Get started reloading with the Lee Loader Classic.

Do not use a metal hammer with the Lee Loader. You'll eventually destroy the parts. Look at the video and you can see dings on the face of the guy's die. You should never strike metal tools with a metal hammer.

Use a plastic or rubber faced mallet. Those mallets from Princess Auto with one black plastic head and a translucent yellow face are ideal.
 
MDF said:
Do not use a metal hammer with the Lee Loader. You'll eventually destroy the parts. Look at the video and you can see dings on the face of the guy's die. You should never strike metal tools with a metal hammer.

Use a plastic or rubber faced mallet. Those mallets from Princess Auto with one black plastic head and a translucent yellow face are ideal.
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I used a SnapOn hammer that had a plastic and a brass head.
 
$10.15 + free shipping on amazon.ca (canada)

https ://www.amazon.ca/TEKTON-30812-Double-Faced-Soft-Mallet/dp/B00MWVAUUA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1510453093&sr=8-2&keywords=rubber+hammer

or

5.06 + Free shipping on Ebay.ca (hong kong)

https ://www.ebay.ca/itm/26mm-Double-Faced-Anti-slip-Soft-Tap-Rubber-Hammer-Head-Mallet-DIY-Leather-Tool/252859808058?hash=item3adf9e793a:g:ncgAAOSwU8hY7dCc
 
Lee Loaders are great! I take the Loaders for the Mosin and a LE No 4 when out of town for long periods for work. Usually get in a few times shooting. Can reload on a picnic table or use a small bock of 6x6 inside the trailer if it's raining.
Brought the powder measure to be able to tweak some loads last time out. Got to love it when everything still fits in a small tote!
Not quite like the reloading room.....
 
Good post OP, but I'd strongly recommend a scale if you're using stick powders. You'd be surprised at how much variance there is when volume measuring.
 
Careful when priming. I once had a few go off. Scared the crap outta me and had no ear gear on! Turned out that some crap had gotten on the dimple that holds the primer. My nerves were shot for the rest of the day!!!
 
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Interesting. I bought a Lee Loader for reloading 38 Special, 148 gr Hollow Body Wadcutters, can't find in the store, works great in my K38.
 
MDF said:
SnapOn! That hammer probably cost more than the Lee Loader :d
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Well, a cheap one hammer came with the Loader, BUT, I gave my nephew a Loader for his Brazil 7mm and made the generous gift of my cheap hammer and the SnapOn one was the only one I could find. Of course, since then, I've found several cheap ones!

Serves me right. :p
 
GreenBob said:
Thanks for the post OP.

Here is a good video as well to go hand in hand with your experience.


5 years old and watched over 3,000,000 times.
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That part of the video when he has the steel hammer hitting the steel bullet seater right beside the bowl of propellant made my eyes open right up. Good video though lol
 
Rocket Surgery said:
That part of the video when he has the steel hammer hitting the steel bullet seater right beside the bowl of propellant made my eyes open right up. Good video though lol
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I like it a lot.

I encourage all the new reloaders to watch it before getting into the reloading sport/addiction/money pit.

It shows them how simple it is to reload and how you don't need to invest thousands and thousands of dollars to make accurate hunting/plinking ammo ( like i did - is this a cry or lol moment?).

Beside using a metal hammer when the instructions specifically state he should be using a plastic hammer ( but that is to protect the decapping rod*) I think he is going to be ok.

If that powder was confined then it would be a different story. In confined space gun powder when lit, will build pressure of a about 30-40 tons per square inch.

Video:




Cheers,
 
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I bought my first Lee Loader about 1982. It might be a good tool for someone who does some hunting and doesn't shoot a lot.

It's simple to use. Back then, I took 10 minutes to read the instructions and get familiar with the tools and then I started reloading for the first time. 30 minutes later I had 20 rounds loaded. They all went bang. In those days we tended to learn by doing and not by watching youtube. :)

It's a good tool if you understand that it has limitations. The tool neck sizes only. It has no full length resize capability, which means:

- if you re-use brass several times there can eventually be trouble chambering the loaded rounds.

- Reloaded ammo likely will not interchange between some rifles and may be sticky or jam if you do.

- Use only new brass or 1F brass from the same rifle you will be shooting it in. Avoid fired brass from other rifles.
 
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question. is it faster to measure your brass or use one of those gauges you put the cartridge into and if it's flush, is good.

asking this, I'm not sure if these are for brass or loaded round OAL measurements, or if there is one for each stage. :yingyang:
 
Mr. Friendly said:
question. is it faster to measure your brass or use one of those gauges you put the cartridge into and if it's flush, is good.

asking this, I'm not sure if these are for brass or loaded round OAL measurements, or if there is one for each stage. :yingyang:
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In theory it should work. I would just stick to measuring though.
 
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