Couldn’t find a thread, but surely some members have acquired this press. I’m considering it, what have your experiences been?
My primary use will be decapping 9mm and 223.
My primary use will be decapping 9mm and 223.
Do we have a Lee APP thread?
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jmccracken1214
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I want one for the same thing
OP
I remember reading mixed reviews when they first came out, really wondering if folks have figured out how to make them perform. My only experience with a Lee press was a pro1000 that I threw away. Someone on the forum wanted it so I pulled it out of the trash for him.
I have a APP press and love it for decapping brass. 9mm is pretty fast, 223 is a little slower, as the cases tend to bobble a bit when moving quickly. Still much faster than having to handle each piece by hand, though. Get the case collator for it, that makes loading it up quicker and is well worth the money.
Make sure you have the Xpress shellholder for your caliber. I believe it comes with the #2, #4, and #19 holders, which would cover 45acp, 223, 380, 9mm, and 40 (among others). You will need the decapping die if you don't already have one. Also, you will find slightly lower prices at Titan Reloading.
jmccracken1214
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So, it comes with a 9mm shell plate?
I have Lee decap dies, do they require a bushing or will the die screw right in?
OP
Anyone bulge bust with the thing? Looks a lot cheaper to do that with 380 than to buy dies for the rollsizer. Don’t understand why the bulge buster requires the FCD, but they say it does.
Inline Fabrication makes a roller handle...its nice. Get that.
Also, if you get the Lee APP deluxe, you may not need the universal case feeder. But do get the collator
For bulge busting, the case needs to be inserted upside down, so loading up the tubes is more of a chore. The FCD is used without the crimp ring insert, the carbide resizing ring is used to bust the bulges.
Ben W.
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Lee doesn't make a Bulge Buster specifically for 9mmP. I use my APP for 9mm and .40 depriming prior to wet wash w/SS media. Only clean brass goes into my presses and it works great. Lee Factory Crimp Die does a good job of final sizing of 9mmP. Never had a jam when using it, so can recommend it.
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Let me add that, you will have some adjustments too make...and then it will run great. It is not a Dillon, and doesn't run flawlessly. But it works if you keep it adjusted right.
I decap 9mm super fast.
But with decapping comes dirt and debris. You will need to.keep it clean to run optimally. When it gets really dirty it binds up.
But it is worth the time savings.
I decap 9mm super fast.
But with decapping comes dirt and debris. You will need to.keep it clean to run optimally. When it gets really dirty it binds up.
But it is worth the time savings.
Ben W.
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Swaging 9mm brass or 9mm bullets? It can work for both, but requires different set-up.
Ben W.
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If I remember correctly, people are using the 9mm Makarov Factory Crimp Die (Lee) as a bulge buster for the 9mm P brass. I'm sure someone with more experience than I have will jump in here. I don't bulge-bust my 9mm brass but do use a lee 9mm FCD at the last station of my machines, and have never had a stuck case. I do use range pick-up brass, or commercial bought range brass.
I have an APP press and have mainly used to de prime pistol brass - about 7500 rounds so far. I use a universal deprime die from LEE as well as a LEE collator case feeder ( highly suggest this it works better than I thought it would when I looked at it ) some parts are made from plastic, but figured spare parts wouldn’t be expensive- so far nothing has broken
I picked up the swage kit for it but have not used it yet.
I picked up the swage kit for it but have not used it yet.
OP
ok, took a min, I assumed that they’d just put a carbide ring in the bushing. Need to use a sizing die that you can push the brass through. For 9mm, 40s&w and 45acp I’ll keep using the roll sizer, but for 380 I might just buy the fcd (once I can find one) and give it a try.
ordering the press tomorrow
ordering the press tomorrow
georgel
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I used to get confused about the Lee Factory Crimp Dies until I figured out that there are 2. The regular FCD only does enhanced crimping and is mostly for rifle cartridges. The Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die is for pistol cartridges and has a carbide ring that actually sizes the finished cartridge to spec as well as providing a crimp. It's just like a carbide sizing die and kinda like a final quality check. I love them. I think they negate the need for bulge busting.
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The rifle FCD are collet style crimpers. They also have non-carbide collet style crimpers for some of the magnum handgun calibers as well, and I prefer those for 357 and 44 mag.
As for the primer pocket swager kit for the APP, I bought the setup when they first came out. They have a new style swaging kit that does a better job of centering the cases, which helps speed things up with the 223 cases. They also make a new swaging kit that will work with any press, and I picked one up just to try out. Seems good so far.
I saw on a video to use 1/2 Pex cut in 1/2 inch lengths pressed flush into the top inside of the collator to keep 223/556 brass from going in upside down in the tubes. Just use a wood dow to remove for other calibers.
Other people have cut heavy construction paper, clear plastic sheeting etc with smaller holes and glued in but I like the pex idea the best and appeared to work nice.
I have the collator on my Lee Loadmaster and use a single stage press to work used brass and like the way the APP appears to work. It will be on my list down the road as I progress.
You can use a coffee lid to snap on your collator to keep it clean while not in use.
Most generic coffee can lids are the same size.
Other people have cut heavy construction paper, clear plastic sheeting etc with smaller holes and glued in but I like the pex idea the best and appeared to work nice.
I have the collator on my Lee Loadmaster and use a single stage press to work used brass and like the way the APP appears to work. It will be on my list down the road as I progress.
You can use a coffee lid to snap on your collator to keep it clean while not in use.
Most generic coffee can lids are the same size.
OP
I’m thinking about using 1/2” pex or a similarly sized spring to connect from a dillon case feeder. The APP is apparently sensitive to brass weight, so either need to keep it close to the press or put a shutoff close to the press. Probably buy the lee case collator to start.
BigWaylon
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Decent deal on one at Midway right now if anybody wants to try it out…
BigWaylon
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Refuse it, return to sender. 🤣
I posted that above after seeing this today:
MidwayUSA - Lee Reloading Sale
Received this promo email today that Midway has Lee reloading gear on sale. Coupon code FREESHIP0803 for free shipping on orders over $49. https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1639970 I might have to try out their Auto Processing Press (APP) for only $69
carolinafirearmsforum.com
Careful with Titan
I ordered the same thing from them when the lee APP first came out and my credit card got hacked, I figured out their site was hacked while going back a few days after ordering to check on the status of my order and tracking info, my browser wouldn't load their page saying their website was compromised, a few days later someone was having a good time at Nordstrom, and Olive garden.
The APP is a real time saver, just take your time setting it up and making sure the cases don't drag multiples.
OP
Well it arrived and I‘ve been playing with it for the past few hours.
It‘s much faster than a single stage or a hand deprimer, even when you factor in the tweaking and fiddling time.
If you get a 40s&w or 380acp case in while running 9mm bad things happen.
Getting the case feeder slide properly adjusted isn’t hard, but it takes some tweaking. If it’s too low it’ll launch brass 10’.
The pass through shell holder is cool, but for reasons I have yet to identify a case will sometimes not slide out even if the primer is cleanly removed. Seems that maybe it gets a little tilted.
Just when you get a good rhythm going you’ll find a crimped or berdan primed case. Did bend one pin. Might buy a super mighty universal decapping die.
Do need a roller handle.
Overall a good purchase so far.
Thanks for the heads up, I’ll watch the credit card.
It‘s much faster than a single stage or a hand deprimer, even when you factor in the tweaking and fiddling time.
If you get a 40s&w or 380acp case in while running 9mm bad things happen.
Getting the case feeder slide properly adjusted isn’t hard, but it takes some tweaking. If it’s too low it’ll launch brass 10’.
The pass through shell holder is cool, but for reasons I have yet to identify a case will sometimes not slide out even if the primer is cleanly removed. Seems that maybe it gets a little tilted.
Just when you get a good rhythm going you’ll find a crimped or berdan primed case. Did bend one pin. Might buy a super mighty universal decapping die.
Do need a roller handle.
Overall a good purchase so far.
Thanks for the heads up, I’ll watch the credit card.
Inline carrys a roller handle.
Roller grip conversion for LEE APP & ACP presses - Inline Fabrication
Roller grip assembly LEE APP & ACP presses. ( Attention: Does NOT fit the "Deluxe" model as it it more...
inlinefabrication.com
OP
Check the deal at midway, save $20 and free shipping. I went with Titan when it was the same price because I could also get the inline fab plate at the same time and that was going to require shipping anyway.
I also like the idea of the primer pocket sweging kit, but haven’t looked for reviews.
Looks like this
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When I order from Titan, I use the PayPal option. No credit card information is transferred that way, and I get to use up some of the money I have made selling brass.
OP
It has the ability to size cast bullets which a progressive isn’t designed for, otherwise not much, but that’s not the point of it. It’s an inexpensive machine for doing dirty work. I’m not a fan of running dirty range brass through my 650 just to deprime it before tumbling, the APP fills that role.
It’s a machine for OCD reloaders that like pretty brass, there seem to be a bunch of us.
The Lee APP is not a progressive press at all. Where it excels is that it has a case feeder and allows high throughput when running batches of brass through certain single operations - decapping is one area where it shines. It can also do primer pocket swaging and bulge busting. And, as mentioned, it can also do cast bullet sizing as well.
I primarily use mine for decapping brass, where I can do three times as much as I can in a given time - as much as 3000 per hour for 9mm. And I agree completely with @JimB , I don't have to clean my 550 nearly as much since I started feeding it clean brass. Cleaning the residue from the APP is pretty quick and easy.