Going basic with Lee Loader

[thunderbyrd]

In the next month or so, I'm going to order a Lee classic loader for 45acp. From watching videos, I see I also need a flaring tool and a digital caliper.

All I want to do initially is try to recreate the ammo I've been shooting in my 1911s which is Armscore 45 ACP 230 grain fmj. Nothing fancy. Just functional, suits me fine at this time.

My question is what powder and bullets to buy to come closest to his bullet?

 

[nofendertom]

Go online---Lee Classic Loader---it will tell you what flaring tool to get. Part number RE1600 according to site. Midwayusa has dial calipers.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I started out with 2 Lee loaders. A 9mm and 45 acp one. It wont be long before you buy a press. The whacking gets old real fast LOL.

 

[Rule3]

For around $45 you can buy an actual press. Yes you will need dies as well but much easier to operate
Any brand 230 grain bullet, plated or FMJ Rn. As to powder there are to many to pick from depends what you can fine.
Bullseye, HP 38 et etc

You need a SCALE regardless.

 

[deadeye dick]

I like lead,200 GR in any configuration. As far as powder i like GreenDot. The Lee Powder thru die expands as you dump powder.

 

[.308 Norma]

My question is what powder and bullets to buy to come closest to his bullet?

"My question is what powder and bullets to buy to come closest to this cartridge?"
Fixed it for ya.
If I remember correctly, your Lee Loader will come with one Lee powder dipper, plus a little note that lists a few different powders and approximately how much of each type of powder listed that dipper holds. And if you get yourself a scale you'll probably find out that the dipper you got doesn't hold quite as much powder as what the note says.
As CoalCrackerAI said, you'll probably get yourself a press before long, and as Rule3 said, you really do need a scale.

 

[Starter52]

If money is tight, an electronic scale from eBay is far more useful than a dial caliper.

+1 to getting a press and forgetting the whack.

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I started out with the Lee loader, great experience with all my loads from 38 to 35 remington, still load all my ammo with the "wack a mole" nothing wrong with the set up, keeps me modest in my attempt for perfection.
Spend my money on guns and ammo supplies, not on unneeded equipment.
Occasionally when I have a need for a few hundred or thousand rounds I take my supplies to a licensed reloader locally to replenish my shelves...im good with no press

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I bought digital calipers from Harbor freight. They were 17 and change back when i bought them.
6 in. Digital Caliper with SAE and Metric Fractional Readings (harborfreight.com)

 

[Bazoo]

Color me strange, I always trusted the dipper in my whack a mole sets. I also found the dippers to be a touch less or spot on when weighed. I wouldn't get a scale to start.

I've not used a 45 auto set, but it will come with a flaring tool.

 

[John Joseph]

If you don't have room for a bench, take a look at the Lee Hand Press. https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html
If you do have room to "C" clamp a board across a table, take a look at the Lee Reloader Press. https://leeprecision.com/reloader-press.html

Buy carbide dies (Lees are just fine) and save yourself some extra work

 

[PWC]

Thunderbyrd- you don't say what your level of reloading is....but your question can be answered by getting a Lyman reloading manual. Also, if you are a beginner, the first part of the manual will tell you what you do need to get started, and why you need it.

 

[cfullgraf]

I started reloading with a few Lee Loaders (380 ACP, 38 Special, 45 ACP). Not bad, but the constant hammering gets old.

After about a year, maybe less, I found the funds to buy an RCBS Jr press and dies.

I'd skip the Lee Loader step. The Lee o-frame press is a good, budget priced press. Lee dies are good but get their new lock rings that can be locked to the die to maintain the adjustments.

The Lee scale is OK but other beam scales are better. Ditto for the Lee powder measures but I know lots of folks like their Lee powder measures.

The original Lee Auto-Prime is one of the best hand primers ever produced. Unfortunately, they have been discontinued. The Lee replacements are not as good. Frankfort Arsenal has one that can use the Lee primer shell holders is good. I use an RCBS hand priming tool with the universal shell holder.

Including other recommendations, this is probably more than you want to spend. If so, try just one Lee Loader for a while and decide if it is really for you.

 

[kidneyboy]

My question is what powder and bullets to buy to come closest to his bullet?

5gr of W231
Any 230gr bullet

 

[Bazoo]

If close to me, I'd be glad to show you the ropes. I don't currently have a lee loader, but I have a hand press, bench press and 45 auto dies.

 

[mdi]

Don't let the "old timers" talk you out of getting a Lee Loader It is an excellent tool especially for new reloaders (I thought my 45 ACP Lee Loader came with a flaring punch [?]). I started with one in 1969, now have 8 along with 2.53 metric tons of assorted prsses, dies, etc. Inexpensive 230 gr. FMJ are available (I have purchased a lot from RMR but you may want smaller quantities though). A "classic" load of powder is about 3.8-5.3 gr of Bullseye but check with your manual first, I have loaded many (thousands?) with 5.0...

 

[deadeye dick]

Color me strange, I always trusted the dipper in my whack a mole sets. I also found the dippers to be a touch less or spot on when weighed. I wouldn't get a scale to start.


I've not used a 45 auto set, but it will come with a flaring tool.

But you still need a scale to verify dipper right?

 

[PWC]

Deadeye - The set was designed with the dipper to safely use powders specified in the instructions, without exceeding safe load levels WITHOUT weighing.

If you want to use other powder / bullet combinations, you MUST have a load manual OR use powder / bullet mfgr. current online LOAD DATA and a SCALE.

 

[Bazoo]

But you still need a scale to verify dipper right?

I didn't verify the first one I used, or the set of dippers I used a while. Once I got a scale, I did check some of them. I still use the dippers sometimes, and I don't check them now, even if using a combo not previously checked.

 

[KY DAN]

If money is tight, an electronic scale from eBay is far more useful than a dial caliper.

+1 to getting a press and forgetting the whack.

Come on now, the dipper set lee sales is 100 percent reliable and will provide an accurate handgun load with many handgun powders. A scale is not needed

With auto cartridges you NEED calipers for set lengths

 

[MikeInOr]

In the next month or so, I'm going to order a Lee classic loader for 45acp. From watching videos, I see I also need a flaring tool and a digital caliper.

All I want to do initially is try to recreate the ammo I've been shooting in my 1911s which is Armscore 45 ACP 230 grain fmj. Nothing fancy. Just functional, suits me fine at this time.

My question is what powder and bullets to buy to come closest to his bullet?

Personally I would step up to a Lee Classic Cast press. To "me" a hand press is more for loading up a few rounds at the range when working up a load. You can reload for the next 20 years with only a Lee classic cast press and be well equipped. I would not say a hand press is the same.

There isn't much difference in 230gr FMJ bullets. They are pretty much interchangeable. I would go for some Winchester 230gr FMJ unless you can find a deal on some other brand. RMR has some 230gr FMJ bullets for a decent price: https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...-gr-full-metal-jacket-round-nose-bullets-new/

As far as powder goes I would buy what ever you can find that is appropriate for .45acp. I use Hodgdon Titegroup for .45acp. I buy it in 8lb cans and haven't bought any since the pandemic shortage started.

You can purchase a chronograph and time the factory load then reproduce the same speed with your hand loads. I wouldn't though. I would just stay within the loading manuals limits and gradually work up until you find a load you are happy with.

 

[243winxb]

Don't let the "old timers" talk you out of getting a Lee Loader

I started with 357 & 45 acp. I say avoid them. Save for a real press and dies.

 

[PWC]

If money is tight, an electronic scale from eBay is far more useful than a dial caliper.

Show me a scale that will measure COAL to keep from seating the bullet too long.

 

[westernrover]

Nothing wrong with Lee loader and some powder scoops. On the other hand, it does not make reloading any more basic than it would be with any popular press and die set. The complexity comes into reloading when you want to take a lot of inconsistent brass and process it so it's consistent, or to load a large quantity efficiently, or to charge powder and seat bullets with a high level of precision. The Lee loader won't help with any of those things - neither will any press help with most of those goals. A high-quality progressive press will help with the large quantity goal, but most Dillon type setups skip on precision powder charges and bullet seating. So what ends up making reloading 'complex' is often not the press, but all the off-press operations. You don't need a Lee Loader to skip those off-press operations. Just reload dirty brass, don't anneal, don't trim, don't chamfer, debur, or clean primer pockets or debur flash holes, use only the simplest full-length resizing die with an integral decapper, use a powder scoop or drum measure, and don't crimp.

 

[Bazoo]

There ain't anything wrong with using a lee loader, if it suits you. You can set overall length with a factory loaded round of the same weight and profile.