Going basic with Lee Loader

[Sistema1927]

As a teenager, I banged out quite a few .38 Special rounds using an original Lee Loader. But, as a teenager, I had no funds to speak of. As soon as I could afford it, I purchased a press and other accessories.

If you don't have room for a press, I second the notion that was made earlier of getting a Lee Hand Press. You ought to be able to load .45 ACP just fine with one of those.

 

[Bazoo]

I use the hand press for that caliber as well as others. It's the portability and ideal of the whackamole coupled with the versatilty of a bench press.

What the lee loader has going for it is cost. It's about 35-40 bucks, A hand press and dies will cost about 60-75 used.

 

[webrx]

.45 ACP Carbide Die set on Amazon - $35.99
Lyman Pocket Touch 1500 scale with powder pal funnel on Amazon - $23.99
Lee Reloading Press MD 90045 on Amazon - 49.99 (I chose the RCBS partner press for my first SS and it is $105 on Amazon right now)
Wen Digital Caliper on Amazon - $12

For roughly $122 you could have the hardware to reload 45 acp, and if you decide to load something else, you can just buy dies

You are also going to need bullets, brass, powder and primer

Bullets - .016 or .017 cents per bullet
RMR they are a sponsor here an doffer a discount for members, and they are good bullets. $90 per 500
Berrys will run you about $80 per 500

Powder - roughly $.02 per bullet
titegroup, cfe pistol, hp38, universal, longshot, w231, clays, titewad, hs-6, lots of powder will work.
Titegroup is efficient, but make sure you dont double charge - its about $30 a lb. and you can get about 1500 rounds out of a pound of powder for 45 acp (7000/4.5)

Primers - $.04 per primer at $40.00/1k - Not often in stock, you have to call your local reloading store every day and ask if they have any, until the day they do, then get to the store and get some.
I like CCI or federal but any Large Pistol Primer will work - primers are normally about $40 per 1000, if you can find them right now, I have seen anywhere from $40 at Scheels to $100 per 1k plus hazmat,

Load data 230 grain 45 acp
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=1&type=53&cartridge=1371&weight=1015,624&man=60,61,62&powder=1531,1569,1556,1527,1526,1544,1549,1487,1502,1503,1564,1565,1566,1507,1525,1523,1524,1508,1509,1528,1510,1533,1536&items=9202,9197,12038,3304,3311,3318,3323,3330,3337,14847,13483,13425,9201,9269,9199,7478,13871,13194,9268,9198,9200,9207,9204,12039,3305,3312,3319,3324,3331,11763,6795,3338,14846,13484,13426,9206,9203,9205,7479,13872,13195,9262,7480,7932

Brass - reload what you have or trade for some, or ask around and see if someone has some extras.

so you are roughly at $300 to get started, you could maybe knock that down $35-$40 with a whack a mole but why not get a real press instead for that little difference, as you can see the press is not the highest cost factor in reloading, and the more you reload the faster you get your ROI on the $50 or $100 press back.

rough ROI - and this was back when you could buy factory ammo for $23 a box and I was reloading for $9 a box so - For every 1000 rounds you load yourself, you are saving between $250 and $300 depending on the cost of parts vs store bought ammo. not counting your time or your used brass so the $35 you save on a whack a mole would be paid for in about 200-250 reloads and the press will allow you to reload more efficiently and a little bit faster.

Just my opinion - YMMV

Dave

 

[Archie]

I started with a Lee Loader (the hammer operated type). Other than being slower than molasses in January and limited to one caliber, they work fine. If you plan on not further pursuing your arms collection, you will be fine.
Lee Loaders come with a dipper. Almost invariable, the dipper will serve. It seems an intentional purpose on the part of Lee to keep loads rather mild. This allows a reloader to make and shoot ammunition nearly immediately without the threat of overcharging the arm or ammunition.

You will need a soft faced hammer. I (still) have a plastic faced hammer from those days. Available at nearly any hardware supply business.

Components: Large pistol primers, most any brand will do to begin. You will find nearly everyone has a favorite and quite a few have some brands they will NOT use. You'll decide on your own after some experience. Powders are those with a relatively quick burn rate. The loader will have some suggestions for loads, check that sheet of instructions for suitable powders. One pound (usually the smallest available) will suffice to start. (Note: Good luck finding primers or powder in the immediate future. They both seem in short supply right now.) Bullets: The 'standard' bullet is a 230 grain round nosed jacketed bullet. (Right now, don't be concerned with hollow point bullets.) For general shooting and getting started, a 200 grain lead bullet is probably better.

Last thought: If you plan on more arms and more calibers, or if you want to shoot more, a loading press will suggest itself to you. Lee makes an inexpensive press, perfectly suited to the purpose. If compactness is an issue, the Loader is just fine.

 

[Zendude]

After looking through the instructions on the Lee Reloader, I found it interesting that you do not flare semiautomatic cases. Instead, you chamfer them and therefore there is no crimp step. Does the chamfering work ok with not shaving coated and plated bullets?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Y'all save your old pill bottles, too. They're real nice for carrying bullets, primers, and powder to the range with your Lee Loader and brass mallet for load development. Invest in a Dymo labeler, too, so you know which powder you put in those bottles. Or, just do what I do and only fill them when you're going to use them then empty afterwards.

I can't think of another fully-capable reloading set you can drop in a range bag and take with you, anywhere but the Lee. For that alone, I think it just makes sense to have one in each or your go-to calibers.

 

[mdi]

For positive, unbiased info/discussions on Lee products go here. Everyday people, no agendas, no need to impress kinda folks; http://www.lee-loader.com/index.php

I happen to be one of those "Low life Lee lovers/users...".

 

[Bazoo]

Buy used gear and cut your cost. And if you decide to sell later, recoup the cost.

I bought a used lee challenger for $50 a while back. A bit higher than normal.

I bet, you could get a used press, dies, scale, and lee perfect powder measure, for $100 if you tried.

The advantage of a regular die set over a lee loader is the ability to substitute the #2/expanding die with a similar but different sized die for seating cast bullets. An NOE expanding plug in a lee universal expanding die body for example. Cast bullets can offer a specific challenge, if the supplied expander doesn’t expand enough. Then what happens is the base of the bullet is swaged smaller when it’s seated, because it is forcing the case walls outward as it’s moved into the the case.

Cast bullets are the cheapest option for projectiles. I cast my own, but they can be purchased, and for a cartridge like 45 automatic, will gladly serve the purpose.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

After looking through the instructions on the Lee Reloader, I found it interesting that you do not flare semiautomatic cases. Instead, you chamfer them and therefore there is no crimp step. Does the chamfering work ok with not shaving coated and plated bullets?

Flaring Tools for 45 ACP and 45 Colt can be purchased using part number RE1600.

 

[Bazoo]

I didn’t know you didn’t have a flaring tool for automatic cartridges. My experience has been with rifle and revolver loaders though.

 

[splattergun]

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?

To recreate a load you will need to be able to adjust your powder charge, which is very difficult to do if you are simply using a dipper. A scale and a reliable data source are needed to do this in order to find a matching (or close) velocity.
I'm not trying to steer you away from the Lee Loader or demand that you have to get a press, just letting you know that there is a quotient that hasn't had a lot of airtime in this thread yet.

 

[mdi]

My first purchase for reloading equipment was a Lee Loader, second was a beam scale. I got pretty good at dipping, getting consistent weights, but I wanted to "expand" my handloads so I weighed powder charges. I dipped a charge and used an ice cream stick to "trickle" charges up a bit. Dipping is safe if you keep things consistent (when I was on a roll I could hold 1/2 grain of variation and often less)...

 

[rmfnla]

I'd get the Lee Hand Press long before I'd deal with all that pounding...

 

[mdi]

Actually looks easier to me than using a Lee "Chest exercising tool"...

 

[uzimon]

Get armscor fmj's

 

[Bazoo]

I like lee loaders. They are fun, simple, and work. That said I prefer a die set, and a hand press.

 

[FROGO207]

I will start by saying I own about 12 of these reloading kits. I have used them enough to become a good reloader with them. They are a good thing to take along "just in case" with componants.
I feel they are a bit slower than a press and the rifle ones neck size only. They are a part of my go kit for what thats worth. Also one kit, one type of round loaded.
If you have never reloaded before this will get you into the game with a small investment. Those of us that have reloaded for a while welcome a standard press that to change calibers you only need an additional set of dies. One thing all reloaders agree on is being, shall we say frugal. OP if you buy a Lee Loader come back and let us know how it works out for your needs.