Lee Loader

[Ray]

Hi, since I´m waiting for the transfer of my Brazllian 1917 to complete I´m already looking forward to choose a loading tool. I know this kit is slow and time consuming but I see it as an ocupational therapy.
One thing bothers me though : The .45 ACP kit comes without the piece which opens the mouth case to insert a new bullet. Is that OK ? Can it be done with cast bullets or only with jacketed ones?
Thanks, regards, Ray

 

[Qc Pistolero]

If the case mouth is not flared,I think you are better stick with jacketed bullets.Lead bullets will probably shave off a small amount off from the base and the base is what drives your bullet,thus destroying any chance for accuracy.
Such a tool is easy to make if you have access to a press drill though.

 

[Joed49]

I started reloading with a Lee Loader, in fact I still have it. Mine was for a .25-06 so I can't say much about pistol cartridges. But, it loaded ammo for me that worked well for 3 years.

 

[cowboy4evr]

If your set doesn't include one , then you could contact LEE and get one for the 45 Colt . If using cast / plated bullets you definitely need it . good luck , Regards , Paul

 

[Bosquebass]

According to LEE the flaring tool for 45 acp must be ordered separately here:Custom Flaring Tool for Lee Loader

 

[Psweigle]

Use a bottleneck rifle case for a flaring tool

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I prefer the Lyman 310 tool, but that is a lot more money now days!

My Brazilian's original kit was like this:
Lets see: a Lee Loader, a box or two of primers, a box or two of bullets and a bottle of Unique, Bullseye or WW231. That will all fit in a shoe box, or depending on the powder bottle a 50 cal. ammo can. (or for the cowboys among us , a saddle bag!) You will also need a "wumper" to hammer with. I've used a hammer, a hammer handle, a rock. and a piece of fire wood. I suppose a boot heal would do in a pinch!

If you are shooting 45 ACP as opposed to 45 Auto Rim, you will need Moon clips or half moon clips. A simple de-mooning tool can be made from 1/2" copper pipe and I stick a 7/16" dowel rod about 6 or 7 inches long in it to help with loading the moons.

Mine has been a woods companion for about 33 or 34 years now, I carry it in a cheap Uncle Mike's nylon holster, several sizes will fit! Of course one of the leather holsters for a Model 22 or a military holster would be nice, but they aren't necessary for operation!

When your pistol deal is complete, you will have the time of your life.

Ivan

 

[LongviewReloader]

For best accuracy and consistency for your reloads; I would suggest you purchase a quality single stage reloader and a set of 3 pistol dies from RCBS or Redding. This way you can resize and decap in one operation with the 1st die; then flare the case mouths with the 2nd die; then seat the bullets and crimp with the 3rd die. In reloading, you get what you pay for.

 

[Minorcan]

Forty years ago I had one in 45 acp and it came with the fair tool. I enjoyed it and it was mindless fun. Accuracy was fine for plinking.

 

[gwpercle]

The flaring tool will do the job perfectly.
Don't let anyone tell you the Classic Kit will not load first rate ammo....
It will . Most of us started with one , mine's in 45 acp too.
The only drawback is speed and noise. The mallet banging was more of a drawback to me than the speed.
Extremely accurate and safe loads can be assembled. I still have and use mine purchased in 1967. Plus side....inexpensive , compact and portable !
Gary

 

[Ray]

Thanks for the answers, I think the seller down here doesn´t have the flaring tool.but I can ask a friend living in Houston to order one to me from Lee. He will come to Brazil in february.
Mind you, here loading tools and dies, as incredibly as it may seem, are controled items, and as you may surmise, very expensive. When you control something the prices will go up, kind of black Market, so that´s the reality here.
I don´t intend to load much, it´s just for relaxation and a bit of shooting .
I´ll shoot both rimless and rimmed ( auto rim) 45s and already have 3 full moon and 2 half moon clips.
Regards, Ray

 

[Ray]

An uptdate to the post above. I just remembered I have a dummy .50 BMG round. Extracted the bullet and with a hammer beat its base on an unprimed auto rim case - voilà, case flared !
Necessity is the base of invention.
Regards, Ray

 

[Marshal Kane]

It's tough being a shooter living where shooting is strictly controlled.

 

[mikld]

Yep, you should have a tool to make bullet seating (entry into the case) easier. I have used bottle necked cases pushed in the case mouth and the striking end if a chisel (the tapered "back end"). I have also ground a smooth taper on the end of a steel rod or bolt (beyond the threads) to act as a flaring tool, either tapping with a hammer or pushing and turning by hand...

I have 7 Lee Loaders (along with my 4 presses, 3 scales, 2 powder measures and 1,49 metric tons of assorted equipment) and occasionally I'll feel "retro" and pound out a box of handloads with my Lee Loader. I can make good, accurate ammo with mine...

Not so slow once you get the hang of the tool... lee loader youtube - Google Search

 

[max503]

Use a bottleneck rifle case for a flaring tool

Beat me to it. Yes. Tap it in with a mallet. Try to be consistent.

I started out with a book by John Wooters. "The Complete Book of Handloading", or something like that. Him and Maj. George C. Nonte were very resourceful. They'd be good authors to look up for a new reloader, or someone in a limited gun culture. Brazil probably doesn't have the resources that 'Merica has for gun nuts.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I actually started with a single stage press and then bought my first Lee Classic Loader. It’s defintely possible to crank out quality ammo with the Lee Loader, and not much slower than a single stage press, but it would be nerve wrecking to do several hundred rounds a month with one. Fifty rounds a month wouldn’t be a problem. If I had only a Lee Loader I would invest in a hand primer.

 

[Ray]

Yes it´s tough to live here as a shooter, and that ´s where the Internet enters to help aquiring knowledge.To get the hardware is a bit more complicated and usually expensive.
I´m ordering for a kit from a local vendor this week.
Regards, Ray

 

[schutzen-jager]

instead of a flaring tool you can just chamfer the inside case mouth with a deburring tool or a pocket knife - - this was noted in the original Lee instructions years ago when the tools came out -

 

[Ray]

Update: Just ordered the kit and the seller said it comes with the case flaring device.
Thanks, regards, Ray

 

[Marshal Kane]

How hard would it be to obtain a single stage reloading tool and a set of loading dies? It would make reloading that much easier.