.45 Colt Lee Loader Reloading Issue

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I started out reloading 45 Colt with the Lee Loader and used Starline Brass. Never had a problem with the cases not going flush with the sizing die.
 
Using a Lee Loader you don’t need need to lube the cases except 30 carbine. You need a good solid surface I use a 30 inch 6x6 on end it helps a lot when sizing and crimping. I made a custom seating rod for the 30 carbine set to load 95 Nagant Gas seal ammo. I like using Lee loaders for sizing surplus rifle cases for cast bullets as they over size the cases good for cast bullets not so good for jacked bullets. They are good for working up reduced loads at the range.
 
Hello,
I got a Lee Loader recently for my 1858 Remington Conversion, and am running into an issue. Thought I'd see if anyone here may know the solution.
After knocking out the spent primer, I lubricated the outside of the .45 Colt case with Lee resizing lube, and proceeded to insert the lubed case into the die. After looking at the instruction manual and watching several videos, I learned that the case needs to be flush with the die. I gave it a few taps, and then a couple hard whacks and it will not go in flush inside the reloading die. The end of the shell sticks out about an 1/8". Knocked each shell out and tried new cases, each ended up the same way.

To anyone with experience with the Lee Loaders, do you have a theory on what is causing this? Why will each case not go in all the way?

Thanks
Pretty sure there’s something wrong with the die. You should be able to get a 45 Colt case flush with two hammer blows, with practice. 45 acp, one blow.

Also, there’s nothing wrong with starting on a Lee Loader. That’s what I did, all those months ago back when I was a novice.

You can do 50 rounds an hour if you really hustle.

And def lube the cases on a big case like that; it makes the hammering much easier.
 
I started loading with Lee hand tool kits. I had my whole reloading outfit, including supplies in a briefcase. Then graduated to a Lee hand press. Then a Lemon Spartan hand-me-down. Now I have a Dillon 450 and 550b. Lee single stage. Lee App press. Two MEC 600jr 12-10 gauge. Three Lyman 55 measures and 3 Dillon measures. I'd be hard pressed to fit it all in the bed of a full size PU.

As to the original post: Try your brass in the chambers of the cylinder. If they fit easily, maybe just size the enough to seat the bullet. 3/8" inch or so.

I have a Marlin 1894 with a BIG chamber and the case balloons out. I opened up the die a bit and use 454 bullets.
 
Bibbyman is spot on, no need to full length resize if you're only using the brass in one gun. Check a unfired case in your chambers and see if it fits easy, if so just neck size the brass and stop beating it into the die, the brass will last a lot longer and so will your hands.
 
Lee Loaders are great if you are on a budget. I bought a 45acp version in 1971 and loaded hundreds of rounds. When I decided I needed to load thousands I bought a Dillion 550. The Lee dies need to be clean and the cases lubed.
 
It also occurred to me that the case sizing lube could be preventing the case from fully seating, or at least require that more force be used.
Because the lube occupies space, there would be less space on the interior walls of the die available for the brass case, which could make seating more difficult and even seem impossible.
Perhaps removing the lube from the brass and die would help.
Or maybe too much lube was applied.

Right to point I think. In a press that equals a lube dent somewhere on the shoulder. In a straight wall pistol case it may be building up in the web area. Take a mighty big hammer to put enough pressure on the lube to dent that area.
 
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