2aHawaii
Tools and Uses => Reloading => Topic started by: ren on July 11, 2021, 08:21:24 PM
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Anyone got one -the Lee APP? Midway USA had free shipping - well not entirely for us in HI. I gave in and pressed the button. How do you like it? It appears that there have been some improvements by Lee and the reloading community.
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Very interesting
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Curious to see if you've had a chance to try out the Lee APP yet and if so how do you like it? Thanks...
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On sale at Midway, free shipping. $79.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022385797?pid=973423&utm_source=general-promotion&utm_medium=email&utm_content=product_9_link&utm_campaign=reloading-campaign
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aww damn, I ordered before the $10 sale price...and its not free shipping to HI - there's a $10 flat fee for OCONUS
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took about an hour to setup and get it up but it is worth it! :thumbsup: Once you see how it works you will be churning through case prep. I read that the shell holders are not meant for full length sizing as the case rim is not supported as much as a regular case holder. I recommend the Lee Deluxe with the case collator (4 tubes). If you have a big enough 3d printer get the deeper bowl https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2854175 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2854175)
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Now $69.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022385797
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Now $69.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022385797
my Chinese side is kicking me I could've saved $20. Thats a BBQ Korean lunch - a full sized plate not a mini! :(
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Anyways, I'm liking the APP. Its a bit quirky with the plastic case shuttle piece but even with those hiccups it is still faster than my beloved Dillon swager. I tried resizing .223 with it and it works fine :thumbsup:
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my Chinese side is kicking me I could've saved $20. Thats a BBQ Korean lunch - a full sized plate not a mini! :(
Could've got the big bone Kalbi at some places. Well, maybe 2/3 the price.
Cool. Good that the press/system is working out for you. What do you see the value in? Higher production rate? Ease of use? Consistency with loading processes?
I'm still on single stage. A buddy has a Dillon 5-some thing series. I'm ok with using a progressive for loading both pistol and bolt action ammo, but he has the dies setup for him, and it's a PITA to swap out, so I've just been sticking with single stage. Don't mind for loading for .308, at least so far. I'll def be using the progressive for handgun ammo.
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The LEE APP sure sped up case prep in regards to rifle. I deprime, wet tumble, flame anneal and then full length resize 223. So those two steps of depriming and resizing cuts down on case handling and obviously time. The Dillon is great but the cost of caliber changes are a bit more than a Hornady LnL progressive because of the toolhead design. I was going to buy the Hornady but a LGS didn't want my cash so I ended up with my second Dillon 550. It's great but if you are OCD about things you will slow yourself down. It's also a great way to make a mistake and multiply it. A progressive will surely speed things up for pistol but in order to reduce mistakes you must concentrate Daniel-san. If something doesn't feel right - investigate it. You must be one with the machine. Zen. Peace Out
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I planned to buy the APP but after adding up all the extra equipment to swage bullets and primer pockets,
shell holder set, etc. I am looking at $270 plus shipping. This is just for the time being.
I am sure that more items will be needed.
Over time I accumulated a lot of equipment. I currently own 5 presses of various brands.
I have primer pocket swagers that are a lot slower than the APP. I am sure that
the APP has value but I think I can do with out it and I'll put it in the nice to have column.
If I was younger and did not have much reloading equipment, I would probably buy it.
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the cost for swaging with the Lee APP is about the same price for a Dillon swager. I did buy the case feeding tubes. The Lee case collator I wouldnt buy again instead the one on eBay.
I think if they made the case shuttle out of metal it would be more reliable and costly as well..
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I ended up picking up the APP kit but haven’t tried yet but yes it does help a lot with the case prep for 9mm and my 223 plinking ammo.
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I watched several videos of folks decapping and swaging military brass with one, they all started with 'I was skeptical, this thing looks like a POS, but it does a good job'. Yeah I folded like a card table and ordered one.
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It managed to full length size .223. The key are full strokes. Occasionally there would be 2 cases falling on the shuttle but still easier than a single stage
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if you are looking to do 223 work - get this instead of the Lee case collator. 223 just flows so much better with this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2854175 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2854175)
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I have seen folks on the web doing 'hacks' to the lee collator, they add a small coffee can lid or a plastic disk on a screw shimmed up about an inch above the funnel, they say it helps it feed and less cases end up facing the wrong way. less than 1 in 100 or some such.
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I have seen folks on the web doing 'hacks' to the lee collator, they add a small coffee can lid or a plastic disk on a screw shimmed up about an inch above the funnel, they say it helps it feed and less cases end up facing the wrong way. less than 1 in 100 or some such.
I have tried that as well. The problem I had was that cases would slide under the lid. If you don't have the capability to 3D print this one works pretty well too and just a bit more than the LEE https://www.ebay.com/itm/324331921262?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180816085401%26meid%3Da8c88aef1c724492a1b510cdc8284128%26pid%3D100970%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D324331921262%26itm%3D324331921262%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100970.m5481&_trkparms=pageci%3Acd3d2432-00a6-11ec-877f-966c84ab1cb6%7Cparentrq%3A5cb0c94017b0a6458a46038cffffd04e%7Ciid%3A1 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/324331921262?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180816085401%26meid%3Da8c88aef1c724492a1b510cdc8284128%26pid%3D100970%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D324331921262%26itm%3D324331921262%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100970.m5481&_trkparms=pageci%3Acd3d2432-00a6-11ec-877f-966c84ab1cb6%7Cparentrq%3A5cb0c94017b0a6458a46038cffffd04e%7Ciid%3A1)
The print took me about 6 hours.
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I have tried that as well. The problem I had was that cases would slide under the lid. If you don't have the capability to 3D print this one works pretty well too and just a bit more than the LEE https://www.ebay.com/itm/324331921262?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180816085401%26meid%3Da8c88aef1c724492a1b510cdc8284128%26pid%3D100970%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D324331921262%26itm%3D324331921262%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100970.m5481&_trkparms=pageci%3Acd3d2432-00a6-11ec-877f-966c84ab1cb6%7Cparentrq%3A5cb0c94017b0a6458a46038cffffd04e%7Ciid%3A1 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/324331921262?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180816085401%26meid%3Da8c88aef1c724492a1b510cdc8284128%26pid%3D100970%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D324331921262%26itm%3D324331921262%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100970.m5481&_trkparms=pageci%3Acd3d2432-00a6-11ec-877f-966c84ab1cb6%7Cparentrq%3A5cb0c94017b0a6458a46038cffffd04e%7Ciid%3A1)
The print took me about 6 hours.
What would you charge to print one?
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What would you charge to print one?
I didn't design it so it wouldn't be ethical to charge for it. I can print one for a serious reloader and not a hobbyist.
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Was going to ask the same.
Maybe if you could estimate cost of materials and time to see if it was worthwhile.
I’ve been looking for an excuse to but an ender or something else so maybe it would be worth it.
Was also looking to print some bell buddies for fishing but those are like $3 to buy so hard time justifying me dropping like $800 or more for a nice setup.
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I didn't design it so it wouldn't be ethical to charge for it. I can print one for a serious reloader and not a hobbyist.
I dont know where I fall in that spectrum. I am still ramping up. And in times of no primers to be had, its been a tough road to hoe. APP still hasnt made land fall on Oahu yet either.
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I'll print another one this weekend.
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I'd be willing to trade for a 1 kg spool of printer filament, tell me you favorite flavor and I'll amazon one.
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Finally arrived Thursday, set it up today, that dumb piece junk makes me laugh pretty hard because of how well it works. Just looking at it, it really shouldn't.
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After easily and quickly de-priming 500 cases today I figured out a couple things, one I needed to set my pin a touch deeper than usual, the rare hanging primer was worst thing that jammed up the flow, two you learn to use a little 'english' on the lever and can short stroke problems of feed alignment without having to start poking finger in there to correct stuff not hitting the case holder correctly.
I have a ton of 5.56 to swage next weekend, if that goes half as well than this thing was a super solid buy.
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Ren thanks for the heads up on Swage Gauges, Ballistictools does have them back in stock. Ordered.
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Yeah, if for no other reason buy one and the swager add-on.
By far the fastest / easiest way to deal with military brass I have used so far.