Which Single-Stage Lee Press Kit?!?!

[Darklyte27]

How is this tumbler?
I know its not the best but im not going to load thousands of rounds a month.
for the money is seems decent.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=414369&t=11082005

[shonc99]

Having moved from a Lee turret press that was used as a single stage to a Hornady LNL progressive I can say that if you are reloading for quantity, a progressive is the way to go once you understand what you are doing. If you are reloading for accuracy and quality, a single stage will work fine.

The Collet dies are for neck sizing, which sizes only the neck. This would be for brass fired in a bolt action and the reloaded rounds are for that same rifle.

Each Lee deluxe set includes a sizer/decapper, a seater/roll crimper and a factory crimper. The crimp difference is that a roll crimp can only be applied to a bullet that has a cannelure (groove around the bullet) and the factory crimper does not need a cannelure. For semi-autos the factory crimper is the better method as it provides a nice, uniform crimp. The roll crimp requires that the brass be trimmed uniform because if the brass is not, and the bullet happens to seat past the cannelure, the brass may deform and be ruined.

The shell holder set in the Lee kit shown above (#2) are for the safety prime (handheld) and will NOT work in the press. Each die set from Lee includes the correct shell holder which will work in the press.

Some shell holders will work with more than one caliber, with .308 and .45ACP coming to mind.

The breech lock option in the above Lee press is good in that you can swap out dies without loosing where you have them adjusted to. Bad part is that you are still unscrewing the larger adaptor. A fix for this is to use the Hornady LNL quick changing adaptor which allows for a quick twist and lock motion to change out the dies. It is a standard feature on the LNL progressive as well as the single LNL press. The LNL adaptors are pricey @ $3 each but are a nice feature if you want it.

For the Lee trimmer I have found that the BEST way to use it is to

1.) Use one cutter per length gauge. If you switch the cutter around with the different length guages, the cutter will dig in to the length gauge and can change the length slightly. I also use loctite on each cutter/length gauge.

2.) put the cutter in a drill and use a pair of pliers to hold the 'shellholder'. The pliers ensure a firm grip in case of slippage. A drill press is the best option but a cordless drill also works.

Get a case headspace gauge for the calibers you are reloading. They are critical for ensuring headspace.

For both .223 and .308, Hodgdon BL-C2 is a good powder. Meters well and is inexpensive.

I used to worry about cleaning primer pockets but aside from .45ACP I have had no problems leaving the residue. Unless you are loading for accuracy, skip this step.

[ar15barrels]

How is this tumbler?
I know its not the best but im not going to load thousands of rounds a month.
for the money is seems decent.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...369&t=11082005

I have a couple of the predecessor models and they have been great.
I once ran one for two weeks straight, 24/7 and it was fine.

[Darklyte27]

sounds good to me, i will be enjoying the General Sherman and Grant trees in Sequoia NP this weekend at 6700 ft Elevation freezing my butt off camping.
Cant wait to get my reloading stuff Monday. I guess I will be ordering that tumbler soon too.

[stphnman20]

Is this the right sizer for .223?

Sizer

[ar15barrels]

Is this the right sizer for .223?

Sizer

NO.
That's a die for lubing and sizing cast bullets.

The sizer die comes as part of the reloading die set.

[stphnman20]

NO.
That's a die for lubing and sizing cast bullets.

The sizer die comes as part of the reloading die set.

Thx. Where can I buy just the sizer and decap alone?

[shonc99]

Thx. Where can I buy just the sizer and decap alone?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=554943&t=11082005

Aside from getting the sizer/decap alone (only available direct from LEE) this 2 die set is the next best thing.

[ar15barrels]

Where can I buy just the sizer and decap alone?

Why don't you want a bullet seating die too?

A standard "2 die" set for rifles wil include a full length sizing die and a bullet seater.
A "3 die" set for rifles will include a full length sizing die, bullet seater and either a crimp die or a neck sizing die depending on whose set you buy.
A "3 die" set for handguns will include a full length sizing die, a neck expand die and a seat/crimp die.
A "4 die" set for handguns will include a full length sizing die, a neck expand die, a seat die and a crimp die.
Dillon "3 die" sets for handgun will include a full length sizing die, a seat die and a crimp die as the neck expanding is done by the powder measure.

[stphnman20]

Why don't you want a bullet seating die too?

A friend gave me a single stage Lee reloader with no dies. My plan is to use that just for resize and decap.

I have the Lee pacesetter 3-die set which comes with the bullet seater, factory crimp and sizer and decap die. That set will go on my turret press..

[ar15barrels]

A friend gave me a single stage Lee reloader with no dies. My plan is to use that just for resize and decap.

I have the Lee pacesetter 3-die set which comes with the bullet seater, factory crimp and sizer and decap die. That set will go on my turret press..

OK.
You don't need the sizer on your turret press if you are going to resize and decap on the single stage press.
Simply move that die over to the single stage press.

[stphnman20]

OK.
You don't need the sizer on your turret press if you are going to resize and decap on the single stage press.
Simply move that die over to the single stage press.

Initially, I was going to use the resize and decap on the turret to just clean the flash hole after cleaning. Making sure theres no media.. Hope that makes sense..

[ar15barrels]

Initially, I was going to use the resize and decap on the turret to just clean the flash hole after cleaning. Making sure theres no media.. Hope that makes sense..

You don't want to size the cases again.
What you need for the turret press to clear flash holes is just a decap die.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=136543&t=11082005

[Darklyte27]

Surprise!! my Press came a day early!! Also my books! WOOHOO! They were sup to come Friday.
bad news is the powder, primers, bullets dies and all the accessories some how got delayed. They were shipped the same day but wont be delivered untill tomorrow, I duno how UPS managed that. maybe got left behind i duno.