Well, I thought I'd give this whole loading thing a try. I've always liked the idea of the old style lee loader. Seems like a simpler system (I know it isn't, since you need a whole unit for each calibre, but leave me with my delusion), seems fairly foolproof. I mean, what could really go wrong when you're beating on a cartridge with a mallet, right? I have a loader for my 7mm rem mag that I picked up at a show a while back. Popped the primers no problem, tumbled the cases...looking brand new...stick a primer in the priming cup, and give a gentle whack with a deadblow hammer. Thunk! Pull it out, have a look, looking fine. Use the scoop to load the pan on a digital scale (no, not a kitchen scale Leroy!), pour in the powder, drop in the bullet, give it a whack, and whadayaknow, I got a nice looking cartridge! This is easy,I say to myself, what's the big deal? Pop a primer into the priming cup, give a whack, and bang!....ouch. Ears are ringing, little finger hurts where it got a little powder burn. Ah! I say to myself, this is serious business after all. I could get hurt here. On go the gloves, in goes the earplugs, and I'm a helluvalot more carefull that I've got that primer in the right place before I go beating on it!
First time rolling my own with lee loader
- Thread starter .325WSM
- Start date
i bought one to load 357 magnum and took a fairly careless attitude when using it until i had the same thing happened (twice), scared the crap outta me! i've since switched to the lee hand press, but mostly just to speed things up a bit.
Ya, just sorta playing with it at the moment. Figured that all the stuff (other than the loader) I'll continue to use as I get more serious. Will probably pick up a lee classic cast single stage at some point soon, but I still want to pick up a loader for each calibre I have. Something satisfying about beating on crap with a hammer!
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
I have a few of them in choice calibers and like the portability.
You can get enough makings into your saddlebags to feed your hog leg and rifle for a long time.
You can get enough makings into your saddlebags to feed your hog leg and rifle for a long time.
Do you find yourself using the kit as it comes? I weighed out the scoop measure for the powder with my kit, and found it provided 10grns less than the start load for what I was doing. Thinking it wouldn't matter so much with a slow and heavy round? What do you load for?
Recently loaded my first batch of 25 in 45 Colt with a Lee Loader. I used both Large Pistol and Large Pistol Magnum primers. Used just the scoop provided (All the loads in the manuals for 45 Colt are super conservative for my Rossi Ranch Hand). Didn't pop a single primer and every round went bang at the range.
Someone passed on a safer way to prime the case, which I tried and found a lot easier: After pounding the case flush into the sizing die, knock it out so that the case's rim is clear of the die. THEN place the base of the round over the primer (which is seated in the priming cup), and use your mallet/wood over the die itself without using the priming rod.
I felt a little safer (even though I probably wasn't) as there was less fear of a priming rod being shot out of the die, and my support hand could hold the die instead of that priming rod when seating the round against the primer cup.
I've loaded 150 without incident so far (crossed fingers).
Someone passed on a safer way to prime the case, which I tried and found a lot easier: After pounding the case flush into the sizing die, knock it out so that the case's rim is clear of the die. THEN place the base of the round over the primer (which is seated in the priming cup), and use your mallet/wood over the die itself without using the priming rod.
I felt a little safer (even though I probably wasn't) as there was less fear of a priming rod being shot out of the die, and my support hand could hold the die instead of that priming rod when seating the round against the primer cup.
I've loaded 150 without incident so far (crossed fingers).
I'm glad I'm not the only one that admits to using these things! I kinda feel like the whole reloading scene is a little cliquey. If you just want to use tools that work, you get flak for not using the micrometer adjustable über loader from RCBDillon. I like the simple loader, I like iron sights, I like old cartridges that just work (thinking about my '94 in .32spl). Keeping my eyes open for a loader for the .32. With that and a mold, I'm good to go.
I used one for years for my 30-30. Only had on primer go off and never did find the case again.Searched the whole house for it. Bought the hand press soon after that and solved that problem.I have Lee Loaders in some very weird calibers that I probbably will never own even. Someday will have to make use of the EE and down size a bit.
Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I bought one to try in .44Mag a few years back. I decided to stick with my turret press after a loud bang, a stinging couple of fingers and a tool that went airborne...a little too exciting for me.
Loaded almost 200 45 Colt so far without incident. Added a Lee Safety Scale to verify my scoops, and everything (minus the mallet) fits into a nice little pelican case. All I need is a cinder block where ever I go. I've gotten pretty quick at batch-loading 30 an hour, which is slow, but that's how much 45 Colt I shoot on a range day anyway.
Funny this thread came up as I am just starting into reloading and thought these lee loaders would be a fun way to start. I was hoping to find a source for brass shotshells here in Canada and load them with a Lee Loader and glue to hold the overshot card in place. Anyone know a source for these?
Fired off the first 10 reloads, and am impressed! My grouping size has dropped by half! Loaded up my next 20 with ramped up loads, I'll let you all know how it goes. I've got a 16 gauge loader as well and would be interested in those brass cases too! Having a lot of fun with this little kit, and no more primer "bangs" to report!
Yes, I like the portability as well. I can sit at my kitchen table or in my living room for all steps other than priming, which I do in my garage, so that I don't make the house smell of burnt powder if I set one off!
