Started with the 1988 version of this and still works great today…used it for all my contender hunting ammo for years…simple to use and produces quality ammunition
Bought that lee press back in 1998 and it still with me to this day. Very easy to use and pack. Reloading from a truck tailgate at a prarie dog hunt is where the hand press shined. Excellent vid bud!
I've always heard you can tell how smart a man is by how often he agrees with you. Roy, you must be a pretty smart fellow. First the short on Berry's bullets, and now this. I've used a hand press for over twenty years, and have turned out thousands of rounds with it. Just did another 100 over the weekend. All my reloading gear fits into a desk drawer. No mess, no fuss. About 99% of it is Lee Precision too.
I don’t think there’s a better company to deal with than Lee. They stand behind everything you get to talk to a real live person and they want to help you wow.
I’ve used mine for years, sitting in my easy chair. Lost count of how many .357 and 10mm cases I’ve resized this way. Thoroughly enjoyed the level of detail you put into this video, showing the process from start to finish. Great way to encourage folks who may be hesitant to get started. Thanks Roy.
Bought my hand press about 10 years ago. First press I ever owned. They're a great way to get started. I Have a turret press and a single stage now. But I still find the hand press to be very convenient.
I have a breech lock press. Have bought three, given two to friends to help them get started in reloading. Have a Dillon 550, Forster single stage…. And I use my breech lock all,the time. Load .25 ACP and .32 S&W exclusively on it, but it’s great for small batches of new loads/rounds (38 wad cutters…). Great, great tool
I got one as my TV watching reloader. In addition, if you're into custom and testing loads, you can bring this and a scale to the range or the field and make rounds as you go. It allows you to experiment from shot to shot.
I remember seeing one of these in an ad a long time ago before the TH-cam days. I had always wondered if they were any good. Thank you for sharing the information and advice!
Great tool makes reloading doable when you don’t have much room I live in an apt and I’ve loaded thousands of rounds on mine still works as well as day I bought it
I have one of these hand loaders, before I retired I traveled a lot. While at my motel I. Reloaded 38 special, 357 mag and 45 auto. Better than watching the boob tube. I tried to reload 556 and you can do it but it will work you pretty good. I’m surprised Lee doesn’t advertise this more.
Me too Scott. I've been known to load just one or two rounds, shoot, then reload them. Awfully handy. I've known precision rifle shooters who use them at the matches! Roy
Thank you for this well produced video, wanted to try reloading but live in a small place with not much room to work! Getting mine and supplies and will give it a shot
My mentor pointed out a benefit to using a loading block for powder is the powder level can easily be checked for missing powder and esp double charges.
Oh the joy of reloading. Lee products are are well made and easy to use. There is a big feeling of accomplishment making ammo with a hammer and with using the hand press. When I have a small test sample to make I tend toward using the Lee hand tools and not the Dillon for the mere fun of it. Happy loading everyone!
I use use the Lee Hand Press in conjunction with my normal loading, especially de-priming 9mm cases while watching TV or Gun Crank videos. Also I load small batches of .45-70 or .30-30 ammo when I just need 20 or 40 rounds.
I tend to use my old model Lee Hand press and Lee Loaders more than my Lee turret press. It just easier and faster to load a box or two. If more is needed the turret comes out.
That's about right. For most of my rifle stuff, I use this, a Lee Loader or a single stage as I just load 20 or so. But as you say, if I'm filling some boxes of .38, out comes the turret press! Roy
I have had a Lee hand press for 35 years now. I bought it when first married and living in a small apartment and wanted to reload. I still use it. Cost $19.99 back in 1989.
I honestly had one I used in our old motorhome when my daughter was growing up. We'd go to the desert, plink a bit, sit around the fire and such and now and again I'd load up a few rounds. Roy
A perfect companion in the field, the only thing I do different is also, (get the Lee Factory Crimp Die), not necessary, but, works great and brass length isn't as critical. Great job by Lee and at a cost most everybody can afford.
Well done Sir, I might just dust mine off, it hasn’t seen daylight in over 30 years. You might want to show reloading .410 shells for those needing them. I love the brass .410.
I have been using a Lee Hand Press exclusively for the last 7 years, out of necessity due to lack of space. I love the ability to deprime, resize, and bell case mouths in large batches from anywhere in the house. I would highly recommend it to anyone remotely interested in one.
38 special, 3 die set, 9mm 4 die set. I like to crimp my 9mm separate from the seating stage as some bullets deform when you try and finish seating with the crimp starting. Most revolver bullets have a cannulure and that gives the top of the brass someplace to go when seating and crimping in the same step. Another thing, frequently empty the spent primers, I usually empty after 25 or so. Spent primers can build up to the point that you can jam them in the ram.
I put the press in my bench vise. I have rubber soft jaws that dont mar the press. I have loaded at least several thousand pistol rounds with it. 9mm 40sw and 45 acp. I always crimp my rounds though. I have had some 45 bullets walk out due to recoil. Scary!! The lyman combination weight tray and funnel is a good time saver too. Weigh the pan and directly charge the case.
I started out with a hand press. I have two of these hand presses now and I use them for flaring cases or for crimping. They give me a lot of flexibility.
Thanks for the introduction. Might have to add one to the RCBS and the Dillon collection. One concern: Eye protection should be used when seating primers since the case mouth is open...and they have been known to go off when being seated.
I have one now for 25+ years and use it in the winter to load in the house. My loading bench is in my shop in garage, to cold in winter to load so in the house I go. Also you can load at the range.
Many years ago, I remember a Gun Magazine article by the late great Skeeter Skelton in which he states that a friend of his worked on a remote ranch as a fence mender.He carried a.38 special revolver and had a hand press...maybe a Lyman....which kept him in meat for extended periods !!!
Hey Mod, loading the dies is easy. The instructions are very clear and easy to understand. The die screws into the breechlock. Then you install the breechlock, then adjust the die up or down according to the instructions. I'd get a die set with the breechlocks included so then they are all quick change. Roy
This is so cool! I bought a Lee press and the .308 stuff to go with it and also the small hammer setup for .38 special. I just felt too nervous to do it and have a catastrophic ending. I’ve been looking for someone to walk me through it ALL. I’d even get this hand press then. I’d love to do 45-70. So if you ever have the time Neighbor, let me know lol Thanks 🤠
Once you get over the fear of detonating a primer, with the Lee Classic that uses a mallet,.you're good to go. I also have the press that Roy is giving the demo. about, it works great. Get a handpriming tool and it'll speed things up a bit. I use mine mainly for 45-70 , 460 S&W, 454 Casull, 44Magnum and other straight-wall cartridges, it works great. (Straight wall seldom needs trimming.) It will do bottle neck cartridges, just a little tougher and I usually pinch my hand a few times doing those.
Thank you sir very interesting have been going to buy one just never have and they have came up in price a bit since they came out hahahah but still under a 100.00 which is good
I don't have a place for a reloading room or reloading table. I've owned one of these hand presses for years and have loaded thousands of rounds on it. Plan on thousands more. Mine isn't the breech lock. When I'd work out of town I'd take it, my brass and primers. Have worked many brass while killing time in a hotel room.
Speaking of an RV. I am moving for a new job. Plan is to live at my buddies house in my RV until the Wife and I pick a home. Be waffling back and forth between getting one of these or just clamping one of my existing presses to a board or something.
I haven't been without one of these in one form or another since around 91 or so. My favorite version is the breechlock with the bushing lock pin, but of course like on the bench presses the lock pin is discontinued. I assume it's easier to sell spare bushings if there's no solid way to keep them locked into the press.
@@fmgpubs I'm just old and grumpy I guess...I don't like when they introduce something I really like...and then change it. It's like that really heavy duty die lock bushing they used to offer. I only have 6 or 7 of those and have kicked myself many times for not buying 50 of them! the lock pin really isn't necessary, but I like it when I use a press to do experimental things and need different dies for testing. These are indeed handy though. My son comes by almost every week and if he asks me to do a test batch of something for him I almost always grab the hand press and a cup of coffee. I can sit at the coffee table with him and reminisce whilst loading him a batch...or watch him do it whilst sipping hot coffee :)
I got the Lee Breech Lock Reloader Single Stage Press #90045 and it's so fragile, it broke resizing 5.56 brass! The hand loader is unsupported and hard to use because of it, but if you are at the range and need to test some loads on the spot, it's the way to go. I also got the Lee Precision Classic 4 Hole Turret Press Deluxe Kit #90304 and the primer loading part is way too difficult so I de-prime before I tumble clean the cases, then use the hand primer to prime them. I eventually got the Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Press #90588 to replace the #90045 as it looked stronger. The multiple stage presses really should not be your first press because most will never shoot enough to justify it.
I’ve got quite a bit done on the single stage and so far, no issues. I’ve loaded quite a bit of .308 and .30-06. I suspect it was just a random flaw in the casting. I’m betting they’d send you a new one. Agreed on the progressive being a bit much for a newbie. Roy
I had a freind with a very bad back, he would sit, lay in a lazyboy and handload with one of these, he could not sit at a bench for an hour or more but could crank out 50 rounds of 9mm in a session.
Indeed Jess. I wouldn’t want to load hundreds of rounds, but if you travel in a motorhome, or enjoy doing a bit of loading watching TV or at the range, it’s about perfect. Roy
I use Lee products on a Hornady single stage press. Shell holders are under $7.00 not $15.00-$20.00. USE a weight scale for powder not just the dipper. Some chargers I have use lees than a scoop, some a little more. I have the same feature of setting the dies up in a holder BUT, you need to verify COL incase anything changed not just assume it's good to go. This hand loader could be a great tool. The directions given here could damage yourself and or firearm
Great video and tutorial! I was recently looking at getting one of these, but I found conflicting information on whether or not my RCBS dies would be the same thread pattern. I’m still using my RCBS set from 1988. Can you offer any insight on this?
I don’t because I use a carbide die so other than maybe wiping off the grit if they were range finds, I don’t do a thing. For the brass I shoot all the time, I just go right to work on them. Once in a while, I might toss them in a tumbler just to make them pretty again! Roy
Roy, I am considering picking up one of the new Rossi RP63's. I would mostly shoot the .38 special but like the idea of having the option of the .357 magnum, in case I choose to want to shoot the heavier round, say for very close deer hunting, or maybe feral hog hunting. Are the dies for the .38 special able to be used for the .357 magnum, just with different adjustment of the length on the dies? I have a stockpile of 9mm rounds, both FMJ and defensive which is the Hornady XTP, all in 115 grain weight. So switching to another caliber would require an extra expense, thus the need for me to get into reloading if such a change were to be made. One other question and that is, how would the .357 magnum round work out of the 3" barrel on a deer sized game animal, if I limited my shots to around 25-30 yards? The Rossi RP63 seems to be a very good gun as far as cost to value. I know this is a lot of questions, but if you could answer at least a couple of them, I would appreciate it. And of course, this video was fantastic, as always.
Hey PigPen! You can adjust a .38 die to work. It just takes a bit of fussing but you can do it easily enough. On the .357 out of tht 3" barrel, you're asking a lot. You'd want a hard cast 158 at least and it's be hard to get 900 to 1,000 fps from that barrel unless you loaded the .357 up pretty stout. I'd want that velocity for penetration. But, if you shot accurately and hit exactly right, that load from that gun would do it. I predict the deer would run off but a bit of tracking and you'd have it. I'd be more comfortable with a 5" or 6" .357 as that can wring out the velocity. Also watch the power you use and find one able to burn completely in short barrels. Roy
@@fmgpubs Thanks for such a quick response! I figured I might be asking a bit too much. I hate to do it, but I might have to sell a couple of guns and pick up a lever gun in .357 magnum for any hunting I wanted to do. It sucks to be on a fixed income, when my wishes are for an unlimited income. The big thing is that I have absolutely no debt, and refuse to go into same. So it might be possible to save a little and sell a couple of things, and pick up a higher quality lever action rifle. I know that G-Force sells one for around $500 street price, while it will be several hundred dollars more for one of the nicer ones from Marlin, Winchester, or Henry. The last time I hunted deer was 3 years ago, with an 18" unmodified choke, from a $100 ATI 12 gauge. One shot from a 1 oz slug dropped a nice 3 point at around 50 yards. But I need to become a better rifle shooter, and this could be the way to do it. The Rossi RP63 could eventually become my CCW gun. As always, thanks for your hard work and kindness to your viewers.
@Pigpen51 You could also consider a Henry single shot .357 rifle. It's a bit cheaper, and depending on your state, you might be able to use it during the primitive part of deer season. That would expand your deer season considerably, depending on your state.
@@la_old_salt2241 This deer season in Michigan, they are letting us use actual center fire rifles during what is termed as Muzzle Loading Season. There are a number of other changes, but the main thing here is that the deep population has blossomed due to fewer hunters. There are a lot of reasons for not wanting the deer population to get too heavy, but the Farm Bureau and the insurance industry are two of the big players who want a smaller herd due to financial reasons. Thanks for the heads up on the single shot from Henry. All of the deer that I have killed since I started hunting in 1974, at age 14 as was allowed then, have been killed with the first shot, although I have shot some a second or third time, just because they were not DRT. Be well, and have a safe and happy upcoming finish to the year 2024.
Lately, I don't recommend getting into reloading anymore.....powder has doubled in price last few years, primers have quadrupled, and bullets and brass have gone up. Equipment investment is very high even with basic equipment and takes years to recoup your investment. Only get into reloading if you need another hobby or shoot A LOT of ammo.
Look at a hds compact press or Buchman compact press. It has more power using a double arm system for leverage works easier on rifle brass 30-06 etc. however for the price lee can't be beat.
I started with a Lee Hand Press before the breech lock die system was available. That Breech Lock feature is a real game changer!
Boy howdy ... game-changer for sure. Roy
As a new full time rver I thought my reloading dates were over. Thanks to you I'm back at it! Thanks so much!
Great to hear that Waverider ! Roy
Started with the 1988 version of this and still works great today…used it for all my contender hunting ammo for years…simple to use and produces quality ammunition
Agreed completely. Don’t forget to put. drop of lube on it now and again! Roy
Bought that lee press back in 1998 and it still with me to this day. Very easy to use and pack. Reloading from a truck tailgate at a prarie dog hunt is where the hand press shined.
Excellent vid bud!
A great use of it! Thanks sir. Roy
I've always heard you can tell how smart a man is by how often he agrees with you. Roy, you must be a pretty smart fellow. First the short on Berry's bullets, and now this. I've used a hand press for over twenty years, and have turned out thousands of rounds with it. Just did another 100 over the weekend. All my reloading gear fits into a desk drawer. No mess, no fuss. About 99% of it is Lee Precision too.
We both must be smart then! The Lee people are so darn nice and they make high quality, affordable gear. Glad to hear you have one. Roy
I don’t think there’s a better company to deal with than Lee. They stand behind everything you get to talk to a real live person and they want to help you wow.
Agreed 100 percent Gary. Roy
I’ve used mine for years, sitting in my easy chair.
Lost count of how many .357 and 10mm cases I’ve resized this way.
Thoroughly enjoyed the level of detail you put into this video, showing the process from start to finish.
Great way to encourage folks who may be hesitant to get started.
Thanks Roy.
No, no ... thank you! Roy
Thou art welcome Sir!
🤓
Bought my hand press about 10 years ago. First press I ever owned. They're a great way to get started. I Have a turret press and a single stage now. But I still find the hand press to be very convenient.
It’s a great way to learn to load, then it makes going to different presses easy since you understand the process. Roy
This is the only tutorial you’ll ever need. Great job. Thank you.
Glad it helped out sir! Roy
Thanks for this. Yes, I know there are other explanatory videos. I'm just glad you've done one! Some people are more bearable to listen to and follow!
Appreciate that Capius. Not sure why so many people seem unconcerned about production quality and putting a bit of fun into their vids! Roy
I have a breech lock press. Have bought three, given two to friends to help them get started in reloading. Have a Dillon 550, Forster single stage…. And I use my breech lock all,the time. Load .25 ACP and .32 S&W exclusively on it, but it’s great for small batches of new loads/rounds (38 wad cutters…).
Great, great tool
Agreed, perfect for that sort of thing. I just loaded six .38 specials testing a new load. Easy! Roy
I got one as my TV watching reloader. In addition, if you're into custom and testing loads, you can bring this and a scale to the range or the field and make rounds as you go. It allows you to experiment from shot to shot.
Agreed. I favor a small digital scale these days though. Easier and faster than a sliding scale. Roy
I remember seeing one of these in an ad a long time ago before the TH-cam days. I had always wondered if they were any good. Thank you for sharing the information and advice!
You bet. They really do work. Roy
Great tool makes reloading doable when you don’t have much room I live in an apt and I’ve loaded thousands of rounds on mine still works as well as day I bought it
I have one of these hand loaders, before I retired I traveled a lot. While at my motel I. Reloaded 38 special, 357 mag and 45 auto. Better than watching the boob tube. I tried to reload 556 and you can do it but it will work you pretty good. I’m surprised Lee doesn’t advertise this more.
Hopefully this will help people learn more about it. Roy
The benefit of that for me is I have done this while shooting when do test on different load charges. Even on my rifle rounds I have done this.
Me too Scott. I've been known to load just one or two rounds, shoot, then reload them. Awfully handy. I've known precision rifle shooters who use them at the matches! Roy
Thank you for this well produced video, wanted to try reloading but live in a small place with not much room to work! Getting mine and supplies and will give it a shot
Excellent! Just start small and learn. It’s great fun. Roy
My mentor pointed out a benefit to using a loading block for powder is the powder level can easily be checked for missing powder and esp double charges.
Oh the joy of reloading. Lee products are are well made and easy to use. There is a big feeling of accomplishment making ammo with a hammer and with using the hand press. When I have a small test sample to make I tend toward using the Lee hand tools and not the Dillon for the mere fun of it. Happy loading everyone!
Agreed Jeff. A complex progressive press is just a bit "too much" sometimes! Roy
Got one use it love it.
I'm betting plenty of people have one. I think it was time to remind people about them! Roy
I have that hand press kit it is very handy. Especially if you need to change oal length on the go if you are trying different seating depths
It does make it darn easy, Jeremy. Roy
My son and I got our copies of "Shooting Iron" !!! Terrific reading !
Thanks for making it available !
You bet. We’re sorry we had to, but glad we did it! Roy
@@fmgpubsit's keeping Duke "alive" .
It is, indeed. I confess I have a copy and am reading it now. And I edited all those articles to begin with! But it’s nice to read him still. Roy
I use use the Lee Hand Press in conjunction with my normal loading, especially de-priming 9mm cases while watching TV or Gun Crank videos. Also I load small batches of .45-70 or .30-30 ammo when I just need 20 or 40 rounds.
That’s how I use it mostly, to just load a few rounds of this or that. Roy
@@gordonnash6230 I just finished loading 40 rounds of 30-30 two days ago with mine. It was my first foray into bottleneck cases with my hand press.
I tend to use my old model Lee Hand press and Lee Loaders more than my Lee turret press. It just easier and faster to load a box or two. If more is needed the turret comes out.
That's about right. For most of my rifle stuff, I use this, a Lee Loader or a single stage as I just load 20 or so. But as you say, if I'm filling some boxes of .38, out comes the turret press! Roy
@@fmgpubs Same, it works a treat at the range bench for working up loads.
I have had a Lee hand press for 35 years now. I bought it when first married and living in a small apartment and wanted to reload. I still use it. Cost $19.99 back in 1989.
Can’t wear ‘em out Gordon! Roy
This is what I reload with. Works great.
And you can't wear it out! Ever! Roy
I used one of those for 30 years, there great, you can reload sitting anywhere
I honestly had one I used in our old motorhome when my daughter was growing up. We'd go to the desert, plink a bit, sit around the fire and such and now and again I'd load up a few rounds. Roy
A perfect companion in the field, the only thing I do different is also, (get the Lee Factory Crimp Die), not necessary, but, works great and brass length isn't as critical.
Great job by Lee and at a cost most everybody can afford.
Thanks Kevin. You’re right about that final crimp die. Roy
I'm sold.
It really is simple and easy and lord knows, affordable. But the ability to do it anywhere really changes things. Roy
Well done Sir, I might just dust mine off, it hasn’t seen daylight in over 30 years. You might want to show reloading .410 shells for those needing them. I love the brass .410.
Love the brass .410 too! Roy
I have been using a Lee Hand Press exclusively for the last 7 years, out of necessity due to lack of space. I love the ability to deprime, resize, and bell case mouths in large batches from anywhere in the house. I would highly recommend it to anyone remotely interested in one.
Well said, Matt. A smallish tackle box can hold everything. Roy
I have 3 of those. Set 1 up for depriming 1 for seating & 1 for a spare
That's a great idea! Roy
Looks like I need to try reloading.
Get off your duff Randy and get going! Roy
38 special, 3 die set, 9mm 4 die set. I like to crimp my 9mm separate from the seating stage as some bullets deform when you try and finish seating with the crimp starting. Most revolver bullets have a cannulure and that gives the top of the brass someplace to go when seating and crimping in the same step.
Another thing, frequently empty the spent primers, I usually empty after 25 or so. Spent primers can build up to the point that you can jam them in the ram.
I think I forgot to say that about emptying the primers. Thanks for noting that. Roy
I put the press in my bench vise. I have rubber soft jaws that dont mar the press. I have loaded at least several thousand pistol rounds with it. 9mm 40sw and 45 acp.
I always crimp my rounds though. I have had some 45 bullets walk out due to recoil. Scary!!
The lyman combination weight tray and funnel is a good time saver too. Weigh the pan and directly charge the case.
That’s a great idea to use the bench vise! Roy
I started out with a hand press. I have two of these hand presses now and I use them for flaring cases or for crimping. They give me a lot of flexibility.
That’s a great idea on how to use one. Like a spare press on the bench. Roy
Thanks for the introduction. Might have to add one to the RCBS and the Dillon collection. One concern: Eye protection should be used when seating primers since the case mouth is open...and they have been known to go off when being seated.
Did I forget my glasses? Sorry, I’m usually so distracted doing the videos I sometimes forget. Thanks. Roy
I have one now for 25+ years and use it in the winter to load in the house. My loading bench is in my shop in garage, to cold in winter to load so in the house I go. Also you can load at the range.
Bingo Robert, you just noted two excellent reasons to have one. I look upon them as something you'd have in addition to your bench press. Roy
Many years ago, I remember a Gun Magazine article by the late great Skeeter Skelton in which he states that a friend of his worked on a remote ranch as a fence mender.He carried a.38 special revolver and had a hand press...maybe a Lyman....which kept him in meat for extended periods !!!
It’s great for something like that. It would all fit in a satchel or tackle box. Roy
Excellent video. Could you do one instructing how to pre load the dies
Hey Mod, loading the dies is easy. The instructions are very clear and easy to understand. The die screws into the breechlock. Then you install the breechlock, then adjust the die up or down according to the instructions. I'd get a die set with the breechlocks included so then they are all quick change. Roy
This is so cool! I bought a Lee press and the .308 stuff to go with it and also the small hammer setup for .38 special. I just felt too nervous to do it and have a catastrophic ending. I’ve been looking for someone to walk me through it ALL. I’d even get this hand press then. I’d love to do 45-70. So if you ever have the time Neighbor, let me know lol
Thanks 🤠
I forget Gene, where do you live? Roy
@@fmgpubs Eldon/Lake Ozark border
Once you get over the fear of detonating a primer, with the Lee Classic that uses a mallet,.you're good to go.
I also have the press that Roy is giving the demo. about, it works great. Get a handpriming tool and it'll speed things up a bit.
I use mine mainly for 45-70 , 460 S&W, 454 Casull, 44Magnum and other straight-wall cartridges, it works great. (Straight wall seldom needs trimming.)
It will do bottle neck cartridges, just a little tougher and I usually pinch my hand a few times doing those.
I have one and they are great . An awesome little press .
Thank you sir very interesting have been going to buy one just never have and they have came up in price a bit since they came out hahahah but still under a 100.00 which is good
Well worth it. Roy
The four die set is better. Seating the bullet and crimping the case mouth in separate steps is easier
Some like to do it that way. I guess I’m just lazy! Roy
I don't have a place for a reloading room or reloading table. I've owned one of these hand presses for years and have loaded thousands of rounds on it. Plan on thousands more. Mine isn't the breech lock. When I'd work out of town I'd take it, my brass and primers. Have worked many brass while killing time in a hotel room.
A perfect use for it. I have to admit the breech lock is handy. Roy
Good video. I have that exact setup. Very easy and Lee is a good product.
It’s a great option. Roy
Speaking of an RV. I am moving for a new job. Plan is to live at my buddies house in my RV until the Wife and I pick a home. Be waffling back and forth between getting one of these or just clamping one of my existing presses to a board or something.
Both .... this is handy especially if you just want to load a few rounds. Roy
Great video, thank you!
My pleasure sir. I hope it helps you out some. Roy
Oh yeah
I really like this new Breechlock version. Roy
I haven't been without one of these in one form or another since around 91 or so. My favorite version is the breechlock with the bushing lock pin, but of course like on the bench presses the lock pin is discontinued. I assume it's easier to sell spare bushings if there's no solid way to keep them locked into the press.
I haven’t had any issues with a lack of the locking pin. These sure are handy though! Roy
@@fmgpubs I'm just old and grumpy I guess...I don't like when they introduce something I really like...and then change it. It's like that really heavy duty die lock bushing they used to offer. I only have 6 or 7 of those and have kicked myself many times for not buying 50 of them! the lock pin really isn't necessary, but I like it when I use a press to do experimental things and need different dies for testing. These are indeed handy though. My son comes by almost every week and if he asks me to do a test batch of something for him I almost always grab the hand press and a cup of coffee. I can sit at the coffee table with him and reminisce whilst loading him a batch...or watch him do it whilst sipping hot coffee :)
I got the Lee Breech Lock Reloader Single Stage Press #90045 and it's so fragile, it broke resizing 5.56 brass!
The hand loader is unsupported and hard to use because of it, but if you are at the range and need to test some loads on the spot, it's the way to go.
I also got the Lee Precision Classic 4 Hole Turret Press Deluxe Kit #90304 and the primer loading part is way too difficult so I de-prime before I tumble clean the cases, then use the hand primer to prime them.
I eventually got the Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Press #90588 to replace the #90045 as it looked stronger.
The multiple stage presses really should not be your first press because most will never shoot enough to justify it.
I’ve got quite a bit done on the single stage and so far, no issues. I’ve loaded quite a bit of .308 and .30-06. I suspect it was just a random flaw in the casting. I’m betting they’d send you a new one. Agreed on the progressive being a bit much for a newbie. Roy
I had a freind with a very bad back, he would sit, lay in a lazyboy and handload with one of these, he could not sit at a bench for an hour or more but could crank out 50 rounds of 9mm in a session.
A perfect use for it. Roy
Would i need to add a case cutter or would the sizing die be adequate enough?
Most pistol rounds don’t need trimming especially if the loads aren’t always high pressure ones. I can’t ever recall trimming a handgun case. Roy
🤣🤣 loved the corny “get cracking at reloading” nice video I might get into reloading
It’s great fun, give it a shot … as it were. Roy
Small , portable, easy to use ,SOLD
Indeed Jess. I wouldn’t want to load hundreds of rounds, but if you travel in a motorhome, or enjoy doing a bit of loading watching TV or at the range, it’s about perfect. Roy
I have a speed die for 44 magnum. Put it in size, deprime and expand, reprime, then seat and crimp. No adjusting use 1 die.
I’ve never heard of that. I’ll have to look it up. Roy
Who makes those ?
Lee has stopped making them in 2007.
Great video was think about buying this for 556/223 would it fit?
It would, indeed sir. It’s not fast, but as they say, steady wins the race! Roy
I'm 3 of 4 on that list.
Perfect for loading my 32ACP.
Yup! Roy
I use Lee products on a Hornady single stage press. Shell holders are under $7.00 not $15.00-$20.00. USE a weight scale for powder not just the dipper. Some chargers I have use lees than a scoop, some a little more. I have the same feature of setting the dies up in a holder BUT, you need to verify COL incase anything changed not just assume it's good to go. This hand loader could be a great tool. The directions given here could damage yourself and or firearm
How so, Lastinline? This video was okay’d by Lee. Roy
Great video and tutorial! I was recently looking at getting one of these, but I found conflicting information on whether or not my RCBS dies would be the same thread pattern. I’m still using my RCBS set from 1988. Can you offer any insight on this?
You bet Chris, they'll screw right into the breechlock. Then you can just do the quick change thing! Roy
@@fmgpubs Thank you! That is great to hear. I’ll be getting one of these by Christmas, at the latest.
It resizes and primes at the same time? It’s a full length resizer then?
It is a full length resizer, but priming is another step. Roy
Do you clean the brass before or after depriming?
I don’t because I use a carbide die so other than maybe wiping off the grit if they were range finds, I don’t do a thing. For the brass I shoot all the time, I just go right to work on them. Once in a while, I might toss them in a tumbler just to make them pretty again! Roy
Sold American!
Ha! have fun with it! Roy
Been a Lee hand press for years. (22hornet - 45-70)
Well, there you go! Roy
will this work for 7mm mag and 45-70
Hmm … not sure. Might work for 7mm if you’re just neck sizing. The .45-70 may be a bit much. Go to their website and see what they say about it. Roy
Can it reload rifle cartridges too?
It does, sir. Roy
I want one to reload for 40 super. Can I use 45acp holder and 10mm dies? Odd ball question I know
Gosh, I don’t know about that one. It’s time for Dr. Google to help! Roy
Will it work for 223 5.56 Simi auto
Yup. Easy peasy! Roy
I've used them for 30+years press load block dies ect go in a 50 cal can with room to spare
Exactly. Roy
Roy, I am considering picking up one of the new Rossi RP63's. I would mostly shoot the .38 special but like the idea of having the option of the .357 magnum, in case I choose to want to shoot the heavier round, say for very close deer hunting, or maybe feral hog hunting.
Are the dies for the .38 special able to be used for the .357 magnum, just with different adjustment of the length on the dies?
I have a stockpile of 9mm rounds, both FMJ and defensive which is the Hornady XTP, all in 115 grain weight. So switching to another caliber would require an extra expense, thus the need for me to get into reloading if such a change were to be made.
One other question and that is, how would the .357 magnum round work out of the 3" barrel on a deer sized game animal, if I limited my shots to around 25-30 yards? The Rossi RP63 seems to be a very good gun as far as cost to value. I know this is a lot of questions, but if you could answer at least a couple of them, I would appreciate it. And of course, this video was fantastic, as always.
Hey PigPen! You can adjust a .38 die to work. It just takes a bit of fussing but you can do it easily enough. On the .357 out of tht 3" barrel, you're asking a lot. You'd want a hard cast 158 at least and it's be hard to get 900 to 1,000 fps from that barrel unless you loaded the .357 up pretty stout. I'd want that velocity for penetration. But, if you shot accurately and hit exactly right, that load from that gun would do it. I predict the deer would run off but a bit of tracking and you'd have it. I'd be more comfortable with a 5" or 6" .357 as that can wring out the velocity. Also watch the power you use and find one able to burn completely in short barrels. Roy
@@fmgpubs Thanks for such a quick response! I figured I might be asking a bit too much. I hate to do it, but I might have to sell a couple of guns and pick up a lever gun in .357 magnum for any hunting I wanted to do.
It sucks to be on a fixed income, when my wishes are for an unlimited income. The big thing is that I have absolutely no debt, and refuse to go into same. So it might be possible to save a little and sell a couple of things, and pick up a higher quality lever action rifle. I know that G-Force sells one for around $500 street price, while it will be several hundred dollars more for one of the nicer ones from Marlin, Winchester, or Henry. The last time I hunted deer was 3 years ago, with an 18" unmodified choke, from a $100 ATI 12 gauge. One shot from a 1 oz slug dropped a nice 3 point at around 50 yards. But I need to become a better rifle shooter, and this could be the way to do it. The Rossi RP63 could eventually become my CCW gun. As always, thanks for your hard work and kindness to your viewers.
I’m a firm believer in no debt. And I often sell guns to buy some other one. Patience will get you what you want eventually! All success to you. Roy
@Pigpen51 You could also consider a Henry single shot .357 rifle. It's a bit cheaper, and depending on your state, you might be able to use it during the primitive part of deer season. That would expand your deer season considerably, depending on your state.
@@la_old_salt2241 This deer season in Michigan, they are letting us use actual center fire rifles during what is termed as Muzzle Loading Season. There are a number of other changes, but the main thing here is that the deep population has blossomed due to fewer hunters.
There are a lot of reasons for not wanting the deer population to get too heavy, but the Farm Bureau and the insurance industry are two of the big players who want a smaller herd due to financial reasons.
Thanks for the heads up on the single shot from Henry. All of the deer that I have killed since I started hunting in 1974, at age 14 as was allowed then, have been killed with the first shot, although I have shot some a second or third time, just because they were not DRT. Be well, and have a safe and happy upcoming finish to the year 2024.
Interesting. I didn't realize the hand press was made using their breech lock system.
It’s a great addition to the model. Roy
I've had one for over 30 years. Of course it's not a breech lock.
Time for another one Harold! Then you can keep one in the trunk and one in the garage! Roy
It doesn't work with rifle cartridges.
It does indeed. Roy
Lately, I don't recommend getting into reloading anymore.....powder has doubled in price last few years, primers have quadrupled, and bullets and brass have gone up. Equipment investment is very high even with basic equipment and takes years to recoup your investment. Only get into reloading if you need another hobby or shoot A LOT of ammo.
Or all of the above! I consider it fun, not to save money. Roy
Hello, we're interested in exploring potential collaboration opportunities with you. Could we discuss how we might work together?
Hey guys. I’ve sent your link to the home office. Someone there will reach out to you. Thanks! Roy
@@fmgpubs Thanks
I wonder how many 9 mm you can do in an hour😅
I'd say, you can load about 50 in an hour, give or take. You get faster as you learn how to manipulate it. Roy
My question is, who in the hell can afford $ 70 dollars for 1# of gun powder? I sure can't, much less other things needed too reload!!!!
I know … it’s terrible. But even at that price, you can load cheaper than to buy commercially loaded ammo. Roy
@@fmgpubs Yea, but the ammo I have is all I have. I haven't bought any since last year!
I wasn't a fan, handles need some improvement as I think they are too small.
Well, Lee is reading the comments so they’ll hear what you said! Roy
Look at a hds compact press or Buchman compact press. It has more power using a double arm system for leverage works easier on rifle brass 30-06 etc. however for the price lee can't be beat.