First rounds out of Lee Classic Turret!

[Redhat]

If some of you remember, I came here about a month ago seeking advice on the best reloading gear for a beginner. After much thought and advice I picked the Lee Classic Turret with Pro auto Disk powder measure and Lee deluxe Pistol Dies.

I then read the Speer reloading manual, Moder Reloading (by Mr. Lee) and The ABC's of Reloading.

Well, last night I loaded my first 45ACP rounds!

First I made a dummy round to help set the dies up and practice using the press. Then I primed one case and used it to test the accuracy of my powder measure (Pro Auto Disk), and also to get aquainted with using the scale. I also measured the COL of my dummy rounds.

Finally, last night, I loaded 10 rounds for testing on Saturday. The load is straight out of the Speer manual:

COL: 1.260
Speer 230 gr TMJ
CCI primers
W231 - 5.6 grs

During loading, I measured every powder charge and it never waivered more than 1/10 gr. When it did it was always on the light side.

I'll probably up the charge on the next ten and weigh them too for testing on Saturday.

I'd just like to thank all the folks who helped me get started

 

[RustyFN]

Congratulations and welcome to the addiction. It's to late to turn back now. I'm glad you are happy with your classic turret. It's an awesome press and I'm sure you will be happy for years to come. Don't forget to give us a range report after you shoot those babies.
Rusty

 

[benedict1]

You'll know you've really become an addict when you got to the range, find an unexpected pile of brass in the trash barrel and rush home to clean it and reload it, never remembering to shoot at all.!

Congrats!

 

[scrat]

Wait till you fire those rounds. then you will be hooked forever. watch you will see.

hehehehehehehheheheeh

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Congrats on getting started. Fun playing with those new toys, wasn't it?

Regards,

Dave

 

[Redhat]

Actually, a little un-nerving at first. I think the fun will start once I get comfortable with the process...and after I fire the rounds without incident!

 

[scrat]

the way it sounds your fine. the important thing to remember is staying within the max load. a lot of people go right to the max load then experiment with hotter loads. its safer to stay at or below the max load for your round. Looking at what you did your fine. so just load some more and have a good time at the range

 

[Redhat]

Thanks Scrat,

By the way, according to my manual, that is the starting load!!!

 

[FieroCDSP]

Congrats, Redhat. Have fun with those loads. I wear gloves when testing loads the first time. It tends to help push the KaBoom idea to the back burner. My gloves won't prevent a hand injury, but they'll help a little, I like to think. Nobody comment, let me have my cloud of mis-guided bliss to live in.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I sure do remember my first time. 38 Specials on a Lee hand press that my Grandpappy owned.

Yep, you are hooked now. Just wait until you make them go bang for the first time and you realize that you just did something that very few people do.

Consider that only a small percentage of gun owners in the US roll thier own.

You are now a part of a fairly elite fraternity if you think about it. Welcome to the club.

 

[SSN Vet]

Nice little press isn't it?

I've picked up so much good information off this forum..these guys are all great!

...one of the best tips was to avoid interuptions while your "in the groove".

"What ya doin' daddy?" followed by a double charge!

good luck to ya.

 

[Poper]

Redhat:

What SSNvet said!!!

1) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER allow interuptions!
If interupted stop immediately and take care of the situation. Return only when conditions allow your undivided attention.
2) If you take a break, finish the operation you are doing and LEAVE YOURSELF A NOTE!
3) Clean up after every session.

You cannot be TOO careful!

This is not a hazardous hobby with proper procedures. However, it demands strict attention to detail to assure good results.

Enjoy!

Poper

 

[Redhat]

Thanks all!

I went this morning and fired my 10 test rounds through my XD and S&W Commander PD.

All worked perfectly! Felt recoil was no different than the Fed Eagles I shot right after.

I marked all my brass with a sharpie before firing but since the range I was at doesn't police their brass, I could only find 5 of the 10 cases

Oh well, I also collected quite a bit of Winchester brass to bring home so I may have actually come out ahead!

This weekend I will get down to some volume loading of this same load.

After I'm done with the ball rounds, I'm going to try some 200gr LSWC. Anyone care to offer a pet load for these bullets using W231 powder?

Thanks again for all the help getting me started!

As to interruptions I have two boys 5 and 4 who always want to know what daddy's doing. I just wait until they're in bed or out with mom. This press seems to be designed pretty well to help avoid double charges. One pull of the handle and the turret rotates, but I watch every case after the powder drops. I'm a firm believer in denying Mr. Murphy his opportunities!

 

[Jacka L Ope]

Congratulations!

 

[MarshallDodge]

Yep! Your hooked

I started on a Lee Challenger(45LC) after reading ABC's of Reloading. Then I bought a Dillon 550B, a used RCBS Rock Crusher, and another 550B, two MEC shotgun reloaders....dies, accessories, and brass out the wazoo.

15 years and thousands of rounds later I don't think I saved any money but I have some awesome ammo and got to shoot at least twice as much.