Hand Press

[Freestate101]

Is Lee the only company offering a hand press? I would like to have a quality hand press for loading pre sized brass at the range, rather than loading a bunch of ammo at home and then finding that none of it shoots well at the range.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[yat3b35]

Is Lee the only company offering a hand press? I would like to have a quality hand press for loading pre sized brass at the range, rather than loading a bunch of ammo at home and then finding that none of it shoots well at the range.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi Jim and WELCOME HOME BROTHER ! I have the Lee hand press and find it to work ok,except for re sizing the case. Another option would be to use an arbor press to seat your bullets at the range. I prime my cases and take the arbor press and seating die with me to the range, along with my other goodies, powder, scale, etc. I don't know of any other hand press, but maybe someone else does. John

 

[Freestate101]

Thanks for the reply John, I have given some thought to the Lee hand held loader for just such a purpose. Instead of taking my scales and powder to the range I plan on buying some 3/8' clear plastic tubing, cutting it to length and buying the optional caps for each end. I will label the tubes with powder type and charge weight, fill them with powder and store them in an ammo box. That way I can have several pre-weighed charges on hand to experiment with. The ones that don't show promise will be dumped back in the powder bottle when I return from the range. I am aware of the dangers of inadvertently mixing the powders when doing this, but will solve this by using different ammo boxes for each powder with corresponding color coded stickers on the boxes, tubes, and powder bottles. The press will be used just for seating purposes. Let me know your thoughts on this idea, as I'm sure others have thought of or tried this before.

Jim

 

[Preacher]

If all your going to do at the range is seat bullets you would be better served with a Wilson seater die, and a small plastic mallet to do your bullet seating.
It will load very accurate ammo......

 

[Winchester69]

I would like to have a quality hand press for loading pre-sized brass at the range....

I believe this might be what you're asking about:

www.meachamrifles.com/store.php?id=5

I understand,don't use one myself) that the Lee tool is used quite successfully by the BR people, i.e., good run-out figures. Lyman in the past offered a similar tool in the Acculine press, but it never attracted a following; I've heard it described as an embarrassment.

I would experiment with the Lee tool before investing in the Meacham. You might do searches to get some commentary by the users of both tools.

 

[Freestate101]

Thanks Winchester69, I ordered one of the Lee handloaders a little while ago. I had read s review online that stated the frames were made from aluminum, but found one advertised as steel frame for $30.84 shipped and insured. Will give it a shot and see how it works for seating at the range.

Jim

 

[sparkyr99]

I use the lee hand press for seating bullets on sized primed cases at the range all the time. It's the aluminum frame model, works great. seating bullets doesn't require the same force as sizing so strength isn't really an issue.

 

[sparkyr99]

Hey, FREESTATE, you from the topeka area?

 

[Freestate101]

sparkyr99, no I'm from north central Virginia, grew up in an area of Fauquier County where the folks shot tax collectors and prohibition agents up till the mid 40's. That's where the name 'Freestate' is derived from,we could use a little of their spunk right about now!).

Jim

 

[sparkyr99]

That's a little farther away than it thought, freestate is a term used around the eastern kansas area. goes back to the civil war era. well get the lee loader,for those who would rather spend $$ on bullets rather than toys. it can't be beat for around 20 bucks.

 

[Winchester69]

...found one advertised as a steel frame....

Lee doesn't say what they're making these presses from. Please let us know what yours is when you've received it. Thanks.