Lee APP Press

[Ovenpaa]

Other than the awful handle, does anyone have any thoughts or experience of the Lee APP press?

[Triffid]

Yes, I got one a couple of months ago.

Didn't even bother with the supplied handle . . . a piece of copper pipe, a solder ring connection, two skateboard bearings and a 8mm bolt replaced that in short order. You can probably knock up something far more professional!

So far I've got it set-up for decapping cases and swaging crimped primer pockets and I must say it excels at both these. I've fitted the four-tube case-feeder from a Pro1000 instead of the single tube it comes with and it'll run through a box of 20 rifle cases in a minute or less once set up correctly. I'm not sure that it's robust enough for case sizing operations though, but that's not what I got it for.

Devils in the detail though with the set-up, like lots of Lee stuff everything has to be just right. For example there's one long expansion spring that works the case-feed mechanism which has to be the right way up in order for it to work properly.

I'll also try it for case trimming using Lee's die-based Quick Trim system - can't see why it won't work with that. Happy to try anything out on it if you're interested.

Triffid

[Ovenpaa]

Thank you!

Actually I have no plans, however I was interested. I like Lee stuff, it usually does what it says on the label and for the most just gets the job done. There is a lot of snobbery when it comes to re-loading kit and Lee often takes a kicking for no real reason. I can probably name a dozen good international Open shooters who have Lee kit on the reloading table alongside Wilson and Triebel.

Application is often every bit as important as the name on the box :)

[Triffid]

I've used lots of Lee stuff in my thirty-plus years of reloading. Some I get on with, some I don't. At its best it's simple but clever ideas well executed - the collect neck sizer for example. At worse there are over complicated things with poor QC - their bullet feeder. I run a Loadmaster permanently set up for .44Mag, which comfortably straddles both classes!

I'm not yet sure which the APP fits into yet; I got it to speed some of the drudgery of brass prep for rifle reloading and I think it does that.

After my earlier email I went and timed myself. 90 seconds to change from pocket swaging to decapping. Then two minutes to decap a box of 20 308 cases, half of which is loading them up into the feed tubes. The weak link in the system is the feed mechanism, which sometimes doesn't cope with tall cases.

Triffid

[mag41uk]

just bought one and its still in the box.
Got it for bulk cast bullet sizing and brass prepping

[toffe wrapper]

I have one its a great time saver, use it for FL sizing 308 & 556 with large & small drop tubes from LM/Pro1000.
I Factory crimped 600 556 today in just over 40 mins. feeding manually onto slider then letting slider knock them out into catch bin as it fed next i put on. I have swager for it which I will test next time I have a load of GGG to swage.

[Pete]

I just bought their bench Autoprime, and I have to say I'm impressed.............I primed 50 cases in a couple of minutes, without missing a beat.
Prior to this, I've been using Ergoprimes, which are good, but the bench version is much better, quicker, and requires less effort.
If only they'd make a collet neck sizing die for 6.5x47..............

Pete