Newbie Q: Is this how you can start?

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Captain33036

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Hi Folks

I have never re-loaded ammunition and do not know anyone that I can ask. I have been thinking about reloading .357 magnum rounds for some time, but always thought that I need quite a bit of space in order to do so. Also, that to begin was quite expensive.

Well, I began to do some research on the Lee sight and think I found a solution for myself.

I live on a boat, but would like to reload...would only need to do 50-100 at a time. If I could do 50 per hour, I would be very happy.

SO...I wonder....is this a solution. Is this Lee hand press all I need:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/650614/lee-breech-lock-hand-press-kit

And then the dies. Perhaps a scale or use the powder measure kit??

So, if I had the kit above, the components needed would then be:

- Bullets
- Primers
- powder
- Case
- manual or book for load data

Correct?

If the above is all true, I think I might be able to do this.

Then there are the issues of trimming the cases. When do you do that?
And crimping...again...is that required in .357 rounds?

Are separate tools needed for the above?

Appreciate your input.

John
 
Yes. It will get you some ammo.

You may have some problems with a scale on a boat. I'd suggest a powder measure of some kind even if it is just the dippers.

I'm not sure you can knock out 50 per hour.
 
I would move up to the std O frame press you will be happier with it. The hand press requires a lot of force and dought you will get more than 20-25/hr. You can mount a std frame press to a board and clamp it to a table top. The electronic balance may work in a boat environment if there is not a lot of wave action. A beam scale is out of the question. Dippers will work but you need a set of scales to calibrate the dippers to the powder of your choice. Lee's data provided is not accurate.
 
The equipment you mentioned will work fine. I have a Lee hand loader, and yes once you get used to it, you can punch out (squeeze out?) 50 cartridges an hour. As with a standard single stage you will be "batch loading"; deprime/size a batch, then flare the mouth on the batch, charge w/powder, seat, crimp. You won't be trimming many (none) 357 Magnum cases so you prolly won't need a trimmer, don't fret about OAL right now, just crimp in the bullet's crimp groove or cannalure. I use my handpress mostly for jobs I didn't want to do on my turret or single stage (I've sized 300 .44 bullets at one sitting, deprimed and primed a bunch). I too had a boat, a 30 ft. sail boat and I appreciate your need for something that doesn't take up much space, so a Lee handpress, some dippers and a scale,1 lb. of powder, a few hundred primers, and a couple hundred bullets will fit in a plastic shoebox (at least one of my size 13 shoeboxes)...:p
 
Thanks, this is very helpful.

I did not know the force that might be required of the hand press. I would definitely invest in a better one, if that is the case. Might be able to mount at the companionway ladder.

And very good to know that I need to calibrate the dippers. I am docked, tucked way back through a series of canals. So, usualy fairly stable, but ...being a boat...there is always some rocking. So...electronic scale would be the best way to go?? I think there are quite a few inexpensive, but good quality ones.

Any more advice always appreciated

thanks

J
 
Quick question:

How much force is required to load a .357 bullet in a case, using the Lee hand loading press?
 
Hardly any force to seat the bullet and crimp the case.

It is resizing the fired cases before you can load them that takes more force.

I agree the hand tool will make ammo, especially handgun ammo that is much easier to resize then bottleneck rifle brass.

However, you will have better luck if the press is attached to something so you don't need three hands to use it.

rc
 
Besides a boat, do you have a storage unit on land? I ask because I know a few folks who live on their boats, but they maintain storage units to hold all the extras that won't normally fit on the boat - seasonal clothes, a family furniture piece, even a car. If that is the case, loading in the storage unit would allow you more leeway with your gear and set up. Even an "O" or "C" type press and accessories will take up some good and valuable storage space

Good luck
 
I use the Lee hand press for single stage loading pistol rounds smaller than 50AE. At that point it becomes really hard to resize the brass. 357 is no problem at all. Expanding, bullet seating and crimping is easy to do with any caliber. I have even used it to seat and crimp bullets for my 460 Weatherby at the range.
 
If you buy Lee dies to go with your Lee hand press or bench press they come with everything you minimally need to load useable ammo including a single powder dipper and data for the powder to use with it for different bullet weights. As long as you don't want or need a lot of load flexibility it works fine for moderate powered hand loads as they make sure their suggested combinations do not approach max loadings where overpressure issues can appear. This is the least expensive way to reload ammo.

Buy the dies first, then using the provided data buy bullets and powder to match the data. If you go this rout there is no need to buy a scale or other powder measure untill you advance to the point where greater involvement in the hobby is desired.
 
And...sorry for more really dumb questions....but...

1. Not sure about resizing brass? If I use fired casings from commercial ammo, or new cases...what is this procedure for? (is it because brass changes shape when fired??) So...what do you do and how do you do it? Do you need to caliper every case?

2. Then ....I can understand the value of flaring..but it is really required?

3. Finally, crimping. Is this done by a die that goes into the press?

Thanks

J
 
Fired brass expands to fit the chamber when fired.

Handgun dies come in 3-die sets.

Depending on brand of dies:
The (1st) Sizing die squeezes it back down to factory size.

The (2nd) die deprimes the case, expands the neck, and flairs it enough to get the bullet started in the case.

The (3rd) die seats the bullet and crimps it in place.

rc
 
The hand press will work. I pushed some rims off 22LR cases with mine & that is suppose to be hard. If your doing it on the boat just use Lee's data & you will be safe. A scale isn't going to work on a boat.

There is nicer presses If you have somewhere to mount it. Screw it to a board then clamp it in place. I like the Classic Cast I bought.

I'm not real happy with the Hand Press I bought. While it functions it does have a lot of slop & flex. Another thing I was the least impressed with was the porosity around where the breach bushing screws in. The first time I have been disappointed in my Lee tools.
 
rcmodel said:
Depending on brand of dies:
The (1st) Sizing die squeezes it back down to factory size.

The (2nd) die deprimes the case, expands the neck, and flairs it enough to get the bullet started in the case.

The (3rd) die seats the bullet and crimps it in place.

rc
Click to expand...

What brand of dies doesn't deprime on the sizing die? I've never seen that before.
 
Get you a good book to read from the Library about reloading. After reading it maybe it will be easier to decide your needs.
 
What brand of dies doesn't deprime on the sizing die?
Click to expand...
I have several sets of older RCBS, Pacific, and Hornady that deprime in the expander die.
The sizing die hasn't even got a rod in it.

rc
 
Interesting, all my die sets deprime on the resizing die (Lee, RCBS, Dillon, Hornady and Redding). My oldest sets are from the 90's though.
 
I've used a hand press for much of my reloading the last few years and have no complaints. I like it because I can set up at my kitchen table on days when I prefer a temperature controlled environment instead of the garage. I haven't ever used it for priming since I had a couple of Auto-Prime hand tools long before I had the hand press, so I can't tell you how well that function works. If you are willing settle for the restricted load flexibility allowed by dippers, then you can definitely achieve 50 rounds per hour that way. Otherwise, you'll need a powder measure or one of the dispensing scales (I have one of these and love it) to get that level of output.

One word of caution when you use it to size and de-prime. There isn't much space there to gather the spent primers. You need to stop every 15 or 20 cases and dump them or you'll end up bending your decapping pin. Don't ask me how I know.:eek:

You'll also need some other tools regardless of what press you have. A case deburring tool is needed if you load new brass and calipers may be depending on what type of bullets you like to use. I've never trimmed handgun cases, but if you have load types or accuracy requirments that demand a perfectly consistent crimp then you should.
 
Here is a little base I made for my little Lee handloader press.
Clamps to the bench when used to deprime.
Sliding aluminum tray catches the primers.

Leepress.jpg

The press is just a bench mounted version of the hand press.
Pretty small for real use, as there isn't enough frame opening to get your hand and a case in it at the same time!

rc
 
The hand press is pretty good for the $, there are folks reloading rifle on it. .357 won't be hard. I have decapped and sized .45 on my breech lock version and it is a piece of cake.
 
56hawk find some from back in the 50's and 60's.
Click to expand...
I actually think it was later then that.

Most of my carbide dies are from the early 70's and deprime in the expander.

I think the change occurred after the Dillon and other progressive presses came on the scene and needed powder-through expander dies.
Whenever that was?

rc
 
Cberge8

Thanks for pointing that out. I did see it...but read some reviews that having to hammer all the time was not fun. Though...cannot imagine hammering in the bullet with a die and rubber hammer would be all that much of a big deal.

Could I ask you...does that set do crimping, or would that be a separate tool?

I saw that there was a tool for priming, and perhaps having a separate tool for crimping might even make things go more smoothly....since I would likely batch all this.

Thanks

J
 
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