Reloading...........anyone?

[JRG]

You have made my decision much easier.

Joe
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So, Joe, curious minds want to know.
WHAT WAS YOUR DECISION?

Ummmmm........have not really had time to do much yet, but when I do I'll be ready.

I'm in a kind of special circumstance as the wife and I retired about 5 years ago and now full time RV. We love the lifestyle but it does present a few challenges from time to time, ie: I really need to think this through and decide if I even have enough room to set up the equipment, much less carry it. However, I have found in the past that if I really want to do something, I can find a way to make it work.

Thanks again Carl.

Joe

[mr surveyor]

JRG

Since you defined your space limitations for reloading to "minimal", I'll offer you what I think is the ideal reloading setup. The Lee Hand Press. This is a remarkable little single stage press that will literally fit in the silverware drawer and is intended to be used by hand (not mounted). It uses standard loading dies, uses quick-lock bushings that allow you to just twist/snap in your pre-adjusted dies. A hand priming tool from either Lee or RCBS makes that part of the process much simpler, and it's compact. Small necessaries such as primer pocket tool, chamfer/de-burring tool and the like will fit into a very small storage box and pack away nicely. Throw in a kinetic bullet puller/hammer with the above, and most all of your "tools" will fit in a rather small box. Set up time about five minutes, and put away time about the same. There are certainly other tools that come into play, but for anyone with limited space or lack of a proper space that can be dedicated to a bench, the hand press is great. I can take a bucket of brass and my hand press anywhere in the house, out on the patio, or most anywhere else and de-prime/resize then run them through the expander die. Charging cases can be as simple as using "Lee Dippers" matched to the load data per the Lee manual, which requires very little storage space. To stay on the "safe side", using dippers generally means loading at the bottom to mid-range of the load data, but you can still make very consistant, reliable ammunition. If you want to hit the higher side of the load data, throw in a good, compact digital scale to compliment the Lee Dippers. You can use the Lee volume to weight ratio chart to determine which dipper "should" throw a certain weight charge, dump it into the scale pan, then trickle in whatever is necessary to hit your desired charge weight per load data. Regardless of what press you use, you will need a scale .... and it will need to be on a level surface, so in the case of the RV, you may need to rig up a simple leveling stand for your scale.

For the last year, I've done almost all of my reloading (.38, .357, .44, .45) with the above tools/system, in my office. All of my tools fit into a small file box and are easy to access when needed. The tough part is keeping up with components. The space requirements there can vary tremendously depending on your desire to load for multiple chamberings, multiple bullet styles/profiles, multiple veolcities. Or, it can be as simple as keeping a pound of one variety of powder that will work for your needs, a brick of primers, and a box of bullets.

Believe me, good quality reloading can be done with a very compact and inexpensive set-up and can be very portable if needed.

(The most portable of all would have to be the Lee Classic Loader, but I wouldn't recommend the hammering process in the RV type conditions )

just a few more suggestions for consideration


surv

[Jumping Frog]

Since you defined your space limitations for reloading to "minimal", I'll offer you what I think is the ideal reloading setup. The Lee Hand Press. This is a remarkable little single stage press that will literally fit in the silverware drawer and is intended to be used by hand (not mounted).

Not requiring much more space, but giving more capability is to mount the basic Lee Reloader press on something that you can clamp to a table top.

I reloaded in a hotel room using this setup when I did not have access to my home reloading setup. This also allows the use of the Lee Pro-Auto Disk instead of those little dippers, which is a far more flexible and reliable method of charging cases.

[mr surveyor]

If one is working with minimal spaces, the dippers alone work fine for plinking rounds, with no chance of overcharging as long as the proper dipper is used for the load. Generally within a couple of tenths +/- per throw, but powder volume/weight ratio variations (per manufacturer's lot) aren't accounted for. The Lee data for the dippers always errs on the safe side. Personally, I currently use a PACT digital scale to weigh each charge (looking for no more than +/- .1 gr of the desired weight), but start the process with a Lee dipper that will result in a first throw very near my desired charge weight, then pick up a bit more powder in the same dipper and trickle in. It's really not as slow as it may sounds, and very consistant.

I've found that there's very little one can do with a small single stage bench press that can't be done with the hand press... at least in the handgun brass. I have resized a few 30-30 cases with the hand press, but I'll admit it ain't the thickest/toughest brass to work with. The total compactness is what I'm so in love with. A few months ago while doing some office cleaning, I ran across one of those old stackable-modular drawers for 5-1/4" floppy disks (full of old data disks). Since the data had long ago been transferred to more modern medium. I hated to discard the perfectly good mini-drawer. Turned out I can easily store three dies sets, the hand press, a Hornady digital micrometer (in it's plastic case), a Lee priming tool (in it's box with a set of priming tool shell holders), small powder funnel, and a small powder "bowl", and a couple of small case care tools. That box takes up a space of 16"x11"x7" and stores about everything I need for general reloading. Then there's always the ingredients that can grow to take up any other possible storage spaces available (unfortunately, the wife's underwear drawer is off limits for storing brass and boolits...so I've heard).

I considered the pre-mounted, clamp on single stage set up myself, but realized it would take a dedicated space in a cabinet that would be considerably more bulky than the hand press. I would still consider it a great option for portability, if one has the storage space that can be totally dedicated to that purpose.


surv

[CWOOD]

JRG,

mr surveyor and jumping frog both have made excellent suggestions, given your space requirements.

The Lee Hand Press is a quality piece of equipment Using that you can get equipment and supplies to load a few hundred rounds into a bag the size of an airline carry-on bag. One of the nice things about using the hand press is that it uses the same dies as a full size press. If you should later be able to use a full size press, you will not have to spend extra replacing all those dies. You are not even limited to Lee presses in that regard.

If you have a little bit more space, like something the size of a lower kitchen cabinet, then jumping frogs suggestion might be for you.

If you would like to see the Lee Hand Press, and other Lee presses and equipment, you can go here:

https://fsreloading.com/search.php?mode ... _https=yes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Lee Classic Turret that I earlier mentioned is at the top of the page. Look through the site.

[Jumping Frog]

I've found that there's very little one can do with a small single stage bench press that can't be done with the hand press... at least in the handgun brass.

Is my memory failing me, or do you still have to beat the old primers out with a hammer? If so, I'd consider another advantage of the press to be the sizing/decapping on the press.

Of course, it all boils down to the OP's space requirements. You could fit the Lee Reloader press, clamps, powder measure, and dies in a small box, say 24" x 12" x 8". The hand press would fit in a shoebox. Space vs convenience.

[papajohn1964]

Me and a couple of buddies ordered the Lee from Kempf. Haven't had a chance to use it yet but all of the reviews and their price was good.
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?pag ... &Itemid=41

[mr surveyor]

I've found that there's very little one can do with a small single stage bench press that can't be done with the hand press... at least in the handgun brass.

Is my memory failing me, or do you still have to beat the old primers out with a hammer? If so, I'd consider another advantage of the press to be the sizing/decapping on the press.

Of course, it all boils down to the OP's space requirements. You could fit the Lee Reloader press, clamps, powder measure, and dies in a small box, say 24" x 12" x 8". The hand press would fit in a shoebox. Space vs convenience.

you're thinking about the old original Lee Classic Loader.... the full fledged "whack a mole" kit. The Lee Hand Press is a true, 100% single stage press that uses standard dies. It's just not bench mounted. Remember about 30 years ago tghey used to advertise a "boob-builder" exercise tool for the ladies . Well, the Handpress works about the same way. When you squeeze in on the handles, the ram pushes the casing up into the die. The new version uses the quick lock bushings that allow you to keep your dies preset (given you don't change bullet profiles), and a simple press of the release button and about a 1/6th turn of the bushing and it's out and ready for the next die/bushing set-up.

Even if I was set up with progressive presses, I'd still find many uses for the hand press. I can lay back in my recliner in front of the tv and resize/deprime brass, and then run them back through the expander die without having to leave the chair. Handgun brass is easy to work with using the handheld press, although it does require a bit more physical effort on the larger casings.

surv

[Jumping Frog]

you're thinking about the old original Lee Classic Loader.... the full fledged "whack a mole" kit. The Lee Hand Press is a true, 100% single stage press that uses standard dies.

Interesting. Yes, I was thinking of the original because I did not realize the Hand Press was different. I think I am going to buy the Lee Hand Press "just because". Who know when one needs an extra press . . .

I'm curious, how does it handle the spent primers?

I can lay back in my recliner in front of the tv and resize/deprime brass, and then run them back through the expander die without having to leave the chair.

Well, I am not going to do that because I am not going to bring lead residue into the house.

[mr surveyor]

spent primers are captured inside the ram, under the shell holder. About every 30-40 strokes you have to pop off the shell holder and dump them. No real problem, with that.

[Jumping Frog]

spent primers are captured inside the ram, under the shell holder. About every 30-40 strokes you have to pop off the shell holder and dump them. No real problem, with that.

Slick.

[apostate]

Other than cost, is there any reason to prefer the classic loader over the hand press and a set of dies? I presume storage and portability are a wash, as a mallet is likely similar in size and weight to the hand press. If it matters, the calibers under consideration are .30-30 and .357 magnum.

Thanks in advance.

[mr surveyor]

the classic loader is fine for very low volume loading, and is capable of making "useful" ammunition. It does require a more suitable "workbench" than the family dining table since you're hammering every step of the process. It also requires that the cases be lubed due to the steel material used in the Classic Loader, whereas with the standard carbide (handgun) dies used in a press one very rarely benefits from using any case lube. The Classic Loader kits are great for their intended purpose, and I decided I would force myself to actually use them before using presses/dies. I probably loaded close to 1000 rounds in .38, .357 and 9mm with the Classic Loaders in a year's time. On the other hand, the Hand Press uses regular dies, is extremely quiet and efficient, and doesn't require a work bench for the tool itself. It is a single stage press that's just not bench mounted, and can be operated just as fast and efficiently as a bench mounted single stage press.