Lee hand press for precision .223 rounds?

[Quinc]

Looking for something cheap and easy to get me by tell I am able to get something nicer. Will this be okay for loading precision .223 rounds
(69-80gr VLDs) for the AR15? Or should I get something like the Lee pro 1000?

[mif_slim]

Prcision loading, don't buy progressive. The handloader will be better since you can control each step, but it's time consuming.

[Dark Mod]

The handloader would actually probably be better for precision loading

[rsrocket1]

Go for A Lee Breechlock Challenger. You aren't gaining a whole lot more by going progressive, but will be orders of magnitude cheaper than progressive and even moderately cheaper than a turret. Do you get more with a bigger heftier single stage press like a Rockchucker, Classic Cast or LocknLoad classic? Maybe a little more pride in ownership, but you can load just as accurate a round with the Challenger press.

The handloader will get tiring pretty quickly. If you are loading only 10-20 rounds at a time, it may be OK, but I think you'll get pretty tired loading batches of 50 at a time.

[wash]

Look for someone selling off a press. I got a perfect condition RCBS Junior press real cheap when the owner upgraded to a rock chucker.

It's not the biggest and baddest press out there but the quality is better than a low end Lee press (not that there is anything wrong with a low end Lee, you might just get more "pride in ownership" for the same cash).

[sequoia_nomad]

The Lee hand press is fun for camping. Other than that, I wouldn't want to try punching out many rounds on it. Depends on how much you plan to reload.

[CSACANNONEER]

I use my handpress to do certain steps while watching TV. I don't have a problem loading 100-200 rounds every month or two with it. But, for anything more than that, I use other presses.

[ireload]

Quinc from my experience you can load accurate rounds with the hand loader.

When I first started loading for my single shot NEF (poor man's) rifle topped with Whitetail scope, I can get 3/4" at times 1/2" groups if I really do my part with the load combo.

I did take steps in processing the K-mart bought R-P brass back when they sold guns and ammo. Brass was once fired from the single shot rifle, neck sized, primer pocket squared, trimmed to same lenght, flash hole deburred and carefully weighed each powder charge.

I used H335, CCI small rifle magnum primer, topped with 52 grain Sierra match bullet. The single shot rifle only came with 1-12" rifling twist and non-match chamber.

[sonnyt650]

After you've charged the powder it takes a little bit of coordination to load the filled case, then add the bullet, then seat the bullet with only one free hand. Not difficult, more that it's something extra you need to be aware of when trying to load nearly full cases. I'll suggest boat-tail bullets where flat base just doesn't sit on there for me without tipping out of the case.

[happy trigger]

Lee 1000 .223

Lee's web site has the factory reconditioned Lee 1000 in .223 for only $126.
That's the best price your going to get on that, if you go that way.

[kmullins]

If your looking to make precision handloads with minimal runout, look into using L.E. Wilson seating dies. You use them with an arbor press and they produce loaded ammo with the least amount of runout possible. The arbor press is around a $100 and the seating die costs around $50.

I can seat bullets fairly quickly with it. While my Chargemaster is throwing a charge, I can seat a bullet and check it with the bullet comparator.

Good luck!