Lee Classic Hand Loader for 20 ga.

[IdahoSkies]

I picked up a Lee Classic Hand loader for 3" 20ga shells (you know the wack-o-mole set up with out a press, but a hammer instead). Well it did not have the scoops (or instructions). I have figured out the instructions from some searches and watching some videos of the the rifle/pistol version of this tool. I have also done some dry runs on it, depriming and crimping empty shells.

What I want to know is what's next? I have handloaded rifle/pistol, but I wanted to try and load some shotgun shells. The Lee loading tool uses volume measurements to load with and I have a box of lee dippers, I'm just wondering where to go looking for some load data.

Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

Alliant website has a ton of shotgun load data.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

rc

 

[Uniquedot]

That tool doesn't resize the hulls so before you load any make sure they will chamber in the gun you intend to use them in. Usually if it's the same gun they were fired in you can get a couple of loads from them before they get sticky.

 

[GCBurner]

I think the loads listed for the Lee Classic Handloader are are the same as the loads for the 20 gauge Lee Load All, but the handloader comes with a dipper instead of a set of powder measure bushings.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/LA1071.pdf

 

[GooseGestapo]

My Lee Loader (for 20ga.) I bought for $10 in 1970 came with the Lee #109 dipper (still have it!). I also have a dipper set dating to same time that has all the cu.in measures. These are all Red (from set) or black (came with die sets).

Lee discontinued using the cu.in. measures and went to cc. Newer dippers are yellow.

The newer dippers can be purchased as a set from most vendors that carry Lee Products.

Grafs (www.grafs.com)
MidwayUSA (www.midwayusa.com)
Midsouth Shooters supply (www.midsouthshooters.com)

Grafs has the best shipping deal. MidwayUSA has the best web site to shop from.

The dipper (#109) throws ~16.0gr of Unique. This load is suitable for 7/8oz and 1oz loads with appropriate wads for the 20ga.
By using different dippers/powders you can load different weight loads. I suggest you get the Lee #2 manual and the Hodgdon and Alliant (free) manuals. Then you can approximate the listed loads in the manuals.

Lee insists that you can go as much as 10% under the manual recommended loads(shotgun manuals, which usually insist you use the loads exactly as given), and still get suitable performance from the loads listed in the manuals. I have found this to be generally true. However, the flake extruded powders perform better with less than exact loads as shown in the manuals. The slower spherical powders are more sensitive to changes in charge and components.