Super CHEAP LEE PRESS

Deprime anything with it or load small pistol cal stuff like 38 special or 380. I did a batch of 300 blk just to say it can be done on my old one...

I've been using one for years, they work fine. I've even sized some big magnums with it. Really good for depriming and sizing lead bullets, probably one bringing lees bulge buster does to. Small size makes it nice for a portable press, I haven't managed to break or wear mine out yet.

Worst part is you need a way to remove the spent primers, so have a hole under the press or make a spacer with a cutout so they can be removed.

I used mine to make this!


Its actually out on loan right now, but i used it alot before it got borrowed.
I could take it anywhere and mount it to any solid flat surface (that the clamps could grab).

I use mine to size .223 as a stand alone before trimming. Its processed at least 4K now without a hitch.

Use it to deprime or to pull bullets. There is always need for a second press for small jobs.

I used to have four of those lined up on my bench with a different die in each. Like an assembly line. Now I've only got one set up with the Lee auto prime , which is damn near perfect!

Drill a hole under it and place a catch bucket for primets and use a universal decapper to keep the crud out of the good press. This works well for my needs.
Or give it away to someone in the future after you have used it a bit.
I like the primer station use and would do that if not for my Lee hand primers.

Mostly sizing cast lead. I've used it to deprime mixed range brass I didn't feel like sorting at the time.

us it for messy jobs and mount it outside. Decap and anything else you think is too messy

Highland Lofts said:

About ten years ago my oldest son bought me the Lee book and it came with this super cheap aluminum frame press.
What do you all use this piece of scrape for?

I have a bunch of really decent quality presses; but i want to set this one up just because my son gave it to me.


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Decapping brass with a universal die before wet tumbling. It’s mounted on a block with a slide out tray to remove spent primers.
Sizing bullets with Lee’s push thru bullet sizer.

Elvis ammo broke his in half swaging 223 pockets. I see a lot of people using it to size cast. If I had one it would be on sizing and decaping detail.

I have one too. I was buying the Lee 2nd edition manual and the kind lady on the phone at Midway told me the book was cheaper if I got the press book combo believe it or not. I immediately set it up with my RCBS universal de-capping die. I drilled a hole in my benchtop with a paddle bit and rammed a piece of PVC with a plugged end up the hole for primers. Worked perfect. I also used it for sizing cast bullets with the Lee push-through sizer dies before I got the Lyman 4500.

I got to where I was questioning the validity of such an inexpensive press and it's useage.....I set up the .45 ACP dies in it and loaded a pile of ammo with it and it worked just like any other press.

It now sits on the floor under the bench awaiting future duties.

The cast pot metal handle snapped in half on mine while resizing. IMO, it's a piece of junk.

Yep, throw a Lee decapping die in it and go to town.

It can be used for priming with Lee’s priming die.

I have had a couple and gave them away after I got a bigger and better press. I kinda wish i still had one simply for sizing bullets. I will likely buy one once the panic prices are back to something resembling normal. The best thing I ever did on one of those was straight-wall pistol runs. I would typically do lots of 500. Run everything through a single function and then change over. I still have some 357 done that way.

There is always a use for a single stage press.
De-capping, sizing lead bullets, bulge busting pistol cases, etc.
I have the LEE aluminum challenger O-frame press. It sized 200 9mm lead bullets and bulge busted 500 9mm cases yesterday. It also sized 40 rifle cases and made 20 rounds of 30-30 last weekend. I'm sure that C-frame press would have done it just fine.

I have a Lee decapping die in it & use it for only decapping brass before wet tumbling to get the primers clean.

I have resized thousands of 223 cases. Used it to trim 6-7k 223 brass using the Lee deluxe trim.

I was curious one time with sizing. I took a few cases after resizing. Using a V-block and height gage with and indicator, I found I was getting about .001" or less of runout between the case body and the neck. That was with using a Lee full length sizer.

To add, I have also swaged thousands of crimped primer pockets.

I have used one almost exclusively for 20 years loading 308, 223, 7.62x39, 45, 38/357, and 9mm. Most years I loaded in excess of 15k rounds and I have broken 3 in that time frame. 2 I broke on 223, the other on a 308. I always kept a spare just in case but always ended up giving it away to a new loader starting out. For the price you can’t beat them.

I have used my "piece of scrap" (??) since '88 for reloading. I have done every reloading step on mine that I did with my C-H, Pacific, Lee turret, and now my Co-Ax, plus I use it as a dedicated depriming, priming, bullet sizing, and hardness testing press. I guess it ain't worth much (sarcasm!)...

Patocazador said:

The cast pot metal handle snapped in half on mine while resizing. IMO, it's a piece of junk.

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And for the extreme cost of that "piece of junk" Lee will send you a new arm for free. All you have to do is ask them.

WeekendReloader said:

There is always a use for a single stage press.
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Yes!

I up graded from an RCBS Jr. press to a Redding Big Boss press 25 years ago but kept the Jr. press for various odd jobs as already mentioned.

The Lee C-frame press would well in that service as well.

71GTO said:

And for the extreme cost of that "piece of junk" Lee will send you a new arm for free. All you have to do is ask them.

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I didn't want to keep it. I tossed it and bought a real O press from Lyman. I didn't want to worry about when it would break again.