Lee Hand Press

[Whiterook808]

I started loading with a Lee 3-hole Deluxe Turret press. I lived in a studio apartment, so space was really limited and I could not setup anything permanently. I bought a plastic reloading stand from Midway which broke down into three pieces and would fit in the closet with the press mounted to the top piece. You could have it assembled in less than a minute. It wasn't very sturdy, but I was able to turn out ammo at a pretty good pace with that setup. That was back in the '80's but this is pretty much the same thing:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012990499/frankford-arsenal-portable-reloading-stand

You will need to weigh the base down, and I bought a stool of the right height to go with it.

 

[Keyfer 55]

I also have a ideal 310 , I use it a lot for .357
Mag. and 06 . Hand press works for me!!

 

[Old Stumpy]

I once lived in a small apartment and really could not set up a reloading bench. However I did own a quite small free standing bookcase someone had made out of hardwood. It was only about 24" wide and had screw-in cheapo legs. I removed the legs and bolted 2x4 feet on to the bottom that projected forwards about 14" from the edge. The height was similar to a table. I bolted my RCBS JR3 to it and used it as a tiny reloading bench. I just put one foot on one of the feet to hold it steady on the up stroke. The feet kept the bench supported on the down stroke.
It really took up no space at all.

 

[troy fairweather]

i broke my lee hand press last year, i should send it in and see what they do. i loaded a massive amount of ammo with that thing and decaped many more, i used it at the range a lot to. funny thing is what broke it was neck sizing a 308 win.

 

[adcoch1]

i broke my lee hand press last year, i should send it in and see what they do. i loaded a massive amount of ammo with that thing and decaped many more, i used it at the range a lot to. funny thing is what broke it was neck sizing a 308 win.

Send it back, you'll probably get a new one!
I started with the Lee whack a mole die set in 30-06, and other than the noise I would rather use those sets than the hand press. I load 44 special that way still, but I mosly prime with an rcbs hand primer. I still think about a hand press though for my mobile kit...

 

[Christopher 761]

I have a lee single stage C press (about $35) that I bolted to a 2x4. The 2x4 is running away from the face of the press. Really easy to use big c clamps to fix it to a table or bench or a black and decker workmate. For marathon depriming, I put the 2x4 under my left leg, and the 2x4 runs over my right leg. And then I can operate the universal deprimer. Some spent primers do fall on the floor.

Even after you move on to a Dillon 1050, that single stage press will always come in handy. For example, sizing your hand cast 357 through a lee push through sizing die.

If you are going to neck size too many rifle rounds, I would go with something more beefy. Mounted to a bench, the Lee Single Stage C press is quite capable for a small run of pistol ammo or some rifle rounds.

 

[troy fairweather]

Send it back, you'll probably get a new one!
I started with the Lee whack a mole die set in 30-06, and other than the noise I would rather use those sets than the hand press. I load 44 special that way still, but I mosly prime with an rcbs hand primer. I still think about a hand press though for my mobile kit...

ya i got to send it in one day, i should take some photos and make a thread on it. it can hurt someone when they break, my dads friend broke one years ago and cut his leg good. that's the only one i've seen broken other then mine. both were the aluminum, i would think the iron is better. the lee wack-a-mold set are nice, i only have a 243 set, but makes good fun out in the field to reload.

 

[adcoch1]

ya i got to send it in one day, i should take some photos and make a thread on it. it can hurt someone when they break, my dads friend broke one years ago and cut his leg good. that's the only one i've seen broken other then mine. both were the aluminum, i would think the iron is better. the lee wack-a-mold set are nice, i only have a 243 set, but makes good fun out in the field to reload.

I have a 9mm, a 38/357, a 44 spcl/44mag, and a broken 30-06 set. Looking for a few other ones too, I like them, but a mobile press would be cool too.

 

[troy fairweather]

I have a 9mm, a 38/357, a 44 spcl/44mag, and a broken 30-06 set. Looking for a few other ones too, I like them, but a mobile press would be cool too.

what ones are you looking for, i will ask around. they are really underappreciated.

 

[troy fairweather]

made a thread about my broken lee.

 

[Ireload2]

Reloading is not a good activity to do in small increments here and there.
I load on batches and have developed a set of habits that permit me to keep things straight but if you are new It is not such a good way to learn.
I had no work space starting out over 50 years ago. Back then most TVs came in a nice furniture cabinet. I found a dead TV and removed the tube and electronics chassis.
I mounted a basic C press on the TV cabinet and stacked the interior full of bricks to weight it down.
It worked fine and was semi-portable after a fashion. My kids were never an impediment to my loading. They simply saw it as another boring activity like doing dishes and they never bothered anything.