lee handpress for pistol calibres?

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mickbr
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lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Has anyone used this press fellas? Mostly for pistol calibres( namely 357magnum for handgun and carbine) will I be satisfied with its ability to load when I am on the move? Or does it have inherent drawbacks? https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by 3leggedturtle »

I used mine for 357, 9mm, both 45’s, 223 and 30/30. Used to drive truck so did those rounds in down time. Hand and wrists get sore at times from it! YMMV Todd/3leg
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
mickbr
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Thanks Todd I am considering it for similar reasons, I work remote sites and wanted to pass the time. 30-30 would be a bonus too, I can load for my family. Anyone know if it will handle larger centrefires like 308 too? The blurb says so, but maybe reality is different.
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by 2ndovc »

I have mine set up with spare sets of .303 British and .44 Magnum. I like it better than the Lee Loaders that I have, just found it easier. Used it quite a bit while I was recovering from an extended hospital stay. I was good therapy in multiple ways. :D

jb 8)
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by J Miller »

I have one set up with a 4 die .45 Colt die set. It works good, but will give you a upper body workout if you load a lot with it.

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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Thanks fellas I could do with the exercise anyway :D
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by HawkCreek »

If you want to get into rifle rounds you want the Buchanan Precision Hand Press. I just used mine the other day to load up some .30-40 Krag test ammo. This press is every bit as accurate as my Rock Chucker. It's an improved and updated version of the old Huntington Compac Press. Some of you may have read about it, Brian Pierce did an article on it in Handloader magazine last year. Ya it's spendy but it's well worth it.



https://buchananprecisionmachine.com


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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

hanks that's interesting, though I can't afford it. But on the subject of precision is there a chance the Lee hand press loads cases less accurately( as in potentially worse shooting groups) than a standard press? Is this a downside of a non mounted press?
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J Miller
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by J Miller »

mickbr wrote: Sun Jun 03, 2018 9:42 am hanks that's interesting, though I can't afford it. But on the subject of precision is there a chance the Lee hand press loads cases less accurately( as in potentially worse shooting groups) than a standard press? Is this a downside of a non mounted press?
From the limited testing I did with mine, I'd say no as long as it's not worn out.
Other than not being mounted there isn't much difference in function.

Joe
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mikld
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mikld »

I've been able to do all the things on my Lee Hand Press that I've done on my bench mounted presses. I have loaded hand gun ammo (38/357, 44 Special/Magnum), some 30-06 (F/L sized) and sized cast bullets. The F/L sizing of rifle rounds can be tiresome as a bit more pressure is needed and depends on one's arm strength. Many reloaders use the hand press for priming ("I use it for priming as I watch TV"). Sometimes it feels clumsy, but often it's just a matter of finding the right position and right way to hold the tool...
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Thanks fellas looks like its worth adding one to the collection 8)
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by AJMD429 »

Even at home I do all my depriming on one; it's the ONLY reloading chore I'll do while watching television.

It is VERY helpful to drill a hole in the side of the shaft so primers don't have to come 'out' back through the shell-holder....!
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Pitchy
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Pitchy »

I like that press, use mine for 45-70 and 45-60 most also made up a carry box for it.
Good idea to put foam on top of things to keep them in place.

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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Cool set-up Pitchy! :mrgreen: 8)

I use mine mainly for de-priming and resizing straight-walled pistol bass, often while sitting in front of the television or when I've been on vacation at the beach (I'm not a big beach person). I actually loaded a bunch of .45 Colt last year when I was laid-up before my back surgery. Helped me keep my mind off the pain I was in.

This is a handy tool; I've had mine for a couple+ decades now.
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Oh, and I have been known to de-prime a hundred or two cases while on a long, boring teleconference... one of the nice things about working from home! :wink:
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mickbr
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

I like that idea too, I have a pelican hardcase that will fit this press and about all the rest of my reloading gear. Looking forward to being able to assemble loads at the shooting bench as well.
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by hotmaillogin »

This really interesting post. Thanks for sharing! -hotmail login
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by hotmaillogin »

Thanks for the information on the site.-hotmail login
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Hawkeye2 »

SPAM! :x
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Bronco »

Howdy,
When I go squirrel shooting for several days. I sit around the camp and deprime my cases with a kewl beverage. THE only part of reloading I combine those two together. When home back from the range I do like Doc and watch tv while depriming. Gunna do the hole in the side. Been thinking about that for a long time, just lazy. It is a great suggestion he gave.

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Ray
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Ray »

Pitchy, you has got to be the most organized fellow there has ever been since adrian monk !
m.A.g.a. !
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Pitchy »

Ray wrote: Wed Jun 06, 2018 6:06 am Pitchy, you has got to be the most organized fellow there has ever been since adrian monk !
Actually I`m probably one of the most unorganized people I just like making things different that work good. :)
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Well it arrived! I ordered the kit that has a few extras in the box.Firstly I thought I had been sent my new bullet puller and scales since the box was so small. Then I saw lee hand press on the box and then thought I had been ripped off, it was way too light to have a press in it! Anyway very surprised with the size and weight, I had read the specs before purchase but didn't realise it was this portable. Thanks all for the comments on the thread.
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Griff »

I drilled a hole in the side of my ram to ease the dropping of spent primers while doing that function. I don't load any ammo on mine... strictly for depriming; with a universal deprime die. Although, I've been known to load some of my .40-90SBN cases on it. Far too tough to size those cases, but seating and crimping is a breeze!
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Rusty »

I have 2 of them. they're great for .357 from start to finish.
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by Blaine »

I loaded 100 45-70s awhile back. Full-length resizing and all.
A hint is to work the thing like a Thigh Master. Makes it WAY easier.
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mickbr
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Re: lee handpress for pistol calibres?

Post by mickbr »

Thanks for that tip
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