loads with the lee classic loader

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joeblow38

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I'm finally getting into reloading, starting with a basic lee classic reloader. This device uses a volumetric dipper. The 308 model uses a 3.1 cc dipper. I'm having trouble finding powder, but was able to find bl-c(2) for sale online. The hodgdon max load published is 46 gr for 175 grain bullet. I'm getting hornady 178 gr BTHP bullets, so I figure this data is applicable. The lee dipper chart shows that the 3.1 cc volume holds 48 gr of the bl-c(2) powder. So I emailed Lee asking if this was safe; waiting on a response. I'm planning to seat around .020 off the lands to mitigate pressure build.

I noticed that the table shows 48 gr is ok with 155 gr hpbt. What do you guys think?
 
I would look into buying a scale, however I am a little anal about weighing every charge to .02 gr. Starting at 2 full grains over what the books tell you is a recipe for disaster. Since you have posted under the Precision thread I assume you are looking for accurate loads? Buy yourself a good a scale.
 
X2 on getting a good scale. I'd eschew the use of the dipper thing for anything that you were going to feed through a precision rifle. Maybe for loading up some plinking ammo but that's about it IMO.
 
x3 on a scale, yes some top bench rest shooters load by volume not weight, but you better be damn sure of what your doing but as your new to reloading. spend the 100 bucks on a decent balance beam scale, and work your way up from minimum loads. keep in mind , this is varying depending on alot of factors, but those 2 grains of powder can add 5-7000 PSI
 
I started loading with Lee Loaders about 35 years ago and they will load good ammunition, but the first thing I bought after a Lee Loader was a scale. The loads they list for use with the powder dippers are all really light. So my advice is buy a scale and work up to higher pressure loads per usual cautious process.

One cool thing you can do, since Lee Loaders are so portable, is to size and prime some brass and take the brass, scale and powder to the range and work up to max load by loading one case at a time. It beats having to tear apart overloaded cases and you find where you start getting pressure signs quite quickly.
 
Thanks for the info guys. It's surprising how many more grains of bl-c(2) goes into that 3.1 cc dipper vs. almost every other powder. Probably because it's spherical and thus has less void vs. the extruded. I'll get a scale.
 
"...volumetric dipper..." Throw 'er away, they're not accurate enough and can vary the charge plus or minus a full grain. And CC's is not a unit of measure that ever gets used for reloading.
"...they will load good ammunition..." That they will. Started with one in .243 and briefly used one in .45-70 for my BP experiment.
 
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