I stay with my girlfriend on weekends and she got me a lee C press and a small stand for it so I can load at her house. It doesn’t seem built well so I was wondering will it effect accuracy loading match rounds on it? I just got everything today to load 69SMK for some 300yrd paper target matches and steel shooting out to 600-700 yards.
Does press type matter?
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JFrank
Member
Excellent Girl friend.
What was your question again?
What was your question again?
The press seems like it’s not built so well. I was going to load some match rounds and wondering if the press would lead to accuracy issues.Excellent Girl friend.
What was your question again?
santacruzdave
Member
Lee makes a few different single stage presses. Is it one of these and if so which one?
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-presses/single-stage/
BTW does she have a sister?
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-presses/single-stage/
BTW does she have a sister?
earlthegoat2
Member
What cartridge are you shooting? 69 gr MK makes me think 22 (.224)
So .223, .224 Valk, or something.
Press type doesnt matter so much (as long as the ram is pushing straight into the die threads) with bullet seating which is all your OP suggests matters to you. C-presses can get problematic when resizing hard to resize cases. Namely big ones with complicated shoulder angles.
Dies can start to matter with bullet seating though. Micrometer dies are great for seating bullets at the perfect distance from the lands.
So .223, .224 Valk, or something.
Press type doesnt matter so much (as long as the ram is pushing straight into the die threads) with bullet seating which is all your OP suggests matters to you. C-presses can get problematic when resizing hard to resize cases. Namely big ones with complicated shoulder angles.
Dies can start to matter with bullet seating though. Micrometer dies are great for seating bullets at the perfect distance from the lands.
JFrank
Member
Ensure full cycles u should be ok, a C press isn't as comfortable as an O press for long session s
It’s the last one. The reloader
Only child. Lol. I had to argue with her today about buying me either a shield plus or Springfield 1911 for my birthday in 11 days.
223 bolt gun. I would need to size also.
earlthegoat2
Member
For .223, it will be fine for resizing. In a bolt gun, there is also the option to neck size only which puts even less stress on the press.
243winxb
Member
Not sure what you press is made of? Cast iron is better then an alloy. Cast Iron does not spring when FL sizing.
splattergun
Member
It will work, and could very well prove to give accurate rounds. But if you are loading at your own home on one press during the week, then loading at GF's place on weekends on a different press, you may find it challenging to keep the same die adjustments. Using 2 different tool sets? Not ideal. It's real easy to blame any accuracy issues on "the cheap press" but there are other issues at play, as well. My thinking is that, more important than the price of the press or dies, consistency is key to accurate ammo. Consistency in your techniques and in your tools leads to consistency in your loading.
If it were me, I would load the competition rounds on your home set and load plinking ammo on the set at GF's place. Y'know, it was real sweet of her to get you some tools to use at her place, just so she could spend more time with you. Don't let her see any disappointment from you about her choice of purchase. She sounds like a keeper.
If it were me, I would load the competition rounds on your home set and load plinking ammo on the set at GF's place. Y'know, it was real sweet of her to get you some tools to use at her place, just so she could spend more time with you. Don't let her see any disappointment from you about her choice of purchase. She sounds like a keeper.
earlthegoat2
Member
I have one and I am pretty sure it is aluminum.
I only use it for depriming but it can and will work for other tasks. I know folks that have them for sizing cast bullets or as their primary press.
I only bump the shoulder back 2k so I don’t really FL size if that matter?
Pot metal
splattergun
Member
wrong.
it is Aluminum alloy.
243winxb
Member
https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase.
You have to use it. GF bought it.
Should be ok for the little 223. https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase/article/press-strength
You have to use it. GF bought it.
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CoalCrackerAl
Member
I started out with the Lee C shaped press. Loaded up to 30.06. I found out how strong they are. I got a stuck case. And tore the press off the bench. The press was fine. I have since sold them. I had 2. Bought a Lyman brass smith turret press. I still use my Lee classic cast turret for handgun loads.
I have the same press, I do believe it is aluminum. Works great for sizing cast bullets and depriming. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for pistol reloading. And it should work just fine if you are only neck sizing 223. I have no doubt it would full length size them, but for match grade ammo, maybe not the best. In either event, my suggestion would be to use that press, weather you're neck sizing or full length sizing, thank your girlfriend and hang on to that one. You can always get another press down the road..
243winxb
Member
When the shell holder is not making full contact with the bottom of the die, there may be an issue.
The .002" bump may be harder to maintain. Some use the Redding Competition Shell Holder set to keep contact with bottom of FL die. More control of the bump.
Test different set ups. Compare targets.
Already loaded 44mag on it.https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase. Should be ok for the little 223. https://support.leeprecision.net/en/knowledgebase/article/press-strength
You have to use it. GF bought it.
DukeConnor
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Your targets will answer your questions.
FROGO207
Member
Should do fine for 223 loading. No compound linkage as you probably found out sizing the 44 MAG. The biggest hassel will be adjusting the dies for each press when you move them back and forth. Next step is more die sets. I have complete setups in two locations but not all duplicate die sets. Only the ones I use in each location due to the need to make ammo in both.
She's a Keeper! Treat her like a queen.
She's a Keeper! Treat her like a queen.
merlynski
Member
Mine is aluminum.
JFrank
Member
From which datum are you measuring the .002 ?
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