Lee Hand Press Kit

[WNC Seabee]

I know, I know...there are probably 100's of threads for newbies. I searched the board for the Lee Hand Press and got some decent info. This will be my first foray into reloading. I have limited physical space, so a full bench set up is out for me.

I'll be loading .38spcl, 9MM (maybe), .30-06 (very few), 5.56 and .45. Volume will only be in the neighborhood of ~200 rounds per week max.

I just got the "ABC's of Reloading" and will be reading up this weekend.

My question is this. If I buy the Lee Hand Press Kit, what else do I need to get started? Aside from the consumables like bullets, powder, and primers of course. What should my kit contain?

Thanks all.

 

[Eric F]

what else do I need to get started?

a lot of time, I suggest getting a turret press bolting it to a board and getting some c-clamps to clamp the board to a counter top. the lee hand press is a lot of work.

But to answer the question look for the sticky note at the top of reloading section

 

[Sistema1927]

200 rounds per week?

Trust me, you want a Lee Classic Turret Press.

You will find that 200 rounds a week on a hand press is going to become a nightmare. I use one for small amounts of custom stuff, like working up a load while at the range. I can load 200 rounds of .45 Colt or .45 ACP in a little over an hour using the turret press, it would take much, much longer to load that quantity on the hand press.

 

[scrat]

The dies. a set of calipers to measure over all length. Scale or dippers if you prefer to measure the powder

 

[Soybomb]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=363325 Hope that helps

 

[WNC Seabee]

Hope that helps

Umm....yeah. That does help. Pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Not sure how I missed that thread.

Thanks,

 

[lee n. field]

My question is this. If I buy the Lee Hand Press Kit, what else do I need to get started? Aside from the consumables like bullets, powder, and primers of course. What should my kit contain?

Boy, you're asking all the right questions.

The absolute minimum more you would need would be a Lee dieset. Those include a shell holder, powder dipper, and load data.

Past that:

Get a relatively recent manual with load data. Or two.

I personally don't like the Lee priming die. Lyman's and RCBS' are only a little bit more expensive, and much better. You could get a hand priming tool.

You'll want a couple loading blocks. They'll organize your cartridges as you work on them. Can't have charged cartridges sitting out on your tabletop, getting knocked over, getting mixed in with uncharged cases, etc.

A scale and powder measure will let you be more flexible than just using the Lee scoop. Other people's stuff is better quality, but Lee makes perfectly usable tools.

.38spcl, 9MM (maybe), .30-06 (very few), 5.56 and .45

IN addition, for the rifle cartridges you will need a caliper (to measure case length) and something to trim cases to length.

 

[JRadice45]

If you are limited on space, how about a Frankford Arsenal portable roloading stand? Then like you are hearing either a lee turret press or lee challenger breech lock press (I have the breech lock)
Get the lee breech lock anniversary kit and you will just need a tumbler with media, media seperator (or an old pot and collander/spaghetti strainer, new scale (if you dont like the lee one, I didnt and I already had the dillon balance beam), Calipers, Dies, Reloading manual (more than one so you can cross reference and determine what is a safe max) loading blocks, the lee zip trim (makes somewhat quick work of medium batches of cases that need trimming) lee cutter with ball handle (comfort) and case length gauge w/shellholder. I may be forgetting some pieces so any help would be appreciated.

This setup comes in handy because the stand can be broken down in less than a minute and stored away. I have my press on one side, The trimmer and powder measure on the other side. The scale and loading block go on whatever is near me, a table or counter. Its a nice tiny little setup.

 

[Uncle Chan]

200 rnd/wk isn't so tough. I do it on my hand press in an afternoon (during the summers, I live in an RV). It is a lot of fun. Takes up almost no space.

Get a small scales (I use a digital) and/or dippers (I use both), a good book, and have fun.

Uncle Chan

 

[dalepres]

I use my Lee Hand Press for decapping while watching TV - maybe 25 to 50 at a time. I wouldn't use it for anything else... well, maybe for some test loads at the range or something.

It's bigger and more awkward than it looks in the pictures and definitely not a good idea for operations that include powder.

 

[1moa@500]

when I did not have a dedicated bench for reloading I mounted my press to a small nightstand cabinet. I could use it in the living room and put it in the closet when not in use. I have never used the hand press but I can reccomend a lee turret press. I got mine on clearance for 40 bucks and have yet to go back to the single stage. I would recomend a couple of reloading manuals, not just one so you can learn from more than one source of information. Last but not least purchase a good set of safety glasses! Good luck in your journey.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Invest (I said invest) in a good scale, it will pay for itself many times over. Down the road you will no doubt build a bench and mount a press, the scale you buy now will continue to be used then. IMO, I would avoid a Lee scale like the plague, Lee makes a few good products, their scales aren't amongst them.

 

[shadowalker]

You should be able to make it work for 200 a week or so, even a single stage full size press will be much more enjoyable though. I decapped and sized 4000 S&W with it over a 5 hour period of time and have made small runs of ammunition.

If you use the hand press make sure you go somewhere quiet, at a minimum turn off the TV if you are doing anything more than decapping / sizing, the hand press makes it tempting to go places where distractions are common.

You'll need dies, calipers, a scale, probably a tumbler, reloading manuals, a hand primer.

You can get good RCBS scales on ebay for about half retail. Cabelas is usually running a deal where you get a $15-$20 gift card when you purchase a RCBS tumbler.

Like other things you can buy quality or you can buy twice. With a few exceptions you get what you pay for. You don't need the most expensive but avoid the cheapest, they don't sell it for significantly less out of the goodness of their hearts.

Lee classic presses are pretty good, dies are acceptable but not great. A lot of their other equipment works but other manufacturers have higher quality choices at only slightly higher prices.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

When I started with the hand press this is what I had:

My hand press kit
Hornady loading block
dies
powder
primers
bullets
Lee trimmer (I was loading 30-30)
Primer pocket cleaner

Sat at the kitchen table for about an hour and half, but I was having fun and made some very good ammo for the 30-30. I used the powder dipper that came with the die set and had to match it up to a powder that I was willing to use (Which happened to be IMR 3031)

The hand press will get you started and give you a new hobby. A good scale and powder trickler is the nest thing you should buy. I bought a $50 Dillon beam scale and I'm pretty satisfied with it. I'd move up to a bench mounted press when I could. I will be soon, g/f of seven years split with me in May, it's kinda bitter sweet I miss her like crazy but her stuff is gone from the living room so I can build a loading bench and have a turet press (I will be going with the Lee classic cast turret)

Enjoy the hobby, it's fun and a great way to relax by-yourself.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I don't put much stock in those who say you need a turret just to get started. Especially for 100-200 rounds a week. I do runs of 400-500 cases at a time with mine. Decap, bell and prime while sitting with my wife or watching TV, then I go to my Lee single stage bench loader for dropping powder and seating bullets.

There was a good point raised, though: the temptation is there to load in front of the TV. Don't. Distractions are not a good thing when you're loading explosives that will be going off within your hand or inches from your face.

 

[97guns]

im just getting into reloading too and opted for the hand press. im just going to reload 308 right now and im fully set up for it including components for around $100. ive sized and primed 150 cases or so and its really not bad at all, i like it.

 

[saskboy]

I also only have a hand press, I love it because you can sit on the couch for the majority of the whole process. I full lenght resize virgin 300WSM brass with it no problem at all. Dont cheap out on the scale, buy an expensive digital one and save some agrivation.