Anyone else use the Lee Loader hand tool?

[Pulp]

I found 11 .44-40 brass lying around the other day, and since my turret is currently set up for .38Special and I didn't want to change the dies out for just 11 rounds I dug out my Lee Loader. Took me about 10 minutes to deprime, resize, charge, seat and crimp those 11 rounds.

They sure are handy little tools. My first one was and still is for .243. I bought it around '74. I've gotten some sub MOA groups with a Browning Auto with cartridges loaded with the Lee Loader.

Simple, slow and inexpensive isn't always a bad thing.

 

[MCgunner]

I still have one in .38 and one in .357. Had one in .30-30, but think I gave it to my uncle when I sold him my Savage 340. I haven't used 'em in over 30 years, though. I had 'em when I was in college, lived in apartments. In speech class, we had to give a demonstration speech. I did mine with my .30-30 hand tool...less powder and primers of course. Think I got a B on it.

 

[mustanger]

Haven't used mine in a while. I have one in 32-20, 22-250, and 20 ga. They are slick little gizmos. Not fast, but not all that slow either. And they don't cost several hundred bucks.

 

[Busyhands94]

I've got a Lane loader in .410, it's sorta like a Lee loader. I only load my .410's with the proper powder, Holy Black!
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x372/busyhands94/IMG_1019_zpsd5c7ebdc.jpg
My only other option would be a Mec, but those aren't too cheap so I went with a Lane Loader. It's a great little tool, I'm glad I bought it.

 

[BHP FAN]

A Lee Loader in .45-70 got me back into reloading about fifteen years ago. Still have it, even though I have dies, now.

 

[kBob]

Started using one in '76 in .45ACP. Last used one about 12 years ago to make up a box of .44 Special. Bought the .30-06 match kit 20 some years ago and have yet to use it.......keep meaning too but life happens.

Hmmm mayhaps I shall show the kids how to load some .45 ACP powder puff 200 grain loads with the Lee before I let them touch off a 1917 S&W later this year. My daughter still calls my single station bench press a nut cracker as that is what I caught her using for with a Bullet seating die for .223 in place............ it actually worked Ok for that, but.....

-kBob

 

[44 Dave]

The sizing "die" part of my .44-40 set put the shoulder lower than my new Lee 3 piece die set and re-sized .44-40 brass right. I had the new die shortened to lower the shoulder because one of my guns is very fussy.
Is there any other cartridge that has any more variations in chamber cuts and bore size? I have the "official" demolitions in a book but there seems to be a lot of

 

[sltm1]

Got one and love it, I load 45 colt, 32 wcf and 32 S&W

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have about two dozen of the old Ideal nutcracker reloading tools. I think they make better reloads than some of the modern presses.

Also have a few Winchester nut crackers and some Wilson in-line bench rest reloading tools, a belding and mull but the rarest is an old Pack-it for 357. Some where I even came across a commercially made 20 gauge reloading kit, made entirely of wood, except the primer punch.

For black powder target loads the Ideal nutcrackers are hard to beat. Many have a mold incorporated and a bullet sizer as well.

 

[MattShlock]

Many Lee Loaders. Noisy buggers tho.

 

[Busyhands94]

I've been looking for one of those ol' nutcrackers in .32 S&W, I like the idea of a tool with a mold.

 

[StrawHat]

Not a Lee Loader but I use the Lyman 310 to load all my rifles cartridges except the 50-70. Everything from the 22 WCF to the 45-70.

 

[Pulp]

"Many Lee Loaders. Noisy buggers tho."

Especially when you pop a primer.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't anymore, but did for years and many thousands of rounds of 38 wadcutters.

I do however use a Lee Hand Press with Lee-Dies, hand primer and powder dipper. Still keeping it pretty simple.

 

[kBob]

Anyone make replacement parts or new die sets for the 310 or is it still in production? Got a big and small ( or short and tall) set of handles and some dies (dead F-I-L) but have yet to actually use them.

A friend uses the Lee handloader nut cracker looking thing like above. he swears by it. I considered one for smokeless loading with the one die 9x19mm.

-kBob

 

[StrawHat]

Anyone make replacement parts or new die sets for the 310 or is it still in production? Got a big and small ( or short and tall) set of handles and some dies (dead F-I-L) but have yet to actually use them.

-kBob

http://www.cnyauctions.com/the310shop.htm

 

[72coupe]

Not since 1969. But I still have one for loading 12 gauge although I haven't loaded and shot shells in years.

 

[dragon813gt]

I have a few for what I consider critical cartridges. I store them along w/ powder and primers at my cabin. I enjoy using them when I'm up there. I've used them for load development since I can shoot right out back unlike at home. You can whack out a few rounds pretty quickly.


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[Willie Sutton]

A Lee Loader was the key to my Lyman turret press. In 1978 I was living in an apartment with a roommate, first job out of college. I used to load 50 .45 ACP rounds a week to shoot on Saturday, that being all I could afford. Come Christmas, my roomate (who was a non-shooter) gave me a Lyman turret press and asked me to stop hammering cartridges together in my room. To this day I load with the old Lyman, and have not seen the Lee tools in a decade. I ought to find it and enjoy it again. Really need one in .45 LC.


Willie


.

 

[7.62 Nato]

I had some Lee Loaders I bought used but got rid of them quickly. I just couldn't stand the pounding. I do have a Lee hand press that fills that role better for me.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Try the pounding on a Wilson in line bench rest reloader.

 

[RoeStalker]

.308 reloading

I have one in .308 and really like it. Never managed to set off the primer, but have a friend that did and had to change his pants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-tzaULt1rs

 

[zimmerstutzen]

For those interested in the antique Ideal nutcrackers, here is a link to the various models by number.

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/forum/index.php/topic,941.0.html