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Thread: In praise of the Lee Hand Press

  1. #61
    Boolit Man
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    That's really terrific engineering work all round. I suppose you have to be creative to enjoy shooting sports in Kalifornia!

  2. #62
    Boolit Master Leadforbrains's Avatar
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    I have had one for the longest time, and I used it to load ammo when me and the wife were just starting out life together in an apartment. I agree that is a great tool and a great innovation. Everyone should have one just to put in a to go loading kit. Sonny that is some neat stuff you got going on there!
    Last edited by Leadforbrains; 10-01-2011 at 08:03 PM.
    Fast is fine, but accuracy is final!
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  3. #63
    DEADBEAT UNIQUEDOT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sonnypie View Post
    PS: Being "low slung" like it is, it's a sit down operation. Kinda nice that way.
    I agree that it's creative, but unless i am missing something here...it's actually taking longer for you to size the bullets since you have to load the feed tubes?

  4. #64
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    I guess I will have to time it for you, Doubting Tomas.

    It actually goes faster than the standard operation by itself. The standard being:
    1. Pick up a bullet.
    2. Turn it nose up.
    3. Place it on the mandrill.
    4. Guide the bullet as it enters the sizing die. (And don't get pinched. )
    Repeat for 100 times. (Notice the gooie fingers)

    OR:
    1. Sitting on your shop chair, pick up a handful of boolits. The feeder magazine is between your legs at about a 30-45 degree angle. (Indexed to between feeding positions)


    2. With both hands, rotate the boolits and feed them into the tubes of the feeder. They are all nose up and indexed to be fed when in the feeder tubes. (Dependent on finger dexterity, boolit style.)
    Wipe hands to remove the stickies. (I use a little solvent on a shop rag.)

    3. Install the magazine on the sizing press/feeder device.

    4. Turn the tube to begin the feeding operation and begin. Goes like this:


    Raise the handle,



    raise the ram,


    Lower the ram,



    Cycle the handle,



    raise the ram, lower the ram, cycle the handle,
    R&L ram, C/H, R&L ram, C/H, R&L ram, C/H, R&L ram....

    Once you get a rhythm going, it is amazingly fast to empty the feeder magazine. And when it's empty, that's 100 boolits ready to be loaded, or stored for the next time needed.
    So standard way, or feeder way? For me, I like the feeder way best. It is actually, or can be, faster to process the boolits through the sizing operation.

    I still get to fumble finger each boolit into the reloading press when doing the actual reloading.
    Pistol:
    1. I pick up a boolit and an empty case.
    The case goes in the empty index, and the boolit on the station 4 case that is ready to be finished. (With proper belling, I find it sits there just fine.)
    2. As I cycle the press with my right hand, I collect a boolit and an empty case to repeat the operation with my left hand.
    Just like anybody using an older progressive press for Pistola Ammunition.

    I like to try and be as efficient as possible with my motions. Eventually my arms and shoulders start talking back to me. So I tend to make my movements close and minimal. Then take breaks to stretch and flex a little to get the blood back in the empty spots.

    So what is that big white thing and black hose?
    Oh, that's next.... Sacking the sized boolits.
    God Bless America!

    Sittin here watchin the world go round and round...
    Much like a turd in a flushing toilet.

    Shoot for the eyes.
    If they are crawlin away, shoot for the key hole.

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  5. #65
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    The limit of ten...
    10 pictures.

    Onward through the fog...

    The white plastic thing...

    What of when the boolits emerge from the sizing die?
    Well, Lee designed a pretty nifty case/catcher for their sizing die sets. Personally, I found that occasionally boolits tend to jam slightly and will be shoved on out with brute strength and awkwardness. Or find a better method to collect the excrement of the sizing operation....

    The boolits emerge one by one as they progress through the sizing operation. So if you are doing hundreds and hundreds you want for a better method.
    Like some sort of catcher funnel, and a drop chute, and a container. Humm...
    A plastic squirt dispenser bottle, scissors, a punch = Wa-La.




    So where does that go?
    Down here:


    Ever been to a swap meet? Ever see how the venders secure a tarp to the frameworks they set up?


    The black corrugated hose is a piece of left over 2.5" vacuum system hose from my shop dust collection adventures.
    The boolits sack right up for storage until needed.

    YMMV (Your mileage may vary)

    I hope the pictures help to explain it.
    I found I did over 900 - 30 cal boolits the other day.
    After 300, I made the chute dealy-ma-bobber. My "counter" is the feeder magazine.
    Lee did something cool there as well. The larger tubes are for up to 45 caliber, the smaller tubes (which fit inside the larger ones) are up to 35-36 caliber.
    The length (I found) of the 45 cal is just right for 25 per tube.
    The smaller tubes, which are a bit longer, actually hold 25 of my 120 grain 30 cal boolits.
    So either way I use it, 45 or 30 caliber) a full house amounts to 100 each.

    Now if you should toy with this concept, remember the feeder is designed around PISTOL bullets, for lee's high end progressive presses.
    I got it with a bit of tongue in cheek optimism that I could make it work. And I added a 6-32 screw and a knurled knob I had for a manual handle.
    For me, it is a fun and function thing.

    Once in a while I get a cascade malfunction where it spits out several boolits on the floor. I'm working on refining that. The opening is just a smidgen big for my 30 cal boolit length, IMO.
    So I'm tinkering a fix in my head for it.
    God Bless America!

    Sittin here watchin the world go round and round...
    Much like a turd in a flushing toilet.

    Shoot for the eyes.
    If they are crawlin away, shoot for the key hole.

    NRA Life Member
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    Magnificent!
    The basic flaw with Science is man.

  6. #66
    DEADBEAT UNIQUEDOT's Avatar
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    I don't think i will attempt to make a feeding system, but i think i found a new way to get them into their storage containers! Thanks for the visual on it.

  7. #67
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    Your welcome, Uniquedot.
    I use a similar drop/tube arrangement for my RCBS 4X4 press. It shucks out the finished rounds into a catch tray.
    One evening while doing a batch of several hundred 45 ACP's, I thunked up the idea.
    I was watching how the finished rounds flipped out of the shell carrier and thinking about a funnel and a sack below.
    In about two shakes of a lambs tail I have mounted an old router table dust hood as a funnel and had a drop hose to my sack of finished 45's.
    So this sizing station adaption was just another of that. Different "funnel".
    I will say, narry a plug in the exit of the die now.

    The corrugated hose tends to slow the decent of the boolit/rounds. I can add an angle to it so the material doesn't drop so hard.

    I just don't like getting my fingers and hands gooey with loob, and getting it on handles and other things.
    Lord knows I'm not afraid to get dirty.
    God Bless America!

    Sittin here watchin the world go round and round...
    Much like a turd in a flushing toilet.

    Shoot for the eyes.
    If they are crawlin away, shoot for the key hole.

    NRA Life Member
    CRPA Life Member

    Magnificent!
    The basic flaw with Science is man.

  8. #68
    Boolit Buddy Mike Kerr's Avatar
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    See I just thought it was a hand press - but you guys have so much engineering or mechanical background - Geesh. I guess "necessity is the mother of invention"

    regards,


  9. #69
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    It is handy and portable, easy to use for FL sizing, bellng, decaping. I can't get enough push to N-S .243. For any accuracy, the shell holder has to touch the bottom of the die - the linkage is too sloppy to guarantee a few thou shoulder setback. My hands need a rest after decapping 200 .40, but it is a good tool for some tasks.

  10. #70
    Boolit Buddy perimedik's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EMC45 View Post
    Reloading on an ambulance?.....Sweet.
    THANKS
    I aminly decap/FL resize due to the fact I may have to pack at a moments notice. however I have on slower days produced 200 rounds started from tumbled brass to finished product.
    The light at the end of the tunnel is a muzzle flash

  11. #71
    In Remembrance
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    Sonnypie's 'extreme makeover' of the Lee Hand Press is interesting, but if I wanted a Rube Goldberg Dillon-thingy I would have bought one to begin with.

    I like the 'old' Lee Hand Press because its simple, small good engineering.

    The 'new' Lee Hand Press with the 'breech-lock' thing I don't think I like so much.
    Lets see, 'lets you change dies w/ a twist of the wrist'.
    I've got my dies rings set, what's so hard about changing dies then?
    The press comes w/ one lock ring. Others are $6.50 plus shipping.
    Hmm.
    I don't get it.

    Does Lee still offer the 'old style' Hand Press, without the Breech-Lock?
    Last edited by Rio Grande; 11-07-2011 at 10:40 AM.

  12. #72
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Rio Grande

    If you have not used it, that's probably why " you don't get it".

    The breech lock is miles ahead of the old style Lee Hand Press.

    I can change 3 sets of dies in and out of the Breech lock before you
    can do one with the old style. Time is worth something.

  13. #73
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    I didn't know man could do such a thing ...

  14. #74
    Boolit Master nanuk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ben View Post
    Rio Grande

    If you have not used it, that's probably why " you don't get it".

    The breech lock is miles ahead of the old style Lee Hand Press.

    I can change 3 sets of dies in and out of the Breech lock before you
    can do one with the old style. Time is worth something.

    I kinda agree with Rio Grande.

    why would you need to change dies so quickly?

    do you load one at a time at the range? for developement?

    that is the only thing I can think of....
    and I want to get one specifically for that.

  15. #75
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I'm sorry, I just don't like screwing dies in and out of a press, I've been doing that very thing since 1965.

    That is the reason that I have a Lee Classic Turret and use the Lee Hand Held Breech Loc system, both afford me the pleasure of reloading without that task.

    If someone enjoys screwing dies in and out,....Well that's great also....... it is a big world with plenty of room for all of us.

  16. #76
    In Remembrance
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ben View Post
    I'm sorry, I just don't like screwing dies in and out of a press, I've been doing that very thing since 1965.

    That is the reason that I have a Lee Classic Turret and use the Lee Hand Held Breech Loc system, both afford me the pleasure of reloading without that task.

    If someone enjoys screwing dies in and out,....Well that's great also....... it is a big world with plenty of room for all of us.
    It is a big old world, you're right.
    Ben, your time must be mighty valuable.

    I use the Hand Press, maybe load 100 or 200 pc. lots.
    Do all the operations 100 or 200 pcs at a time.
    Just going slow, take 2 or three evenings.
    So I screw the dies in 3 or 4 times? In 2 or 3 days?

    To me, the breech lock is just an added part and an added expense.
    Why does Lee keeps 'improving' things, like they did with their hand priming tool, now the Hand Press? The old Lee tools were better.
    Simple is Good.

  17. #77
    Boolit Master Sonnypie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rio Grande View Post

    Does Lee still offer the 'old style' Hand Press, without the Breech-Lock?
    I don't think so. At least I can't find one.
    I did see here they offer the Classic Cast press in both versions.
    But you don't have to use the breech lock system. Leave the bushing in the press.
    Instead, just mount and dismount the dies into and out of the breech lock bushing that comes with the press.
    Nice and old fashioned like.
    No problem.

    My Lee hand press saw enough action in it's days to break one of the handles. It had been laying for a number of years idle. Put aside by the bigger and more wowzer machines in my little world.
    Then came casting, and then sizing those cast boolits. And the worn but tried and true Little Lee press again shown it can shine.
    So a place was made on the bench for it, and it is dedicated to sizing all cast boolits.

    The Lee Hand Press is a very good little press for folks starting out, or that want to try fine tuning loads at their favorite range. Personally, I work up my loads, then take batches to the range to shoot. I even did that with my 9mm loads made with the little fella.
    Mine allowed me to reload several hundreds of 9mm loads for a Browning High Power. (What I bought it for at the time.) I had it and what I needed in a smaller bag and could take it along anywhere and crunch rounds out.

    If I were to suggest any changes in it to Lee Precision it would be that they make standard that it, and all breech lock presses, come with at least 2 or 3 inserts.
    So the customer has the inserts for a die set from the start.
    God Bless America!

    Sittin here watchin the world go round and round...
    Much like a turd in a flushing toilet.

    Shoot for the eyes.
    If they are crawlin away, shoot for the key hole.

    NRA Life Member
    CRPA Life Member

    Magnificent!
    The basic flaw with Science is man.

  18. #78
    Boolit Master
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    Wife bought hers years ago and is the only press she uses for .380 acp which is all she loads.

    Got a Dillon and other bench mtd presses, but she refuses to use them, after 50 years of marriage I have learned when not to argue with her.

  19. #79
    DEADBEAT UNIQUEDOT's Avatar
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    Got a Dillon and other bench mtd presses, but she refuses to use them
    At least she isn't making you load her ammo with it (hand press).
    Gotta be time consuming to load .380's with the hand press...I'd constantly be spilling powder from the cases.

  20. #80
    Boolit Master
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    Just my own opinion but the Lee Handpress and the Lee Classic Loaders are the best stuff that Lee has ever produced. You can reload anywhere and both of these tools will fit nicely into my field bag.
    I always, always run out of ammo at the range. I just reload using my LCL and my handpress.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check