Lee Loader, is it all I need?

[jahmes143]

New to the forum. Hello.

I want to enter the world of reloading so I picked up a Lee Loader and a copy of Modern Reloading. I plan to reload .357 to be used in multiple guns (revolvers & lever actions). Will a Lee Loader do the trick by itself or do I need to pick up any additional items?

Thanks for the info.

 

[mamamia]

Here is what I picked up along with Power Pistol powder, CCI SP primer and 100 winchester 115gr 9mm FMJ bullets.

#19 AUTO PRIME SHELL HOLDER $2.10
PRIMER POCKET CLEANER LEE $1.40
POWDER FUNNEL LEE $2.47
AUTO PRIME XR W/ TRAYS LEE $17.05
ANNIVERSARY PACK (LEE Loader with Manual) $38.65
9MM LUGER DELUXE PISTOL Deluxe die $39.48
SMART RELOADER BULLET PULLER $12.26
SMART RELOADER SR737 TUMBLER NANO $23.48
UNIVERSAL RELOADING TRAY $6.00
RCBS 5 10 Scale from eBay $40

 

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to reloading. Thanks for asking our advice.

Welcome, jahmes143,

You will want a small piece of lumber to take the impact, so you don't dent your coffeetable or whatever. You will want a mallet (NOT a hammer) to drive the Lee tool. A wood mallet, rawhide, hard rubber, plastic or even brass. You don't want to hit the Lee tool with a steel hammer or you will eventually be peening the tool and shortening its life.

The Lee tool comes with only one dipper. You will probably want a full set and a scale so you can tailor your loads or take advantage of different powders which your one dipper would not allow you to use.

Ultimately, you will probably want to move to a press and regular dies, as the Lee tool is noisy (smacking that thing with a hammer for a couple of hours gets on your neighbors' and roommates' nerves eventually-heck, it got on MY nerves, and I was the one doing the smacking!) and SLOW.

The Lee Load-All (also known by other names) is an excellent way to get started and, if it fills your shooting needs, can satisfy you just fine, as it does for many shooters.

Good Luck. Always wear eye protection (especially when working with primers). Be safe, always, all ways.

Lost Sheep

 

[edwardware]

Re: Lee Loader

James143: Second on the Lee Loader. With a few accessories, you'll have a working kit.

I suggest you read through the procedure in the Lee manual, step-wise, and make sure you understand it. Then make sure you have all the parts to perform the steps.

Accessories I've added to my Lee Loader include: powder funnel (a paper funnel may do, and be less staticy), a full set of dippers (nice to have), a deburring tool, a case trimmer (nice to have), and a bound book for recording EVERYTHING.

Good luck, make 'em count.

 

[Ranger J]

While the Lee loader is fine and a lot of us have started with it you may run into a small problem if you are reloading for several different guns of the same caliber. The problem is that the classic only neck resizes the case. I had two 44 rifles and the one (Handi rifle) had a larger chamber than the other one (Deerfield). Bullets fired in the Handi would not chamber in the Deerfield when reloaded. If you are careful and keep your empties segregated by each gun you will be OK. I in time went to a single stage press.

RJ

 

[jb27]

+1 on keeping your brass organized for each gun you're using.

I started with lee loaders and the first 'accessory' I got was a decent scale. I started with reloading rifle rounds so I wanted to weigh all my loads. A funnel was also an early purchase.

I also picked up an RCBS universal hand priming tool after loading a batch. I've read a lot of people have primers detonate while seating using the lee loader. I didn't have any go off, but I was very apprehensive when seating them.

Some case prep tools were soon to follow (trimmer, deburring tool, primer pocket cleaner, etc). I ended up picking up Lyman's hand prep tool kit.

The good thing about picking up these things is that you will continue to be able to use them if you decide to go with a press in the future.

Good Luck

 

[jcwit]

Should be no reason to keep brass seperated from being fired one pistol to another. While the Lee Loader only neck sizes in rifle calibers is true, in the straight walled & tapered handgun calibers it full length sizes. This makes said cases good to go for other handguns.

 

[Sunray]

"...need to pick up any additional items..." A scale. Throw the dippers away. They can vary the powder charge plus or minus a full grain.
You'll have to work up a load for each firearm too.

 

[Ranger J]

Yes, having a large primer go off when seating it can be quite alarming. The lee hand prime works well and costs little. My experience with the 44 mag was that the Classic loader would not re size that case to a level that it would fit the chamber of my Ruger Deerfield after the round had been fired in the Handi. It would the chamber fine in the Handi again. That was the reason I finally broke down and got my press and a set of 44 dies. I had no problem with the cartridges fitting any of my three 44s after that. That being that I still have a Classic loading set for most of my guns. If you are like most of us you will find that re loading is a slippery slope and the Classic is only an 'entry drug'.

RJ

 

[ranger335v]

The Lee kit plus a mallet and loading block are all the tools you need. A magazine can pad a table top for work quite satisfactory.

Straight walled cases such as the .38/.357 are quite easy to reload with that kit. A normal loading manual, complete set of Lee's dippers and/or a powder scale won't be any help at all unless you want to try different powders than the kit's instuctions suggest. There will be precious little need to do that if your loads fit your needs and they probably will, at least for a long time. Many of us got a start with that litlle kit and a LOT of people have stayed with it.

 

[mdi]

If you want to use dippers, I'd suggest you get a scale to go along with them. Practice different dipping methods and see what each style throws. With a little practice you can get very repeatable charges. I still use dippers for loading small amounts of ammo. I find one that throws a bit short (1/2 gr.) of the load I want and trickle up. I have also "adjusted" dippers with a drop of epoxy or two to make dipper interior smaller for a lighter charge, and used a drill to make them a bit bigger. Nothing wrong with a Lee Safery Scale, it just uses a vernier poise adjustment rather than notched beam with moveable poises. Just as accurate as any.

Use your manual, go slow, triple check, and enjoy...

 

[rhoggman]

I thought is sounded like a pain in the A$$. Midway sells a manual/ single stage press combo for under $30. Add a set of dies that comes with a dipper, a priming tool, and bam..... you are realoading. A little more money but probably well spent. Once you get going the extra press will always be helpful, but the mallet operated system will likely be useless.

 

[jcwit]

I think the Lee Loader is still of value. I take mine to the range to work up loads, everything fits in an ammo box and I can check out loads without any hassle. I do wish They made one to full length resize 30/06 brass tho.

 

[mdi]

Hmmm, I'll take all your Lee Loaders that are "useless". I have several sets, along with one turret press, two single stage, and one hand held press. I can still load up a box of .44 Magnums in an easy evening (mebbe 2 hrs.) with mine. I can use my Lee Loaders when I don't want to break down and set up one of my other presses and if I wanted to reload somewhere besides my room, all I'd need will fit into a shoebox. Also as for being slow, there's a guy on youtube that reloads a bottle necked round in less than 1 minute (I think 45 seconds). And I believe the 1,000 yard record for smallest group was at one time held by a shooter using aLee Loader. But then, I don't have to make 500 rounds per hour and I don't shoot benchrest, so my Lee Loaders still produce ammo that's accurate and reliable for me...

 

[jcwit]

[QUOTEI don't have to make 500 rounds per hour and I don't shoot benchrest, so my Lee Loaders still produce ammo that's accurate and reliable for me... ][/QUOTE]

Lee Loaders work fine for benchrest, in fact the L.E. Wilson die sets are similar in use to Lee Loaders. However one can play around with neck tension with Wilson dies.

 

[Duckdog]

Another freebie item you will want to get is a 308 or 30-06 casing to enlarge the casemouth if you intend to load lead bullets, as you can give it a gentle tap and the bottleneck will expand the casemount just a tad to stop lead shaving if you rest it on the casemouth and tap on the primer end.. You may not need it, but it does help and the belled mouth will crimp into place at the end.

 

[supergoat343]

In two months time, you will probably find yourself buying a single or multiple stage press anyway. Offers much greater control and increases your speed. Think ahead and buy in bulk, unless you have a local source for raw materials and spare parts.
Seconding........actually thirding the safety glasses(unless you enjoy reading braille)
Be safe and the best of luck!