Thinking of getting into reloading with Lee hand press

[Ross3914]

It should work fine for what you want.

I bought the Hand Press for the exact reasons you've stated. Space was a premium for a young and growing family and I needed a zero footprint, zero set-up time/hassle. I just needed something to pull out of a small box and reload some rounds. I kept it all in a Tupperware container. It worked fine for the space constraints I had.

I had a single stage RCBS press, but I just didn't have the space to mount it. Honestly, while it's not much effort to do the "take-down" model as several have mentioned, I wasn't interested in assembling anything everytime I wanted to reload anything. I didn't want to bother with dissaembling anything every time I was through. I just wanted to pull the Hand Press out of the tupperware box and load some ammo and then put it back in the container. The Hand Press does that quite well.

I bought my Hand Press when they first came out a couple decades ago. While I have a much better space situation now, and my RCBS press is mounted on a bench in the garage, the Hand Press still sees some use. It's convenient.

I'd use a separate hand device for priming. I've used the ram device with the Hand Press and it works. It's just time consuming. I'd opt for a separate hand priming tool.

If you think one of the "take-down" set ups will work for you in your situation, I'd recommend that. I chose not to go that route and the Hand Press worked fine for what I needed. Either path is the right one. There is no "wrong way" in this case.

 

[Twogunnes]

Your loading space is never enough. That is something you learn as time goes on.

A lesson I learned early on always buy Green, RCBS. When I stray from that. The product always reminds me.

In your handguns shoot mostly cast bullets. They kill pop cans very efficiently.

Twogunnes

 

[gdnagle]

So I have a few questions..
1. First off I will primarily be reloading 357mag. What kind of savings will I be looking at here for just plinking ammo? I know reloading match ammo doesn't yield too much savings and I'll probably do it every now and then, but I'm really looking to save on range plinking ammo. Also throw 44mag and 45ACP in here. If I start reloading, I'll definitely get more guns in these calibers.

You might want to check out these reloading calculators. I haven't used them yet as I havn't started to reload and am still accumalating my
equipment, so I can not give information on their accuracy. You can find deals on brass and bullets on the internet just remember HazMat shipping
on primers and powder.

Truth about gunsdotcom calculator reloading savings calculator courtesy shootpita.com | The Truth About Guns


Handloads dot com calculator Handloading Cost Calculator

 

[David LaPell]

I would ask you to go maybe a different way. I used to own a Lee Hand Press and it was great but after I got my Lyman 310 I will never go back to a Hand Press. The Lyman 310 in one form or another has been around since 1884 and in its present form since 1947. The little hand tool allows you to load more than one caliber at a time, but you need to use their dies as the standard size dies will not work. But you can find them used pretty cheaply online. I bought my 310 on Ebay with the .38 Special dies (which also load .357) for less than $30. As far as loading .357 Magnum, you can make pretty inexpensive ammunition, either by buying cast lead bullets (Montana Bullet Co. makes some excellent bullets for .357) or if you get good casting your own. I would seriously look into the 310 because I can do all my loading from my recliner and kitchen table. No bench is needed and I keep the whole thing minus my scale and caliper in a magazine pouch for an AK-47. It is simplicity itself. I even had a die that lets me size my own cast bullets. The only drawback is that you can only neck size your cases, but if you by new brass to start with or resize brass fired from your revolver than that is not a problem.

 

[AABEN]

I think I'm finally going to get into reloading because I realized that I do restrict a lot of my shooting due to ammo costs. I love shooting 357mag and 44mag, but price gets pretty crazy just buying the ammo. Whats always stopped me from reloading is that I really don't have any space. I live in a small apartment with my girlfriend and I'm not kidding when I say we don't even have space to set up stool as a reloading setup. So I know a lot of you might advise against it, but I think I'm going to go ahead with a Lee's hand press. I know its really slow, so I most likely won't reload 9mm since I go through them too fast and I buy factory reloads for not that much more than it might cost to reload.

So I have a few questions..
1. First off I will primarily be reloading 357mag. What kind of savings will I be looking at here for just plinking ammo? I know reloading match ammo doesn't yield too much savings and I'll probably do it every now and then, but I'm really looking to save on range plinking ammo. Also throw 44mag and 45ACP in here. If I start reloading, I'll definitely get more guns in these calibers.

2. So I'll get the Lee hand press (I believe these come with funnel and the other small stuff), the appropriate carbide dies, brass tumbler, and something to weigh it all.. anything else really necessary aside from manuals, etc?

3. On the topic of manuals.... with all the sources on the net.. what are some reliable ones? I've already did some research on reloading and have heard differing views on the necessity of manuals. Essentially, everything in the manuals can be found on the net and just printed out.

4. Since I've already brought up my small space (one of the downsides of living near work in CA), I have limited storage space. I probably will never buy primers and powder in bulk which I know also diminishes on the money I save.. but I'd still be interested in any storage advice. From what I've gathered, just keep them separate, possibly in low static, and even in their original packaging. I'm hearing differing views on the potential for fires on these items... essentially many do think its overstated and we probably have things under out kitchen sink thats more volatile.

I'm open to any tips in equipment or reloading in general. I'm actually quite excited as this is letting me still be in the shooting hobby without being on the range. Lately my schedule hasn't allowed me to be free during range hours.. so this'll give me something extra to do on free nights. Maybe I can even talk my lady into doing some of the stages like removing the spent primer on her free time

Sorry I know this is a lot and much of it can be Googled (which I'm already doing and will continue doing.. just want extra sources) but I'd definitely appreciate it if anyone in here can share some helpful tidbits on any single points.

I thank you would be better off with a Lee turret press 3 or 4 hole 108.00 or 115.00 from Lee you might find one on sale some place or a used one here on the NET. GOOD LUCK

 

[oneyeopn]

I used a Workmate with the 50th anniversary lee single stage press kit. The press did take up some space, about 3 months ago I went to the Lee Hand Press, I am reloading for everything I shoot except shotguns. and it does it well, I use a RCBS universal hand primer and my Lee Hand Press and do 30 to 50 an hour if I work hard at it. I still use my perfect powder measure but it didnt stick out and up like the press did. To each his own

 

[palmettosunshine]

My Lee handpress works just fine. Been loading .380, 9mm, 44 special and 38 special with no issues. I use the ram prime option as I didn't like the hand held primer tools due to arthritis in my thumbs so squeezing the handle for every single primer doesn't work for me. Buy what works for you now. You always have the option of upgrading later as space and budget allow.

 

[CoronaDan]

Great info from all. Thanks for sharing your opinions and expertise.

I am in somewhat the same position as the OP, with the exception that I have room on the workbench in the garage for something larger. However there something to be said for the simplicity of the Lee Handloader.

I am pondering the same move and have been saving .38 spl brass for some time, I must have 500 rounds of Lawmand and Blazer brass that's been through my Mod 10-5. I'm attracted to hand loading to save a litte money but mostly to dig a little deeper into shooting - for the same reason, I like driving my car but I also like working on it too.

Several questions from a noob related to the OP's query:

1. Do you also have to get a brass cleaner or are there other methods to clean that don't require another machine?
2. Are powder dippers accurate enough for hand loading .38 or is a scale necessary?
3. Does brass - once fired through the same gun - need to bee resized?

I don't need to crank out thousands or even hundreds of rounds. I probably shoot 100 rounds of .38 every other week or so. I'm more curious about the process of hand loading than anything else.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Dan

 

[CoronaDan]

Sorry...don't want to hijack this thread. I'll start another one.

 

[rodsvet]

Store it in the trunk of your car.