Bought a lee app , arrived right before Christmas. I like it for the most part, but it feels like it doesn't have enough leverage. Used it to decap some 45acp and bulge bust some 40, it burns through it quick, but that lever takes some force. Anyone else experienced this? I see there is a roller handle upgrade, but it doesn't look any longer.
Lee APP short handle
- Thread starter Warpiece
- Start date
- Status
troy fairweather
Member
Are you using lube
tightgroup tiger
Member
I think Troy meant are you lubing your cases. That would help with some of the force it takes to run the handle.
gotboostvr
Member
Lubrication always helps.
You could always pop that T-handle off and slip a breaker bar over it.
Looks like there's some other handle conversions out there if you want to spend $$.
You could always pop that T-handle off and slip a breaker bar over it.
Looks like there's some other handle conversions out there if you want to spend $$.
mmb617
Member
I use my APP mainly to decap/size (in one step) and expand both 9mm and .45 acp cases. I don't lube my cases. It does take a fair amount of effort, but I've come up with a technique that works well for me. I pull the handle down pretty slow till the die is almost at the top of the case then give it a quick hard pull that last couple inches. I do all my reloading on a single stage press and the APP is much faster for those operations than loading one case at a time, which is why I bought it.
I did the factory roller handle conversion as I feel it's a lot more comfortable. I noticed that the handle was starting to twist since the handle supports weren't quite up to the task and were bending. I welded an extra support to the right side of the lever and it's been fine since. Maybe I wouldn't have had that problem if I elected to lube my cases but I'd rather fix it once by welding than have to lube cases all the time.
I did the factory roller handle conversion as I feel it's a lot more comfortable. I noticed that the handle was starting to twist since the handle supports weren't quite up to the task and were bending. I welded an extra support to the right side of the lever and it's been fine since. Maybe I wouldn't have had that problem if I elected to lube my cases but I'd rather fix it once by welding than have to lube cases all the time.
Do you think the original handle arms are sturdier than the upgrade? I saw an inline fabrication roller handle that only replaces the grip. It's even a little cheaper than the lee roller handle upgrade, at least before shipping charge. I don't have access to a welder, guess I could do some sort of bolt on reinforcement. The inline handle looks like it might twist the arm too, which i think would be a a lot harder to prevent on the original arm. I don't think I'm ever going to size on the app, i have the breech lock pro, it's pretty quick even running single station
???????????
I lube ALL my brass even using carbide dies.
Throw them in a plastic show box size plastic container. Spritz them with some homemade or pre made lube, shake it around, Then go deprime them takes all of a minute or so,????
I've never tried the shake n bake type lube. All I thought of when folks mentioned case lube is sitting there with a lube pad, and how many thousands of 40 cases i have to process. Couldn't get out of my own head enough to see past that thought
???????????
I lube ALL my brass even using carbide dies.
Throw them in a plastic show box size plastic container. Spritz them with some homemade or pre made lube, shake it around, Then go deprime them takes all of a minute or so,????
I use LEE lube diluted 10 parts rubbing alcohol and 1 part Lee lube. (guesstimate) Shake, shake shake. Spritz and you do not need to wipe it off. It's water based not a PITA like Imperial or some other paste lube.
mmb617
Member
My measurements indicate that the gauge of the metal on those arms is the same on the roller conversion as on the original. But the roller conversion design places more strain on them since the arms are considerably farther apart and thus have a longer unsupported area. They need to be more robust to resist twisting which is why I welded on a support piece.
I saw the roller handles that bolt on to replace the factory grip but I didn't like the fact that they are only attached on one end of the handle. It seemed to me that it would be too easy to snap the attachment bolt without the other end being supported. It just didn't look to me like a good design. The factory roller handle being captured on both ends has to be a stronger attachment for the handle itself.
Sizing/decapping in one step on my 9mm and 45 cases without lube is what requires a fair amount of force. If you are only decapping with the APP you probably won't have the problem I had with the roller handle upgrade. The roller handle is IMO much more comfortable.
- Status
Similar threads
