Classic Lee Loader

Hawkeye

Hawkeye

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I am looking at gettin into reloading and was interested in opinions on the classic lee loader so far i only know that it is probably the cheapest way to get into reloading so i want to know the good bad and ugly bout these things thnx
 
Rl550

All the low end reloaders work just fine but have some limitations. Some have lots of breakable plastic parts, some are finicky on production loading and some have the good sense to work only with persons who have previous reloading experience.
Spend the extra bucks, its a one time buy, on the basic Dillon RL550. It is a fabulously versitile machine, durable and production numbers can approach 550 cartridges and hour. The other guys make a pretty good press but Dillon makes the industry standard and they back it up.
 
If you want the cheapest route and you're not reloading too many rounds its the way to go. I used one of those for many, many years and the only issue I had was a primer going off when it started to wear but that didn't happen too often.
 
I have an old Classic reloader (not a press, the one you smack around with a hammer) for my .30-06
Works great. Unless you use either a scale, or the powder scoop kit, you don't get much as far as fine tuning the powder charge, because the kit only comes with 1 scoop, which will hold 'X' amount of a certain powder. That said, mine produces great ammo that's more accurate than factory stuff I've tried.
As far as build quality: I got mine from my dad, who originally bought it in ~'75. Still works like new, looks like new, and the adjustments for bullet seating depth stay accurate no matter how many times I hit it with a hammer (and would do so despite being run over multiple times with a car, I suspect). Take care of it and it'll last you for a long time.
I haven't really timed myself, but when I get into a groove I load somewhere between 30-50 rounds an hour, which is plenty for my needs. Takes a 3-4 hours for me to reload all the .30-06 I'll shoot all year.

Hope that helps. Any other questions, let me know.

Kris
 
I have the turret press and really like it. It is not hard on the pocket book and since you are involved in each round, you can ensure good quality. It takes a couple of minutes to switch calibres and with the autodisks is very consitant, but will always load below what the books says they will.

Get the powder scale as well and the adjustable autodisk.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1214492164.211=/html/catalog/powhan1.html

They can be a bit finicky, but if you buy a few of the square plastic rachets and the plastic clamp that goes over the ram (.50cents and $7.00) and replace thoses about once a year, then it will work much better. I use a tiny bit of silicone spray on the plate and the ram. I can produce about 150 rds of pistol ammo in an hour.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1214492164.211=/html/catalog/turretpress.html

You could also buy a complete kit to get started
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1214492164.211=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html

You should also get the book, keep in mind that Lee powder loads are on the safe side.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1214492164.211=/html/catalog/bookpg.html
 
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I don't agree with the advice to buy a Dillon and be done with it, not becasue the Dillon isn't a great product but because setting the bar at that height would keep a lot of people out of reloading.

I started on Lee loaders. If you stay with loading you will move up to some kind of press. In order to load really good ammo you will buy a scale really quickly, the scoop simply isn't good enough. You will probably want some kind of case length trimmer before too long. As you load your cases a few times you will likely find that they are getting harder to chamber in your rifle, now you need to full length resize them. The pounding away with a mallet can be annoying to other people in your house or apartment.

You can by a Lee press kit and scale with everything you need in one caliber for about $150 all in. This is probably a better way to start unless you're really strapped for cash. If you decide to move up to a turret press the single stage press is easy enough to sell, altho most people keep it for small batches or specific tasks like case forming or de-priming.
 
Hawkeye said:
I am looking at gettin into reloading and was interested in opinions on the classic lee loader so far i only know that it is probably the cheapest way to get into reloading so i want to know the good bad and ugly bout these things thnx
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It is the cheapest way to load, a simple way, if production rate is not an issue and you foresee reloading only for one firearm.

But, because the cases are not full-length resized, the reloaded cartridge may not chamber and/or extract as easily.

You might also consider a hand press and a set of dies. They, too, are cheap and simple to use but also offer some more flexibility.
 
Slow, but they work. They neck size only, so they're not suitable for loading for a semi-auto rifle. Semi-auto's require full length resizing every time.
Pitch the scoops and buy a scale. The scoops can vary the charge plus or minus a full grain. And, for who knows why, they're calibrated in cc's. CC's won't be found in any loading manual.
 
If you use the recommended loads, the kit will give you no problems.
It is however, slow as hell, and doesn't allow for much in the way of fine tuning.
I started with one, however, if I were to recommend a cheap way to start, it would be the Lee hand press, the appropriate dies, and a scale.
 
sunray said:
Pitch the scoops and buy a scale. The scoops can vary the charge plus or minus a full grain. And, for who knows why, they're calibrated in cc's. CC's won't be found in any loading manual.
Click to expand...

I saved mine and even bought a scoop set. I use the closest to the right size scoop, add that volume to the pan of the scale, and then use a trickler to finish it off to get the exact amount of grains required.
 
reflexzero said:
The Lee Auto Prime is a better option than the tap tap tap method, not only from a safety perspective, but the ability to have more tactile feedback on the primer seating.
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You can get a feel for the primer seating with the Lee Loader too,
but like you, I use the Lee Auto Prime because it's faster.KD
P.S.
I have a Lee Loader for almost every caliber that I reload for as well as the
conventional dies.
 
Those kits are looking like a good way to go if i do go that way i'll be wanting to load for my shotguns as well as my 06 will i need a different press and other equipment of just some different dies
 
At one point in my career I had a financial interest in selling sporting goods. I started many handloaders out on the Lee bang-em-together type. Virtually every buyer later went on to get a press and regular dies. As has been mentioned, after a few loadings of neck sizing only, the cases get too hard to chamber, so in they would come to look at presses.
When they bought the Lee, I would always tell them they should get a scale and loading sheets. The loads given with the little Lee are extremely light, with a 30-06 being little, if any, more than a 30-30.
At that time most of us used Norma powder and Norma gave out their now sought after, Norma Gunbugs Guide, free. It gave excellent, and sufficient, information for reloading with Noma powder. I still think the little Lee is a good way to start.
 
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