Various Lee Loader Questions

[go_bang]

I'm a noob who is about to start handloading. I got a Lee Loader for .357 Mag, a Zip Trim, wooden handled cutter and .357 case gauge, and chamfer tool. For extra kicks later I also got the Lee expanded powder measure set and the Loadbooks .357 book, but for now I just plan to make some basic rounds using the small charge table that came with the loader using unfired Winchester brass and Rainier Leadsafe 158gr plated RN bullets. A pound of Red Dot and some CCI small pistol mag primers have been acquired, so I'm pretty much set for now.

With that, a couple questions.

Did Lee ever make a .380 version of the Lee Loader?

Some time recently I think I read about some kind of loading manual or chart from Lee. This book or chart included not only the usual grains of powder, but also mentioned which measure from the Lee Improved Powder Measure kit to use to measure the powder. Does anyone have any idea what I'm referring to? Is this Lee's big Modern Reloading book or something else? Is it the expanded load chart that is mentioned on the small load chart included with the Loader that I can send away for?

Has anyone had any success loading .357 Mag ammo with .38 Special grade charges? I assume that you would need to work up the .38 Special charge a bit to account for the extra room in a .357 Mag case. I'm asking beause I would like to make .38 Special grade loads for my revolver, but am too cheap and lazy at the moment to bother with ordering another Lee Loader and .38 Special brass.

Lastly, while going through the Loadbook and checking the powders specified against the quick ref chart in the Lee Improved Powder Measure kit that for some loads I could measure to grains called for by using two different sized dippers. For example, dip a charge with the .3cc dipper, add that to the case, and then dip a charge with the .5cc dipper and add that in. Is that an acceptable way to use the dippers or is it patently stupid and I'm just asking for trouble?

 

[ranger335v]

Lee surely made a "Loader" for the .380 at one point, you would have to check their site to see if new ones are available.

It's certainly possible to add the contents of two dippers to arrive at a new charge volume. Lee's suggested charges are on the mild side so there should be no real danger even if you aren't right on for the predicted charge.

 

[RustyFN]

I don't have experience with that loader but felt I had to warn you. Do not trust the powder dippers to throw what they tell you it will, they will always be light. I didn't see where you said that you had a scale. You always want to check your measure with a scale before you load any rounds. If you need to use two different dippers to get the correct charge then I would weigh every one before you dump in into the case. Better safe than sorry. I load on a Classic Turret. Every time I sit down to load I check my measure against my scale. Even if it is the same powder and disk number as the time before. I will also check about one out of every twenty as I continue to load until I am done for the night. As far as pistol you shouldn't need to trim any cases. Sorry I couldn't help you with your other questions.
Rusty

 

[Idano]

I second RustyFN advice. Never ever blindly trust volume measurement devices in metallic reloading with out weighing your charge. Even with my powder measure that I know does not deviate more the. 0.2 grains with extruded powder I weigh every 25th charge to ensure it is still repeatable. Also I always try to work up my loads using ball or flake powder that take up 60% of the case capacity and could tolerate a .5 gr deviation without exceed safe pressures limits. Using this rule of thumb I don't have to worry about double charges unsafe loads.

 

[scrat]

Lee loaders are great little tools. They work they do the job. You just have to be careful. Here is an example. i have a 30-30. I have the lee loader and a full press. going by lee manual a 170 grain bullet using winchester 748 powder calls for a lee dipper 1.9. However the kit comes with a 2.2. Same time i bought a set of dyes for it. The dyes included the case holder, crimp dye, size dye and bullet set dye. ALONG with a 1.9 dipper. Now the dippers are great. They are not 100% accurate. As powder does settle when it does it will weigh more. same time it will take up less space in a dipper. Its best to check your powder against a scale once in a while. Same time its advisable that if you are going to use a dipper. Spend the 12.00 to have a full set of dippers sent to you. A lot of people will say dippers are the wrong way to go. However most powder measure by volume. so as long as you weigh it out once in a while you will be ok.

 

[go_bang]

Thanks for the suggestions of the powder scale. I'll look into getting a simple one for starters.

ranger, the closest that the new Lee Loaders get to .380 is 9mm Luger:

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1170907283.3155=/html/catalog/cleeloader.html

That's why I was wondering if Lee made one once upon a time for .380. I've read that Lee used to make the Loader for more calibers than they do now.

But regarding the loader, something doesn't seem right. I loaded six rounds tonight and I really have to hammer on the casings to get them into the sizing die and then back out to seat them onto a primer. I did not use any of the Lee lube, but the instructions say that parafin or candle wax can also be used. I tried candle wax, but it didn't seem to take any less effort. In the tips sticky thread I say a post about using lard as a lube, so I tried some of that and still no difference. Is it because I loading virgin brass?

 

[scrat]

yes and no. I too found when using the lee loader that sometimes the cases will fit in easy and sometimes not. it really depends. AS the lee loader just sizes the case neck not the full case. However here are some tricks i found. One only use case lube. As as using lard will ruin the powder.
Two a trick i learned. sometimes when sizing the case you cant get the long plunger in without ruining the case. So lube the case. I use hornady one shot spray works good. Spray it outside and a little inside. put the long slide bar through the dye and in the case neck. then tap the case in. if it only goes about 90% in that is fine.
now tap on the rod to free the case. pull the rod out. it will come out easier now with the lube. Now continue on all the other cases. if they only go in around 90% again thats ok. continue. Now once you are done. Take a caliper and measure the cases. Chances are the ones that would not seat all the way in will need to be case trimmed and resized again. If they measure ok. Then repeat the process. sometimes if you cant get the case in all the way you take it out. then tap it back in and it will go in ok.

 

[go_bang]

Thanks for the tips, scrat. I'm working with .357 mag cases, so no issues with the rod getting stuck.

I found the answer to my question about the load charts that reference the Lee dippers. It is Lee's Modern Reloading book, as mentioned here:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/print.php?itemnumber=51&table=tech_notes&type=Tech Notes

 

[scrat]

very good book. very good book.

 

[go_bang]

After some thought of my experience with loading those six rounds with the Lee Loader I decided to give up on the thing. I called the place I ordered it from and the said it would be no problem to send it back, so tomorrow I pack up the Lee Loader and send it back. I ordered a Lee Hand Press kit, a set of four Lee dies, an electronic powder scale, the Lee Modern Reloading book, and some other odds and ends. Maybe the Lee Loader works more smoothly for necked rifle casings, but if I wanted to do that much hammering I would have picked up carpentry. Besides, the other caliber I plan to load for soon is .380 ACP and there doesn't appear to be a Lee Loader option for that one. I would have had to get a press to load that anyway, so in the end it will just work out better.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[tasco 74]

the little lee reloader c-press isn't much more than the loader you show here... i'm thinkin i would rather press my reloads together with lever action than hammer em together....... but that's just me............

 

[scrat]

i do them both. depends. for installing primers. to be honest i use the lee loader. its easy. and i have never had a problem or have one blow on me. Same time if i really have the time i dont mind installing bullet tips using the lee loader it just takes a while and some fenique. A touch you got to develop a touch. AS where the press it really doesnt matter. it will do the job and make them all the same.

 

[Eagle103]

After some thought of my experience with loading those six rounds with the Lee Loader I decided to give up on the thing. I called the place I ordered it from and the said it would be no problem to send it back, so tomorrow I pack up the Lee Loader and send it back. I ordered a Lee Hand Press kit, a set of four Lee dies, an electronic powder scale, the Lee Modern Reloading book, and some other odds and ends. Maybe the Lee Loader works more smoothly for necked rifle casings, but if I wanted to do that much hammering I would have picked up carpentry. Besides, the other caliber I plan to load for soon is .380 ACP and there doesn't appear to be a Lee Loader option for that one. I would have had to get a press to load that anyway, so in the end it will just work out better.

You did the right thing for sure. I can't imagine loading much pistol ammo with a Lee Loader. I think everyone should have one for a rifle caliber just because it's such a neat little tool that can make some accurate rounds but for pistol it would get old in a hurry. You'll probably be looking at the Lee Turret Press pretty soon.

 

[poor_richard]

After some thought of my experience with loading those six rounds with the Lee Loader I decided to give up on the thing. I called the place I ordered it from and the said it would be no problem to send it back, so tomorrow I pack up the Lee Loader and send it back. I ordered a Lee Hand Press kit, a set of four Lee dies, an electronic powder scale, the Lee Modern Reloading book, and some other odds and ends. Maybe the Lee Loader works more smoothly for necked rifle casings, but if I wanted to do that much hammering I would have picked up carpentry. Besides, the other caliber I plan to load for soon is .380 ACP and there doesn't appear to be a Lee Loader option for that one. I would have had to get a press to load that anyway, so in the end it will just work out better.

Thanks to all who responded.

That's where I'm at right now. I recently got into reloading (fortunate enough to have someone else show me the ropes) and started with the Lee Hand Press, although I got the magnetic scale instead of the electric. I also got the three-die set because I didn't yet know about the four-die set. The .38 Special dies will load .357. I looked at the Lee Loaders and though "why go to all that trouble when I can use the hand press?".

 

[243winxb]

Lee Loaders are a waste of time and money. I have used both the standard model and the bench rest model that inside neck reams the rifle brass, years ago. The scary part is when you set off a primer. But u can buy the hand primer seater. Still, best to invest your money in real reloading equipment.

 

[go_bang]

i do them both. depends. for installing primers. to be honest i use the lee loader. its easy. and i have never had a problem or have one blow on me. Same time if i really have the time i dont mind installing bullet tips using the lee loader it just takes a while and some fenique. A touch you got to develop a touch. AS where the press it really doesnt matter. it will do the job and make them all the same.

Scrat, if the brass moved easier I would have kept the Lee Loader, but for some reason there was no "finesse" to doing anything with my kit. Hammer the daylights out of the shell to get it all the way into the sizing die, then hammer the daylights out of it again to get it pushed down onto the primer. Seating the bullet was an inconsistent mess because the threaded part of the bullet seater would not stay locked. It kept shifting while I was hammering the bullet in. Maybe I just had a faulty kit.

You did the right thing for sure. I can't imagine loading much pistol ammo with a Lee Loader. I think everyone should have one for a rifle caliber just because it's such a neat little tool that can make some accurate rounds but for pistol it would get old in a hurry. You'll probably be looking at the Lee Turret Press pretty soon.

Eagle, near term plans include getting a Marlin 1894 in .357 so your point was actually one of my considerations for ordering the thing. I would like to get a Marlin 336 one of these days too, so perhaps I'll try a Lee Loader again once I'm working with necked cases instead of straight-walled stuff. Any bench mounted press is out of the question right now, and probably will be for a while until I can get some things re-organized around here. Not sure if I'll go with a turret press, though. If I get into this and want to start making a lot of ammo I might just make the jump to a progressive and be done with it. That one Hornady progessive press looks interesting.