novice - hand press question

[jlc]

I am interested in starting to hand load 30-06. I am a complete novice at this (unless banging rimfire cartridges with a Paco tool counts!). For reasons of both space and portability, I am leaning toward the Lee Hand Press. However, the research I’ve done revealed that some people believe it is not well-suited for larger rifle cartridge loading. They say it can be difficult to operate with longer cases.

I’d rather have the portability and “pack-ability” of a hand press, but if it not a good choice for 30-06, I’d be willing to consider something like the Lee “anniversary” set. However, given my limited consumption of 30-06, it would not be permanently attached to my worktable, which is far too cluttered anyway.

I’d appreciate any comments or criticisms of the Lee Hand Press, or suggestions for similar products, if any.

Thanks, Jonathan

 

[Jim Watson]

I started handloading with the old W.H. English Pak-Tool, a handheld leverage press. It was neither fun nor productive and I went to a bench press ASAP.
The Lee Hand Press is probably a little better but I would not want to depend on it. How about a real press on one of those Midway pedestals? I had a homemade version that carried my Rockchucker for some time.

 

[lee n. field]

Ditto. I have found the Hand Press to be hard going, resizing .308 sized cases. Not enough leverage. Handgun and .223, just fine.

 

[Vitamin G]

Does anyone happen to use the hand press to deprime or bell the cases only? I have about a bajillion (its metric, you wouldn't have heard of it) various pistol brass sitting around that I'd love to deprime while watching TV. My press is solidly affixed in the other room, and I can't exactly blow myself up depriming.

 

[Encoreman]

JLC I would use a bench mounted press like the RCBS rockchucker for any rifle cartridge. You can build or buy a portable. Shoot I have a rockchucker and a Dillon Square Deal B in a 7X7 portable building, with A/C of course. Hey if you want to reload you can find a place. I started on a homemade 3' bench made of kitchen counter top in our utility room shared by washer/dryer and hot water heater. Mac

 

[Sistema1927]

Don't discount the handpress. Even though you will develop monster muscles resizing rifle brass, it can be done in a pinch.

However, the best benefit of the handpress is when you are working up loads. Resize using your bench press and prime at home. Then take a load of primed brass and your other components to the range. Use the handpress to seat and crimp a few rounds of your starting load, and then as you work your way up.

Everyone should have a hand press.

 

[mc223]

I use a Lyman turret press mounted to a 1 foot square piece of plywood. I take it to the range with me and C clamp it to the shooting bench, and load and test.

 

[Doug b]

I used the Lee nutcracker press for awhile and found it to be a pretty darn good set-up.The priming system is sensitive enough but the metal is very soft,bent a few pins.Carbon build up between the ram and the press will stop it cold,you'll have to take it apart and wipe it down every hundred or so resizes. For 30-06 cases I would suggest getting the midway case neck lubricator system. In my kitchen table set-up I poured powder into a coffee cup and used the scoop Lee sells with there dies to dip powder onto my scales then trickled in the rest of the charge,in the old approach to weight method.

 

[jlc]

Having thought about it more, I think it's probably better to start off with a decent (table mounted) press when I'm ready to take that step. For pure portability, a basic Lee Loader kit might fit the bill (see my Paco comment, above, for a little irony). Thanks for the help.

 

[kid_couteau]

I love my single stage Rockchucker

Cant beat it for tough.

Kid

 

[MarkL]

I just got into reloading and decided to try the Lee Hand Press first, since I am limited in room. I'm just reloading .303 British with it and it works just fine since I'm only neck-sizing. Being able to de-prime and neck-size in front of the tele is nice. Plus my guns are getting huge!

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

The Lee hand press works fine, but I prefer the Huntington Compac hand press. It is smaller but has more leverage than the Lee. It is more accurate (ram to die alignment) too. I full length resize 45 colt and 8x57 on it just fine. Straight wall pistol brass may be slightly easier, but the hard part of the stroke is longer than that for a tapered rifle case like '06 or 8x57. The hard part for the rifle is only at the top of the stroke, where the linkage has the most mechanical advantage.

I still use the Lee for depriming, using a universal depriming die, since it captures 100% of the spent primer debris.

Andy