Small "Lee" press- Whats it worth???

[cloverleaf]

Below please find a photo of a small (thats a can of pop next to it) LEE press a friend wants to sell me for ten bucks. I have never really done any reloading. (always had Dad do it for me) Any way, This one interests me because space is at a premium and I could set this up with scale etc in a big tool box. It is used, the ram seems pretty tight, the levers etc. seem kinda loose compared to Dads Herters reloader. Is this a good deal? Can I get some qualty relods from this gizmo. Dads reloader sets a pretty high standard. What brand of dye's do you recomend? I have heard some interesting info about how LEE dies resize the necks of cases.

The press is really the cheap part so should I save my pennies and by a set up?

Here's anothe thought. Is there a Decapping Die out there that I could use to punch out the primers and then have someone else do the loading.

Thanks- opinions appreciated. CL

 

[Guest]

To answer your last question first, yes, there is a universal decap die. Most all the die makers make one. I have the Lee version, and it works well for everything from 243 to 270Wby to 30-30 to 8x57, as well as numerous pistol cartridges. The press you are looking at is probably great for decapping, unless you're using military brass with crimped primers, where you might want a stronger frame.

As for the press, I suspect you can get that same press new for about $21 or so, maybe less on sale somewhere. So the choice on $10 for a used one is up to you. Probably the best budget starter kits are either the Lee Challenger (Anniversary) kit for about $85, or the Lyman Crusher II Pro Kit for about $140. Each of these, as most other kits, will require getting dies, a shellholder, and components (brass, bullets, powder, primers) as well as a few other little items, but you could start handloading right now with either of them, and some dies and a shellholder.

As for the idea of handloading in a small space, you can do it with a good piece of 3/4" plywood (sand and seal it first) and one of those fold up work benches (from Black&Decker) and some decent c-clamps. Or you could put a small bench together from a sturdy end table, or even go to a garage sale or two and find something suitable, and put it on wheels, so you could move it around the house. I have a friend who loads in his garage, but he does store his powder and primers inside his house, so they are climate controlled. There are a million ways to skin this cat, ask more questions as you have them.

As for dies, I like Hornady dies, as well as Lee dies. I have some RCBS pistol dies that work well, I just like the seating dies from Hornady better. The Lee collet neck sizing die is a great idea, and doesn't overwork the brass. You want a sturdy bench setup for using them, though, as you have to put about 25lbs of pressure on the press ram in order to get the necks to size down properly. Most any set of dies is going to be good, but Lee is going to be the cheapest, and still good dies.

 

[Ol` Joe]

You don`t say what cartridges you would load but the Lee with its "C" type frame is better suited to the smaller cases. It will do fine for handgun or smaller rifle ammo but I would prefer a "O" framed press for the larger cartridges.
The price is as noted by others, 1/2 of the cost new, http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... t=11082005

I`d personally check out a kit from RCBS, Lyman or even Lee (Classic cast iron) with a bit stouter press.

For mounting a press in a small area, I once was limited to an apartment in which I C-clamped my press to the kitchen counter to load and simply hid it in a closet when done. I mounted the press to a piece of 2x6 about a foot long with recessed nuts and clamped the board to help spread pressure and prevent marring the counter top.

The decapping die you are thinking of is a nice tool if you are loading your own ammo. If you are considering sending out your cases to be loaded by another I`d leave the primers in and save the money. The person loading your ammoo will have to resize the brass and the decapper in the sizeing die will knock out the primer while doing this. No extra steps are involved and there should be no drop in price of the ammo because of it.

 

[cloverleaf]

Thanks Guys- you confirmed my suspicions. $!0.00 aint such a great price when 20 will buy new and I need a scale and would like a tumbler...and... Money is at a premium too but I can wait and save for a kit. Talked to Dad this afternoon. He has a bucnch loaded again so its just a matter of getting home to get them. Thanks for the advice. Incidentally, I saw a Herters press on e-bay, "just like Dads" and stout enough to load BMG, for $20. Trouble was shipping from the UK would have destroyed the bargain factor. Thanks again. CL

 

[Guest]

If I were in your shoes, cloverleaf, I'd start saving for the Lee Anniversary kit, if money is really tight, or if there is some wiggle room, check out the Lyman Crusher II Pro Kit from Midsouth Shooters Supply (I've ordered from them frequently, they are good folks). Check the link here:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0157810270

or the expert version:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0157810120

but it's more expensive by a significant margin. It is the only kit (of all the major ones) that includes a case trimmer in the kit. That's worth about $40-60 depending on whose trimmer you buy otherwise. I think the Lee kit comes with their cutter and lock stud, and that would allow you to just buy the correct case length guage for the calibers you load and trim that way.

Start keeping an eye out for what you can use as a portable bench, as well. Or you could try this out:

http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/f ... stand.html

Frankford also makes one of the best deals in a tumbler, too, but I suspect you can better their prices by going to other online dealers. Maybe try MidwayUSA and Berry Manufacturing.

 

[Alaska]

I suggest a Rockchucker by RCBS been using mine since the 1970's.

 

[Matador]

I started out reloading on a Lee partner press like that many years ago.. There is something to be said for starting with a primitive press.. it really made me learn the basics and I got good at efficient arranging of my bench.

At the time I was reloading pistol ammo for competitive shooting, and the quantity I needed to load soon forced me to a larger press. I got a Rock Chucker used on eBay and have been happy with it ever since.