Lee Loader and Mini-14

[Uncle Chan]

I put together a SHTF pack the other day, only by coincidence. It contained all of the components for me to reload out of my RV when camping (the main component being a Lee Hand Press). This got me to thinking about using a Lee Loader in a smaller pack or in the butt stock of a rifle.

Which, in turn, got me to thinking about using the Lee Loader for loading .223 for my Mini-14. However, the instructions warn that using the LL for autoloaders, you risk a stuck cartridge. But, the Mini has such sloppy tolerances, would this be a problem?

Anyway, what do you think?

 

[lee n. field]

The Lee Loader neck sizes. If you're going to use it with the Mini, you should probably use only brass that's been fired from that particular gun.

 

[Uncle Chan]

Hi Lee, thanks for your reply.

I can do that. It is the only rifle I have in .223. All my brass will be brass fired from that rifle.

U.C.

 

[lee n. field]

I messed around with a Lee Loader in .223 for a while, to see just how "bottom end" you could go and still be viable.

Those cartridges that I reloaded, that had been through my Mini before, I had no problem shooting. Those that my buddy had shot through his AR, were slightly oversized for my Mini, and wouldn't fully chamber. They should have been full length sized.

With the hand press, you have way more options. Mind case length though. I found that a significant fraction of once fired .223 would be over length, and need to be trimmed.