 inch circle out to 300 yards? I consider I'm doing plenty good! And there will be Elk meat in the family freezer come fall. CHEERS ! And, as always: BE SAFE !
I had 2 of those when I started on a budget. That was a mistake. This is junk. The first one broke in half when I got a piece of brass stuck. The second one wasn't very good either. I moved up to the Lee "O" press for more strength. I later switched to RCBS for cast iron instead of aluminum. Best move I made.
Va montata su due blocchetti di legno per sollevare la pressa , in modo che sotto si possa mettere un contenitore per gli inneschi bruciati. In questo modo eviti di smontare la pressa tutte le volte per svuotarla.
Thank you for the thorough explanation. This is the best video I've been able to find on this particular press. I've been looking to up my game after using the Lee Classic Loader for about a year. Who'd a thought you could make sub MOA ammo with a mallet! Thanks again!
Hey, glad you liked it. There is a lot of great equipment out there but Lee really showes how basic reloading can be. Thanks for the comment!
I like the Lee loaders have a few of them. I just bought one of these presses and a couple sets of dies. Did you end up buying one also? If so has it worked out well.
@@TreeTopFlier Did you ever find a good 7.62x39 AR 15 barrel with the .300 blackout feed ramps? I know priorities change and life happens I was just wondering
@@barrycantrell5124 Yeah, I never followed through on it. Its not off the table I just lost interest for now. Who knows, maybe this winter Ill put together an upper to fool around with.
@@TreeTopFlier I bought the BCA barrel SKU
1910-B762CHB16110(P
And it has taken all the different ammo I have ran through it that barrel does have the .300 Blackout feed ramps I really like mine.
Im not just saying this. This is by far the most in depth and comprehensible video for this press out there, extremely well done sir. Thank you for doing this!!
Thank you for the very nice comment.
Absolutly true! I would say, even .300 wm or 7mm rm... That's about the limit for this handy litlle press. Ask me how I know it... Lee stuff is great! Owning "Higher end" stuff, Lee is my most used brand, from moulds to dies, presses, scales... All work well for a fraction of the price. Only MEC worths the extra price... 👍👍
as someone just looking into reloading for the first time this video is invaluable because you show how it's possible to get great results without spending thousands!
Thats great, glad you found it useful. I have a 4 part series for new and basic reloaders at www.thereloadersnetwork.com/channel/treetopflier/
if your interested. I do my best to give an understanding of the tools and principles of reloading to keep the new loader safe. Called the Minimalist reloader... for beginners.
This press deserves a thorough review like this. Very delightful video and anyone getting into reloading should watch it a few times and get started.
Ah thanks, what a nice thing to say. Its a great little press as long as people dont over stress it sizing large and or improperly lubed cartridges.
I truly appreciate this video. I’m a total beginner to reloading. I just ordered this same press and a set of 357/38 dies from Lee Precision. Content was all valuable information for me. Thank you sir.
Thats great, welcome to a fun hobby! I have a 4 part series on beginning reloading if your interested. Had to pull it from YT but its on Rumble. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html
@@TreeTopFlier thank you for the link
14:15 Priming will be faster and easier if you raise the cup all the way up through the shell holder, before you put a case in the holder, and put the primer in there, instead of trying to work inside the "C'. Raise cup, place primer, lower cup (just enough to clear the shell holder), place shell, raise ram, prime.
Great tip. Not my usual method of priming. thanks for the comment.
I was watching the video, and decided I look to see if anyone else gave this tip of putting the cup up thru, add the primer , lower just enough to insert the case into the holder.
Ive used a lee reloader for years on the bench, almost exclusively for priming.
Awesome review !
Thanks, I hadn't really primed much this way, just wanted to show the accessory option to do so on this press.
In the 70's I owned everything from 22LR all the way to a Ruger #1 375 H&H magnum rhino gun, pistols galore and some military stuff. Sold it all in the 80's for much needed $$. I bought an Uberti old model Colt single six in 44 Special and a Taurus 856 stainless steel 38 Special recently. I flipped out at todays ammo prices. After watching 100's of hrs. of reloading videos I settled on this. Lee Challenger to size, de-cap and prime for step #1. A 90045 to flare and drop powder with the Lee measure for step #2. Then 1 more 90045 to seat and crimp. Three little presses in a row moving the case down the line right to left, bing bang boom done. Change over to factory crimp on #1 for revolvers and finish. I buy once fired brass (no cleaning "ugh"). 200$ for the presses on Ebay and a few bucks for bushings, dies and etc. Reloading should be fun not a race. Loved your video. These little presses are awesome!!
Its a nice little press for sure and the price is right. It will handle handgun stuff all day. Thanks for the comment.
Kust set mine up today. Everything was already snug on it. Just wiped it and applied a drop of oil. Set up the dies and ran a small batch of 357's. Very pleased with the consistency! Your presentation here made it easy to put mine into good use! Thank you!
So nice you got some use out of the video. Its a great little press, maybe not the end all be all, but it will certainly handle 357 all day long. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Glad to see I'm not the only one that spins the cases just before seating the bullet.
I never, ever considered reloading (because I don't want yet another hobby to take over my life), but as I recently switched from micro 9 EDC to .32 revolver family over reliability issues, the cost of that ammo makes reloading a necessity for frequent range time. This is the FIRST video out of many that really presents the process in a practical manner. Now I want to watch all of your channel! Big extra points to you for having a working vocabulary >250 words, and your obvious consideration for us newbies out here. A local gunsmith is putting together a package of serviceable used gear for me that should have me hitting the ground running. Lee's entry-level turret kits look enticing, but that's asking very cheap parts to accomplish something (like precision feeding and indexing) that require extremely good engineering, tight tolerances, and QC that can't be met at those price points. I wonder how many novices go with those and give up out of frustration with the machines.
Truly great work, sir!
Thank you for your kind comment, it really means a lot. I struggle with being over descriptive, but also being aware that I may be engaging someone new to this craft. As for Lee... The Lee Classic Turret Press is awesome. People malign it because its affordable and uses a couple plastic parts and.... because its Lee. Mine is 10 years old and if stolen, I would order one the same day. Lee handgun dies are exceptional with carbide ring inserts. Curmudgeon reloaders and gunsmiths will crap on them all day long for no real reason other than they are perceived to be cheep.
If you are referring to the performance of a progressive press, Dillon is the best in that category in my opinion. On my Rumble channel I have a 4 part series on basic reloading rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html It was very popular and taught reloading on RUclips till it was removed.
Anyway, you made my day with your comment...Thanks. Let me know if you have any questions...Happy to help.
Well, since you left the door open for questions, here's one:
Most of what I'll be loading will be range ammo, so that means using cheap projectiles. For .32 the only copper plated stuff available is 71 grn Berry's Bullets. Do you have an opinion on them?
Oh, and I have started working my way through your Rumble channel.
Wishing you all the best, Bill
@@TreeTopFlier
Hey Bill, Not sure what cartridge you will be loading for in .32 but I will assume 32 S&W Long. If so, the 71 grain will be a little light for that cartridge if you want to practice with rounds that will feel close to defensive loads. If you just want a fun time at the range they would be a good place to start. Maybe even consider synthetic coated lead for a cheep option. The coating on lead bullets, be it a jacket, plating or synthetic is to protect the barrel from leading, a problem with raw lead projectile pushed at higher speeds. Lead bullets will generally be sized about .001" larger than copper coated bullets. The .32 is not a cartridge I have loaded for so my comments will be general.
Still happy to help. @@billoetjen
@@TreeTopFlier I passed on the Berry's plated, and ordered 500 Acme 100grn coated rnfp. I hope that it's not a mistake. Should be loading them and testing at the range in the next couple of weeks.
@@billoetjen They are a great option for range ammo. You will need to flair the mouth a little more due to the larger diameter and soft synthetic coating...finish with a crimp to remove the bell. Good luck
An enjoyable and quite informative video. Like my Dad used to say, "Son, the best things in life are simple...and round!" You've proved my late father to be right once again! I feel very fortunate to have found your RUclips Channel! Great content!!!
Thanks for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Solid content. Thorough and detailed overview. I really like how Lee incorporated the primer catch into the press.
Thank you sir!
Thanks for the video. I'm getting ready to start reloading for the first time in 50 years . Remember as a young kid reloading with my dad in the garage late at night, memories. My purpose for wanting to reload again is to pass this process to my son. We are shooting 9mm and 45acp pistols and I think this press I have been looking at fits both space and budget. Again thanks for the informative video.
This press will certainly do hand gun cartridges with ease and a single stage press is good at separating the stages of the task for new loaders. If you find yourself looking for a more rapid way to load higher volume cartridges the Lee value turret press is a nice option. Good to get the kids away from the electronics and into something real and tangible that gives them a sense of confidence and accomplishment. Thanks for watching.
This is an excellent press to get started with and have a second press to travel, do decapping, etc. I just started reloading and looked at many presses and kits. Then decided to buy this and jump in. I found some scrap wood ( a piece of a 4X4 and a 2X4), screwed them together, and mounted the press and the Lee Auto priming press. Next, I bought two cheap 8-inch bar clamps. I can easily mount this to my kitchen table or my desk. I
do lots of things at. Then, when I'm done, I loosen the bar clamps and store the press and primer press, and it's out of my way. This is a must with apartment living. This is easy to change and experiment with without buying much stuff or putting much time into it.
I had one years ago that I use as a de-capping station. I built a mount out of 2 x 4's and 2 x 6's. I mounted a universal de-capper die in it and had drilled a hole in the stand mount to let the used primers through to drop into an old coffee can. I would de cap out on the deck with a carafe of coffee as company. lol Thanks for the video!
I've seen a couple of mods like that. Now guys smarter than me are 3d printing cool mods for them. They make that Lee APP press but it doesnt interest me. I guess I'm with you, I just like to sit down to an old school press with a cup a joe and punch primers.
Great in depth video. I am looking to start handloading my own 223 rem and looked at this press and the value and your video really impressed me as to the versatility of this press. Sometimes I believe less is more.
It's a nice little press and certainly worth the money. The challenger breech lock press would also be a good choice and have a little more leverage. Lube is your friend, especially with smaller presses.
Aint one damn thing wrong with getting a good press at a great value. It's plenty rigid with a nice smooth cam-over. I've made as many accuracy rounds with this press as I have on my RCBS Rebel. At 1/3 the price! Good video!
Yes, the price is reasonable. I want the Layman C press kit or just the press, but it's twice as much. I got this because of the price and reasonably decent reviews. It's easy to start with and use as a 2nd press, a portable press, ect.
I have two of these..an older one and a newer breech lock. A few years ago, there was something of a price war going on at Amazon, and I got the breech lock unit for just a little over $20. It has been a true workhorse for me. When back from the range, I deprime on it. For less than 100 bullets, I size on it. When loading on another nearby press, sometimes there is occasion to size a case, or whatever and this press fulfills that function as well. The 3D printed base, available from TRN, allows for primer collection and is a ‘must-have’ IMHO. Nicely presented TreeTop! 🤛🏻🔫🇺🇸
It really is a great press, especially for accessory functions. I think I paid around $40 for this press in inflation world. I wish I would have made some comments in the video about being realistic about the demands people put on the press. It never occurred to me that someone would want to use it for 300 win mag but some do. Thanks for checking it out Viejo.
If you load .308, 8x57, .30-06 and smaller or similar that press is mighty fine! You can easily kill it when pulling on it like a gorilla, but than you're the problem, not the Press. There is far too much hate regarding that Lee-Stuff, but to be honest, everything works, especially when considering it's price.
I agree this press would do those larger cartridges, especially if your carful with your lube. However, If those were my primary rounds, I personally would step up to an O frame press with a little more leverage for resizing. I agree there is way to much hate for Lee. Lee has made reloading affordable and accessible to so many loaders. Hard to imagine the industry without them.
Very well done. You articulated all the steps and processes better than any I've seen. I just purchased this press and the Lee ultimate set in .243 win, to begin my reloading foray. I have been wanting to try my hand at reloading for years. I don't shoot any long action or magnum cartridges, and I believe this press will work nicely for me. Thank you sincerely. I am sure I will be coming back to this video for follow up instruction.
Thank you for the nice comment. I would think this press will handle 243 well. As always, lube, carefully applied is your friend and makes resizing easy. Redding case wax is probably the slickest I am aware of. If you make a go of reloading and do it enough you will probably move up to a larger set up which is still ok because this press moves nicely into an accessory roll and doesnt take up very much space. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. No question to simple. I have a set of starter reloading videos for the beginner on Rumble if your interested.
rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html Its 4 parts. If you stop by say hello in the comments, its lonely over there LOL.
Excellent video! I appreciate your attention to detail, and quantifying your results by taking several measurements. Thanks!
Great review….you are good in articulating your comments and giving a balance descriptions of form and factors of this little press. Thanks, from Montana
Thank you, its very nice of you to say that and its good to hear form you!
@@TreeTopFlier Good morning….you as well. Its snowing out side now…lol…May 20, 2022 ❄️❄️❄️😂. Decided to re-visit some of your posts and landed on this one…while snowing outside before I go to work… Actually just picked up this little press, purchased a primer catcher from Reloader channel and mounted on and Inline base plate…handy little press/system to deprime my 45-70 gov’t and resizing bullets….a nice addition to my Lee Classic Cast Turret and Lee’s Breechlock Pro progressive. Any ways….have a super day from a wintery montana in spring…lol
Have one for almost 10 years now, it's a great press for pistol cartridges, Lee has accessories for dealing with case buldge remediation, lead bullet swaging and lubricating, ect. That works beautifully with that press. But it is cast aluminum frame fatigues out if you resize full size rifle cartridges of 30-06 or 7.62x54r. But it's hard to beat for the price. I still have mine but now it's sits on a inline fabrication quick change plate for 9x19mm only or universal decapping. Replaced in 2000 with an RCBS Summit press for my rifle reloading.
Your post is spot on! This little press and the Lee perfect powder measure are some of the best value in all of reloading land. Sometimes Its nice to have a press for odd jobs that has a short stroke....less wear and tear on the operator. I wish I had brought up the metal fatigue with the aluminum base in the video. Thanks for watching sir.
Make a hole through the table to drop primers. Put jar lit on screws with hole in it under table. Collect primers in jar, you will not need remove press to empty.
There's a bunch of 3d printer folks that make a riser with a removable tray for this press. Very nice solution.
two seconds in two turns, of the lightest pressure, of the bullet to get your reading, don't make it read what you want it to read , let the calipers do their job.go easy🎉 Thanks for sharing this 🍸
I guess an explanation is in order. While using head space comparators or CBTO bushings I rotate the cases in the calipers because it squares them to the bore of the bushing. When im talking and recording I tend to fiddle with whatever im doing, making it look awkward 😅. Also, I realized part way through I didnt have the display in view of the camera so I went back and measured again. I assure you I have no motive to be deceptive and Im sorry I gave you that impression. I resist refilming parts I screw up on because it makes them look inauthentic. Thanks for watching anyway.
This was a great review! Thank you for taking the time and making such an in-depth review on this little press.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know. Really means a lot. Always worry about making them too long.
Great video. I want to start reloading mostly pistol rounds and some .556. And want a basic set up to get started before I get into turret presses and all that fancy stuff. Made more sense in this one video than ten others I watched. Thank you for the explanation
Thanks for the comment! This press will do all that and more. The only operation in reloading that requires force is resizing. Careful application of sizing lube will ensure success. After upgrading it will still be very useful as an accessory press.
Yes, it is possible. The only press function that really requires strength, is resizing. Much of the force required for resizing can be reduced by carful application of lube. That said, if I was going to do a large quantity of 308 I would get an Oframe press. Depending on the quantity of rounds you plan to produce and if you plan to expand, you could get the reloader press as a "first step" into reloading. It is always useful as an accessory press if you get another press.
@fmmlobo You could definitely do that volume on this press. Again, lube is your friend and will reduce stress on the press during resizing. The weak link on this press is the cast aluminum in the area where the ram passes through the body. Some people have had them break over time. Lee does have a good warranty though.
i got a mossberg patriot 300 win mag, it shot 8 moa at best, tested a bunch of factory ammo with no luck so i started reloading with one. im getting 1.5 moa 5 shot groups now.
Wow, that's a lot of cartridge for this small press. Glad it's working for you.
Could be neck sizing? That would work as less efort
Wow, I bought the progressive press the summer of 2020, the elections came, shortage of ammo, then shortage of primers, stuck for a year and a half plus covid hit. I purchased primers for the first time like 6 months ago. It just so happens that tomorrow I should receive this breech lock press tomorrow. I have a late start but I have it all, and now with this video you helped me in a big way. Thank you Sir. Good day.
Glad you liked it, I hope it was helpful. Good luck with your reloading.
On mine, I cut a small C shaped piece of board (3/4” thick) to mount under it so I can access the primers that are removed. Keeps me from removing the press. One could also drill a hole through the bench and mount a plastic screw lid container under to catch them and then dump. It’s a good press for the use cases you provided in this video. Great review.
Thanks! There are guys 3D printing raised mounts with cool slide out trays now. I cant for the life of me figure out why I didnt mention that in the video. LOL.
My first center fire cartridge press I got over 30 years ago is a RCBS Rock Chucker and I still have and use it often. I later added a Dillon RL-550B a little over 20 years ago. I then added a Dillon XL-750 about 3 years ago. I added a LEE #90045 elcheapo single stage for sizing cast bullets and doing other case prep work to keep my other presses free and setup. I just ordered and got a Redding T7 Turret on sale from Midway USA this week at a really good price. Pretty sure I am all set for any kind of center fire cartridge reloading once and for all now.
Wow you got your bases covered equipment wise... Now, where are the primers LOL. The little Lee reloader press is hard to beat for accessory functions.
@@TreeTopFlier
I'm still using my 2018 -2019 stockpile of primers I bought during the Trump Slump when nobody wanted them and weren't really buying guns or magazines either. You could roll a bowling ball down a aisle at a gun shop or gun show and not hit anybody. Walmart had .22 bricks of 500 and 550 for $14.88 and 19.88 overflowing the case shelf and everybody walked right past them. They also had 9mm Winchester White Box for $17.88 per 100 and nobody buying them.
The price of the primers I am using?.........$128.50 per 5000 ct cases!
😄
well, this is a very good, informative video on this tiny press. I received on in a "care package" because my uncle was cleaning out his extras from a life time of reloading and is sorting his retirement reloading setup. Mine is older, no breech lock, but its very much the same. When I found it in the box I was like, what the heck is this dinky thing for? Very educational.
It's a great little starter press and accessory press.
Very detailed review of this press, thanks for all the work you put into this, it was very helpful
Thank you for the very nice comment, glad you found it useful.
This is the most informative video for beginners. Thanks so much.
I'm Glad you got something out of it. If you're interested I have a 4 part series on Rumble, its basic reloading with a minimalist focus. Its long but instructive. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html Let me know what you think.
Your videos have inspired me I'm going to mount my press in a old sewing machine cabinet i picked up at a yard sale cheep and it had the pedal and cord with it so my case trimmer will will have it's own now. 😁
And the big plus is with the sewing machine cabinet i will be able to fold the machine down and use the top as a work top when not loading ammo
What a cool idea, hope it works out for you.
@@TreeTopFlier I'll try to get you a few photos of it when I get it built
I do try to think out side the box witch gets me in trouble with the wife sometimes especially when i repurpose her stuff LOL
The last instance was when I turned a hope chest into a hidden ar cabinet by adding a false bottom and a hidden place in the top for a hand cannon
I started with on of the C presses without the breech lock. It works. It still does. I have it holding a powder measure now, but I keep it around as a backup press.
It's a good option for a starter press but it's a no brainer for accessory functions. I use it all the time.
I bought one of these about 6 years ago for an extra press new for around high twenty's... and it’s still sitting in the box! I was gonna move it to a bench in the garage to use for resizing Cast Boolits.
I mostly use mine for resizing cast bullets and de priming.
Probably should take it out if the box sone day…lol. I stopped casting “hard” alloys for cast. Anything under 12.5 BH does not put pressure on my bench when sizing now so I never set it up. Probably would work good “unbolted” for a portable bug out press?
You’re probably could cut a hole in that piece of wood underneath the press and then mounted forward from the bench so it just drops primer into the trash or round the floor if you’re not careful.
Greetings from New York
Tree top flyer. I also have this press! But I use it only for my .45 ACP and dedicated de-primer. Now I had to drill a hole on my bench!
They make a riser that spaces it off the deck with a little primer tray for easy removal. I linked in the description for one that's sold on the reloadernetwork.com
@@TreeTopFlier Greetings from NY. I already bought from loads of Bacon. I upgraded that with something different. Which I think is better. I’ll send you a picture when I figure how to do that’s it for now.
This is a great informative video. You could build a drop tray under the press to empty the primer cup/tray
Guys are 3D printing riser blocks with a tray in them to catch primers now. Pretty cool Idea. Thanks for the comment
Love that lil press. I have one I use for odds and ends and can do it while relaxing.
.
It really is!
I use mine to load match 223 and it has worked fine for about 1200 resizes at least. On hiatus for the cold weather
Nice! Thanks for the comment.
I found using Forster Dies gives the least Runout after using Lee and Hornady. Believe its mostly to do with Seating die supporting case and bullet during seating. As well as During sizing the neck expansion is better supported as well from pulling little off center. But very impressive for that little press.
Thanks for the comment. I have never used Forster dies. Based on my experience, I feel like the brass itself really has the most to do with concentricity issues. Due to brass spring back, the die can only manipulate the brass so much and the brass springs back. Lee has the opinion that a well formed neck is the best guide for seating a bullet straight. I am somewhere in the middle. thanks for watching.
I mounted mine on a section of 4x4 and drilled a hole for a section of hose that I inserted to catch the ejected primers.
The primers travel through the hose and land in a small plastic box. No need to remove press the empty the collected primers.
As far as the primer collection stuff goes, on these type videos I try to show the item the way it is so people get a vibe for it out of the box. in retrospect I should have probably mentioned some of the 3d printed accessories people make for this press for primer catching.
I just got one to leave my Universal Deprimer die in (on?). Sounds like that is a common approach. I mounted it on a Lee Bench Plate so I can swap it with my Lee Auto Bench priming tool. I've got a pretty tight reloading area.
Its defiantly a nice little accessory press. I failed to mention in the video, creative folks have made some accessories for it to aid with primer clean out. www.thereloadersnetwork.com/product/depriming-base-and-guide-clip-for-lee-precision-reloader-press/ I like the kits that have the adaptor to narrow the gap behind the ram. Sometimes the small primers can miss the hole.
When I was a kid I primed like that with my R.F. WELLS outfit (the good old days-about 1957)
I bought this with the intent to use it as a decapper and dirty process press. It is great for that and at minimal space usage. It's great for gas guns and handgun ammo. But with that said, why couldn't I belt out PRC and F Class grade ammo with it? You certainly could. It plenty good enough. Then you can spend your money where it matters more for that. Another thing, you can always tell an experienced reloader by how he runs that bullet seating operation the way you did. Very good video!
I havent tried it yet but I suspect it might be hard to nail down a slight shoulder set back technic as is common in long range accuracy shooters. I think its possible if you use a Redding competition shell holder set that lets you still use the shell holder to die contact and pick the shell holder that gives you the set back you need. You are not wrong, much of what we attribute good and bad to the press and even dies is a problem with the brass, not the equipment. Thanks for the comment.
great video
Thanks!
I view the APP as being worth the extra $$$ for many people.
For others this is just a better choice.
I agree totally. The APP press is a really nice addition but for some reason, as much as I love gear, it never called to me. I guess in the end, I dont need a lot of volume and I enjoy the process of running an old fashioned press.
I'm also thinking about using the motor from a old sewing machine to power the case trimmer setup.
Post a video when you're done sounds like an awesome project.
Just ordered one because I jumped down the 5.7x28 rabbit hole. Cheap and should do the job.
It's not a Dillon 750, but it will have to do.
This press will do hand gun cartridges all day. If your looking for volume work maybe check out the Lee turret press options. Single stage can get a little tedious after a while. Good luck.
I have two Dillon 750 completely set up for large volumes. I just need to automate one because my arm isn't long enough to pull two handles at the same time
🤣
When greasing any of these lee presses I found out if you just add the lube on the ram outiside like you did the grease gets removed right away... What you should do is take the press apart and add the grease inside the press where the ram goes and you'll be in business for a really long time and the grease will stay evenly distributed for the long haul.
There's nothing wrong with taking the ram out to lube but putting it on the top and bottom works fine, you just need to wipe off the excess. Keep it simple.
You actually want a little bit of play in the ram. That is why the more expensive press kits are specifically designed to have some play in the tolerances. That way when you are seating bullets there is enough wiggle room for the bullets to self align. If you have a press that is 100% solid with super tight tolerances then it is all on you to get the bullet seated the exact same way every single time. I have heard people complain about cheap reloading presses but honestly I have never had any problems with them. I have a few different Lee and Hornady reloading presses that I have used quite a bit. So long as you are using good quality reloading dies and you prep your brass properly you can get extremely consistent results. There are a few people in my local PRS/NRL inspired rifle club that load all of their match ammo on lee classic and hornady lock and load kits with only the addition of a good electronic scale and some brass prep tools. These C style reloading presses are cheap enough that you could buy three or four of them and set them all up next to each other instead of using a turret press.
Really true. I dont think people realize how little the press has to do with the quality of the outcome. The brass itself has way more to do with precision than a press. I mostly advise people to buy a press for the features you want and the system you want to use vs thinking of it as the component that will fix everything wrong with your rounds.
you made my day :) very inspiring, thank you very much
My pleasure 😊
I've seen another reloader video where they said to bring the die down to the top of the ram and loosen the die a 1/4 turn to start and check fit in gun with bolt closing no firing pin in bolt should feel very slight resistance on closing ...of course its gun specific...
That's a solid technique, and you can do a version of that in most cases. Your average reloader is going to use the die instructions as I did here. This will produce SAAMI spec ammo usable in every SAAMI spec chamber (basically factory dimensions). I didn't show that on this press because I am skeptical that (although I haven't checked) It wouldn't produce equal shoulder set back each time without the definitive shell holder to die contact. The technique you are referring to is usually called "shoulder set back" or "bumping the shoulder back" The concept is this. Why resize the brass below what your actual needs are? Doing so only works the brass more than needed and produces brass that doesnt fit as optimally in your application. Version 1 is what you described using fire formed brass in single bolt action. Version 2, what I use, check all of your fire formed brass with a headspace comparator to find the shortest chamber of multiple rifles. Take this value and subtract about .002" for bolt action and .003-4" for gas guns. Then adjust your die to give you this much adjustment from the fire formed brass. Picking the shortest chamber of multiples will still produce ammo that shoots better and works in every firearm you have. I would consider this technique a little more advanced, requiring a greater level of experience and tools than your average beginner would be ready for. One last thing... Probably the best solution for adjusting shoulder set back is using Redding competition shell holders. They come in a variety of dimensions (5 pack) or different heights and let you select the one that gives you the set back you need while maintaining the die to shell holder contact for repeatability. This would enable this technique to be used on this press for sure. Hope you can make some sense of all this.
@@TreeTopFlier Thanks for your more detailed explanation I understand this better now!
Excellent. Learned a lot.
Thats great, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Great review! Do you think the cast iron, Lyman Ideal Press (similar open frame design) would be stronger and perhaps a better option for the long haul?
Yes the Ideal press would be stronger. The Lee press is aluminum and although a handy little press, particularly for accessory functions, long term sizing of larger rifle cases would probably find a weak spot. The only down side of the Lyman press is its only threaded for 7/8-14 so you cant adapt it to use quick change bushings.
Wow what an awesome video, thank you.
Really enjoyed it!
Would you suggest I go for this or for the challenger?
Currently have a pro 4000 and its brilliant on 9mm but for .223 its more convient to do some stages individually.
Which should I go for?
regards
Thank you! This is an OK starter/ budget press for small cartridges. But, it is aluminum, so it will wear and there are folks who have broken them. The challenger is the next step up. It's also aluminum frame. You won't break it but wear over the years may start to show up, but we are talking many thousands of cycles. If you're likely to be a life time reloader, you might want to find a steel frame press. At this level I don't think there's a bad one so I would look at the system you're stepping into. Is it compatible with breech locks or lock and load type bushings. Priming on press? Ergonomics? How well does it fit with what I already have? Check used market in your area. Hope this helps.
Could you make a big enough hole in your mounting surface for the primers to go into a catch can underneath the table? It seems like the bottom of the press is the cavity that holds the primers.
You could do that and it would work. Some guys are 3D printing a riser that raises up the press with a neat little tray to pull out and dump spent primers. Pretty sure you can find them on Ebay
I have a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved, 7mm Mauser, 6MM Remington and a .308 Winchester. Those cartridges should be within the range of the breech Lock Reloader's strength, correct?
Could you size these cases? Yes, especially if you are careful with lubrication. That said, I would step up to a larger press like the challenger press. Its an O frame and it has better leverage. Those are pretty large cases your planning to load.
Excellent video - thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
I have used lee for years loaded some nice accurate ammo with it.
Me too!
Lots of good information here.
Glad you think so!
Just bought one of these good video thanks for sharing.
Good luck, I hope it works for you.
havent reloaded before, but want to start, i got alot of range brass. maybe you can do a video with that but do the whole reloading process, from that to gun powder an done. thanks...
I have to be careful about how detailed I am here on RUclips. I do have a 4 part series covering the basics on Rumble to help people get started if your interested. Sub and you can see the other videos in the series. Here's the first.. rumble.com/v1n15qs-minimalist-reloading-for-the-beginner-using-the-lee-hand-press.-part-1.html
The Bay has primer catchers for this press. Inexpensive. I used this press for years to de-bulge pistol brass until I got my APP Press.
I linked to a primer clean out spacer at TheReloadersNetwork.com in the description. I didnt think of de-bulging pistol brass, that's another good use!
This video is pure gold; just the info I was looking for. I sold my Challenger Breech Lock press a few years back and only have a (non-breech lock) Lee Hand Press now.
Looking for a basic press to get back into it cheaply, in case it doesn't take. I plan to use it mostly for straight-walled pistol caliber reloads and necked rifle loads, but without full length sizing. (no automatic rifles for me) Is this a good choice?
Yours is a tricky question. This press will do straight walled pistol cases all day for years. The comment about full length sizing is a little different. Sounds like you just want to bump the shoulder back. I wouldnt use this press for that unless you are using oversized shell holders like Redding makes to provide a physical stop. If you just want to adjust the die down to a desired headspace, I would go for a more robust, steel, O frame press to help you get the stop in the same spot every time. Hope this makes some sense.
@@TreeTopFlier For stepped rifle cartridges, I would not size at all with a press; just trim to length, as I like the fire-formed brass for my bolt actions.
By the way, I got the press, set it up as you have (minus the elegant mounting board) and have reloaded a couple hundred rounds already. (357 Mag, 38 Spl and 44 Mag)
I think it uses the same linkages as my old Lee Hand Press.
I greatly enjoyed this video, especially the rather on the nose joke about alec lol. Im looking at one of these for 8mm lebel (8x50/51R) the first round i'll be reloading as my "starter setup" till I get something better. But I do have a real basic question. Does brass need to be resized after each time its fired ?
Glad you liked the video! I would encourage you to move up to an O frame press for this larger round. Maybe a Lee Challenger press if economics is a factor. Re sizing older cartridges can take some force. Do you need to resize after each firing? Not necessarily, If you're reloading for a single rifle you can customize by limiting your amount of resizing or performing neck sizing only. You have to at least resize the neck so it will hold a bullet after firing otherwise the bullet will just fall into the case. Many would limit how far they screw in the die to limit how much they resize the brass. This is usually done just enough (through trial and error) to the point you can close the bolt on an empty case without abnormal force. Its a more advanced operation for a reloader and requires a greater understanding than a basic default die setup. The advantage would be less working of the brass and better accuracy. You would probably want a head space comparator to measure your target shoulder set back to formalize your settings for repeatability. This is one of the measurements I showed in the video, AKA CBTO. Hope this helps.
Yep this helps a ton!! From what I gathered with the die, since Lee is the sole producer of them, it's a full length sizing not just the weird double tapered neck. Lee's website says "2 die Set includes a full length sizing die, bullet seating die, powder dipper" and severely underpowered load data. I take it that it's all that I need for the basic stuff. Thanks again!
The kit is a good start. You can gradually screw the die in till the shoulder gets pushed back to let you chamber the round. This will also resize the neck to hold the bullet. This is more of an advanced move and should be done with understanding of the goals you're trying to achieve. Its certainly acceptable and maybe advisable to use the exact instructions for die set up as skills and equipment develop. Also, controlling the set back is easier on a more robust and tight tolerance press for repeatability. Enjoy the process.
So, can you use any kind of dies in this press? Does the Quick lock feature prevent the use, of, say, Lyman dies?
The breech lock bushings are 7/8 -14 to accommodate the industry standard. All manufactures use that size, so yes, your lyman dies will work.
Great video
Thanks!
Can u reload 7.62x67 (.300 win. mag.) with this litte press? Thanks for answering and all good for you! Greetings from Germany
Anthony
Hey Anthony from Germany 👋 I wouldn't recommend it, you need an O frame press for the big boys. The frame around the ram won't handle the stress of resizing. Good luck.
WOW!!! Very nice Video. Thank you so much for that I really enjoy it.
🇺🇸 2A 🇺🇸
What a very nice comment, thank you!
👍
What greese did you use? Was it Lucas's "Red & Tacky"?
No, its just valvoline wheel bearing grease.
Thank from Chile 🇨🇱
Hello Chile 🤗
... I use the Lee Hand Presses ... you don't have to attach them to anything ... I've loaded 375 H&H with my hand presses with no issues
I've got one of those too, it works but it can be a little awkward. I have a basic video series on Rumble using it. Thanks for watching
I got a case stuck and broke that press and a knuckle! Spend a little more and get a better press
That sucks! Larger rifle cases would definitely be better on an o frame press.
@@TreeTopFlier i had switched to dillon spray lube and about 5 cases in i stuck one and tried to force it out. The press broke with not alot of force.
@Michael Gray May not solve the problem but Lee would replace it under warranty.
Great video..Just one question, where do the spent primers go and how do you clear them away? Thanks!
Its in the video, but the primers go into the hollow base of the press and store there till you take it off and dump them out. There are some clever 3D printed base risers with a tray you can pull out and dump as well.
Thank you! @@TreeTopFlier
You think this press would work fine for 30-06 & 300 win mag?
Or should I get a bigger lee.
I just got this not not to long ago.
Thank's again. 🇺🇸 2A 🇺🇸
Its a great press for starters and as an accessory press. I'm using it for bullet seating. If those are the cartridges you intend to load I would encourage you to get a larger O frame press.
Its nice to have a small press for light jobs but Its also nice to have a larger high leverage press for resizing brass. Good luck to you.
This is one of the best press reviews I've seen, thanks!. I am just about to start reloading, I bought a Loadmaster PP, but also wanted a single press, was thinking the Lee Challenger, but now wondering if it's worth the extra , or if this will give same results ???
It really depends on what you want to use if for. Case resizing is the most stressful operation you will do on a press. The larger the cases you wish to size the more you will benefit from a heavier duty press. Without knowing the range of cartridges you wish to support, I would probably be inclined to recommend the larger press.
@@TreeTopFlier Thanks for the info, do you think I can get the same accuracy from the Lee Loadmaster PP , or is it better to have a single stage?
Thats tough for me to answer, I dont have a progressive press. Much of accuracy is in the brass with things such as consistent neck tension, shoulder position, concentricity, and a square base. The only thing I could say that would contribute to inaccuracy is the shell plate deflecting during resizing or bullet seating. We attribute a lot of magic to the press that isnt warranted in my opinion. As I showed in this video, you can measure things that may be attributed to the press or dies. This is one of the joys of reloading for me. Theorizing, tying and testing results. Have fun.
Really appreciate the feedback, thanks much ! I went ahead and ordered a single also, have all my kit and excited to get started. Not being able to find 6.5 Grendel is what pushed me to jump in, so those will be my first loads.
Love the 6.5 grendel
Great video!!! I’m just beginning to peel back the layers of the reloading onion. I went from thinking I needed an xl750 to realizing that this would be more realistic for my current demands. Thanks for including some of the other gadgetry needed to get the job done.
This press is OK for light duty. If you plan on doing large volume and or full size rifle cases, I would move up to an O frame press. This press is a good starting point and slides nicely into an accessory press. Lastly, careful case lubrication is your friend. Happy reloading!
I love mine it's been awesome
With an odd one with the runout, use it for a fouling shot, just put a F on the case with a marker pen, or what ever mark someone want's to make on the case, so long as you know which one to use first.
good advice.
pretty good stuff!
Thanks
Thanks. Lee can surprise you.
Excellent, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
got one I use for a dedicated bullet puller
Personally I believe the dial calipers are more accurate than the digital ones.
I like them better and, once set you should never have to re zero them. Also the batteries never go dead. That said, the digital ones are great for filming. Its already hard enough to keep the glare out of the camera from overhead lights.
What was the name of the grease you put on the ram?
Its just a good wheel bearing grease. Brand is Valvoline. Pretty sure its the same stuff we used on aircraft in the military. Called it WTR for Wide Temperature Range grease.
@@TreeTopFlier thanks so much. Good video!
@@TreeTopFlier one last question..... which single stage press do you prefer?
Good question! Also a tough one. I would judge by function and accessories. My first interest would be does it cam over or use stops like the Lee press. Some arguments for both but cam over in a high end press like Redding BB with tight tolerances or linkage stops in a budget like Lee challenger. If you have stops you just need to learn how to go easy on them for accuracy. After that I would look for good accessories like on press priming, easy swap die systems, maybe handy ram access. All of our manufactures make great products that will last a life time but for instance, the Lyman brass smith do not have removable bushings that you can install a breech lock kit. The MEC Marksman looks interesting to me.
@@TreeTopFlier thanks again. I'm looking to upgrade from a Partner press so have been checking reviews on all single stage presses.
I picked up a primer catch tray and base for my press off ebay and now no need to take the press off the bench to empty it
That's a much better option!
Like a floating bolt....
I like it for cutting case length...
Ive found that hitting the lever stop the same way helps with oal..
"Alec Baldwin safe" 🤣🤣
Check out ingredients of vicks type vaporub lots of great properties.
Probably similar to Imperial sizing wax.
Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
@@TreeTopFlier I am literially buying one today. Gotta 2,000 rounds to load up. I'd rather buy bullets than an expensive press. Good vid. Thanks again.
@@tunnelrabbit2625 Welcome to reloading! This is a capable little press for the money. It is likely that if you stay with reloading you will move into something more robust and in that case you will use it for accessory functions. If your new to reloading I have a series over at TheReloadersNetwork.com that I worked up for beginners 4 part with a hand press. TreeTopFlier
You probably could use two nuts tightened to each other on those dies and those dies probably wouldn't come out of adjustment or they would be harder to fall out of adjustment .
There's not a problem maintaining adjustment with this setup.
@TreeTopFlier Oh , ok .
for the price you pay with LEE you have to exspect some of the pit falls but for $50 I think I can live with them as long as a bullet oesn't go off during relaoding I will be fine.
If a cartridge goes off during any reloading it wouldnt be the fault of this press or any other. It would be some catastrophic operator error.
Stock up on 9mm....RELOAD rifle and shotgun ammo instead. 9mm is as low as 10 bux a box of fifty now. Rifle ammo is down in price too (THANKS to PSA's IAAC ammo division) BUT you can bet your BIPPY that 5.56 and 300 AAC will be taken off the shelves when the SHTF..Especially the 300 AAC because it works so well in an SBR/AR Pistol even out of a barrel a short as 5 inches!. Doing your own 7.62x39mm for you comm-bloc ammo fans is wise as well (Look at the 7.62x39mm shortages in just November/December 2023!).....
Thanks for the comment.
Do yourself a favor and buy something else!
If you want a (Bug Out Press) get the Breech lock hand press, it's cheaper, smaller and does not need to be mounted to anything!
I broke my #90045 at the base where the ram comes up and out of the bottom, and it broke while sizing 5.56 military brass primer pockets because it's so damn thin there and that's where the force sheering stresses come together!
If you already have one, I'd melt some Zinc, Tin, or Lead, sand blast the red color off and fill the bottom void, and both sides where it says LEE with whatever metal you choose to add some strength, and perhaps drill some connecting holes through the tower for the metal to connect from one side to the other!🙁
Alec Baldwin safe. I like that, lol. Dummy round would have applied to him, as well.
You're the first to comment on my little dig lol
@@TreeTopFlier well, I appreciate the skill of finding great examples. And you, sir…have it honed. Keep it up!
I know many Reloaders are VERY FUSSY about the brand/type of Press they will chose to use at their bench. And that's just fine! In your own house/shop YOU are the Boss. It's your hard, earned cash 💸 so YOU DECIDE how to spend it.
As for me? I'm not a bench rest shooter, I'm just looking for "Practical Hunting Accuracy". If I can keep all my bullets from a 5 shot group in a 6 inch circle out to 300 yards? I consider I'm doing plenty good! And there will be Elk meat in the family freezer come fall.
CHEERS !
And, as always: BE SAFE !
Cheers 🍻
I had 2 of those when I started on a budget. That was a mistake. This is junk.
The first one broke in half when I got a piece of brass stuck.
The second one wasn't very good either. I moved up to the Lee "O" press for more strength.
I later switched to RCBS for cast iron instead of aluminum.
Best move I made.
Va montata su due blocchetti di legno per sollevare la pressa , in modo che sotto si possa mettere un contenitore per gli inneschi bruciati. In questo modo eviti di smontare la pressa tutte le volte per svuotarla.