Got a new issue of G&A and the first thing I see is an ad for the APP. Lee automatic processing press. I've been loading handgun Ammo for about ten years now and, because I now shoot 6.5 Creedmore, I'm going to get set up for rifle calibers. From what I've read, case prep is an order of importance greater than handgun rounds so I've been studying the different case prep tools from hand tools to manually deprive and reprime to all in one motorized tools that are all in one sizing, cleaning and trimming. I won't be doing buckets of rounds but would like to do a journey level job. What do you guys recommend?

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Time wounds all heels

I never saw the APP thing before I had to watch a video on it.

I am not sure that this will save much for rifle work. Yes, it will go through the sizing operation faster but its just one step of many.

You still need to lube, trim, debur and prime outside of that machine. Maybe even clean primer pockets etc.

If your making in the low hundreds per year, hand making them is ok.

Making more and faster is just how much you value time and money. A power trimmer is a big help, a case prep machine is nice to debur and clean primer pockets? An electric powder measure saves lots of time and hassle too.

A big step up a progressive press with power trimmer?

A dillon 550 or a BL550?

Lee is famous for making loading equipment that is "Good Enough". No extra, they say unnecessary, strength or durability. There are several features I saw in their videos, that are very desirable. I am sure the price is on the reasonable side!

What I saw in negatives, were mostly with the light duty stand flexing! The plastic parts a
have been known to wear out of adjustment and as the system ages, most plastics become brittle.

IN the bullet sizing set up, lubing is not part of sizing.

I saw a great deal of stress and flex in the rifle sizing and the pistol case de-jugging .

We weren't shown primer decapping, seating , or pocket conditioning!

Overall opinion: The APP looks like it will do entry level functions at an affordable price. It doesn't appear to have decades of dependability built in!

Ivan

Thanks fellers. You both sound like we're on the same page. One interesting part in the video was the full length bulge buster. My Colt Delta Elite tends to leave bulged cases on full loads so I thought it might be a twofer. Actually bought a Springfield xdm to get around that. Thanks again for the input

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Time wounds all heels

I have a few sets of Lee dies and I feel they are equal to any other dies on the market in that they get the job done. I once e-mailed them in that with the Dillon presses being so popular, their handgun dies are a bit too short for the Dillon clearance and it was in their best interests for their dies to be compatible with Dillon presses. In a round-about way, they told me to go to hell.

Comments I've garnered off the net indicates that under a heavy reloading regimen, some of their plastic parts eventually fail. As for case prep, I would recommend powered equipment whenever possible. It takes some of the drudgery out of reloading. Unless it is already included in a work station, I recommend a Sinclair primer pocket uni-former. I use in in a portable drill and makes primer seating much easier.

I like Lee products but do not see any use of it for me> I do not size bullets (I have one Lee resizing die for45 aco that I resized after powder coating)I do that on my turret press (with the rod removed so its a single stage) The catch bottle is the same.


All other function case resizing depriming is done on a progressive press. Military crimp removal down in batches with a power reamer (on time deal)
As mentioned trimming debur chamfering all need to be done anyway


For the OP, if you are just doing one rifle caliber, I do not see what it will do for you??


The only reason it looks fast in the resizeing is due to the case feeder, If I put a feeder on my Hornady LnL heck then put a bullet feeder I could be cranking ammo out, but more gadgets more frustration when Murphy comes knocking.

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Still Running Against the Wind

"What do you guys recommend?"

RCBS tools. I'm still using the ones I bought in 1970 for all rifle case prep. As you said, you don't need them as much for pistol case prep.

Only caliber that I do "bulge buster" for is range pickup .40 S&W, and I just took the guts out of a .40 die and push through on an old single-stage press. 9mm brass is soft enough to resize on Dillon dies no matter how bulged- unless split.

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Science plus Art

Believe it or not I still have Herters reloading equipment I bought in 1962. Not pretty or shiny but hell for stout. I think I paid about $5.00 for the first 30-06 reloading dies I got. I was at Wheelus Field, Tripoli, Libya and all the Rod and Gun Club had was a Herters catalog to order from.
SWCA 892

Thanks for the info gents. As usual your expertise has been invaluable.

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Time wounds all heels

I've been doing this for 20 years on my Dillon 650!
I process fired brass, (after dry tumbling) to resize the case and expand the case mouth. I have a dedicated toolhead for that. Then, I clean primer pockets.
Next, I switch out the toolhead for the loading steps where cases are primed, charged, bullets seated, and crimped.

Lee makes decent stuff for the money, occasionally hitting it out of the ballpark for innovation (Lee Loader, old Autoprime, powder dipper kit...).
But, I'd rather not have another tool taking up bench space.

Jim

Lee dies and tools are good dies for the reloader on a budget. Some of their equipment leaves a bit to be desired. I've slowly been upgrading to Redding Rifle dies and have not looked back. Working to do the same with handgun dies. As another poster pointed out, the Lee dies are too shot, I have to almost bottom them out to get them to work in my 550.