[Havok7416]

I have been using my Lee Hand Press for pistol test loads for awhile now. I am just starting to use it for the same purpose with rifle rounds but I am not sure how to add powder. I use Lee pistol dies which come with a powder-through die but these are not in the rifle kits. If anyone has any ideas I'm all ears.

[joecil]

Sorry I'm not following this, are you using something other than Lee dies? I have Lee rifle dies and they come with a powder through die like the pistol dies do.

[Havok7416]

I am trying to load for .22 Hornet but all I have is a set of collet dies. I can't find the powder-through die for sale.
ETA: I found a universal powder-through die but it isn't in my .30-06 kit or my .22 Hornet kit. Normally I reload using a Dillon 550B so this isn't a problem.

[Certaindeaf]

That would be about like a can of worms on the hand press. Just charge them in blocks and seat the bullets with a seater die.

[Havok7416]

I have blocks but the funnel I have is too big for a .22 size case. I am currently looking at alternative funnels.

[FROGO207]

I took the Lee funnel and cut the bottom off so that it fits the .22 Hornet while in the loading block. Also I made a shallow custom block out of some good looking maple that worked much better than the generic plastic one that had too large sized holes and were really deep.

[Havok7416]

I don't see how cutting the bottom helps. Wouldn't that just make the funnel larger?

[Certaindeaf]

You can't/don't want to cut off the funnel if the neck of the hornet will go through the funnel side of the drop hole.

[Certaindeaf]

Most gunpowder funnels are for .22 through .45.. you can use the same funnel for .22-.45. You might have to cut one if the shoulder interferes with the seal/interface of case mouth/funnel mouth.

Here's one showing the tapered drop tube common to reloading funnels.

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4516893332801182&pid=1.7&w=216&h=154&c=7&rs=1

This one has the same thing but with a straight outside wall.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31fwT36oagL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[FROGO207]

^^^^ I cut off the bottom of the neck on the funnel bottom leaving approximately 1/4 inch below the end of the cone. FYI the hole in the bottom of the funnel of the Lee brand is .227 and the outside of a FC or RWS Hornet brass is .234 so it will not fall through the hole.:) BUT my RCBS funnel will allow the neck of the Hornet brass to pass up into the cone part.:eek:

I have several funnels from different companies.

[Certaindeaf]

How did you charge pistol with your hand press? Did you use a funnel and dippers or a powder measure screwed into the through-die?

I mainly use a Lyman 55 for block charging.. works good and came with a good selection of tapered drop tubes.

[Havok7416]

I have the straight wall design. It doesn't look like I will be able to charge the cases while they are in the press.

[Certaindeaf]

With bottleneck rifle and the handpress it seems to me it'd just be makework.. you'd have to change out an extra die.. nevermind.
Normally rifle reloading is a two die/process step.. after they are sized and primed, charge in blocks and seat the bullet. Using a three die setup in a handpress just seems awkward and slow.

[FROGO207]

You can use the loading block and advance the powder funnel and hold the measure in your hand and drop into the funnel or just put the drop tube in each neck and work the handle if that will work. No I would not use a hand press and powder through expander to charge any cases as the loading block would be easier by a long shot IMHO.

[wgaynor]

I don't charge the case while it's in the handpress. Doing so causes me to spill powder if I tilt the press (it happens).

I add powder to one case and immediately seat the bullet. Then I go onto the next. This helps with the risk of forgetting to charge the case.

My last step is to weigh each one. This is my ultimate safety measure against forgetting to charge a case.

[GLOOB]

I'm so confused. A powder thru-die for use in a HAND press?

[dirtengineer]

This is the powder funnel I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/554122/frankford-arsenal-powder-funnel-with-16-nozzles-and-4-drop-tube

I find a hand press challenging with large pistol cases. Never tried it with rifle cartridges. Bet it is a workout and probably tiresome.

[Dudemeister]

I reload both pistol and rifle using the Lee handpress.

I do 50 rounds at a time single stage style, and I use a 50 round block to hold the rounds after belling the mouth.

I then use Layman powder dispenser and a funnel to fill all the cases, and inspect them visually before I seat the bullet.

[Duckdog]

You could use a powder thru expanding die in a walnut cracker if you wanted. Really wouldn't pay unless you were flaring for lead, but it will definitely work. (Some of the rifle dies do not expand but only charge).

Now you guys got me thinking I should load something on the old knuckle buster!

[wgaynor]

I've come to love the versatility of my handpress. When my wife gives me "the look" for spending too much time in the man-cave, I just bring the components into the house along with the handpress.

I still prefer to use the bench mounted one though. It's hard to beat.

[Havok7416]

I use my hand press for test loads and calibers I don't care to invest in my press. I will only be loading about 400 rounds of .22 Hornet so it doesn't make a ton of sense to buy a $46 conversion kit for my Dillon. It does look like I will have to use it for an ad hoc powder measure though.

[GLOOB]

I have blocks but the funnel I have is too big for a .22 size case. I am currently looking at alternative funnels.

I hate using a funnel with a powder measure. Way too cumbersome and redundant.

Check this out:
pic
http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv241/gloob27x/2012-11-01_17-14-00_209.jpg
video
http://s688.beta.photobucket.com/user/gloob27x/media/SAM_0213.mp4.html

An empty 22 cal rifle case might work for ya, if you can buy a spare drop tube/funnel for your powder measure to mess with. Crimp the end and bevel it, and it'll nestle quite nicely into the lip of the case it's filling. My PPM funnel "worked" with 223, but the case had to be centered perfectly and held exactly straight up/down. And you are never sure it's centered just right, cuz you can't see it. With this case-funnel it's easy to see/feel when it's in. And there's a lot more leeway in the angle the cases are held, and the seal is still tight. It acts a little like a ball joint, when you're holding the cases manually. Obviously not an issue when I'm loading them like in the vid. I use this for all my calibers, pistol and rifle. It'll occasionally bridge with some of the stick rifle powders, is the only issue.

I also hate spilled kernels, and this doesn't spill any. FTR, I initially bought a pricey hand funnel that slipped over the case neck. Machined from aluminum and brass, specifically for 223. And it still leaked a little with ball powder. It went in the trash.

Another option for a hand funnel is to use a 22LR case. Again, with a little outside bevel, it'll nestle nicely into a 223 case, though not quite all the way (Outside diameter about .223-.224; with a little sanding it might even fit all the way). If you roll up a piece of really thin shim brass into a funnel, you can cut a hole and solder the 22LR case to it. I made one like this to replace the aforementioned funnel, and I still keep it for use with dippers. I also soldered a handle to it. It's ugly as sin, but it doesn't leak. Probably not good for your use, with a powder measure, since it doesn't stay on the case by itself.

*Edit: just found out that 1/4" brass tubing is actually 0.218". Slips perfectly inside a 223 case neck.

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv241/gloob27x/SAM_0220.jpg
http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv241/gloob27x/SAM_0221.jpg

[splattergun]

I'm so confused. A powder thru-die for use in a HAND press?
the powder through die is not intended for use on a hand press, but for the bench press.

[harvester]

This fits perfectly. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/480995/satern-powder-funnel-22-caliber-aluminum-and-brass

[303 hunter]

I use my hand press to load 223 quite a bit. The Lee powder funnel fits them fine.

[Duckdog]

Where the powder thru die really shines is on a turret press. But they'll work anywhere they can be screwed in.