Lee Loaders, need help.

[otis24]

I’ve never gotten into reloading. No place for the equipment. In the past, .38/.357 ammo was cheap enough that it didn’t seem worth it to reload. My elderly neighbor, who isn’t too computer savvy, asked me to buy a LED Loader in .45 Colt and one in .30-.30 for him and he would reimburse me. I had never heard of these before. If I had, I wasn’t paying attention because I wasn’t interested in reloading. Watched a couple of YouTube videos and this looks like the cats meow! Certainly a suitable setup for any reloading I would do.

What do I need for powder, bullets and primers? How much should I expect to pay for such? I would just be looking to load up plinking ammo. Where do I start and how much can I save b reloading?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DWalt]

Lee Loaders are a little labor intensive and slow, but they will get the job done if you are reloading in modest quantities. I started reloading with several Lee Loaders back in the 1960s when they cost about $10 each. They can be used most anywhere and they take up little storage space. I would look on eBay for used sets. Regarding components, it depends entirely on what calibers you want to reload. Powder and primers are somewhat pricey today. Lee Loaders usually come with a simple sheet of loading instructions and recipes. Powder charges are measured with an included dipper. You can buy a separate set of Lee dippers if you want more versatility.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I just looked on Midway USA , they have both in stock

"Lee Classic Loaders"
45 Long Colt # 647702 $39.99
30-30 Win #543039 $39.99

There will be shipping charges!

I started with one Lee Loader in 1979 (303 British), I have about 20 now. I like them for handgun and rifle cartridges, but wouldn't recommend them for shotgun rounds!

Ivan

 

[Frailer]

If I may offer a snippet of advice, if space is a primary concern you might also wish to take a look at the Lee “Breech Lock Hand Press.” While it isn’t as capable as a bench-mounted press, it is significantly more convenient (and far less noisy) than a Classic Lee Loader. A hand press, dies, and all associated support equipment fit nearly in a small tool box.

 

[DWalt]

I started with one Lee Loader in 1979 (303 British), I have about 20 now. I like them for handgun and rifle cartridges, but wouldn't recommend them for shotgun rounds!
Ivan

Way back when, I loaded thousands of 12 Gauge shells for trapshooting. But that was when plastic cases were in their infancy and paper cases were standard. The Lee Loader worked well with paper cases. Not so well with plastic cases.

 

[SMSgt]

I would not wish a Lee Loader on anyone who wasn't riding the trails on horseback and needed to load six rounds for his six-shooter. Too much work for too little ammo. Save up a few more dollars and get a press, dies, powder dropper, etc. and make your efforts worth wild. You'll either love reloading or hate it. No sense in working yourself to death trying to load minimum quantities.

 

[dsf]

The Lee Hand Press is cheap and miles ahead the entry level Lee. Takes up about zero space too.

FWIW, I have an about 4 ft wide, 2 ft deep and 10ft high cubby hole in my apartment. I have dies, bullets. powder & primer, cases and a Rockchucker, scale & powder measure tucked in there. Reload for about 90 cartridges.

It can be done.

 

[Imissedagain]

Hammers are loud.
Hand press is quiet.
Hand priming tool is wise.
Worth the investment.
Hand press will fit in saddle bags, Horse or Harley.

I picked up a NOS 44 Mag Lee Loader for the NOS Winchester
'94 AE Ranger, 16" barrel, that I bought for the kids.
Just needed to load a few dozen, test function, then put the rifle away for now.
The Lee Loader was $15 on eBay, a few years ago.
Only downside to a '94 AE, you have to reach to catch the brass compared to a '92.

 

[oysterer]

Do yourself a favor and skip Lee. RCBS, Dillon are great, dies, presses etc, you'll end up with those anyway sooner < later

 

[mikerjf]

I have a Lee Hand Press and like it. I had a Lee Loader and hated it.

Go sit in a closet with a 2x4 and hammer and bang for 15 minutes. Relaxing and fun? Then you need a Lee Loader.

 

[Maddog 521]

Years ago I put a removable shelf in my kitchen pantry and clamped it down. I'd sit there with the door open and reload what I needed on a 3 hole Lee turret press. It worked for me. I thought about those Lee Loaders but the pantry shelf worked great.

 

[WR Moore]

I had a college buddy who did the Lee Loader thing...right up until he detonated a primer while trying to seat it.

 

[BE Mike]

I started reloading about 1971 with a Lee Loader in .38 SPL. They are slow, but produce satisfactory ammo. Mine came with a dipper for the powder charge that was made for Bullseye pistol powder (things might have changed). You can probably load a box of plinking .38 SPL ammo for half or more the cost of factory ammo. I admittedly went to a bench mounted press kit not long after. Using a Lee Loader should be considered if you don't shoot too much, you have limited disposable income and plenty of free time.

 

[max503]

Congratulations, you are going down the right path.

I started with a 22 Hornet Lee Loader in 1979.

No need to invest in a bunch of equipment if that will fill your volume needs.

Here's what got me started. I also have one in 38. Had a 303 British and it produced very good quality ammo. Better than military or store bought.

 

[Buzzzer]

I've had Lee loaders (progressive/single stage) for years. Are they the best?, no. However, with the low volume I do they're just fine and do produce ammo that's decent. Like everything Lee has it's quirks, probably more than the expensive brands.

That being said I do prime by hand (RCBS), every time. It didn't take long, when I started out, to realize this needed done with powder all over the progressive press when it skipped a primer. That, definitely, was not worth the hassle...

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If I may offer a snippet of advice, if space is a primary concern you might also wish to take a look at the Lee “Breech Lock Hand Press.” While it isn’t as capable as a bench-mounted press, it is significantly more convenient (and far less noisy) than a Classic Lee Loader. A hand press, dies, and all associated support equipment fit nearly in a small tool box.

MY observation: The Lee Hand press (Lovingly called the "Nutcracker" by thousands of people that own them), The require far more dexterity to use than any other form of reloading (right up there with Lyman 310 tools!)

A box of bullets, a tray of primers, an aspirin bottle of powder, your empties and a Lee Loader is a little move volume than a good sandwich. Once you are used to using them, 1 hour will produce 25 to 50 rounds while sitting at a picnic table. You will also need some form of striking device. I have used the following: Hammer, Firewood, Rock, and a Hiking Boot. Far simpler (and less expensive) than a 310 Tool or a Nutcracker in the field.

A hundred bullets, primers, and a cup of powder make 5 boxes of 30-30- or two boxes of 38 ammo. The Info on the package tells which powder & powder you need and how fast they will go.

Last observation: While some type of hammering is involved, since they only neck size the cases, ammo can be "Press Fit" together with enough force. (Seating primers is the hardest thing to do by hand!) Sitting at a picnic table, while camping, and loading is nowhere as noise as the next campsite chopping wood!

Ivan

 

[gwpercle]

You can make great ammo ... bot it will be made ...S-L-O-W-L-Y and the banging with the rubber / plastic mallet , gets Old Fast .

If you want to get into reloading look at a Lee Hand Press ...it's a nifty little hand held press , no bench required , I use one to reload all my Handgun ammo , from 32 acp to 45 acp and 38 Special to 45 Colt and 30-30 rifle ... I'm 75 and don't have extraordinary hand arm strength .
So it can't be hard ...I'm old .
The Lee Hand Press Kit , a set of reloading dies and a shell holder will let you make ammo sitting at your desk , kitchen or dining table or coffee table ... just about anywhere you have a flat surface ... and No Banging !
Lee Hand Press ...is ... Handy !
Gary

 

[jb28]

If I may offer a snippet of advice, if space is a primary concern you might also wish to take a look at the Lee “Breech Lock Hand Press.” While it isn’t as capable as a bench-mounted press, it is significantly more convenient (and far less noisy) than a Classic Lee Loader. A hand press, dies, and all associated support equipment fit nearly in a small tool box.

This x 10. And I have both.

 

[GypsmJim]

I bought a Lee Loader in 1971 for .38 spl. And then a 30-06, and then.....on and on until I had 16 of them. Every new gun I bought in a different caliber required a new loader. Then I bought a .41 mag Model 57 and they didn't make one, so I had to buy a press and dies. Had it not been for that I would probably still be using Lee Loaders.

Yes, they take a little longer.....Get in tune and it goes faster. Yes, the ammo is good.....as good or better than factory. If you are loading a couple boxes a week.....the time difference won't be a bother. If you are into heavy shooting.....spend thousands for a Dillon.

The only extra I would buy is a hand priming tool. You can drill some holes in a piece of wood to make a loading block.

Figure $40 for a pound of powder, $9 for 100 primers and $10 for 100 bullets. (cheaper if you go with lead) I assume you will use your own once fired brass. That comes out to about $11 for a box of 50. If you had started 4 years ago it would have been half that. If you cast your own bullets it would have been $2.50.

A Whack-a-Mole is an excellent way to get started. If you get bored, you will not have lost much. If you like the hobby, you can invest in the fancy stuff later.

I used Loaders for 25 years. The last 25 have been with presses. Last year I decided to put my old Loaders up for sale and I got rid of the whole lot for twice what I paid for them.

PS - forgot to add a GOOD Loading Manual to the required list.

 

[dave1918a2]

I agree with post #6. If You are going to reload, start with the best You can afford. If You like reloading You are just going to go there anyway. If not You can still sell reasonably. Look on fleabay.