Yup, you win that one!!!
Newby using Lee Loader for .38 Sp.
- Thread starter Harley Fan
- Start date
OP
Harley Fan
Member
No, you win that one. But I win the Stupid Haircut Award . . .
Spring 1985 (in the dorm)
This past Tuesday, after oral argument in the NM Supreme Court
(Good thing I got the stupid haircut out of my system before all my hair fell out on top, eh?)
Well now, this thread got a LOT better!
Coaltminer
Member
I started in 1970 with a Lee, only problem I had was the sizing die only neck sizes, 2nd time around, they wouldn't chamber. So, I bought their full-sizing die, talk about a lot of hammering! Now I use a Dillon SDB. A hobby that has continued for 44 years could be said to hold your interest! You have entered a great new world.
Reloading Forum Summation
Or a $20 bill chasing a 10¢ problem. The goal is to load a safe, accurate round of ammo, but don't get too worked up over the definition of accurate .
The "one hole group" at 15 yards with a handgun shot free hand can be a challenge. Ammo, weapon, and shooter are the three variables, but which one has the greatest variance?
You have started down the slippery slope of reloading. Enjoy the savings, the opportunity to shoot more often, and have fun doing it.
Or a $20 bill chasing a 10¢ problem. The goal is to load a safe, accurate round of ammo, but don't get too worked up over the definition of accurate .
The "one hole group" at 15 yards with a handgun shot free hand can be a challenge. Ammo, weapon, and shooter are the three variables, but which one has the greatest variance?
You have started down the slippery slope of reloading. Enjoy the savings, the opportunity to shoot more often, and have fun doing it.
OP
Harley Fan
Member
Just saying here how I appreciate all the posts on this thread. I will indeed enjoy the savings. Not taking into account the small outlay in the Lee Loader, and the scales, buying this stuff from a re-loader house in Indianapolis, my "per shot" costs are $0.16/ea. Naturally, I have a lot of pecking and pounding time.
I'm in a holding pattern now, until Saturday next, when my son and I can get to a range together and see how this new batch works.
I'm in a holding pattern now, until Saturday next, when my son and I can get to a range together and see how this new batch works.
No, you win that one. But I win the Stupid Haircut Award . . .
Spring 1985 (in the dorm)
Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go, I wanna be sedated!
OP
Harley Fan
Member
Good grief! Won't Saturday ever get here? I am in suspense with these slightly hotter loads. Can't wait to try them.
Erich
Member
Man, you're not kidding - I don't recall a week that went slower . . . 
Savings aren't involved in reloading because you end up shooting more. 
As has already been said, buy yourself a couple of reloading manuals. Buy a manual made by your favorite powder company and buy one made by your favorite bullet company. Sometimes when you compare the data between manuals, you get different data. Begin with minimum starting loads and work up from there, but stay away from max loads. Faster is often not better.
Only reload when you will not be interrupted and you can maintain concentration and focus. There is never a good reason to hurry.
I like to listen to Opera when I am working at the reloading bench. I find it relaxing.
I am a bit strange.
As has already been said, buy yourself a couple of reloading manuals. Buy a manual made by your favorite powder company and buy one made by your favorite bullet company. Sometimes when you compare the data between manuals, you get different data. Begin with minimum starting loads and work up from there, but stay away from max loads. Faster is often not better.
Only reload when you will not be interrupted and you can maintain concentration and focus. There is never a good reason to hurry.
I like to listen to Opera when I am working at the reloading bench. I find it relaxing.
I am a bit strange.
I did quite a bit of reloading in the past (thousands of rounds) and shot at least a couple hundred rounds a week. I took a long break from shooting and am now getting back into it. I started reloading again but was used to all the old info I had using bullseye powder. Back in the day you could pick up a one pound can whenever you wanted. Now it's a whole different story. With the help of a few folks on this forum I was steered to another powder and charge weight that should work well for the calibers I load. Sure makes it a lot more economical to reload vs buying factory ammo. I can't shoot nearly as straight as I used to but it sure is fun going to the range and enjoying the sport. You'll only get better at what your doing and your reloading equipment will improve over time. In the past I went from a single stage press to a progressive but sold all that stuff when I quit. Now I'm back to a single stage but it suits me fine for the number of rounds I go through.
OP
Harley Fan
Member
Well!
I am WELL PLEASED with this batch of 100 rounds of .38 Special cartridges I loaded. My goals were modest-
1) Produce a cartridge similar in "feel" to a mild factory load I've been using in which to learn shooting.
2) Be consistent!
If you read the above... (Please don't) from the info given my powder loads were 4.1 to 4.4 gr. The 50 rounds I shot were between these two, and were the 4.4 gr. were milder; the 4.1 were anemic. Todays' rounds were at 4.7 gr.
I "warmed" the 686 up with a couple cylinders of big boy .357, then my first test was filling a cylinder with 3 Federal 130 gr. FMJ ball- factory range ammo, and 3 of my own with this 4.7 gr. weight powder. I could barely tell the difference!
Well pleased!
now my learning will be a parade rest, as I have almost a half-pound of this powder to use.
I am WELL PLEASED with this batch of 100 rounds of .38 Special cartridges I loaded. My goals were modest-
1) Produce a cartridge similar in "feel" to a mild factory load I've been using in which to learn shooting.
2) Be consistent!
If you read the above... (Please don't) from the info given my powder loads were 4.1 to 4.4 gr. The 50 rounds I shot were between these two, and were the 4.4 gr. were milder; the 4.1 were anemic. Todays' rounds were at 4.7 gr.
I "warmed" the 686 up with a couple cylinders of big boy .357, then my first test was filling a cylinder with 3 Federal 130 gr. FMJ ball- factory range ammo, and 3 of my own with this 4.7 gr. weight powder. I could barely tell the difference!
Well pleased!
now my learning will be a parade rest, as I have almost a half-pound of this powder to use.
Kilibreaux
Member
I grew up using Lee Loaders for everything. "Back in the day" we simply could not afford even the least expensive RCBS press (Lyman was out of the question), but those Lee Loaders were just $7!
What is really nice about the LL is it forces the user to learn and understand all the steps in the loading process.
What is really nice about the LL is it forces the user to learn and understand all the steps in the loading process.
OP
Harley Fan
Member
Well, it had to happen...
I'm maybe 400 rounds into the Lee Loader experience, and a small pistol primer went off as I was seating it.
Scared the sh- **** outa me.
My wife cleared out shopping this PM, and I can't get the garage warm enough, so I'm at the kitchen table. Got my fingers warmed up a bit, no harm done.
I threw the cartridge away.
I'm maybe 400 rounds into the Lee Loader experience, and a small pistol primer went off as I was seating it.
Scared the sh- **** outa me.
My wife cleared out shopping this PM, and I can't get the garage warm enough, so I'm at the kitchen table. Got my fingers warmed up a bit, no harm done.
I threw the cartridge away.
Erich
Member
Yeah. After the second one of those, I started wearing ear protection when seating primers.
Might look into one of these eventually . . . you'll need to buy the shell holder for whatever you're loading, too:
Lee Auto Prime XR Hand Priming Tool
No need to throw the brass away, dude.
Might look into one of these eventually . . . you'll need to buy the shell holder for whatever you're loading, too:
Lee Auto Prime XR Hand Priming Tool
No need to throw the brass away, dude.
OP
Harley Fan
Member
Holy Smokes! Those are only $20? You bet!
Buy one thing at a time, and for me a hand priming tool would be number two, right after the manual.
I also started out with a Lee Loader loading .22 Hornet for a Contender. Never set off a primer but being a single shot I didn't load that many rounds.
I also started out with a Lee Loader loading .22 Hornet for a Contender. Never set off a primer but being a single shot I didn't load that many rounds.
M3Stuart
Member
So, they have a bar in the NM Supreme Court. That actually makes sense!
To the OP: hang in there! You're on your way. I started with a Lee single stage press.
To the OP: hang in there! You're on your way. I started with a Lee single stage press.
geddylee10002000
Member
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Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
