Knocking out some .357 with the Lee Hand Press

[ECVMatt]

It is a beautiful day and I wanted to do some loading out in the backyard. I took out the trusty Lee Hand Press (https://www.brownells.com/reloading/reloading-kits/breech-lock-hand-press-kit-prod55041.aspx) and got to work on some .357 brass. I have been shooting my .357's a lot lately and not putting in any time to reload them. So today is the day. I have about 350 cases to load up. So far I have spent about an hour resizing and depriming the cases. I am going to prime them now and finish them up tomorrow. Although it take some effort, I am always amazed how much ammo these little presses can crank out.

86272

[willie]

Try this to make resizing easier. If ammo will be used in the same revolver, set die to resized only 2/3's of case length. I assume you have a carbide die. Even so, spray a very light coat of Hornady case lube on them. Then roll them together on a towel. These steps have worked for me. Experiment with a small number first.

[entropy]

F.U.N.!!

I’ve sat on the deck doing the same exact thing with .44 specials. I’m still at a quandary of how to successfully get 7.5gr of Unique in a case without dragging a scale out OR using dippers. (My anal retentiveness doesn’t allow dippers.)

[Duelist]

F.U.N.!!

I’ve sat on the deck doing the same exact thing with .44 specials. I’m still at a quandary of how to successfully get 7.5gr of Unique in a case without dragging a scale out OR using dippers. (My anal retentiveness doesn’t allow dippers.)

I grew up shooting black powder through muzzleloading rifles almost exclusively, so dippers make sense to me and I don’t mind using them if they work for the load I’m making. Like 2.7gr BE in light .38 SPC loads, or 3.5 in a bit more serious .38 load. OTOH, for most .357 loads, scales and/or a thrower are what I’ll use.

[ECVMatt]

All finished up! 275 rounds of practice ammo and a 100 rounds of Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrators. Good weekend, spent outdoors relaxing.

86327

[awp_101]

FWIW, this morning I ordered a Lee Hand Press and a couple sets of the quick change bushings because of this thread...

[Rick R]

F.U.N.!!

I’ve sat on the deck doing the same exact thing with .44 specials. I’m still at a quandary of how to successfully get 7.5gr of Unique in a case without dragging a scale out OR using dippers. (My anal retentiveness doesn’t allow dippers.)

I have two of the RCBS Little Dandy powder measures with an almost complete set of rotors. I habitually check dropped weight on a scale before starting a tray of cartridges and then again after I drop the last powder charge. I’m rarely surprised at what I’m getting based on my loading notes and it never changes as long as I leave sufficient powder in the hopper. But I’m anal that way.

If you vetted the rotor that yields closest to 7.5gr of Unique and only kept that powder with your portable setup AND only stored that rotor with said reloading set up I’d feel satisfied that you’d get good, safe ammo without weighing. There might be environmental or powder lot variables but as long as you’re loading a bit under max and not at 110% you would be good. If you get a rotor that is short of your goal they can be drilled or reamed out. The main concern would be multiple powders and rotors floating around in the mix.

[ECVMatt]

FWIW, this morning I ordered a Lee Hand Press and a couple sets of the quick change bushings because of this thread...

I bet you love it. It is a fun way to get some loading done. A lot of times I will run cases through the hand press while watching TV with the wife. It is our compromise for show like Love Island, Love is blind, et al.

[entropy]

I have two of the RCBS Little Dandy powder measures with an almost complete set of rotors. I habitually check dropped weight on a scale before starting a tray of cartridges and then again after I drop the last powder charge. I’m rarely surprised at what I’m getting based on my loading notes and it never changes as long as I leave sufficient powder in the hopper. But I’m anal that way.

If you vetted the rotor that yields closest to 7.5gr of Unique and only kept that powder with your portable setup AND only stored that rotor with said reloading set up I’d feel satisfied that you’d get good, safe ammo without weighing. There might be environmental or powder lot variables but as long as you’re loading a bit under max and not at 110% you would be good. If you get a rotor that is short of your goal they can be drilled or reamed out. The main concern would be multiple powders and rotors floating around in the mix.


Thanks!

Honestly, I never knew this thing existed. MidwayUSA here I come!

[Tokarev]

Somewhat applicable to this thread:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/reloading-on-the-range/

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[Tokarev]

F.U.N.!!

I’ve sat on the deck doing the same exact thing with .44 specials. I’m still at a quandary of how to successfully get 7.5gr of Unique in a case without dragging a scale out OR using dippers. (My anal retentiveness doesn’t allow dippers.)


I have two of the RCBS Little Dandy powder measures with an almost complete set of rotors. I habitually check dropped weight on a scale before starting a tray of cartridges and then again after I drop the last powder charge. I’m rarely surprised at what I’m getting based on my loading notes and it never changes as long as I leave sufficient powder in the hopper. But I’m anal that way.

If you vetted the rotor that yields closest to 7.5gr of Unique and only kept that powder with your portable setup AND only stored that rotor with said reloading set up I’d feel satisfied that you’d get good, safe ammo without weighing. There might be environmental or powder lot variables but as long as you’re loading a bit under max and not at 110% you would be good. If you get a rotor that is short of your goal they can be drilled or reamed out. The main concern would be multiple powders and rotors floating around in the mix.

I have often used the Lee Auto Disk and Auto Drum with the Hand Press. It works the same as it would on any other press. Only down side is how to set the apparatus down when taking a break, etc.

What might be kind of an interesting tool would be a pistol grip and trigger that accepts the powder measure. As I envision this thing it would have a nozzle in front of the trigger. Cases would be set in a loading tray and the dispenser deal would be used to squirt the appropriate charge into each case.

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[Rick R]

I have often used the Lee Auto Disk and Auto Drum with the Hand Press. It works the same as it would on any other press. Only down side is how to set the apparatus down when taking a break, etc.

What might be kind of an interesting tool would be a pistol grip and trigger that accepts the powder measure. As I envision this thing it would have a nozzle in front of the trigger. Cases would be set in a loading tray and the dispenser deal would be used to squirt the appropriate charge into each case.

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The Little Dandy will work in an RCBS powder measure stand and the bottom section is the same thread as a reloading die. I made my own stand by cutting a 4” length of cedar 4”x4”, boring a 1” hole about 3” into the end, sanded and applied boiled linseed oil in several coats. It ain’t high tech but it keeps the measure upright and stable and fits the “style” of my reloading bench.

[entropy]

My concern would be stability/repeatability in the tossing of the charge. Both my AutoDisk and AutoDrum seem to be finicky when it comes to vibration, or not being mounted stable. Normally, it takes me a good 15min of use before I’ll trust either one (or myself) to be tossing really tight charges.

Maybe I need to switch to decaf?

[Tokarev]

The Little Dandy will work in an RCBS powder measure stand and the bottom section is the same thread as a reloading die. I made my own stand by cutting a 4” length of cedar 4”x4”, boring a 1” hole about 3” into the end, sanded and applied boiled linseed oil in several coats. It ain’t high tech but it keeps the measure upright and stable and fits the “style” of my reloading bench.Making some kind of rest or stand for the Lee Hand Press would probably be a pretty simple deal. As it is now I usually just set the press in a cardboard box that keeps it upright.


My concern would be stability/repeatability in the tossing of the charge. Both my AutoDisk and AutoDrum seem to be finicky when it comes to vibration, or not being mounted stable. Normally, it takes me a good 15min of use before I’ll trust either one (or myself) to be tossing really tight charges.

Maybe I need to switch to decaf?

I've found that usually five or six cycles/throws will get my powder measure settled after setting it down.

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[entropy]

I've found that usually five or six cycles/throws will get my powder measure settled after setting it down.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk


It’s more of a “me” issue.

This is how I install electrical work. Yeah I know. It’s a mental problem. Lol. 🤷

86365

[Rick R]

My concern would be stability/repeatability in the tossing of the charge. Both my AutoDisk and AutoDrum seem to be finicky when it comes to vibration, or not being mounted stable. Normally, it takes me a good 15min of use before I’ll trust either one (or myself) to be tossing really tight charges.

Maybe I need to switch to decaf?




Making some kind of rest or stand for the Lee Hand Press would probably be a pretty simple deal. As it is now I usually just set the press in a cardboard box that keeps it upright.

I've found that usually five or six cycles/throws will get my powder measure settled after setting it down.

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I’ll fill the hopper on the Little Dandy and then drop 6 to 8 charges back into the powder can to settle the powder column. Then I orient the rotor with the chamber down and tap the funnel/spout down on the first case mouth in a loading block. I rotate the rotor up till it hits the stop then back down to the stop to drop the powder and move to the next case. It takes about a minute to charge 50 cases. I’ll then go back with a flashlight and look down in the charged cases for any anomaly. I try to choose powder charges that would be obvious if they were double charged and occasionally I’ll intentionally double charge a fired case with a dead primer to see what a double charge looks like.

When I’ve checked, this method is within 0.1 grain either way using Unique and I can’t detect any variation with BE-86 or 2400.

If I add powder or lay the dispenser on it’s side I go thru the settling process again.

[358156hp]

It’s more of a “me” issue.

This is how I install electrical work. Yeah I know. It’s a mental problem. Lol. 🤷

86365

Whew! Worst case of CDO I've seen in a long time!

[willie]

Thanks!

Honestly, I never knew this thing existed. MidwayUSA here I come!

I have used this measure with good results but only if I used a ball powder like Win 230 or Bullseye which measures nicely. Of course, any suitable ball powder would work. I love Unique but the stuff measures poorly giving wide variations in charges. My experience is that powder measures work best when firmly anchored. This measure will perform well only if certain powders are used like the above examples. Unique, Green Dot, Red Dot, and Blue Dot are examples that measure with wide shot to shot variations unless the operator employs a few tricks. Because this press is hand held, the tricks don't apply to it. Before dropping charges for real, I suggest running a hopper full of powder through the measure to get it lubed with graphite that's part of the mixture.

I read that you are not comfortable using dippers. With practice you could duplicate this measure's precision level.

[Rick R]

I have used this measure with good results but only if I used a ball powder like Win 230 or Bullseye which measures nicely. Of course, any suitable ball powder would work. I love Unique but the stuff measures poorly giving wide variations in charges. My experience is that powder measures work best when firmly anchored. This measure will perform well only if certain powders are used like the above examples. Unique, Green Dot, Red Dot, and Blue Dot are examples that measure with wide shot to shot variations unless the operator employs a few tricks. Because this press is hand held, the tricks don't apply to it. Before dropping charges for real, I suggest running a hopper full of powder through the measure to get it lubed with graphite that's part of the mixture.


After contributing to this thread I broke out the Little Dandy yesterday and loaded 50 rounds of mid-range .44 Mag using Unique. After finishing I weighed a few charges and they were within 0.1-0.2gr of the 9.8gr the rotor normally drops (the Alliant “Max” charge is 11.0gr). At the range these shot into a sub 2” group at 50 yards from my Marlin carbine with Midwest Industries peep sights off the bench. I also shot them thru my 4” 629 Mountain Gun chewing up the A zone of an IDPA target shooting off hand at 10 yards.

Unique is like shoveling coal compared to more modern powders, if memory serves Unique dates back to the late 1800’s.
I’d agree that getting some graphite coating in the charge cavity helps. I’m mainly using 2400, BE-86 or W296 these days which all flow much better.

But occasionally you feel the need to load up some Unique loads on the porch and go blast them thru a lever gun or revolver.

[358156hp]

For larger flake powders like Unique, I use my elderly Hornady "pre-L&L" powder measure. In the past I "broke" most, but not all, of the sharp internal edges and gave everything a light polish inside. That measure became the best thing ever for flake and long extruded powders. It is manually operated, but it's worth a little extra effort. I also run it with the hopper as full as practical.

[richiecotite]

Oooohhhhhhh wee! Didn’t even know this thread existed, but glad it does.

I’ve been using my hand press pretty regularly for the last 3-4 years. Was using the Lee classic loader kit to kill time on vacation but wanted something a little easier to use, and found this.

I set up this portable reloading kit and have been adding pieces and parts as needed. Currently, it’s setup to load to 38 special 148 gr wadcutters. I’m using bullseye stored in a quart freezer zip bag and add more or swap bags as needed. The Lee dippers are pretty accurate and drop 2.6-2.8 gr of bullseye. The aluminum dipper, I use that for rifle loading. It’s adjustable and using it to load 300 BO and 296/110 works pretty well, accurate within half a grain (with that powder and a 110 nosler I usually go between 17-19 grains). I’ve been using the same portable digital scale for a few years, and again it works pretty well.

My daughter has a standing weekly 45 minute appointment, about 45 minutes away. I just bring my PRK and I can just about charge, seat, and crimp (I do all in separate steps with fully prepped and primed brass) a box of 50 in that time. I got lucky a while back and my LGS had a bunch of used brass for sale. The boxes are/were in good condition and they let me go through and mix and match boxes until I had a matching set of 8. Shout out to Earl for keeping his stuff in great shape!

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[entropy]

Good post to revive.

Planning on an extended trip north in a few weeks. Chores, some building, a bit of grouse hunting...and of course shooting is on the menu. Hemmed and hawed on the RCBS Dandy. In the end, ordered a small 1000g pocket scale, some additional dies for my hand press, and a small tool bag to carry it all. Plan on some porch loading of .38s, .357s and .44s.

[ECVMatt]

I have a similar travel set up for my desert house. I love to shoot in the day and then sit on the porch at night and fill 'um back up!

Very relaxing and keeps me shooting on the cheap.

[BobM]

I reread this Skeeter Skelton piece once in a while. I’ve got a Lee Hand Press instead of the Lyman tool, but have thought about assembling a similar kit.

http://darkcanyon.net/A%20Letter%20From%20Skeeter%20Skelton.htm

[Borderland]

Whew! Worst case of CDO I've seen in a long time!

I think it's a joke. Electricity do not care.