hotshot357
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I'm think about getting a Lee APP deluxe press. If you have one vote if you like it or if you don't
Lee App Press
- Thread starter hotshot357
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I don't have one, but my friend bought one. We spent the better part of 2 days trying to get it to operate correctly. Cheap plastic parts kept breaking, some springs were not strong enough. He sent it back for a refund!
MyDads38
Member
I've seen the ad for this press and honestly, I don't see the need (for me anyway). So I won't be voting. I have used a lot of Lee products over the years and have always been satisfied, this is one piece I don't personally see a need for.
sparkyvega
Member
Same for me. I currently have no need for such a press, but I do use a
Lee turret.
Lee turret.
I will wait until some other press manufacture brings one out made from steel or aluminum. The only things made by Lee I like are the factory crimp die and their decaping die. When I buy equipment I like to set it and forget it not tinker with to keep it working.
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mmb617
Member
I just got one two days ago, and so far I like it a lot. It was easy to set up and worked like it should with very little fiddling with adjustments.
I don't expect it to do too much. I only load 9mm, .45 acp and .223 and don't intend to use it for any of the rifle brass prep. All I want to do with it is decap/size and expand my pistol brass, and it's made those processes much easier and faster. I was glad to see both the 9mm and .45 brass will pass through the same tubes so the only adjustment I need to make when switching is the feeder height which takes maybe 30 seconds. Of course I also have to switch out the dies, but using the breech lock bushings that's real quick too.
I do all my reloading on a Lee single stage press and this APP is a nice supplement. I am a little concerned that the plastic parts may not hold up well and don't know how I'd source replacements if they break, but for the price of this press I'm willing to take a chance.
I don't expect it to do too much. I only load 9mm, .45 acp and .223 and don't intend to use it for any of the rifle brass prep. All I want to do with it is decap/size and expand my pistol brass, and it's made those processes much easier and faster. I was glad to see both the 9mm and .45 brass will pass through the same tubes so the only adjustment I need to make when switching is the feeder height which takes maybe 30 seconds. Of course I also have to switch out the dies, but using the breech lock bushings that's real quick too.
I do all my reloading on a Lee single stage press and this APP is a nice supplement. I am a little concerned that the plastic parts may not hold up well and don't know how I'd source replacements if they break, but for the price of this press I'm willing to take a chance.
Been reloading over 50 years now and have had a few Lee products. Mostly dies. Not any more. Brand new dies that scratch the brass, brand new press that broke on the first stroke, primer tool that works ok. I'll pay more for quality that will last.
I do not own one
However it looks like a radical improvement on the LEE 1000 and I did have three of those. The 1000s were finicky, but once you knew their idiosyncrasies, they ran pretty well.
I stopped using the 1000s many years ago when the LoadMaster came out. With 5 stations the LoadMaster worked far better for me since my preference is to seat and crimp as separate operations. I currently run two of those
I have a pair of Dillon 650s, but have never taken them out of the box. Once day I will get them setup now that we are in the new house
I also keep a few single stage presses set up for load development.
If I were starting again today, I would bypass the APP and go straight for a LoadMaster
However it looks like a radical improvement on the LEE 1000 and I did have three of those. The 1000s were finicky, but once you knew their idiosyncrasies, they ran pretty well.
I stopped using the 1000s many years ago when the LoadMaster came out. With 5 stations the LoadMaster worked far better for me since my preference is to seat and crimp as separate operations. I currently run two of those
I have a pair of Dillon 650s, but have never taken them out of the box. Once day I will get them setup now that we are in the new house
I also keep a few single stage presses set up for load development.
If I were starting again today, I would bypass the APP and go straight for a LoadMaster
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1sailor
Member
It always surprises me when I hear people running down the quality of Lee products. I have reloaded literally "Tens of thousands" of rounds on lee presses using Lee dies and have never had any issues that were the fault of the Lee products. The APP press on the other hand probably appeals to a smaller crowd than standard presses do.
OP
hotshot357
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I have two Dillon presses, a 550B & a SDB. The only thing I will do with the APP is deprime & size brass and size coated bullets.
cowboy4evr
Member
All of my reloading equipment is LEE , dies , press etc . I do have to say that I have , on 2 occasions had depriming / sizing dies that really scratched the brass . I have found to place a spent case in an electric drill , coat it with a toothpaste that say " whitening " on it , place a little inside the die and spin the spent case a few times , clean it out and then do it again . It took several times to polish up the inside of the die , but it worked . Should I of had to do that , " NO " . But it's not a perfect world . LEE products is what I can afford so we " overcome , adapt and make do " when it's called upon . Regards Paul
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flash60601
US Veteran
I've had some of nearly every common loading equipment except Dillon. They all have their god/bad issues, but the one piece I truly do like is the LoadMaster, I use it in 9mm, 38, 357, 40, 45, and 38S&W.
I've honestly never had any issue with any of their dies, presses, or scales that couldn't be overcome with some common sense.
But I've never had the APP, and would not have a use for it now, anyway, with all the other stuff filling my bench.
The people at LEE seem to have a penchant for innovation, believing that it IS possible to build a better mousetrap, and they do pretty good.
I like their bullet molds, but my favorites still are some old Lyman and Lachmiller aged cast-iron molds.
However, I am just an awful lot old-school on bullet sizing. I feel that the bullet MUST be stabilized at its nose while sizing. Thus the old Lyman 450, with a G, H, & I die is a must for truly accurate cast, sized, lubed bullets. The APP offers speed, but at a cost, I feel.
Innovation. That's the word.
I've honestly never had any issue with any of their dies, presses, or scales that couldn't be overcome with some common sense.
But I've never had the APP, and would not have a use for it now, anyway, with all the other stuff filling my bench.
The people at LEE seem to have a penchant for innovation, believing that it IS possible to build a better mousetrap, and they do pretty good.
I like their bullet molds, but my favorites still are some old Lyman and Lachmiller aged cast-iron molds.
However, I am just an awful lot old-school on bullet sizing. I feel that the bullet MUST be stabilized at its nose while sizing. Thus the old Lyman 450, with a G, H, & I die is a must for truly accurate cast, sized, lubed bullets. The APP offers speed, but at a cost, I feel.
Innovation. That's the word.
Ok my curiosity got the best of me. I purchased a Lee APP press the other day. The only plans I have for it now is depriming range brass before ultrasonic cleaning.
About 30 minuets without using the instructions and it was ready to go. One hour and twenty minuets later 1000 pcs of 9mm and 200 38 special deprimed. That included change over time.
The two problems I ran into were pulling primers back into the case. putting a sharper point on the decaping stem fixed that. Next problem it would jam on 380 cases. When I realized why I would remove the case from the jaws pitch it and continue on. Now I let the press sort out the 380s.
The only thing that I see is real cheep is the primer catch bottel. Time will tell with the plastic feed mechanism.
So far for the price and what I am going to use it for I am happy with it.
About 30 minuets without using the instructions and it was ready to go. One hour and twenty minuets later 1000 pcs of 9mm and 200 38 special deprimed. That included change over time.
The two problems I ran into were pulling primers back into the case. putting a sharper point on the decaping stem fixed that. Next problem it would jam on 380 cases. When I realized why I would remove the case from the jaws pitch it and continue on. Now I let the press sort out the 380s.
The only thing that I see is real cheep is the primer catch bottel. Time will tell with the plastic feed mechanism.
So far for the price and what I am going to use it for I am happy with it.
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reloader7.62
Member
If I didnt already have Lee, NOE push through sizer and a RCBS Lube A Matic with all the dies I need I might find it useful but it's kinda hard to justify another machine that does the same thing I already have thats paid for and does what I need.
several guys I know on YouTube that have them and figured out some of the issues with the APP press and Lee has been listening to them and making some changes.
Those guy have also designed and 3D printed some new bullet feeders as well as multiple bullet feeder tubes to go on the press.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ocean374/search?query=app+press
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdfI9QXgBow[/ame]
several guys I know on YouTube that have them and figured out some of the issues with the APP press and Lee has been listening to them and making some changes.
Those guy have also designed and 3D printed some new bullet feeders as well as multiple bullet feeder tubes to go on the press.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ocean374/search?query=app+press
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdfI9QXgBow[/ame]
I watched that video before I purchased my press and noticed a couple of changes Lee made. My shell holder sits about .01 thousands below the shelf the slide runs on.
The next thing they may have changed the design of the grippers slightly when they changed the color mine are red.
I also use the next taller riser (B) than in the video. They are using the (A) riser. The taller riser may help keep the case more perpendicular.
The next thing they may have changed the design of the grippers slightly when they changed the color mine are red.
I also use the next taller riser (B) than in the video. They are using the (A) riser. The taller riser may help keep the case more perpendicular.
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I say "Get a Dillon! Maybe a few bucks more - but you will reap the rewards forever!
roberth
Member
I have one, haven't set it up yet. I intend to use it for resized pistol brass.
