Lee reloader, this is where I'm leaning

[Potatohead]

Amazon also has (or had) a 2yr same as cash deal if you open an Amazon credit card.
And yes I spent to much that way.

 

[Potatohead]

I never said that I broke it, just that it was the only part I had problems with. The problem I had was it starting to wear out and not want to rotate. And yes, that was more than likely from user malfunction (short stroking the press).

Didnt mean to offend if I sounded harsh. Pm sent about the plastic doo hickey to nip potential hijack.

 

[wabashman]

Didnt mean to offend if I sounded harsh. Pm sent about the plastic doo hickey to nip potential hijack.

No worries. Pm replied to.

 

[HouseofPayne]

Started with a Lee Classic Turret loading 9mm and .45acp.

Great to cut your teeth on. Moved on up to a Dillon 650xl, WOW! what a difference! you go from 1 bullet every 4 pulls to 1 bullet every pull!

I still have the Lee turret set up next to the Dillon, and I use it when I need to correct a bad primer, or other single stage operation. As I sit and think about it, I would still advise new loaders to get a single stage and learn how to that way. Then move up to a faster loader.

FWIW! ! ! ! Find a beam scale on ebay that measures GRAINS, NOT GRAMS.
Use it to check your powder throw about every 10 or so loads.

UNDER STAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRAINS AND GRAMS.

Use grams to check the scale accuracy then throw them in the back of the drawer. ALL WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOR RELOADING ARE IN GRAINS. 115GRAIN 9MM BULLET, 124GRAIN 9MM BULLET, 185GRAIN .45ACP, 230GRAIN .45ACP.

be safe and welcome.

I sort of understand what you talk about with weights and measures, will the reloading manuals cover a lot of this to a certain extent? I have a new Lee reloading manual on the way in the snail mail.

 

[HouseofPayne]

I got that deal, opened up the card a couple of months ago. Most definitely has it's perks!

 

[Lost Sheep]

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

As a newbie and looking at the options, this is where I'm leaning.
A friend from another non gun forum is sending me a Lee reloading manual and the ABC's book.
I started to look at Lee presses at Lee's website and a ton of videos of all different presses. New or used I like the Lee Classic. It seems to be a good fit for what I'm looking to do. But, is it good for a beginner?

HouseofPayne, I notice that you have used the term "Lee Classic" press.

Lee makes several presses and also the Lee "Classic" loader which is the kit powered by a mallet.

Lee Classic Cast press is a single-stage (one die at a time) cast iron press that is VERY good.

Lee Challenger press is a single stage press of cast aluminum.

Both come in two varieties, a breechlock style and the simpler screw-in style.

Lee Deluxe Turret is a 4-station turret press of cast aluminum that holds 4 dies at a time and autoadvances the dies for conveniently doing continuous processing (sometimes called "semi-progressive"). It was also made in a 3-station turret version which, I believe, is now discontinued.

Lee Classic Turret is a 4-station turret press of cast iron which is far superior to the Lee Deluxe Turret press in several aspects.

Lee's Pro-1000 and Loadmaster presses are progressive presses.

Don't get the Lee Classic Cast and the Lee Classic Turret mixed up. The former is a single stage and the latter is a turret.

By the way, Lee makes the ONLY auto-advancing turret presses in the world today.

The two books are excellent starting points. Lee's is kind of self-promoting, but does not steer you wrong on the loading instruction.

If you go to your local library, you may find older versions of "The ABC's of Reloading", which might be a good thing, as the older editions were written by different authors, so give a variety of viewpoints and "voices", some of which may speak to you better than others.

Good luck

Lost Sheep

P.S. See also this thread, similar to yours
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=753868
and my post in it (#23) wherein I repeat my "10 Advices for the Novice Loader"

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have something similar to the Lee Anniversary Kit, I'm happy with it, I normally only load 100, maybe 200 bullets at a time.

 

[Potatohead]

I sort of understand what you talk about with weights and measures, will the reloading manuals cover a lot of this to a certain extent? I have a new Lee reloading manual on the way in the snail mail.

Yes...to an extent. The stickies here in the reloading forum are good too. Take a look. You'll be a reloading nerd in no time

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have something similar to the Lee Anniversary Kit, I'm happy with it, I normally only load 100, maybe 200 bullets at a time.

I'm not being the language police but in reloading a bullet is the unloaded projectile, not a loaded round. I'm only mentioning it so if you post a question in the future you can avoid confusion.

 

[Potatohead]

Good point

 

[HouseofPayne]

Thanks Lost, appreciate the long informative post. I also checked out your 10 advices, well said.

 

[bocefus78]

weights

You will never see the term grams in a reloading manual.
Everything is weighed in grains which is much more precise.

I second ditching the lee scale for a good digital Scale or beam. I use digital and have 2. 1 to check the other and vice versa.
I have a Frankford arsenal and a MTM brand. I prefer the FA.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Ok well I am going to vote in on the LEE Classic cast single stage.
Why?

Its a great press plus no matter what direction you ultimately go when you figure out what kind of re-loader your going to be.
You will always have a need for a good single stage press.

I have turrets and LNL Ap, but I still use my single stage weekly at least.
I still resize ALL my rifle brass on the single stage. You can do it with the others, but I prefer not to have to factor in Turret wiggle or shell plate flex when setting the shoulder on my brass.

Might just be me, but thats how I roll.

 

[para74]

My vote is for the Lee turret press.

Reason you will get the benefits of a single stage and it can actually be used as a single stage by removing the center rod. When you get comfortable run it as a turret and benefit from the speed of a turret.

Once you get comfortable with that and go progressive my vote would be xl 650 Dillon

 

[gonoles_1980]

I'm not being the language police but in reloading a bullet is the unloaded projectile, not a loaded round. I'm only mentioning it so if you post a question in the future you can avoid confusion.

That's something I am struggling with language wise.
Bullet = the hunk of lead that goes into the base case? (I see some people use boolit).
Round = bullet + powder+case+primer all put together?

 

[JohnM]

The Classic Cast SS is a very good press by anyone's standard.
I especially like the spent primer disposal. I don't prime on the press, so I removed the link and roll pin from the ram and get 99% or better of the old primers straight into the collection bucket.

I've used mine for several years now, I expect the turret model is a fine press too.

Lee's presses with all the aluminum parts, not so much.

 

[Lost Sheep]

That's something I am struggling with language wise.
Bullet = the hunk of lead that goes into the base case? (I see some people use boolit).
Round = bullet + powder+case+primer all put together?

There are many words for many meanings. Some overlap, some are synonyms and some just confuse.

"Boolit" is a bullet (projectile that is intended to reach the target) of cast lead or lead alloy. I believe the word is a fairly recent invention to distinguish cast lead from other construction types.
"Bullet" is the projectile of whatever construction (cast lead, copper-plated and copper jacketed are most common, but any material could be used, so "bullet" is all-encompassing)
"Cartridge" and "Round" are synonyms, referring to a ready-to-shoot single piece of ammunition.

Of course, some terms vary, depending on the speaker or author. Marines famously learn to never call their rifles, "guns". Guns, when referred to by a Navy member refers to the huge cannon installed on ships.

If you REALLY want to get confusion and heat, start a debate on the meanings of "clip" and "magazine" or the terms "revolver" and "pistol". (Sam Colt called his invention, "the revolving pistol".)

Don't get wrapped up in the heat of the arguments over right and wrong terms. If conversing in a forum where misunderstanding might take place, I use parenthetical explanations or 100% unambiguous words. It takes longer, but saves time in the long run.

Lost Sheep

 

[dagger dog]

If you immerse yourself deep enough into the reloading hobby, casting, swaging, and lubing even making gas checks, you will never out grow the need for a quality single stage press.

The Lee Classic single stage cast is one of those presses you can press into service (pun intended) for years to come. There is always an open spot on the bench for that type press even after the reloader has years of experience.

You just can't go wrong with a single stage press it may be slow, but it will get you started and will be a welcome companion to any turret or progressive press and can do things they can't.

 

[spitballer]

Good for you! I'm still partial to "Modern Reloading" myself. Naturally the man plugs for his equipment, but he not afraid to give credit where credit is due. I never tire of reading this book and the reloading data contained within. Although the Hodgdon data can seem contradictory at times, the way his tables are arranged conveys a great deal of valuable information that greatly helps to make sense of that data.

 

[wally]

I've been totally satisfied with everything from Lee *except* the Loadmaster press. I think the Lee classic turret is a great starting point for pistol reloading.


IMHO single stage is just too tedious unless you shoot ~100 rounds or less per week.

 

[Dudedog]

I like my Lee turrent. If you want you can take the plasitic dohickey off to start and rotate the turrent by hand. (make a mental note how it goes togather if you take it off) I think they make a very good first press. There are lots of faster presses but I like mine.
I have the old "Deluxe" not the Classic.
1. It does spit primers everwhere when depriming.
2. Don't know how it is to prime on because I use a Lee hand primer.
3. Everybody seems to agree the Lee Clasic Turrent is a nice press.

I seem to recall somewhere I even saw a Dillon owner say he liked the Classic Turrent (and did not get struck by lightning)
I tumble a bit, deprime, tumble some more, hand prime and then load.
Once I have them primed I can do 200 and hour easy.

Guilty of wearing safety glasses and watching TV while priming....

 

[HouseofPayne]

I like my Lee turrent. If you want you can take the plasitic dohickey off to start and rotate the turrent by hand. (make a mental note how it goes togather if you take it off) I think they make a very good first press. There are lots of faster presses but I like mine.
I have the old "Deluxe" not the Classic.
1. It does spit primers everwhere when depriming.
2. Don't know how it is to prime on because I use a Lee hand primer.
3. Everybody seems to agree the Lee Clasic Turrent is a nice press.

I seem to recall somewhere I even saw a Dillon owner say he liked the Classic Turrent (and did not get struck by lightning)
I tumble a bit, deprime, tumble some more, hand prime and then load.
Once I have them primed I can do 200 and hour easy.

Guilty of wearing safety glasses and watching TV while priming....

Thanks for your thoughts dude. I had considered the deluxe but after looking at the classic it was a no brainer, it handled all the single stage steps.
I was thinking of playing some music at my bench but I'll have to say no to tv for the time being.

 

[Dudedog]

Just priming when watching TV with the hand primer, when loading I prefer no distractions of any kind.

 

[Potatohead]

Yea it's pretty safe to rock out during hand priming.

 

[RainDodger]

I'm kind of old fashioned but unlike many, in roughly 45 years of reloading I have never, ever, had a single squib. Pay attention to detail, develop a standard process for everything, and take your time.

It's my opinion that to learn the art of hand loading, start with a single stage press. I have numerous types of presses and I still use all of them for different purposes.

Once again though - there are different kinds of people that reload... there are the reloaders that simply look to save money and load bulk ammunition, and then there are the hand loaders that do it for the pleasure and satisfaction of hand loading itself. Nothing wrong with either one.... they're just different, and different equipment may suit each type of individual.