hand press kit

[rogdigity]

im looking in a midway catolog which convieniently flipped open to a hand press reloading kit from LEE. it is #35 and comes with a little press, lube, funnel, and a ram prime. right next to it they have kits for individual cartridges for $22. i was thinking about getting one of these kits for 45 seeing as how they are so hard to find right now.

is this a good start for a beginer? i have reloaded some shotgun shells before but it was years back and on a multi stage press. never have loaded handgun rounds though. i dont want to get something really big right now as i am in an appartment and plan on moving soon.


think this will work for me for now? and is there anything else i need? at lease beside bullets and powder and primers? i have plenty of brass already

[22popnsplat]

Its a long road to try and feed a 45 auto with a hand press ,the hand press is very slow and a workout. you would be better off to save up a few bucks and buy a standard press

[gunboat]

For your use and apartment living the hand press would be ok -- I presume you mean the hand press and not the lee loader - when I started, many moons ago, I used a 310 tong tool. It was cheap at the time (not now!) and did a good job but only neck sized the cases. The lee hand press will readily full length size pistol cases and rifle case to the extent of your grip -- I think the lee single stage press is a little better deal, but may not be suitable for your apartment situation ----- compare prices on lee website, sometimes seconds are available. ---- Oh, and I recommend the lyman reloading handbook - my ha-penny

[rogdigity]

money isnt the object. the goal was to start with something little like this. i was just wondering if there is anything else i would need. i dont plan on loading a surplus of bullets or anything. plus it would be a hobby for nights my wife works late

[gunboat]

Minimal reloading -- brass, bullets, primers, powder, -- tools or means to deprime case, size case, expand case -- prime case, weigh powder (scale)- even with a dipper i want to check the weight - funnel to pour powder - tool to seat bullet and crimp case (if wanted).
Lube and applicator for sizing lube, rag and solvent to clean lube off loaded round. Verniers to measure case length and overall cartridge length, inside/outside case mouth deburr tool --- That is pretty much all you NEED, there are lots of items to make things easier and faster. Sort of depends on finances, time, and space available. Big press is not useful if you have no place or means to mount it -- I encourage starting simple and inexpensively, you may not like reloading -- You don't need a tumbler, trimmer, etc, to get started. -- my ha-penny

[Bug Splat]

I'd pass on it. You are better off a with a Lee Anniversary kit. Your arms will thank you. Those hand presses are a workout and really take the fun out of reloading. Its important to have a good first experience otherwise you might not continue. Happens a lot.

[rogdigity]

thanks for the input, but i still havent had my question answered. im just wondering if there is anything else i am going to need besides the kit and the die kit?

[bigmike82]

The hand-press is fine. I live in an apartment, and use it to load up batches of 300 win mag quite frequently.

That said...with all your questions, the VERY first thing you want to buy is a reloading book. The Lynman one has a great reputation. I started with Lee's book, which was okay as well.

Read every section in that book that deals with reloading, and your question will be answered. Don't try to take a shortcut by asking people on a forum. I'm not saying this to troll you, but because reloading can be a dangerous activity if done improperly.

Purchase and read the reloading book first.

[rogdigity]

thanks, thats what i needed

[bigmike82]

No prob.

Good luck, and enjoy the books. Once you start reloading...especially for some of the more expensive cartridges, you'll be hooked.

[rogdigity]

i have a nagant revolver i would like to reload for as well as for the 45. maybe someday for the 7.7 arisaka

[tpuig]

I have the Lee kit, it's great. However, I'd probably pass on it for a handgun (straight wall) cartridge. You're going to end up loading a lot of pistol ammo, so the money for the Lee could be spent on a used set up.

I bought a Lee classic handloader on eBay for about $15. It was for my .250 Savage, which isn't really a common round anymore. I purchased those kits to get a good idea of the steps involved in loading, and they really helped. But a single stage kit is a whole lot easier and you'll probably get one eventually. Even though I've just started to reload, I'm already thinking that a single stage isn't going to be enough for pistol rounds. I've got a number of caliber dies for the press, so the most expensive rounds (7mm Mag, .30-06, .44 mag) will be done in low volume. The small Lee kits will be in the truck toolbox when I go out. Hope this helps.

[tpuig]

Added - To answer your question on additional items, you should get a caliper and decent scale to weigh the charges. One of the members here sells a nice digital scale for a great price. A brush to clean the inside of the cases, a lube pad, and maybe a primer pocket cleaner are pretty nice to have also...

[rogdigity]

Added - To answer your question on additional items, you should get a caliper and decent scale to weigh the charges. One of the members here sells a nice digital scale for a great price. A brush to clean the inside of the cases, a lube pad, and maybe a primer pocket cleaner are pretty nice to have also...

cool, thanks. after my wife is done being pregnant a couple more times (or when i just get enough calibers in my collection that are hard to find) then i will get a real press. i just want something to screw around with really. i dont mind using a little muscle. i dont mind taking a long time to do it either. like i said, this is kinda gonna be a hobby for when the wife is off at work and has to close that night.

i do have a good caliper but i do know i need a scale that will read grains. thanks again

[Adonlude]

I live in a tiny apartment and use that Lee hand press kit to reload 44Mag and 50AE. It takes several hours to do 50-100 rounds for me. You MUST have a scale and calipers to go with it. The lube in the kit works great and is all you need and you dont need lube with carbide dies. I also got a tumbler, media, and liquid polish to shine up my used brass ($70ish). Lee primer pocket cleaner is like $2 so I got it too although its not too important unless you are making match rifle rounds. I also got several reloading blocks (little plastic racks that hold the bullets while you reload). I picked up a kinetic bullet puller (like $20) to get do-overs after the occasional mistake. I also got the most recent Lyman manual.

It's really not that strenuous reloading with this hand press. I don't find myself using to much strength, it has plenty of leverage. I've fired a few hundred 50AE reloads and haven't blown myself up yet.