Hi all. I appologize if this is a common question, but I am considering using a Lee Loader but am a little nervous about tapping the bullets in with a hammer! I like the simplicity, the price and the portability. If there was a problem doing this wouldn't \lee have pulled the product years ago to keep from being sued over it?
newb reloading nervous about using hammer
- Thread starter dgstr8
- Start date
Don't worry about it. Most of the time you can seat the bullets with a good push with the palm of your hand. You don't have to wail away with a hammer like you are driving a nail. Just a couple gentle taps will seat the bullet just fine. Have fun...Its a great hobby.
you don't understand it- the ONLY way the round can go off is if you hit the primer- and unless there's something on the priming cup to act as a firing pin, THERE IS NO WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN- IF YOU FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS, YOU put the spent case in the decapping collar, then you knock out the spent primer with the decapper- then you hammer the case into the die- then you put a primer on the priming top and seat it with the priming rod, and you knock the case clear of the die at the same time- THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE PRIMER MAY GO OFF, AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT CENTERED THE PRIMER IN THE CAPPER PROPERLY- and there's no danger as there's NO POWDER- ALL YOU'LL GET IS A BANG- and a surprise- anyway, after you get the case primed, you move it BACK TO THE DECAPPING COLLAR, which has a HOLE in it so you CANNOT HIT THE FRESH PRIMER, charge the case with powder, and then drop the bullet down the die funnel and SEAT THE BULLET WITH THE SEATER- THERE IS NO DANGER PROVIDED YOU FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
I did. . . and left marks on the table
I have only had one primer go bang so far. I don't think it was sitting properly before tapping with the rod. It wasn't as bad as I expected . . scared me, but that was all. I'm just extra careful about primer position now, plus I'm using an old used unit that could probably use a good cleaning.
I use a plastic mallet. Can't find them at Canadian Tire for some reason, though other hardware stores might carry them.
For a small investment you can get a lee press. You will find as you start to load you'll get frustrated with the slow speed of the system you are using now. Save your $$$ and upgrade your equipment. Reloading is a great hobby.
BTW might I suggest setting up a bench in the basement or other such location. It can cave a marriage.
1) No b*tching about the marks on the table
and 2) Gives you a place to escape to when the b*tching is about something else
BTW might I suggest setting up a bench in the basement or other such location. It can cave a marriage.
1) No b*tching about the marks on the table
and 2) Gives you a place to escape to when the b*tching is about something else
I did. . . and left marks on the table
I have only had one primer go bang so far. I don't think it was sitting properly before tapping with the rod. It wasn't as bad as I expected . . scared me, but that was all. I'm just extra careful about primer position now, plus I'm using an old used unit that could probably use a good cleaning.
I use a plastic mallet. Can't find them at Canadian Tire for some reason, though other hardware stores might carry them.
DO NOT TAKE THE PRIMING UNIT APART- simply clean the surface with compressed air and make sure that the outer ring can travel up and down- if you get in there and pry that ring washer out, it's a press fit, and you won't be able to get it back in again- then you'll have to buy a new hhead/priming unit from lee- probably more than the price of a new unit- you can use a bore brush in the appropiate caliber to clean the inside of the die
Don't worry about it. I loaded hundreds of rounds for my .303 with mine before I could afford a press set-up. I used an old cutting board to do the pounding on. All work was done with a plastic (nylon actually) hammer and I never had any problems. I was actually considering getting a couple more just in case for other calibres I load.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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Make sure you are wearing ear protection and safety glasses.
I also wear a glove on the hand holding the lee loader. Sure, I look like Michael Jackson working construction, but it makes me feel better
Definitely not thinking of pulling it apart. Just figured it could use a few blasts of carb cleaner or something. I think there's a bit of stuff gumming up the works.
I also wear a glove on the hand holding the lee loader. Sure, I look like Michael Jackson working construction, but it makes me feel better
Definitely not thinking of pulling it apart. Just figured it could use a few blasts of carb cleaner or something. I think there's a bit of stuff gumming up the works.
can you push the ring down and have it return to "zero" quickly?- if it does, there's no need- you can do this with your thumb- it doesn;t travel far- if it takes time to return to zero, the SPRING IS GONEand you need to replace it anyway- this is one of those things where 'CLEANING WILL NOT Help- if you use anything but compressed air, you might introduce a pollutant into the priming surface and render your primers inert
in most cases, the shell is held in place by the shellholder, and the primer is moved up into the pocket by a punch and a lever- in the lee loader, the primer is held in place by the ring around the punch and the shell's primer pocket is driven into place by the priming rod- EXACTLY THE REVERSE OF NORMAL- that's also why you NEED to use a proper priming rod or at least a rod with a dish in the end - so the force is exerted on the area of the head OUTSIDE the primer pocket- if this makes you feel uncomfortable, get a LEE AUTO PRIME for BOTH SPEED AND SAFETY
