loading 500 S&W with lee hand press?

[BullRunBear]

A friend just got a 500 S&W with the 8 3/8" barrel, strictly as a fun range toy. Most of his shooting is with 9mm and 22lr. He also found 100 rounds of ammo. We've discussed getting him started in reloading and the 500 S&W is a good reason to begin given ammo cost and availability. My friend's son and new daughter-in-law (an avid shooter) want to learn reloading as well. I plan to suggest the Lee Challenger press since he isn't interested in progressives, preferring to keep things simpler with a single stage approach. (I agree.) I can set him up with the rest of the gear using items I've picked up at swap meets and yard sales over the years.

My question is: can 500 S&W cases be easily sized on a Lee hand press? I've used one for cases up to 44 magnum but not larger. I use my hand press a lot and think my friend would appreciate the portability, especially for case prep. The hand press kit is inexpensive and would be a good adjunct with the Challenger press.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[Typetwelve]

I'll say this...first off, I don't load 500, second, I've never used a Lee hand loader...

...but I do reload 460 S&W.

It takes considerable effort to resize fired brass on my RCBS rockchucker. I really do not think I'd like trying to size something like that by hand.

 

[readyeddy]

It can be done easily with the hand press, but you need to use lube, even though you're using carbide dies and the 500 is a handgun cartridge.

If I load 44 mag on the hand press without lube, it's very difficult for me. But with lube, no problem.

 

[forty_caliber]

I load for the 500sw. It takes enough force to size (even lubed) that I don't bother with the short arm on the Forster CO-AX, instead I use the Redding BB2 for this one.

Secondly, the Lee Handpress (I started with one of these) is an exercise in frustration as the most generous praise that I can muster. Surely it would be better to start off some new comers with better equipment as first impressions are lasting ones.

.40

 

[edwardware]

Add case lube, best is Imperial Wax, and they'll slide right in there easy, assuming a carbide die.

Now, I'd still get any bench-mounted press before the Lee Hand Press, but it's definitely possible with case lube.

 

[Typetwelve]

I load for the 500sw. It takes enough force to size (even lubed) that I don't bother with the short arm on the Forster CO-AX, instead I use the Redding BB2 for this one.

Secondly, the Lee Handpress (I started with one of these) is an exercise in frustration as the most generous praise that I can muster. Surely it would be better to start off some new comers with better equipment as first impressions are lasting ones.

.40

Yeah...I'd get them started on a solid single stage and decent set of dies for the 500.

 

[WestKentucky]

Challenger is what I gave my dad a few years ago. I would suggest it, a used iron single stage, or a lee turret and remove the gear. Either is a much easier press to use with the base being mounted and the arm of the press being longer which means even more additional mechanical advantage over the hand press.

 

[.38 Special]

I have sized the .500 Magnum on as small a press as the RCBS "Partner". With a carbide die and Imperial wax, it works, but it feels abusive. It takes roughly twice the effort as, say, the .44 Magnum.

I imagine that the Lee hand press might manage it, though I expect it wouldn't take much of it to wear out the press, the user, or both.

I actually use the Challenger almost exclusively when loading the .500...

 

[Pat Riot]

Lee Hand Press? Nope
Lee Breech Lock Challenger? Yes

BUT...the Lee powder measure, primer tool and scale have a lot to be desired.
I would recommend a complete RCBS Rock Chucker set up at a minimum for new reloaders.

I have the Lee single stage press above and like it just fine but all my other accessories are RCBS. The breech lock system is pretty cool but you have to buy the breech lock adapters for every set of dies for it to pay off in the time of setting up each die.

 

[Bill M.]

I doubt that a person that buys a S & W .500 is going to want to use a wimpy little hand press.

I have never tried a Lee hand press. I do really like reloading on a solidly mounted press that functions well.

 

[BullRunBear]

Thanks to all for the good advice. I'm going to suggest the Challenger press which is both adequate for the job and available. A used turret press would also work if one could be found. (I've been using my factory second turret press for 35 years now.) The hand press is out for now although it's handy for decapping brass in an easy chair.

I was surprised that most single stage and turret presses are out of stock. Same for dies. Not a surprise for more common carry and home defense rounds but I didn't expect it for 500 S&W magnum. Fortunately, new brass and some hard cast bullets are available, at least for the moment. Primers are always a problem for now but I can give him a couple hundred as needed. That's why I buy extra when supplies are good.

+1 for the Imperial Sizing Wax. Great stuff. I use it for resizing 45 Colt, 45-70 and rifle brass and it makes a huge difference.

Thanks again for the help.

Jeff

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm confused here. The Lee Challenger (https://www.ebay.com/itm/273217129081 ) is one thing, the Lee Hand Press (https://www.ebay.com/itm/233064569486 ) is another.

The Challenger is a bench mounted press, and you can do about anything with it. I spent about 18 months living in a tiny apartment outside Detroit and had no room for reloading gear. I kept a Lee Hand Press, dies, etc, in a tool box in the closet. By the time I left, I had deltoids like Arnold Schwarzenegger's big brother, Bruno.

 

[BullRunBear]

Hi Vern,
I wasn't equating the two presses. I always planned to suggest a bench mounted press. My friend has his own house and space isn't a problem but hoped the hand press would be a useful addition for the sake of portability. But even with Imperial sizing wax that's asking a lot of the hand press. And I doubt he wants his daughter-in-law to look like a Schwarzenegger. Challenger press it is.

BTW, The ram prime that comes with the Lee hand press kit works really well. Not fast, but effective.

Jeff

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Hi Vern,
I wasn't equating the two presses. I always planned to suggest a bench mounted press. My friend has his own house and space isn't a problem but hoped the hand press would be a useful addition for the sake of portability. But even with Imperial sizing wax that's asking a lot of the hand press. And I doubt he wants his daughter-in-law to look like a Schwarzenegger. Challenger press it is.

BTW, The ram prime that comes with the Lee hand press kit works really well. Not fast, but effective.

Jeff

What threw me off is the title of the thread -- "Hand Press."

 

[gotboostvr]

I used one of the Lee Hand Presses for years with the 500mag. It's a good forearm workout for sure.

Can't say it's ideal, but it works just fine. It's not a cartridge I'd reload hundreds of at a time, so that helps.

 

[dh1633pm]

I reloaded 7.62x54 and 8 MM Mauser on the Lee Hand Press. Never tried the 500 S&W. No longer have the hand press, moved up to a Co-Ax and a C&H. I still have a hand press, but it is the Buchanan Hand Press which has more leverage. Seems like it would work. Straight wall and all.

 

[hossfly]

I pretty much stopped using my bench press for that hand press and have converted 3006 to 7x57 with it. It will work fine. And you can use it in front of the TV.

 

[watermonger]

I bought a Hornady classic LnL for reloading .500 S&W, resizing didn't seem particularly difficult on the well mounted bench press, but I'd imagine it'd be pretty taxing with nothing solid to get leverage off of. Those hand presses are pretty cheap... I kinda wanna buy one now just to see what its like trying to load .500 with that...

 

[readyeddy]

I resize 06 with my hand press and it works fine. Not saying it’s easier than a bench mounted press, but it’s not difficult. It’s just another option.

 

[Bill M.]

I reload to get out of my ezy chair and away from the television set.

 

[hossfly]

I reload to get out of my ezy chair and away from the television set.

I understand. It's just an option.

I don't charge cases in front of the TV. But lets be honest, a lot of brass preparation is about as exiting as watching paint dry. Having the TV helps me with those chores.