Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: jneilson on April 12, 2024, 03:28:20 PM

Title: Hand reloading presses
Post by: jneilson on April 12, 2024, 03:28:20 PM: I'm thinking about getting into reloading and I've seen some hand reloading presses, such has the Lee Breech Lock Hand Press. How to these compare to bench mounted presses as far as functionality goes? I don't picture myself doing a lot of reloading, just 20 or so at a time and a few low power loads, mostly for my 30-06. Thanks
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: HighlandLofts on April 13, 2024, 07:20:07 AM: Your press will be fine, it would be nice to hook up with someone local that is all set up and running to help you out.
The. Highroad Forum is a great reloading g forum.
Lots of knowledgeable people who can answer any questions you will have.
If you need any reloading supplies I probably have everything you will need.
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: savagehunter on April 13, 2024, 07:23:39 PM: A great starter press is the lee breechlock challenger. I use one to load very accurate ammo in numerous rifles. I even have a rockchucker and have never even mounted it as the lee press has done everything I need. I would not go with the base model breechlock as I have that press and it seems a little flimsy .
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: jneilson on April 16, 2024, 09:59:42 AM: Quote from: savagehunter on April 13, 2024, 07:23:39 PM
A great starter press is the lee breechlock challenger. I use one to load very accurate ammo in numerous rifles. I even have a rockchucker and have never even mounted it as the lee press has done everything I need. I would not go with the base model breechlock as I have that press and it seems a little flimsy .
I think I'll spurge a little and get the Lee Breechlock Challenger Kit.
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: addicted on July 22, 2024, 08:37:35 AM: I have a LEE hand held press in box somewhere.

I used it for about a year and it is definitely slower than a bench mounted press but it has the advantage of being able to sit on the couch and watch TV while you De-prime and resize.

less valuable to me now since I neither deprime nor prim on a press anymore, I use handheld tools for this. This has the advantage of allowing me to clean out primer pockets and the whole brass before they ever touch a die to prevent them from getting my dies dirty and the shorter stroke of the hand deprime/primers is much quicker.
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: Buckbungler on September 20, 2024, 08:13:23 PM: Good info
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: BigGoonTuna on September 26, 2024, 04:18:53 AM: Full length resizing is a pain on a hand press, especially if you're doing it for a rifle that likes to stretch brass, like my Savage 99. Takes a lot of effort, and you have to experiment with setting the dies up, since the usual "screw it down until it touches the shell holder" isn't usually enough to get the case fully sized.

I've only done this when doing load workup in the field. I've sort of conceded to just bringing a bunch of sized cases along and using the hand press for seating bullets now.

If you're using something like a collet neck die for sizing, it works pretty good for that purpose.
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: brokenvet on September 26, 2024, 07:39:52 AM: Can't help you with a hand press, but I can certainly tell you what is the best case lube to use. Imperial sizing die wax
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: Okanagan on September 26, 2024, 09:27:45 AM: I've had a Lee hand press for 15 years or so and love it. I have bench press gear and used it for years, but found that the little hand press was ideal when I only needed a few rounds.

I deprime, prep cases and prime with other hand tools, so it is simple to sit at my office desk and crank out a few rounds. It is also great at the range if I want to try just three more etc. of some load or tweak the powder charge a bit without going home to the bench. It seems to turn out equally accurate loads as my bench press. My grandson likes it for apartment living and has acquired it from me. I will borrow it back if I want to use it.
Title: Re: Hand reloading presses
Post by: JohnVH on September 26, 2024, 11:39:04 AM: I am still using my first press, Lee classic turret press, done everything from 380acp, to 7mm mag on it.