need feed back on lee single stage "C" frame press

[gpwelding1]

im thinking about adding a second press to my bench.one for deprime,sizing and priming.the other for expanding and seating.i found a lee ss "c"frame #90045 new for $35 + s&h.
but i need some feed back on it before i buy the press.

 

[chhodge69]

What kind of cases will you be processing with it?

 

[gpwelding1]

9mm luger,.40 s&w. and mabey later .243 win and 30-30.

 

[Asherdan]

I've got one on my bench. For standard stuff like you mention it works fine. Mine mostly decaps everything and loads .357 & 44RM all the way through. If you're doing anything with a heavier load, like case forming, I'd go with an 'O' frame style.

 

[wild willy]

I have one I've only used it with a universal decapping die and to seat bullets. Its light duty but as long as you don't get in heavy duty case sizing it should work fine.Shop around you can get them for a lot less than $35 plus shipping and handling.I've had mine a while I don't think I paid $10.00 for it

 

[gpwelding1]

ok thanks for the help

 

[Funshooter45]

I don't have one of those, but I'll offer my own general observations regarding presses and the forces needed to reload. For most cartridges, the force to resize a case is by far the most force in the whole process. For pistol cases, this is actually pretty low. And even for most of my rifle cases, it isn't much force, say for .243 and .308. It's a bit more pressure for .270 WSM and .325 WSM. Probabl;y the most force I exert is on my 7 MM Mag cases. In the last 2 instances, I see the need for a heavier "O" style press. When sizing those large cases, it is possible for the press to flex a little bit and not get the full legth resized, hence the need to screw the die in past the point of contacting the shellholder. And a bit more leverage is nice for those applications as well. But for pistol and a lot of rifle cases, there isn't enough pressure being exerted to worry about the effects on a lighter duty press. In fact, for a great number of operations, it's desirable to have a shorter stroke and less leverage because it's faster to raise and lower the handle that way.

My thought is the little Lee C press would work great for a whole lot of operations.

 

[bullseye308]

I have used the little Lee C press for many years and still use it. It has loaded many thousands of 9mm, 38, 357, 45acp, 223, and 308 with no problems at all. I liked it so much that I bought another one and have them side by side for different steps to make loading quicker when I don't need the Loadmaster.

It is a great press to bolt on a 2x6 and take to the range for load development too, or say if you wanna prep some brass at the park while the kids are playing, or just about anywhere you wanna go.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, use one for depriving, and pricing. Also used it to do some 9mm, it should work fine for you.