Aluminum bushing for Lee press replaces original steel bushing!
Aluminum breech lock bushing shown above with black finish, I have my doubts it will stand up to swaging pressures.
As many of you may know I am a big supporter of the Lee Classic Cast press for use with swaging our bullets. I have made everything from 17-50BMG cal bullets in it (while I don't recommend it for the BMG it was possible). While others may have broke an occasional lever clamp or at worst maybe a connecting link I have had zero problems or defects with every press I have used........
but...... with the last two presses I just recently received (must be new 2020 models) it seems they are now making the "Breech Lock" bushing adapter standard in the top of the press. Rather then a solid steel reducing bushing mounted in the top of the press that takes the 1 1/4-12 threads of the press down to the 7/8-14 threads of a typical reloading or my swage dies, it now has a breech lock bushing with a breech lock 7/8-14 bushing screwed into it.
I am sure this is fine for reloading but I know we have seen a few of these breech lock bushings broken from the force and strain of swagin in the past and those where the steel inserts as I recal!
The worst part is this breech lock bushing is MADE FROM FRICKEN ALUMINUM! Come on Lee! The Classic Cast was the one good thing you had going, don't screw it up with this!
I plan to do everything I can to let Lee know my dissatisfaction with this obvious cost cutting idea. I already tried to go to their parts list page and order the replacement original all steel bushing but haven't found it yet. I can certainly obtain other reducing bushings no problem but I certainly don't recommend any of us count on this crap aluminum bushing to hold up for swaging, maybe I'm wrong and maybe there are those of use out there already using this set up with success but I sure don't like the change.
I still plan to offer, support and recommend the lee press for nearly all our swaging needs but I'll be making sure this bushing is of all steel construction on anything I use or offer!
I'll have pics uploaded soon.
new breech lock aluminum bushing on left, original all steel bushing on right
BT