I purchased the Lee APP press a few years ago, and it was wonderful for depriming brass, and sizing bullets. It worked so well in fact that since then I have been going to buy another one so I do not have to convert over from depriming brass to sizing bullets. I finally purchased one last week. I got the APP deluxe because I had the roller handle and even though I was not going to use the priming option I figured I could take that off and put on a regular slide base. When I unpackaged it, I thought this feels lighter than the last one, but it’s been so long since I mounted the last one I wasn’t sure. I got to looking at the vertical slide rods. The new rods are made out of sheet steel rolled and not welded with a long threaded screw running through the center holding it down to the press. The old style were solid steel rods, drilled, and tapped at the end to hold bolts for mounting. The new rods are also quite a bit smaller in diameter than the old rods were.
There is also a cut out in the back, stamped connecting link. It is probably a holdover from one of the automatic priming presses that fed from the rear. This isn’t as big of a deal however, I’m sure some of the rigidity is gone from what once was not even a rigid press to begin with. There were a few other changes but nothing noteworthy.
I called Lee and they no longer support the old press. If you need parts to replace the old carriage or vertical rods, they will give you 50% off an upgraded new press to replace it.
In paid 75.00 for the original press and upgraded the handle for another 16.00. The one I bought last week I paid 99.00 for. I would have sprung for another 20.00 for a press like my original one. It just feels more solid….. for as solid as it can get with that type of press.
So disappointing Lee. Very disappointed in Lee. I think Lee streamlined instead of upgraded.