Wanting to reload

Hornychief

Hornychief

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Saskatchewan
Hey guys. I am looking to get into reloading on a budget. Any of you have experience with this kit
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/3534/lee-50th-anniversary-reloader-kit
 
That's what I've got. The only other parts I bought was a funnel, a powder trickler because I don't use the lee powder measure, and a RCBS RangeMaster 750 digital scale because bending down to check the Lee safety scale was cramping my back.

It's done me quite well so far.
 
Reloaders tend to be gear whores. You can certainly make good ammo with the kit, a set of dies and components, but...

You definitely need a quality reloading manual and getting recipes off the net can be dodgy. Don't sit down at the bench without it. All the major component makers print them. They're all reliable and it's a matter of taste.

I would toss their lube and drop $7 on a tin of Imperial Sizing Die Wax; far less mess.

You'll need something solid to fasten the press to. Purpose-built or adapted, both work, but it's not something you can do in your lap.

You're legally required to store components properly, so see the sticky for details.

One tip - bending down to look at a scale is indeed a pain as Stevebot-7 notes. Most purpose-built reloading benches have a shelf at eye level to get around this. You can put it on a solid stack of books.
 
How much ammo do you go through? If its a lot, you may want to consider spending a little more and getting a progressive press.

When I started to reload, most people told me to buy a single stage until I learned how and why everything works and does what it does. I didnt listen, I went straight to a Lee Pro and learned on that, figured out the little quirks with it and have since then put 4 of these presses in my shop. Each one is set up for a different round, but 1 of them is uses sort of like a single stage press for reloading .223.
 
Progressive press? Is that the one where you press the primer out and new one in and you can sit the round at the sasame time or something?
I don't shoot an awful lot but that's because it cost me minimum $30 for decent ammo to go to the range. It would be a weekly thing if I could half that
 
Hornychief said:
Progressive press? Is that the one where you press the primer out and new one in and you can sit the round at the sasame time or something?
I don't shoot an awful lot but that's because it cost me minimum $30 for decent ammo to go to the range. It would be a weekly thing if I could half that
Click to expand...

Progressive presses can hold multiple dies at a time, and multiple cases at a time. Basically you load however many cases on there, and then on each pull of the lever it rotates to the next one. It can really cut down on the time spent switching out dies. Whether or not it's worth the added cost is really determined by how much you load.

For me, the added cost of the equipment isn't really worth it because I may only load 50 cartridges every few months because I don't get out shooting very often.

http://leeprecision.com/reloading-presses/progressive-presses/
 
Hornychief - Three general types of reloading kit. No, make that four.

The Lee Loader is the simplest and fits in a small box. It turns out good ammo, but involves a lot of manual effort (including hammers) and is slow. On the other hand, it can get you into the game for maybe $30-40 plus the cost of components. It's made in many different calibres, but each one is specific. Nothing wrong with the ammo it produces.

The other three use interchangeable dies. Buy a new set of dies and you can start making different calibres.

The single stage press is the most common and commonly uses three-die sets. You run a bunch of brass through one die, swap dies, run them through the second die, swap dies, run them through the third, etc. It's faster than a Lee Loader and allows greater versatility. You also don't need to use a hammer... Most people start there and don't ever get anything more complex. They (and the others) have the advantage, once you get the press, that you can buy a new set of dies and start reloading another calibre.

The top-end type is the progressive, in effect a miniature ammo factory. So long as the bins with primers, powder, brass and bullets are kept full, every time you pull the lever, you get a complete round of reloaded ammo. If you are shooting a lot, it's a real time-saver. On the down-side, they're more complex and considerably more expensive. Most people don't ever get that complicated.

In between is the turret press. It is in effect a single stage press but with a set of dies mounted in a quick-change plate, allowing rather more speed and ease of changing dies.

If you haven't already done so, I would strongly recommend a large paperback called The ABCs of Reloading. It's arguably the best introduction to reloading on the market. You would be well-served by buying one (many editions, all good) or signing one out from a library. Many questions are answered.

I put together an Excel costing spreadsheet for ammo reloading, showing things like cost per round, payoff time, etc. If you are interested, PM me with your email address.
 
OP, that particular set comes with a great book to get you started, "Modern Reloading". I have both editions and truly think they are a great resource. I, also, like many here will recommend an edition of the "A,B,Cs of reloading". I have 4 editions of that, as well as others. Great resources from proven reloaders like Ken Waters, Dean Grennel, Rodney James, etc.
I loaded uncounted rounds on that Challenger Press without ever any issue. Lee products WORK. They turn out good ammo, better than factory.

I have ALL of Lee's non-progressive presses. 2 Challengers, 1 C-press, 2 turrets (one a classic cast!), 1 Classic cast single stage, 1 hand press, 3 Lee Loaders. (and 1 RockChucker).

We don't know what you are loading or how much... I just know I fed 7 Enfields, 3 P-14s, 2 .308s, 3 .30-06s, 4 SKSs, a .243, 2 8mm Mausers, and 3 Nagants.

This is fun. Enjoy it and shoot!
 
Just be aware, that the LEE scale, is likely the most hated piece of reloading gear ever made. It's very slow, and it causes most people that use it a great amount of frustration. Do yourself a favor, and at least find a better scale.
 
I started with that very kit, single stage to get the process down. I IMMEDIATELY ditched the scale as per the above suggestion. The rest did the job just fine and got me going. Great pleasure in the results. Since then I have upgraded a few components but still use the press. Best advice I received is buy books, and read, reread and read again. Until you actually understand what you're doing and the principles behind "why". Then check, double check and re-check everything before you pull the trigger.

Footnote: get a bullet puller - you WILL need it at some point!
 
A caution about the little Lee Loader kit Atom mentioned. If it is what I am thinking of, and I have one, it does require the use of small hammers. If you go this route beware of accidentally detonating primers while trying to seat them. I did it with a primer for .44mag, received a couple of sharp stings to the hands and fingers from hot debris and launched the punch/rod into the air. I picked up a regular die set after that.
 
Simple fix for that is to buy an inexpensive Lee hand primer, or instead of using a hammer get a small arbor press. I have a press and also a Classic Lee loader for every caliber I have and since I do not shoot much anymore I tend to use my lee loader the most, it makes great ammo, but keep in mind it cannot FL resize, but if you have kept all your brass from the rifle you are going to reload for you are good to go.
 
Maybe I missed it but what calibre are you reloading?
I have a Rockchucker press and load for various calibres both pistol and rifle yet I am looking at using a Lee Loader for my next rifle (.243 Win) I think if you are just looking to load ammo for your deer rifle so you can get in some more practice, this is the way to go. If you just want 20-40 rds of deer ammo at a time, you can't beat it.
Any new calibre I get, if I figure I will be loading low volume (less than 100 rds/yr) this is the way to go.

As usual, this is just another opinion.

Good Luck!
 
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stubblejumper said:
Just be aware, that the LEE scale, is likely the most hated piece of reloading gear ever made. It's very slow, and it causes most people that use it a great amount of frustration. Do yourself a favor, and at least find a better scale.
Click to expand...


tungngroove2000 said:
I started with that very kit, single stage to get the process down. I IMMEDIATELY ditched the scale as per the above suggestion. The rest did the job just fine and got me going. Great pleasure in the results. Since then I have upgraded a few components but still use the press. Best advice I received is buy books, and read, reread and read again. Until you actually understand what you're doing and the principles behind "why". Then check, double check and re-check everything before you pull the trigger.

Footnote: get a bullet puller - you WILL need it at some point!
Click to expand...

Yeah, should have mentioned that. I tossed mine pretty quick, as well. I had a buddy who poured 2oz of lead into the base of his. It worked great after that!! Too bad mine was gone.

Chuckbuster said:
A caution about the little Lee Loader kit Atom mentioned. If it is what I am thinking of, and I have one, it does require the use of small hammers. If you go this route beware of accidentally detonating primers while trying to seat them. I did it with a primer for .44mag, received a couple of sharp stings to the hands and fingers from hot debris and launched the punch/rod into the air. I picked up a regular die set after that.
Click to expand...

I have loaded near a thousand rounds, at least, with a Lee Loader in several different cartridges. I have never had this happen and I wonder how it could since the hammer never contacts the primer and there is no way to crush the anvil using the tool correctly. However, stuff happens... Glad you are okay

heavyBullet said:
Simple fix for that is to buy an inexpensive Lee hand primer, or instead of using a hammer get a small arbor press. I have a press and also a Classic Lee loader for every caliber I have and since I do not shoot much anymore I tend to use my lee loader the most, it makes great ammo, but keep in mind it cannot FL resize, but if you have kept all your brass from the rifle you are going to reload for you are good to go.
Click to expand...

For my purposes, I think the Lee Loader is second only to the Lee Hand Press when it comes to loading final hunting rounds at the range. Do all the work at home for your work-up trials. Shoot the rounds til you get what you wanted, make up 20 confirmation rounds right there. Shoot them for zero. It works great.
 
I bought the 50th aniversary kit and am very happy with it. When I got it home and took it out of the box I thought " this is cheap junk" but started using it and have had no problems so far, and I have done about 700 rounds with it. Buying and using it anwered many questions that I had about reloading and since I saved about $.40 on each 22-250 round and $1.00 on each 250-3000 savage round that I loaded, it has paid for itself 3 times over already. At this time I donnot think I am going to start shooting alot more than I do now so it will be my reloader. And If I ever decide to move up to a rockcrusher or a progressive I think I will be able to sell the lee kit for $50 less than I paid. Not much money for the education it has given me. As far as actually saving money before I reloaded I went threw about 50 - 75 rounds a year, now 400 rounds a year. not much savings lol
 
The 50th Lee Anuversary is what I got an I've never shot better in my life.
Talk to people, make wise powder choices, and see the results for yourself.
I use Hornady cause I preferred the Hornady factory ammo before I started loading.
But I'll warn you, it's an addiction. I loaded 223, then was so impressed I went to my 303, then had to buy a 243 and group 3/4" @ 200yds. Now I want to buy a 22-250 just to see what I can do with that.
It 'can' get expensive when you start wanting to buy guns just to see what it's like to reload for them. Lol
 
Cried once, bought the Hornady LNL, great unit, reload everything from 223 to 50.
Cried once, bought the RCBS chargemaster combo.
 
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