Lee press

[mikld]

Some say Lee reloading equipment is junk, and their presses are weak and break easily. Baloney! I have an example of just how strong my Lee turret press is (standard model, not cast).

Yesterday I went into my reloading room (my 10X14 Tuff Shed) and picked up my stool to return it to the reloading bench where I have my Lee press mounted. The press had my 9mm die set installed and I was going to install a new Lyman M die. Well my feet got tangled up in the throw rug (good for catching dropped primers) and I pitched forward, my feet not keeping up with my body. My hands were occupied holding my HD chrome and black shop stool and my face was rapidly approaching my Lee press. I dropped the stool and tried to stop my fall, but too late. I did a perfect face plant into the side of my press, the bridge of my nose hitting the turret (glasses went flying), my left cheek bone smacked the left upright, my right cheek hit something (?), and my hand pushed the lever down enough so that about midway up, my nose hit the shell holder, and all 230 lbs. went full into the press. I got a 3/4" gash directly between my eyes. Halfway up my nose I got a 1/2" piece of skin scraped off. Under my left eye there are two cuts about 1/2" long, parallel to my eye. Just in front of my right ear is a 1 1/2" vertical gash, dunno where that came from. My right cheek has a scrape about 2" long right on my cheek bone. I landed on my knees, and started bleeding.

And As I was on my knees looking at the floor, waiting for the pain to start, I was hoping nothing important was damaged; I could still see outta my left eye, and my nose didn't seem broken. And I slowly got to my feet and looked around for my glasses.

I looked at my bench and noticed my Lee press was unharmed! I removed the piece of skin from the shell holder and the ram still slid smoothly up and down. I wiped the blood/hair from the turret and it still rotated freely. All 230 lbs. directed to the press between the two front uprights and not a single bit of damage! Now that's a strong press.

I don't plan on a comparison test with face plants in other presses, so we'll just take this test as a "benchmark" of press strength...

[olyinaz]

Two things: 1) Thank God you weren't seriously hurt! That could have gone really badly. 2) All thoughts of putting a rug in my reloading shop have just been dashed!!

[Griff]

Okay, I'll lighten up... a Lee press can beat up a 230 lb. clumsy man. But, apparently not without help from a stool and throw rug, they'll get ya every time!

Glad ya survived the encounter... it coulda been much worse! Take care out there in the workshop...

[nemhed]

Pictures or it didn't happen!

[Eye-Bite!]

Pictures or it didn't happen!

Yup, Pictures or it didn't happen. Ouch, otherwise.

[El Chivo]

Lee did a test where they took their smallest press and filed it down to about 1/8" thick in one spot, then loaded thousands of rounds with it. There is a lightweight feel to a lightweight press (of any brand) but they will still do the job.

[765x53]

Hope you survive as well as your press.

Richard Lee's idea was to make reloading equipment affordable by engineering it to do the job but not over engineering it.

[Blaine]

I'm impressed... a good man uses his head......

[mikld]

Sorry fellers, I ain't posting pic of this mug...

[Blaine]

Sorry fellers, I ain't posting pic of this mug...

My Friend at the NSA got this pic of you.....

[pwl44m]

Sorry fellers, I ain't posting pic of this mug...

Come on mikld, as Paula Deen would say "U is what U is". I'm sure U have seen some of the rest of Us. Do U remember the pics of Booger Bill ? Or Jmiller after His Bike ride.
Perry

[Chuck 100 yd]

Glad you are still with us. Take care!!

[airedaleman]

Must have been a heck of trip...

Trust you will heal quickly. (Did pretty much the same thing on the steering wheel and windshield of a '62 Grand Prix one dark and stormy night many, many years ago. Been a friend of Bill's for more than 33 years, and my face has remained petty much intact since then. As our Jewish brothers say, "Sei Gesund!")

Mike

[Rusty]

Hope you heal quickly.

[Eye-Bite!]

Sorry fellers, I ain't posting pic of this mug...

Heck, I wanted to see the Lee Press!

[cas]

See, junk. An RCBS Rockchucker would have knocked you out cold.

[redmond]

See, junk. An RCBS Rockchucker would have knocked you out cold.

Somehow, I just knew that was coming.

And if it were a Dillon he would be dead.

[spaceman spiff]

You sound like the Super Dave Osborne of reloading to me.......


Glad you're alright with sense of humor intact.

Any thought of using a Lee hand press? they leave a much smaller wound.


spaceman

[madman4570]

Glad you are ok!

Lee----????-------they got their act together----don't think so, watch the 2 min video below(that's what I am talking about)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzNTuQuebvs

Also the little press my buddy uses (and I now have 3 of them) is the one on video up by the powder measure.(rugged little unit)can about do anything!

Having both the RCBS and Dillon presses (but recently gave to daughters boy friend) I went with Lee this time.(absolutely fine and will out last me)
After seeing what one of my shooting buddies setup at his place----also ordered (3) Lee Reloader Single stage presses. Got all three for $63 (total price)on sale. I currently use the Lee cast Challenger Breech Lock single stage press.(fine for my use)The Quick Lock Bushings w/Lock ring is very cool and various change out.


My buddy has all three of his Reloader presses on a large reloading table He uses the Lee Hand Prime and (I am amazed at how good his setup works)

For the $$$-----------------------------------------very cool!
Mfg and assembled in the USA too!

[madman4570]

A $20 press--------------------will do it well!

Watch all 4 videos---------------that $20 press(cool)

Here is the first one below(then you can go to others shown at right on video) Guy does a good job!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0066LirELsg

[JohndeFresno]

I guess I just don't get it. All I use my Lee for is to load stuff.

Blessings - glad that you survived the incident!