what is your opinion of the Lee Loader? They seem to be quite simple, and you don�t need more than a mallet. I�m thinking of buying one to use when loading at the range.

Best regards,

Fritz

If you want to use a Lee Loader, I'd recommend using a powder scale along with it, as this will allow you to get much more precise in your powder measurements; it will also allow you to vary your loads (i.e., use more or less powder) for any given powder and bullet weight.

As with any other loader or loading system, you will need to check your cases for length and trim them when they get too long.

Opinions vary on this issue, I can only relate my experience. I started with one of those reloading .45 Colt. I used it for over a two years, making excellent quality ammo, with the following additions.

First, I bought a full set of dippers. They work just fine if you watch your technique. And regardless of opinion, many bench rest shooters have posted fine records using a dipper. Dip from a small cup or bowl filled with powder, pull the dipper smoothly through, strike off the powder with a business card or some such implement. Practice.

Second, I bought a Lee priming tool to prime with. With CCI primers (I hate those things) I would get a tight primer once in a while, which would go off and scare the crap out of me. I loaned it to several friends through the years, both had the same problem with CCI primers. Federal or Winchester seem to work best.

It's a compact, fairly cheap, and reliable if you do your job right.

Regards,

Eric

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Surely we must all hang together, for separately we will all surely hang.

I think my decision for a cheap Lee press and Lee regular dies for a start was right.

This press now does duty for decapping with an universal ( Lee ) decapping die. But for handgun ammo this press would have been enough. I just "needed" a Rockchucker ...

For nostalgic reasons I have thought about a Lyman tong tool with cowboy caliber dies ...

.44-40 or .45-70

Have fun! Hermann

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I also have the dipper set. For handgun ammo to go "bang" its totally ok. These are also handy for use with a scale. So you may buy a measure even later. For some loads instead of setting up the measure, I still use the dippers. 6.4 grs of Unique will of course be less ( the dippers will give the quoted amount only if you charge them wrong, i.e. with a heap, shaked down ), and its a fine .357 training load with anything from 148 WC to 158 SWC.

I think Lee is absolutely tops for beginners. For rifle calibers and if you want groups UNDER one inch you may need other dies ( and rifle, scope and shooter ).

The Lee trimmer and the factory crimp die and eventually the hand priming tool are the best money can buy. They are the cheapest, too!!

Good shooting! Hermann

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quote:

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Originally posted by Fritz Kraut:
Gentlemen,

what is your opinion of the Lee Loader? They seem to be quite simple, and you don�t need more than a mallet. I�m thinking of buying one to use when loading at the range.

Best regards,

Fritz

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Fritz Kraut:
Gentlemen, what is your opinion of the Lee Loader? They seem to be quite simple, and you don�t need more than a mallet. I�m thinking of buying one to use when loading at the range.

Best regards,

Fritz

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I don't have one and have a hard time imagineing even useing one. Yes, I know others have.

I do have a lee hand press and it works, but I don't have three hands to run one. The third hand is to hold the press as I normally use two hands (one on the cases and one on the press handle) while reloading.

For the range, I have found the lee pro1000 which is mounted on a 2x6 to be perfect for pistol calibers as I try different loads and watch the chrony and the ejection as well as group size. After checking the powder to disk hole with a scale, I use the disk without worrynig about weighting (OK I so weigh sometimes, but it doesn't change). Since the disk is not adjustable, I don't need to check the adjustment. I do however look at the powder level in every case as I set the bullet in place.

I tried my single stage (the lee C-press), which worked, but I ended up with to many pieces in a box. Also to load 5, I had to change dies rather often. Then the powder scale was unusable in the breeze. At least C-clamping the 2x6 to the bench gave me a good solidly mounted press.

And yes, a dillon 550 should be great if you can set the powder measure outside in the breeze.

JerryO

quote:

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Originally posted by aHunter:
For nostalgic reasons I have thought about a Lyman tong tool with cowboy caliber dies ...
Hermann

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I have a tong tool in 30-06 which I bought when I got my '17 enfield in the 50's.

I dug it out (it's an ammomaker kit with bullet mold) a year ago.

Loaded a box of shells. When I rolled the shells across a table, they wobbled something awful. As I sat there wondering what I had done wrong, it dawned on me. There was nothing to align the necks with the body.

So I buried them again. They were so slow anyway.

JerryO

You shouldn't think of a LL as the only thing you'll need to assemble cartridges. That thinking is blindered.
In some calibers it will allow you to inexpensively try neck resizing.
It is portable.
It helps you to focus on the case - the most important part of your load - to check for imperfections, damage and overall condition.
It puts the "hands on" back in handloading.
Today, it should be used in conjunction with other tools that weren't available to the general reloading public years ago.
Not the greatest for handgun cals.

This is an open question. With so much equipment out there, can you look at your bench and honestly say you only use equipment from one manufacturer? We all have out likes and dislikes. My bench looks like a trade convention.
Fritz, for kicks (and this doesn't cost anything), check out http://www.303british.com and look for "The Lee Loader - Thinking Out of the Box". It applies to LL of any cal.
As I said earlier, not everyone likes everything - we all have preferences. Never close your mind to alternate ideas.

Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell
303british.com

thanks for all your kind comments and advices.

Best regards,

Fritz

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Our solders did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives to defend our constitution so that decades later some liberal democrat can say it's a living document, ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were serious and meant what they said, so leave the document alone or there's going to be trouble!

Good luck and good shooting