Anybody use the Lee handpress loader or the Lee classic reloader

[huntersdog]

Was interested in looking into trying one of the Lee hand presses and one of the Lee classic loaders. Any feedback on them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[jcren]

I have the Lee classic cast and love it. I have never had a problem with anything from lee, as long as it is used within reason. Want to full length resize 338 Lapua for 1000 yard? Might wanna shop around.

[Beagle333]

I have two of the hand presses. I love them! And I have a few Lee loaders.... they are really handy as well. I have paid for the .38 special Lee Loader about 1000 times over in savings over factory loads.

[chsparkman]

I often use the Lee hand press for sizing or expanding cases while watching TV in my easy chair. I've never used it for seating and crimping, but it should work very well for that.

[jmort]

I have/use both. The Breechlock Handpress is most useful and I occasionally break out the Lee Loaders.

[dead dog]

If you get classic loader you are stuck with one caliber. The hand press is okay if space is a big problem. If you are starting out the breech lock kit has most of what you need. It will all fit in 5 gallon bucket.

[Bayou52]

I use the Lee hand press when I want to work from the couch rather than the bench. I only use it for those few functions that don't require much force - decapping and flaring mostly. Would work for FL sizing but given the exta force required, the hand press would get tiresome to use especially if sizing numerous cases.

Bayou52

[duckey]

My first ever press was the lee hand press. Reloaded a it 3000 rounds with it, from .38, .40, 9mm and 30-30. I used the Lee hand primer instead of the priming arm that comes with it. I would reload in stages of 100....resize/deprime, then hand prime, then fill with powder with the cases on a tray then seat/crimp bullets. I got pretty fast with it. I now had a lee classic press the $75 one. Bought the classic cast one but thought it was over kill and a bit more than I wanted to spend.

[Bjornb]

The hand press is very practical if you're experimenting with seating depths and your range (like mine) doesn't allow for mounting a press to the loading bench. Load long at home, then seat to various depths at the range.

[kenyerian]

I use the hand press for developing new loads and for fine tuning. Also it's handy for taking camping, using for depriming, etc.

[GhostHawk]

I currently have 3 press's, my favorite by far is the Lee Breechlock hand press. You will spend some money getting bushings for all your dies, but in my opinion it is way way worth it.

I also have a C shaped press with a tapered alum handle and a round ball on the end. I suspect it is cast aluminum. It is mounted upside down and pretty much all it does is size boolits and crimp on gas checks. Which is why it is upside down. Let go of the boolit, it falls into the sizing die, gravity holds check in place till the arm comes down. Ice cream pail underneath to catch.

The last is a newer sort of a squared D shape with a fancy linkage. Handle is a round steel shaft.
It is not a breech lock, but appears to be newer. Is missing the aluminum plate that is supposed to catch primers.
That doesn't bother me. Mostly my Lee Flare tool lives there, but I do sometimes do large bottle necked brass sizing in it.
(7.62x54r)

Frankly I like all 3.

The hand press is nice in that I can sit in my computer chair and size brass, or load boolits into charged cases while I watch a Youtube video. I also have a RCBS Hand primer (Off all the hand primer units this one got the fewest negative reviews)

If you have cleaned, sized, primed cases you can take the hand press to the range, and load and shoot on the fly.
That to me is a nice option to have, can be a real time saver if you have far to go to a range. Biggest hurdle to that is
finding a way to have premeasured powder charges labeled, and safe for transport. I have been saving all our medicine bottles. One of the drugs my wife and I are both on is a blood pressure med called Bystolic, price is through the roof and insurance declines to cover it, so we have been getting mostly samples for the last 2 years. Each bottle has a weeks worth, so we have a few bottles to play with. Was thinking those nickle sized stick on labels would be perfect to stick on the cap to record charges.

Sorry I slid off topic there.

I love all 3 of my Lee Presses, but the last one I'd let go of would be the hand press. It will do it all, just need some good sizing lube for larger bottle neck rifle cases.

[opos]

I've got both the breechlock model of handpress and also the breech lock model of the classic cast press...use them both ...sometimes it's too warm to load in the garage where my press is so I can do case prep, etc in the house...I have not tried to use the hand press for rifle rounds as i think sizing could be a problem but I've loaded a ton of 45 Colt and 38 and 357 mag with it...one thing...the breech lock adapters make it easy to change dies but they do not allow you to move dies from the hand press to the classic cast press and have the settings be correct...you can take the dies out of either one and put them back in that same press and all is good..but if you would move the dies from the hand press to the classic cast you have to set it up again....not a big deal but be aware....The hand press has allowed me to do load development, take it to the range on occasion and generally is one of those tools that sits a lot and then all of a sudden it's time to get it out and use it.

[opos]

If you get classic loader you are stuck with one caliber. The hand press is okay if space is a big problem. If you are starting out the breech lock kit has most of what you need. It will all fit in 5 gallon bucket.

Think the OP does not mean the "Lee Loader" (whack a mole) but the Lee hand press which uses standard dies, etc. and works for all calibers, not just one like the whack a mole tool....here is a link to the hand press:

http://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

[35 shooter]

I've used nothing but a lee hand press for years now for both rifle and pistol. Love the freedom of a kit i can load anywhere anytime with.

[rockrat]

When I was single and loaded while in my comfy chair, I usually used handpresses. Would take a 50 cal ammo can with the press/dies/bullets/lee primer tool and powder/lil dandy measure in it, to my IHMSA matches and reload while waiting for shoot again. You get some pretty good muscles using the things if you load alot.

[2wheelDuke]

I have a Lee hand press that I use occasionally. Like the others said, I use mine when I want to do some case prep away from my regular loading bench. I use it mostly for decapping or flaring cases, but I'll also use it to size boolits. It's easy to turn the hand press upside down to drop boolits into the die and punch them thru.

[besk]

I've used nothing but a lee hand press for years now for both rifle and pistol. Love the freedom of a kit i can load anywhere anytime with.

Same here! Even sold my RCBS Rockchucker years ago.

[pworley1]

I use the Lee hand press to de-prime and expand my brass.

[Green Frog]

I used one of the basic Lee hand presses for loading at the range for a year or two and if I hadn't found one of the now-discontinues Huntington Die Specialties Compac presses, I'd probably still be using it... I'm not sure the HDS was enough of an upgrade to merit looking for one, but it is a little bit nicer finished. For individual loading for a single caliber, it's still pretty hard to beat the old "Whack-a-Mole" Lee Loader, if that was indeed part of your question, but buying separate complete kits for each caliber is a little strange.


Froggie

[knfmn]

The first reloading I ever did was .308 with the Lee loader. I had an absolute blast doing it. You'll never set any speed records, but it sure is fun.

[gwpercle]

I found the Lee Hand Press so useful, I bought a second. I do more reloading and case prep with them than with my two bench mounted presses.
They can be stored in a tool box with everything to reload with. I keep one in a gym bag with dies, powder, powder measure, primers and bullets...Take it to work and reload in my office...they are sweet.
No problem reloading any handgun and 30-30 and 308 winchester. But...full length resizing some 303 British , fired in max. sized chambers of war surplus Lee-Enfields...the leverage just wasn't there. Had to use the bench mounted Pacific Super C with it's compound linkage for that. But that's the only time the little hand press could not do the job asked.
Get one, in fact get the kit. My first kit had the press, dies, lube , primer seater and powder scoop all for a reasonable price. Ordered it from Midway.
These setups are great for someone with no place for a bench. I do a lot of reloading at kitchen table, easy chair, on the bed, at the computer desk at home...in my office at work...
Checked Midway...kit no longer includes dies but it's still a good outfit.
Gary

[405WIN]

Two years ago I had an accident at work where I broke my heel bone in 12 places. I could not put any weight on it for 14 weeks. I knew I was going to have to spend a lot of time on the couch so I purchased a LEE hand press. With it I spent may an enjoyable hour loading various cartridges from 416 Ruger on down. It resized all of them with very little effort. I would watch an old black and white movie and pound out 50 rounds in that time frame. I would use a hand tool to seat the primers and LEE powder scoops to charge the cases.
I always thought I would take it to the range with me to load small batches while I was shooting. Still have not done that or in fact even used it since I regained the use of my foot.
I love the little thing anyway !

[MT Chambers]

Broke your heel in 12 places? Stay out of those places! No really, those Lee handpresses are pretty flimsy and won't stand up to any of my F.L. sizing, they are okay for light duty work in front of the TV or at the range, although I prefer my 310 tools for that type of thing esp. the ones with steel handles.

[Lefty Red]

I never had any problems with my Hand Press. It was the first press I could afford when I first started reloading, the 41 Magnum. When I got divorced and had to sell everything and start all over, I got a Hand Press again. Used the Lee Loaders for 45/70 and 303 for building up a load at the range. Great items and never bought any "real" dies since for those calibers.

If I had one today, I would skip the Breech Lock version and replace the breech srew with a Hornady LNL bushing and use them.. The Hornady bushing is better and cheaper.

Jerry

[popper]

Classic cast standard. Handpress is great for that case not prepped right or whatever while you are loading - just move the shell holder & go. Don't bother trying to resize MG fired 308W.

[Ben]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?122342-In-praise-of-the-Lee-Hand-Press

[GhostHawk]

I am currently sitting here with 3 presses, a classic cast mounted inverted for bullet sizing, a bigger square D shape press that looks and feels like alum. And my hand press with the breech lock.

In I pinch I'd sell the others and keep the hand press. With it and a supply of the breech lock bushings you can do anything.

I will say that if you are full length resizing full sized cartridges get some imperial sizing wax.

I will never sell mine, or allow it out of my sight. Not without money in hand to replace it.

[mexicanjoe]

I've got both!!!! I take my hand press to the range to work up loads on .223 and hand gun calibers! I take my components and drop everything off at the range table and start shooting nd testing.... When I first started I had a .45 ACP and .38 spl Lee loader that I wore out my plastic hammer with. Loads of fun when you're starting out.... And if you want to introduce someone to reloading, there is no better way than the Lee Loader!! One pkg of primers, some powder Ina medicine bottle,a handful of boolit s and some cases; and you are ready to teach someone to reload their own ammo! You should see the pride in their face when they crank off the first reloads and find out how little it costs!! Then you show them how EASY IT IS TO CAST BOOLITS!!!!! And how much cheaper reloading is!!!, Then you have made a true friend!!! My closest friends reloaders and casters of BOOLITS !!!!!!!

[3006guns]

The Lee hand press is a "handy bit of kit" as our British cousins would say. It allows you the flexibility of 7/8 x 14 dies, whereas the Lee Classic Reloader (whack a mole) is limited to one caliber and neck sizing only. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but you can perform many more tasks with the standard size dies, and what did it cost you? About thirty bucks?

Like many here, I started with the Lee Classic Reloader but developed an immediate fear of setting off a primer using the hammer technique. Probably not a valid concern, but I went on to a standard bench press. I purchased my first Lee hand press out of curiosity later on and found it to be a very handy tool.

If there is one criticism of the hand press, it's that the links for the ram are somewhat thin. I've never broken mine, despite some pretty hefty sizing tasks, but if I did I would simply replace them with slightly heavier stock from any hardware store.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I've got three of the handpresses and use them for various tasks. They work well for me and offer a change of pace that is welcome from time to time. The only complaint I've had is in the size/decap work where it is to me a nuisance to have to pull the shell holder to empty the spent primers. They're fun to use and the compactness and portability are convenient for me. LLS

[huntersdog]

The Lee hand press seems like it is very very popular amongst the folks here. Amongst it being very portable and is also good exercise for the hands and arms before shooting. I really appreciate all the feedbacks on the Lee hand loader. The Lee loader is the direction that I am going to head in, I love the idea of it being portable to use anywhere.

[sthwestvictoria]

The Lee loader is a great way to learn the steps of loading. A set of scales and a vernier caliper and you are ready to load. A tip with cast and the loader is to sit the projectile on the loaded case then seat, rather than dropping it down the through the seating die as you would with jacketed.

[Hogtamer]

I loaded 50 - .270s on Monday. Used the hand press while standing at the kitchen table laying it flat on big book. Used the Lee loader to finish, hand weighing each charge. It was 100* outside and just a good day to stay cool and not be in a hurry. OOOOH some pretty loads!

[SWMO1]

Started reloading .38s with the "whack a mole" almost 40 years ago. Have progressed to other presses since, however the hand press would be convenient to take to camp or even trying different loads at the shooting bench.

[kywoodwrkr]

Guess I'll have to wait for update from OP as I thought OP was asking about the hand press and the classic Lee loader in a box.
ie. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Classic-Lee-Loader/733635.uts

[Lead Fred]

I have Lee Classic Loaders in shoulder bags for just about every caliber I have, 38/357, 45acp, 30-30, 45/60 & 30-06
Good for the range, and just like the shooters from 100s of years ago.
I can carry a reloading system for any caliber I wish to take to the field

[tomo]

I have a handpress.

I think it can barely handle 30-06 but is small for such a caliber. And it will be a muscle training when neck resizing for me.
And I could not make full length resizing with it. (I have only rifles, and no pistols.)

So I use this press for outdoor reloading with brass resized already done by other press.

[GhostHawk]

Tomo sir, I have 3 words of advice for you.

Imperial sizing wax.

[tomo]

I have and use it. Nice product. It works perfect for usual press.
I think I need muscle training.

Thanks though.