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mini-press

j3081j3081 Member Posts: 332 ✭✭✭
hi guys and happy holidays,,,is there a company out there that makes a small,light-weight,mini-press that will only be used to seat bullets and can fit in a tool box and taken to the range to develop loads on the spot,,,all case prep would be done at home,different loads placed in vials,all you'd need is a seating die,,,a set of calipers,,,and bullets.this would cut my range time to a third,,,i would rather spend 3 hours at one time at the range than 3 or 4 trips at an hour and a half to get a gun down pat.oh,,,i also have to walk 75 yards from parking lot to range so mini and light-weight is a big concern.thank you

Comments

  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,748 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Check out "Lee". I know that they make a small hand press and if I am not mistaken they even sell it in a kit if you want it that way.

    Jon
  • PinheadPinhead Member Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Load developement as I know it requires a little bit more than a small press but not much more. A Lee handloader that come in a small box has about everything you would need except a scale. Dipping with the little dippers that come with the little outfit does not give you the most accurate load but it will give you a workable load. You need to vary the powder charge to get the most accurate load with a given powder. But that is about the only downside to these little wonders. I started out loading with them in the early 60's and I still use them occassionaly and find them quite accurate if you have the scales to get the best load. A small electronic battery powered scale or small manual scale would still leave you with very little to carry. I use a small tool box that I bought at Wal-Mart to carry mine. The Lee hand press is not all that small but it would work also. So would one of the old Lyman 310 nutcracker tools. My experience anyway.
  • j3081j3081 Member Posts: 332 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    hi guys,,,all of my loads at the range will be basically pre-mixed,,,all cartridge PREP will be handled at home,all i want to do is make it a 1 time deal,,,when all i have to do is put the weighed powder in the case,,,press the bullet to my specs it's done,,,no dippers,,,no measurers,,,it's done,,,and jon0322 gave me a good lead on a hand press,,,#90685,,,thank you jon and god bless,,,j3081[:D][:D]
  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,969
    edited November -1
    The Lee hand press is what you need.
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    j3081,

    The Lee press is just O.K. It's fast, easy and inexpensive to use but will not produce better than basic average ammunition suited to general hunting at best. It will not produce ammunition that is concentric without some modifications.

    These are the ones I've used but they aren't cheap. They are well made and will make accurate ammunition if the guy supplying the muscle is up to the process:

    http://www.benchrest.com/accura/press.htm

    http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=383&action=show_detail

    http://www.benchrest.com/hoodpress/ (this is the one I use)

    http://www.meachamrifles.com/ (select reloading tools then 'Anywhere Press')

    Best.
  • B17-P51B17-P51 Member Posts: 2,199 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use one of the Lee presses at the range for exactly what you want to do. I have an older truck that has 2 holes drilled in the bumper to mount the press. Check out the Lee RELOADER press. Not a hand press but it serves well. Product #90045 available almost anywhere.
    http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1198347988.1971=/html/catalog/rlpress1.html
  • scrubberguyscrubberguy Member Posts: 219 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    j3081:
    Lee makes several press's that will do what you need. I have used the hand press and found it "lacking". Sorry can't describe it any other way.

    In between the hand press and the larger Challenger "O" press is the smaller Reloader press which is a "C" type. Plenty of strength for what your doing and, with good dies, will make plenty accurate ammo for 98% of the shooters in the world.

    I just recieved a new Lee catalog 4 weeks ago, the reloader press new is $34.98. How can you go wrong? To use it at the range I mounted it on a piece of flat aluminmum and used two Aluminmum c- clamps to hold it in place.[8D]
  • mazo kidmazo kid Member Posts: 648 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    And then there is also the Lyman tong tool, the 310 set. I have the Meacham "Anywhere Press", the Lee hand press and the 310 set for my 45-70 and 45-90 brass. Comes in handy for depriming at the range and I use the 310 tool the most, have 6 different die sets for it. Emery
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