Lee Loader Tool Kit Identification

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TennJed

Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2010
Messages
3,454
I am wanting to get into reloading soon (9mm, 38 sp, 357) and today I was browsing a local store and saw a few boxes of old Lee Loader complete reloading tool kits. I don't quite have the funds for a press right now but thought this may be a inexpensive way to learn for a few months. Most were marked and were for rifles. They had one that was not marked ant the pieces looked a little different than the rifles so I think it may be for a handgun.

The only markings I see on it are on the powder scoop. It is marked 052. I called Lee's customer service and they said they couldn't help me without me sending it in( which I understand for liability reasons I am sure)

Anyway, the guy told me he would sell it to me for $8.00 (half price of the other boxes) because it did not have a manual. I went ahead and got it because I firgured I could at least use the depriming tool to work on my brass I already have before I clean them (give me something to do)

Anyway, is there a way to safely id what caliber this kit is? Does the scoop number 052 indicate the caliber? Here are some pics.

Thanks for the help!

5685261690_05a069327b.jpg

5685261320_d228c1dda1.jpg
 
Also for those in the know does everything seem to be included?
 
I'm guessing handgun. Maybe 45 Colt? Can you take some measurements?
 
Looks just like my handgun loaders

The chrome/silver cylinder should have marking on it telling you what cartridge it is for. Sometimes the writing is hard to read, so get good light and a magnifying glass. If your camera can do close-ups, post a picture or two.

The black cylinder with the bump on the end in the upper left of your picture o the loose items is the case mouth belling tool. If you measure the diameter of the bump, it will give you an idea of the caliber of the bullet, at lease within several thousandths. If it measures around .45", you have .45 Colt or .45 ACP, most probably. If it measures close to .43", you likely have either 44 Magnum or 44 Special or maybe (less commonly found) 44-40. If it is .41" or so, probably 41 Magnum. If .356", it may be 38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, or (less commonly) 38 Super, 380 Auto, 38 ACP or 380 Makarov.

All those possibilities should be narrowed down by the text stamped on the body of the one shiny piece in your set.

Your set does appear to be complete.

An image of the instructions should be available for free from Lee Precision's web site.

Good Luck and welcome to reloading/handloading.

By the way, don't use a hammer with your tool. Use a mallet of hard rubber, wood, rawhide, plastic or brass, but not steel. Steel, being as hard as the tool will peen the surface and make it brittle after some amount of use. Also, don't use the tool on a permanent work surface. Use a wood block, and after it gets dented a lot, replace it.

Lost Sheep
 
Look under the Styrofoam tray there might be paperwork under there. I am thinking that it is 45 ACP. If you can get some calipers measure where the bullet goes in and the expander button, that will give us an idea of caliber by the sizes. The info was on the paper that was included with the box.
 
I have looked very closely on all parts and there is no caliber marked or any scratches or rust spots that would cover a caliber marking.

I will try to get some pictures up.

Thanks
 
TenJed,

I have the same dipper in a .357 Magnum Lee loader that is from 1974 , I bought it new. The dipper is red and is marked 052 no decimal.

This is the older style dipper, the newer Lee dippers are yellow and the two do not interchange, that 052 dipper will dip approx 11.5 grs of Hercules- Aliant 2400, to shoot behind a 140-160 gr bullet,there is other data for W296 ,Hogdon4227 and several other powders that are obsolete.

The new YELLOW dippers from Lee are volumetric and measure in cc's the old RED ones are not, they are relative to Lee's older method of measurment used in his early manuals, so they will not interchange.

If you wan't the load data for the 052 Red dipper for .357 Magnum, I can PM it to you.
 
I believe that Lee loader with the red dipper not marked in CC's is from the old Richard Lee "Lee Custom Engineering" company that was forced out of business.

The new "Lee Precision, Inc" company makes a different Lee Loader then the one you have now.

rc
 
Normally the caliber is marked on the side of the chrome plated cylinder. In the pics ther is something there, just too small to read. Without some indication of caliber, you will have to measure ID of the main die (chrome cylinder) and the depth of any crimp ridge in the interior.
 
TennJed,
I have an old (Copyright 1963) 9mm Lee Loader that is marked with LEE LOADER PAT. then some scribe marks, (which on my other Lee Loaders say PAT. 313429), but also has no caliber inscribed. My newer rifle Lee Loaders both have caliber abbreviation (270 and 22H) scribed on the bottom die, with the same L/L PAT info on the top die. The red scoop for my 9mm is number 039, and has "WARNING: Use this measure only with the Lee Charge Table" on it; it is not the newer cubic centimeter (cc) marked ones referred to earlier, but it would be easy to convert scoops to grains IF you invest in a powder scale (which you should in any case). One interesting note on the bottom of the 9mm instruction is "TO LOAD FOR THE 38 SPEC OR 357 MAG., YOU ONLY NEED A NEW POWDER MEASURE (50 Cents), CHARGE TABLE (25Cents) DEPRIMING CHAMBER ($1.00) FLARING TOOL ($1.00)" I checked the diameter of the flaring tool (black cylindrical thing in upper left of your first photo, above the priming chamber), and at its widest it measured .3605 (for a nominal .355-357 diameter bullet per the Lee instructions), so if you measure yours, it will get you in the ballpark for the kit. If you need the instructions/charge table for 9mm, I can scan and send to you, although it sounds from your scoop that you have something with more case capacity. Lee Precision will sell you the current instructions and charge tables for $1.00 each. Also, if you figure out which kit you have, and need to buy the corresponding parts for a 9mm (say if it is a 38/357 kit), Lee has all the parts and prices on their web site. I started with one of these for my .45 ACP, and still use them on occasion because they ARE really basic, and whacking something with a piece of 2x4 can be therapeutic:banghead:!

Good luck and have fun! :)

Sailorman
Molon labe!
 
I concur with dagger dog, I have the same 357 loader from '74, the body die is marked for caliber. You paid 99 cents less for yours than I did form mine in 1978, plus you got a bonus primer pocket cleaner. :p As previously stated, a few key measurements would have all of us scrambling for the calipers to assist. If you can't find the basic instructions elsewhere, PM me and I can scan and send them.
 
Looking at that picture sure brings back memories. That's how I got into reloading .45ACP back in the late 1970's. Same box and everything.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

OFFGRID
  • Locked
Lee Classic Loader
2
Replies
31
Views
946
OFFGRID
OFFGRID
L
  • Locked
Question about the Powder Scoop in the Lee Loader (for .38)
2
Replies
30
Views
6K
enine
E
C
  • Locked
The First Lee Loader?
Replies
22
Views
1K
confederatemule
C
R
  • Locked
lee powder scoop
Replies
24
Views
5K
eastbank
eastbank
I
  • Locked
Lee Classic Hand Loader for 20 ga.
Replies
4
Views
2K
GooseGestapo
GooseGestapo
Back
Top