Classic Lee Loaders and Reloaders.ca

pageophile

pageophile

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Hello all,

Well after looking around a bit, buying a few 44MAG pistols and a 45-70 GG I figured it was time to into reloading.

I contacted member msg.drew a dealer here on CGN (http://www.reloaders.ca/)

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/member.php?u=32076

Really wanted to try out the Classic Lee Loader as it sounded like a nice affordable way to start off.

Reloaders looked around for me, found the 44MAG kit in stock and told me the 45-70 was out of stock for now.

Ordered both anyway and waited, it's a winter project for me so no big hurry. Reloaders got back to me several times and always kept me in the loop, very nice in this day and age.

Well the kits arrived today and I'm a happy camper. Just need a few odds and ends to get started loading.

Big thumbs up to Reloaders.ca :cheers:
 
You're meaning the mallet powered loader? Pitch the scoops and use a scale. The scoops can vary the powder charge plus/minus a full grain. Use a plastic mallet too.
"...45-70 was out of stock..." Should have asked. Have one around here some place that is just gathering dust. The 'some place' is kind of critical though. Haven't a clue where it is.
 
For the ranges that a .45-70 is shooting at scoops are more then adequate. I used scoops when I first started and after a while I could get them within .5 of a grain sometimes less for consistency. The only issue is that to get exact grainage (i.e. 15.8 grains) usually had to settle for a weight that wasn't quite bang on.
 
Hello all,

Yeap, it's the mallet loader :)

I was planning on a small scale and a Lee Auto Prime as others have suggested. Although seating a primer with a hammer and punch seems like a good skill to have ;)

Thanks for the heads-up on the crimping, I think there is a way to do it with the Lee Set. Reverse one of the items and give it a good wack.

This could be a ton of fun :D
 
I've ordered a few hundred dollars of stuff from reloaders.ca and I recommend the site. The shipping there is the same price as WSS and you don't have to pay PST. The site is also 3-5% cheaper than WSS.

If it's not on the site, message the guy, 2/3'rds of my orders are custom stuff ordered in from the U.S.
 
I recently was in a pinch to seat primers for my dad's 30-06 as I didn't have the autoprime shell holder for it so I dug out my 303 british lee loader and used it to seat the -06 primers. It worked fantastic.

I own a lee loader for every caliber I shoot right now because I can take it to the range to work up loads.
 
The best thing about using the Lee Loader is that you feel like you're the Viet Cong "building" your own rounds in a cave. I used it to load up 308 Norma Mag rounds for a buddy of mine and he laughed his butt off watching until I told him he could do the pounding for the primers.
 
Glock4ever said:
The best thing about using the Lee Loader is that you feel like you're the Viet Cong "building" your own rounds in a cave. I used it to load up 308 Norma Mag rounds for a buddy of mine and he laughed his butt off watching until I told him he could do the pounding for the primers.
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You just made me choke on my coffee! :p

Lee Classic loaders are a great way to get started in reloading. If I don't use my auto-prime, I wear safety glasses and ear protection for seating primers with the mallet. I have had a few go off and it gets pretty loud in the confines of a small room.

Other bargain stuff that will be usefull for case preping are the Lee pocket cleaner and the chamfer tool. You can use some 000 steel wool to clean your cases if they get too dirty for your taste.

Stay on the look out for sales on digital calipers at Canadian Tire. They are very usefull to adjust your bullet seating depth (C.O.A.L.).

I use the dipper when I am loading for plinking, but I use a scale for anything long range. Another cheap buy (30$) is the Lee perfect powder funnel/dispenser. If you plan on reloading many rounds for Hi-volume shooting with reasonnable precision, it will quickly pay for it self in time saved.
 
I'm using one to load .45 colt. A Lee auto prime for priming, and a powder measure to measure my loads. Works great! Not very fast, but I can easily put in and hour here or an hour there. All the guys I shoot with use Dillon's, and think I'm nuts. I can't afford one of those big blue things right now...
 
If you stick with the loads they provide, and don't even think about trying a max load, the scoops they provide will work just fine.
I think you will probably want to move on after loading a bit, and get a press and scale.
But you'll likely keep the Classic, they work fine, and are very portable.
 
roadwarrior said:
Stay on the look out for sales on digital calipers at Canadian Tire. They are very usefull to adjust your bullet seating depth (C.O.A.L.).
Click to expand...

We have some 6" digital calipers on the way. If your looking for something you dont see in the online store just ask I can probally get it.
 
The Lee Loaders are a great little kit!! I started in reloading about 40 years ago with a second hand kit for a 30-30, along with a can of 3031 and a few primers. Still have that kit and the empty can! I sort of collect the kits now, and am always on the lookout at gun shows. Some of my best memories of reloading are when that's all I had, was that old kit.

Here's an interesting kit I found at the old E&D Sports in Haney/Maple Ridge some years ago.

MRCkitax.jpg

MRCkitbx.jpg

MRCkitcx.jpg

MRCkitdx.jpg
 
Well it's been a while and I finally got my s**t together and pounded out a few rounds.

And that was not a attempt at a pun (well maybe a little), you literally pound out the rounds with this little set-up.

A few things I've learned so far, do not try and make 50 rounds of 44MAG for your first batch. Yes I should know better. I cleaned/prepped all 50 and only primed 31 . . . which leads us to the next point.

Seating the primers was a little hairy but doable, however, when they do go off it's a little bit of a shock. Had none go off till the 30th round, de-primed it and then the 31st one went off. Decided to call it for the night.

Did I mention the pounding? It's a very noisy method to reload, add in the two primer mishaps and my ears were happy when it ended.

Loaded the powder and bullets the next day. Using the dipper was fun and easy. However, It takes some getting used to pounding on a cartridge with a hammer seating the bullet and crimping the case afterward.

So I tried the finished product in my revolver and they all fit. Always a good thing.

All that's left is a range trip. Hopefully you won't hear about me in the news ;)

So far it's been a very rewarding experience even with the sore fingers/ears.

I will go forward with reloading but looking at a proper press to make it easier. Won't be selling the Lee Loaders either, very cool set-up and portable for when the zombies come.

Will follow-up with a range report later.


Best regards,

Page

PS, The Lee pocket primer cleaner will kill your fingers after 50 rounds, not recommended for more than a dozen rounds. Kinda like the Lee Loader.

PPS, The first couple of shells were a PIA to size even slathered with lube. It did get easier afterward but a couple swift whacks were still required. The straight wall brass did not help and Lee told me so right no the website.

PPPS, Wow are the cost saving great! 45 bucks for a box of loaded 44MAG from WSS. Reloaded cost for a box about 12.50/box (240gr hardcast bullets). My wallet is doing the happy dance :dancingbanana:
 
This hand held priming tool will take the anxiety out of pounding in those primers
AUTOPRIME.jpg


and here is a nice little hand held press if you feel the loaders are a bit to loud

handprss.jpg
 
The loads given in the instructions are light enough to allow for a grossly over-filled scoop. You should have a scale, then you can load propper loads.
The ones I looked at in 30-06, for example, had loads that gave 30-30 velocities.
I have the little Lee in 44 mag but have never used it. Got it at a garage sale, thinking it may be handy to take to the range, with a scale, for tweaking loads. I haven't even looked at the loads it gives.
Like someone said, for the 45-70 the scoops would be all one would need. In fact I have the Lee set of scoops and I often use them for a small number of loadings. With practice, I get well under .5 grain variation.
 
pageophile said:
Seating the primers was a little hairy but doable, however, when they do go off it's a little bit of a shock. Had none go off till the 30th round, de-primed it and then the 31st one went off. Decided to call it for the night.

Did I mention the pounding? It's a very noisy method to reload, add in the two primer mishaps and my ears were happy when it ended.:
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I hate to say it, but I told you so! :p It's not that bad when you have ear protection on... At least your heart won't try to jump out of your chest. :)
 
I started reloading this summer using a Lee Loader, and have made very accurate rounds for my 30-06 (using a scale). Finally got to use them on a couple deer last week, I just LOVE the accuracy I get now. No commercial ammo I have ever tried in over 20 yrs of hunting have come close to my reloads.

Santa is bringing me a press this X-Mas, but I will not sell my Lee Loader kits. I find them fun to use, but keep in mind I do not make tons and tons of ammo. The press will be better so I can full length resize my brass, and use all the brass my friends have given me from their rifles, something you cannot do using the Lee Loader.
 
roadwarrior said:
I hate to say it, but I told you so! :p It's not that bad when you have ear protection on... At least your heart won't try to jump out of your chest. :)
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I'm normally quite a hyper-tense guy and it doesn't bother me that much - I don't have any trouble getting back up on the horse. That said, I think my new Lee Autoprime is really a better way!
 
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