Favorite Press

todd

todd

Well-Known Member
Jeff H said:
I upgraded from a LEE original Turret Press to a Lyman T-Mag.

Used it for a year and wanted my LEE back, so I sold the Lyman and bought another LEE Turret Press.

I once bought a used LEE Turret Press and seven three-hole turrets at a show for $15. I put the press on the table with one turret and sold it that day - for $15. I was up six turrets for the time it took to buy and resell the press. I wish now I'd kept the press too.
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the Lyman T press was my first one. i learned alot from it, but it was time for another one. the Lyman is stored in my closet, a just in case one. i like the Lee Classic. it suits my needs. i guess i am a one load, one shot, one kill type-of-guy.
 
J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
The T-Mag IS a good press, but I found it bulky compared to the LEE. Changing turrets wasn't quite the "snap" either, but not particularly onerous. The Turrets were way more expensive than the LEEs, larger and very heavy, so convenient storage wasn't quote the boon as was LEE's. I was using quite a few die sets at the time too.

I can't really criticize ANY press I've used, really. I would personally be more cautious about a used LEE aluminum press than with others' cast iron presses. I think it would be easier to loosen one up by means of neglect than a cast iron press.

I am NOT impressed with the aluminum on aluminum threads on the LEE Breech-Lock system, although I've JUST begun to use it and it will be a low-volume application. I'm OK with putting steel dies in an aluminum turret and leaving it in there for years, but the constant in and out of the Breech-Lock system finds me slightly wary. I've applied a little of my favorite "gun grease" to the interrupted threads on the Breech-Lock collars, keep them clean and don't jam them in and out like a rifle bolt, so they should be OK.

I had not been in my dad's basement in a few years and had to go check on things a couple years ago, when he was in the hospital. Remember, I grew up with Lyman, Bair, RCBS presses - all cast iron and steel. I got quite a surprise when I saw an older-style LEE Turret Press on his bench and die sets he uses most set up in four-hole turrets. All of his old presses are still in great shape, but he left them all upstairs when he moved his reloading operation to the basement. He still had a Redding scale and powder measure set up though. He never told me he bought that LEE press.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
My Lowes didnt have any Green hammered paint. I checked Amazon and no dice either. Just metalic colors. So it stayed this Satin Forest Green. But I think it looks real good.

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J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
I notice most have more than one favorite press...

I just got this one a while back, motivated by @Ben's portable kit for his grandson, I finally sprung for one. I like this press a lot more than I though I would. It's quite workable - not an extra chore to operate and not clumsy at all, as I expected it to be. I really like this little press!

Hand-Press (Copy).jpg

It fits into a "SackUps" gun sock one of my MGM Contender barrels came in.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Jeff H said:
I notice most have more than one favorite press...

I just got this one a while back, motivated by @Ben's portable kit for his grandson, I finally sprung for one. I like this press a lot more than I though I would. It's quite workable - not an extra chore to operate and not clumsy at all, as I expected it to be. I really like this little press!

View attachment 35292

It fits into a "SackUps" gun sock one of my MGM Contender barrels came in.
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I just got a new one of these presses for use with my 22 RF sizer die on the range. I donated my last one to a new reloader.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a quick change setup on it!!

IMG_8571.jpegIMG_8570.jpeg


You can just make out the knurled ring beneath the die lock ring.

CW
 
glassparman

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"
CW, I had to keep an eye out on fleabay. Most sellers want you to buy 6 cans in a pack for $85 or so. I happened across a guy selling individual cans.

You want the darker green, not the Verde Green.
 
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J

Jeff H

NW Ohio
And, not just to harp on LEE stuff, but these have been really handy presses.

There's this one, which I swear I only paid $20 on some special being run at Midsouth, almost 25 years ago. It's my dedicated bullet-sizing press and does decapping duty for large lots, when I don't want all that primer-dander all over my press and bench. I clamp this one wherever I'm comfortable.
O-Press (Copy).jpg
 
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Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Jeff H said:
And, not just to harp on LEE stuff, but these have been really handy presses.

There's this one, which I swear I only paid $20 on some special being run at Midsouth, almost 25 years ago. It's my dedicated bullet-sizing press and does decapping duty for large lots, when I don't want all that primer-dander all over my press and bench. I clamp this one wherever I'm comfortable.
View attachment 35296
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Ye that my favorite right there.
 
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