LEE Hand Press + LEE pacesetter die .308? where to buy (quebec city)?

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Hi, i am just getting my first unrestricted, a remington xcr in 308 and i would like to start reloading it. I don't (for now) want to spend +/- 200$ on a reloader press+dies, etc just for .308 but i actually seen the classic lee loader which seem to be pretty cheap (around 20-40$:eek:) it looked a hassle compared to the press but this part i don't mind. So i just wanted to know, do you need to buy dies, etc+ a lee loader classic or does it come all bundled already for one caliber? Where could i find one for a good/best price (i live in quebec city, but reloading parts can also be bought from the us so if anyone know a better price there...) Is there other similar/cheap and/or better reloading kit in this price range?. I just don't want to buy a full kit since i just have one unrestricted (in one caliber) and not looking to buy more...


Edit: Also, i have read around that maybe i will have problem and the brass will eventually require neck sizing or trimming, i want to use them all in the same .308 bolt rifle, will this be a problem?

Sorry if i am not clear on this one..

Thank you very much
 
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You can reload with just the Lee Classic Loader and a hammer (plus new bullets, primers, powder etc)

The Lee Classic Loader neck sizes. So they should work fine in your bolt action. Sometimes neck size brass needs to be full length sized every few firings. If so, you need to run it through a normal press/full length die for that calibre.

A Lee cutter and lock stud and a Lee case length gauge in .308 will cover trimming. These three parts should run around $32 plus shipping out of the US, a bit more in Canada.

Lee Classic Loader 308 Win 90879
Cutter and Lock Stud 90110
Case Length Gauge .308 90137


Williams Arms in Port Perry Ontario should have one in stock in .308.
Higginson Powders in Hawkesburry Ontario may have one too.

Lee Factory Sales in Wisconsin would be the cheapest place to get one but the shipping might make it too much on such a small order.
 
"Sometimes neck size brass needs to be full length sized every few firings."
So it mean i will eventually need a full sized press or is there an alternative?

Thanks
 
If the necked size brass gets to the point it wont chamber easily in your rifle, your only choice is to have it full length sized. Perhaps a friend could do this for you. You could also use new brass, and set this stuff aside until you had a press and normal dies.
 
Another choice is the Lee hand press with regular dies. I started with that and still use it from time to time to resize or bell pistol cases. Latulippe in Quebec City should be able to get it, or call Higginson in Hawkesbury. There is probably a hand press kit available at a reasonable price.
 
I still load with my Classic Lee Loaders due to the fact I just have no room right now to mount my press. You can make very accurate ammo with that small kit. Technically every thing you need comes with the kit, but I would buy a scale instead of using the scoop that comes with the kit. A trimmer as already mentioned, and a caliper. Crappy tire has the digital one on sale for $15 a few times a year.

What you do need is fire-formed brass from the particular rifle you plan on loading for.

As for pricing, here in Canada you see them for $35 to $40, which is crazy. Check the EE, I believe I seen someone selling one for $20. I believe in buying Canadian, but I bought three of them for $19.99 each in the US. Message me if you like to know where. After shipping and duties it still may save you money. I picked mine up , so I did not have that issue.
 
So if i have seen one on ebay 37.50 (include tax+ shipping) it would be a pretty fair price? And also, for the case trimmer, do i need a specific one for .308? And where would be the best price?

Thank you very much
 
To trim your cases with LEE tools you will need.

Lee .308 Case Length Gauge Part #90137
Lee Cutter and Lock Stud Part #90110

The cutter and lock stud work on all cases, the .308 Gauge only works on .308 and allows it to trim to the proper length.

37.50 shipped isn't bad, but if that does not include shipping, I would look around. Factory Sales in Hartford, WI is going to be the cheapest for any Lee tools.
 
Information for new comer

Hi Guys,

I am new to this sport and have REM 700 in 308 and also interested in reloading, after reading your quotes I got some idea but need to know where to start. Any article or books you guys recommend and all the required tools. I am located in Winnipeg and I think Whole sale sports might have some reloading stuff.
Thanks
 
With a hand press, will i need a trimming tool? and also, will it do the trick for the full lenght sizing? What other accessories would i need?
Also, where can i buy lee hand press kit here in canada? or can it be shipped from the us? (amazon.com don't ship, but it can be just because they are too lazy?...)
Thanks
 
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It is possible that any brass you reload will need to be trimmed, no matter how you size it. The same tools will trim brass no matter what type of die you use.

The Lee Hand press can be ordered from anyone that sells Lee tools. Again Factory Sales (http://www.factory sales.com/) would be the cheapest. They do ship to Canada, some stores in the USA do not.

If you buy a Lee hand press kit part #90179 you will also need a set of Lee Full Length 308 dies part #90507 they come with a shellholder other brands do not. It will have no problem Full Length Resizing. You will also need a way to measure powder, either a scale, or a Lee dipper scoop (comes with most Lee dies and the Lee Loader). The problem with one scoop only is it doesnt give you a lot of options for powder charges. You can also buy a set of all the scoops that gives a little more choice.
 
Hi, thank you very much for your fast reply, as for the dies, i am not sure about it, on their site, they have the pacesetters die (# 90507)and also rgb dies, do they do full lenght resizing? also, would i be better off buying only one die in 308 in the ee or the (3?) dies kit?


Thank you very much
 
You should start with a reloading manual so more of this makes sense. Pick up a "Lymans manual", or "the ABC's of reloading" or some other manual. They do a great job of explaining what you need and how to use it correctly. Once you have have read it, everyone's posts will make more sense, and you will be better off knowing what you need and what is available.

P.S in my first post I mentioned picking up a caliper when Crappy Tire has them on sale. Starting tomorrow (Lucks on your side) they have the digital caliper on sale for $13.99 instead of $39.99.
 
The Pacesetter dies and RGB both use two of the same dies. RGB has no shellholder so you have to buy one if you dont have it already. Here is the difference:

RGB has 1 Full Length Sizer Die, 1 Bullet seater die, instructions

Pacesetter has 1 full Length Sizer Die, 1 Bullet seater die, 1 Factory crimp die,1 powder scoop, one shellholder, instructions
 
"...all bundled already for one caliber?..." Lee Loaders do. If you buy new brass(or once fired), it has to be full length resized, checked for length, trimmed as required and chamfered and deburred, first. Neck sizing is for cases you've fired out of your rifle, only.
Pacesetter dies require a press.
"...a Lee dipper scoop..." Forget 'em. They can vary the powder charge plus or minus a full grain. Buy a scale even if you go with the Lee Loader.
 
I am seriously considering the lee hand press now (since if i buy the lee loader, i will eventually need a press for full lengt sizing) and i don't want to get a complete bench press since i don't have/need a bench and it isn't really "portable". I am checking prices around (as of now, i have asked prices to many stores but haven't all replied yet..) and the cheapest i found (for a lee handpress+308 lee pacesetter dies) is at factory sales for a total of 91.46$ (incl. tax+ shipping) do you guys think it is a fair price? I have talked to someone here in quebec city (latulippe) and they never heard of lee loaders or lee hand press... if anyone know someone selling some in quebec city, it would help a lot :D

As for the caliper and scale, the one (powerbuilt) at crappy tire are exactly (without the powerbuilt logo) the same as the made in china ones on ebay (like 9$ shipped with hard case) i might look around also for a scale (will look around before buying from ebay, just to be sure, wouldn't want to double load any rounds just because of a cheap scale (or i will pick weight for the scale if i do...))

Thanks!
 
You will not find anyone cheaper than Factory Sales in Canada, and it may be hard to even in the USA. You need to factor in shipping and wait time to see if it is worth it to you. I have found that it is, and Greg the owner is very pleasant to deal with. I do like my hand press, but it pales in comparisson to any bench mounted press. Once you spill some powder trying to hold it upright making 50 rounds you'll understand. If you just want to make a few it will work fine, or perfom one job like sizing brass infront of the TV. I would rather spend $20 more and get a Breech Lock Challenger if I only had one press. You can mount it to a board, and clamp that to a table when you need it. The whole Idea of the original Loader is it saves on all the extra parts and $, but once you get into presses, its a lot more convienient for a little extra money to have a normal one on a table.
 
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