I’m aware of tennis elbow...

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Why they make progressive presses like the LNL and the Dillon. Or, you do what I used to when using a single stage and you do things in batches like deprime/resize/reprime as one step to save the shoulder
 
George P said:
Or, you do what I used to when using a single stage and you do things in batches like deprime/resize/reprime as one step to save the shoulder
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I like putting an empty case in, and pulling a loaded cartridge out after 4 pulls. There’s something very satisfying about that.
 
Well, here’s my chance to do a little public service announcement! Listen up fellas, so you won’t end up like I was, unable to reload for over a year.

Tennis elbow is no joke. I got it from prepping hundreds of pieces of brass at a time on my LCT, without a break. No duh, right? It’s all about the grip, and how hard you do it and for how long. Gripping the press handle for depriming, ditto for sizing, ditto for using my Dillon swager, ditto for using a cordless drill and chucking up piece after piece of 223, ditto for pulling the drill trigger, ...

I just overdid it and ignored the pain. Shot right past tennis elbow, which is a tendonitis, and actually got a tendonosis or tendonopothy. As I understand it, tennis elbow pain is from overuse and inflammation, and beyond that is damage and scar tissue on the tendon — tendonosis/tendonopothy. That was me. Took 6 months of physical therapy, and a few thousand bucks, to get even close back to normal.

Nowadays, I know not to grab so hard or for so long. Weedeating can aggravate it too, by the way. And although I prime by hand, I stick to only 200 or so at a time.

A newer issue is pain in my right shoulder. I thought it was from sleeping on it, but maybe I gotta check out my technique a bit better.

A few of things that I’ve found to help: Just this evening, I deprimed a few hundred pieces of range brass. That’s not too much, but I did notice crimped 223 was making me grab a bit harder on the handle. So I stood up for the last few pieces. Much easier.

Second, I’m watching my chair position more. I tend to sit to the left just a bit, looking toward the press at 1 or 2 o’clock. I think I do that to get my left hand closer to bullets, brass, etc., or maybe it’s the right hand column on the LCT nudging me that way. But sitting at an angle like that makes it a bit more awkward position with using my right arm. More of a pull back past my body, a bit to the right. Not strong — gotta sit straight and pull straight.

Finally, I just got the In-line Fabrications Ergo handle. Really just used it for the first time today. I think it’ll really help, and wish I’d done it sooner. I think the way it turns your hand horizontal, palm down, really feels like a stronger move than the ball did.

Anyway, that’s my .02. Carry forth and so forth.
 
Good info! I stand up when loading, allows me to continually adjust positions. Also took a few minute break every 100 rounds. Don’t think I’d want to do more than 300 in a day.
 
George P said:
Or, you do what I used to when using a single stage and you do things in batches like deprime/resize/reprime as one step to save the shoulder
Click to expand...

I've been doing that for years now using a Lee single stage hand press, though to do have a turret press in the garage. I like finishing one stage before the next for consistency, however I only load about 2k rounds a year (all handgun calibers included). I know some folks will do this in a single session, but I just take my time. I actually enjoy it.
 
I've had tennis elbow for decades but it was from playing Table Tennis competitive for 30 yrs. Surprising no major shoulder problem. My back is the big problem which limits my press time. As far as ergonomics, I prefer the ball handle but do no not grip it, let it spin in the palm of your hand. This way the shoulder, elbow and wrist all stay in alignment. Some one suggested putting a sock of it which makes it float easier. But this is the main reason I went with a AP, to reduce the number of cycles. I have my bench setup so I can load sitting or standing. I prefer a chair without wheels if I'm sitting in front of my AP. As you found out wheels cause loss of energy as your moving around.
 
My problem is not tennis elbow, but handling and pinching small objects makes my left thumb swell up at the joint near the hand and wrist. Usually wear a brace when doing any small task or a repetitive basis.
After years of compitive running and coaching, I have seen many repetitive injuries. IMO, it is of the utmost importance to place in Ice as soon as possible to reduce the inflammation. And Ibuprofen if you can to aid in reducing the inflammatory process. JMO.

Ps a Anti-inflammatory diet does not hurt as well.
 
I usually only do 100 rounds in a session with my Lee classic turret press due to fused vertebrae with pins screws & a couple carbon fiber blocks thrown in for good measure. I have done 150 in a session a couple times but it makes my back hurt
 
Dillon's roller handles on my 650 and 1050 really reduce the repetitive motion issues for me. Plus, I stand all the time while running the presses; I'm on the tall end of the spectrum, so having a high bench is essential.

Last thing, and perhaps the most important: these presses make a finished round with each cycle of the handle. Four strokes to make one round would drive me crazy.
 
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waldens, I’m right there with you.

I first got a taste of tennis elbow after throwing 90+ 80lb bags of concrete to pour a foundation for my shed. Took months to stop hurting and couldn’t reload at all cause the pain was excruciating.

Two years after that my FIL passed and MIL bought my wife and I a piece of property with a big enough house for her to come live with us. Like a fool I decided to move everything myself, that 30 years of accumulation for the wife and I and 60 of the Mil’s. Started last May and I’m still not done yet, took over 6 months to stop aching and now I can only pick at it here and there or I won’t be able to work. At this point I can only reload small batches of 50-100 a couple times a week.

Just made the mistake of trying to organize the shop Saturday and work through the pain like an idiot, now it’s hard to hold my phone up and type this...

Still have to clean out dad’s shop but I think I’m gonna pay someone else to do it.

I’ve shattered my leg once, have titanium from knee to ankle, broke that leg again a few years after that and this tendinitis elbow affliction is more painful and debilitating as far as I’m concerned.

Dave
 
...But after 300 rounds (1200+ pulls) today, I am needing some Aleeve to help with my Lee Classic Turret Press elbow (LCT elbow). So worth it though.
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My shoulder, elbow got bad enough from reloading on a single stage that I had to either quit or buy a progressive.
I bought the progressive. Best investment I ever made.
Your LCT elbow apparently isn't bad enough for you to make the jump yet and I understand that. I still enjoy running single stage and still run it when doing test loads. But I can't load 500-2000 rounds with it.
I shoot a couple hundred rounds twice a week when I can and I wouldn't be able to keep up on a LCT press. I always wanted one and always thought it was the best press Lee ever made.
I have a LNL-AP for my high volume loading and it took me from being a slave to reloading to "is that all there is" and just bought a Lee Auto Breech Lock progressive press to play with because I realized that all my old Lee accessories from my old pro1000 which languishes on my bench, would work on it so it was a cheap press for me.
IF, your problem with your elbow gets worse, take a look at that new press because your accessories should all work on it also and it will produce a round for every pull instead of every 4 pulls, once the shell plate is populated.
Until the time comes where you can't tolerate 4 pulls per cartridge, enjoy your LCT because it is a hell of a press. And don't ever get rid of it even if you buy progressive. You will always need a single stage.
 
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I had to have my right shoulder joint replaced at age 60, totally worn out. I blamed it on being a commercial reloader for 30+ years. Always progressive presses but many, many rounds per year loaded, rifle, pistol, and shotgun. Guess I was lucky it was just the shoulder and not the elbow also.
 
Tendinitis is one of the reasons why I have two Dillon 650's and am thinking about a couple SDB's. It's also why I bought a machine for stitching my leather work.
 
On hearing this, I believe if I were a male cursed with the OMB gene I almost think I would be looking into the idea of a cam operated system as on punch presses. Preferably one with a device – simple or complex – to adjust the amount of force on the loading press.

Luckily, that particular affliction is only passed through the Y gene therefore I am free of such atrocities.
 
Get a tennis elbow brace and put it on before reloading--or doing anything else that makes your elbow hurt. They work and I know from experience that they do. Two aleve about 30 minutes before starting elbow bending activities makes it work even better. Again the voice of experience.
 
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