Lee Hand Press - Should I be Interested?

drband

drband

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I’m curious how many folks have one and how often they use it, and for what calibers.

Is it mostly just a novelty—or a tool that I should have?

I know bench mounted presses are faster, so what’s the big draw?
 
Reloadron said:
I assume you refer to "The Classic Lee Loader". I have used them but not for more years than I care to remember. Do they work? Yes, they work just fine. I have and still use an old Lee O press and an RCBS rock chucker as to single stage presses. I just haven't a need for one, not in years.

Ron
Click to expand...
Not the classic Lee loader.
The Lee (Breech Lock) Hand press. The originals did not use the breech lock bushings, but all current production ones do.
https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

And I guess all the factory seconds are gone—no longer listed.
 
I started out with one loading 45 Colt. I still use it for small batches when my other press is set up for another caliber. Only thing I found I couldn’t do with it is resize 50AE-just not enough leverage. As mentioned, great for depriming while enjoying a beverage on the deck.
 
I took it that the OP was referring to this.

Lee Hand Press
https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html

A couple of decades ago, my job required that I live somewhere for a year or two and then move somewhere else. That meant that I was moving from apartment to apartment. Luckily in gun friendly states.

I was able to continue reloading while moving from apartment to apartment by using a Lee hand press. I loaded 38 special, 45 ACP and 8mm Mauser with that hand press. It served me well and I still have it. However, since I now live in one place with a permanent reloading setup, I seldom use it. However, when I had limited space to reload, it worked well for that.
 
I’ve had one for over 25 years. I almost never use it, because it largely sucks. The only time I have had mine out in recent memory has been when I am hydroforming brass and using the scissor press for depriming and repriming with a hand primer, cycling the same 20-50 spent primers into 400-500+ cases for forming, outside where I can be wet and wild without worry.
 
On my service discharge in 1971, I started reloading .357 with one. I still have it although I not have touched it since very soon thereafter. I just about wore my hands out trying to keep up with my revolver. Even my youthfulness couldn’t overlook pain versus gain. I was into a turret press very quickly and never looked back.

It did load some decent ammo. But, I’d hate to think about reloading even a small rifle case with one.
 
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drband said:
I’m curious how many folks have one and how often they use it, and for what calibers.

Is it mostly just a novelty—or a tool that I should have?

I know bench mounted presses are faster, so what’s the big draw?
Click to expand...
I have had mine for thirty years or so. I use it for full handloading - start to finish - of pistol ammo from my own revolvers. The brass is typically pretty clean straight from the range so a wipe with a cloth is fine. Most of my revolver loads are pretty light so brass is easy to resize. If I’m using a familiar load, I use the RamPrime and Lee dippers so I don’t even need a scale. I can sit back in a comfy folding chair and put together a box of ammo in a shady spot.
Maybe other folks got no use for anything less than a motorized machine they run in the deep, dark recesses of their cave. But to me…
index.php

The world is my reloading room and the little hand press is real handy. Especially if I don’t feel like hauling the stool mounted RCBS Partner out.
 
The idea to being able to reload one round makes this very appealing…that said, I learned on the classic (whack a mole). Someone here on THR earlier said…’you have not lived until you set primers with a hammer…’

I own several classics for no other reason I can reload one round with a rock, if needed….
 
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GeoDudeFlorida said:
I have had mine for thirty years or so. I use it for full handloading - start to finish - of pistol ammo from my own revolvers. The brass is typically pretty clean straight from the range so a wipe with a cloth is fine. Most of my revolver loads are pretty light so brass is easy to resize. If I’m using a familiar load, I use the RamPrime and Lee dippers so I don’t even need a scale. I can sit back in a comfy folding chair and put together a box of ammo in a shady spot.
Maybe other folks got no use for anything less than a motorized machine they run in the deep, dark recesses of their cave. But to me…
index.php

The world is my reloading room and the little hand press is real handy. Especially if I don’t feel like hauling the stool mounted RCBS Partner out.
Click to expand...

Nice reloading room!!
 
drband said:
I’m curious how many folks have one and how often they use it, and for what calibers.

Is it mostly just a novelty—or a tool that I should have?

I know bench mounted presses are faster, so what’s the big draw?
Click to expand...
I got mine for a good price last yr compared to today, needed a new press and it works fine for hand gun brass but 30-06 was a little more work than I wanted, I use it now solely for flaring revolver brass and leave the die in it, I only load for 357mag/38sp and it works great for that, bought an O frame press, I do really like the hand press, it paid for itself for me not having to change the die all the time, Ron.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
I have had mine for thirty years or so. I use it for full handloading - start to finish - of pistol ammo from my own revolvers. The brass is typically pretty clean straight from the range so a wipe with a cloth is fine. Most of my revolver loads are pretty light so brass is easy to resize. If I’m using a familiar load, I use the RamPrime and Lee dippers so I don’t even need a scale. I can sit back in a comfy folding chair and put together a box of ammo in a shady spot.
Maybe other folks got no use for anything less than a motorized machine they run in the deep, dark recesses of their cave. But to me…
index.php

The world is my reloading room and the little hand press is real handy. Especially if I don’t feel like hauling the stool mounted RCBS Partner out.
Click to expand...
Florida… you don’t know how good you got it. Is that a Haw Haw tree! One day man, One day
 
I use mine when working up loads at the range. Lee dippers, and a small electronic scale along with the necessary components fit in a small tackle box. I figure is should be handy should the SHTF and I have to bug out.
 
Fyrstyk said:
I use mine when working up loads at the range. Lee dippers, and a small electronic scale along with the necessary components fit in a small tackle box. I figure is should be handy should the SHTF and I have to bug out.
Click to expand...
SHTF …. Lee Loaders x2
 
I'm still using my original lee priming tool with the screw in shell holders. Picked up shell holders at gun shows as needed.
 
I use the Lyman 310 "tong" tools on occasion. They are similar in concept to the Lee. I consider them primarily a novelty. They do work, but are slow. For any "real" loading I use a "real" press - but I do occasionally get into the mood to sit by the fire and do a bit of loading "the old fashioned way", and such tools are a perfect way to spend a pleasant hour. Anything more than "refilling the belt loops", though - say a couple of dozen cartridges - causes the novelty to wear off...
 
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