Stress management + accuracy-Lee Classic Loading kits

[MyDads38]

The past few weeks have been pretty stressful for me at work, more frustrating than usual. So, I got out my 38 Special Lee Loading kit and have been spending time loading some ammo to take to the range. This was how I got started back around 1980, loading for my first revolver-Ruger Security Six w/6" barrel.

This has really helped take my mind off of work, and produces some really accurate and enjoyable loads for my 38 revolvers
I did a comparison a few years ago, loading some 38's on my Lee Classic Turret and the same load on my Lee Loading kit; results were, no difference in accuracy or function. I've loaded the same 50 cases 3 times in 2 weeks, shot them again this past Wednesday after work, and working on loading them again.

It has really helped take my mind off work and it reminds me of how I got started in this "hobby" we call Reloading. Just wanted to share, as I'm too deep in this rabbit hole to ever get out now!

 

[Regaj]

I'm guessing none of us ever imagined, when we sat down with that very first basic reloading kit - whichever one it was - that handloading would prove to be such a wonderful pastime in its own right.

Stimulating and stress reducing, indeed!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I started with a Lee kit in 303 British in 1979. I found it very relaxing.....until I set off a primer! I'm sure glad I had good bladder control.

Now I have several presses, but I still enjoy the "Primitives". I have 20 or 21 Lee Loader and about 17 Lyman 310 tool die sets and 5 tools. I only sold 1 Lee Loader, a 410-2 1/2" set. A friend's 23 year old son bought his first sub-gauge a needed to avoid the expense of factory ammo. I sold him the loader, about 200 Remington hulls and about 1000 wads for $15, to help him start his own obsession/hobby.

Every winter I load a box of revolver ammo to keep in practice.

Ivan

 

[S&WsRsweet]

I bought myself one of those Lee hand press deals last Christmas and have truly enjoyed it ,you are so correct Mydads38 after getting to the point that reloading was almost a chore trying to run as many rounds as I could as fast as I could slowing down and enjoying the whole experiance is very relaxing. Man where did I put my Lee loading kit yea I know thanks I'm gonna go " primitive" myself .Shooting and reloading should be relaxing .

 

[slickracer]

Sometimes going Old School is the most enjoyable!

 

[daniel lawecki]

I find reloading at a nice slow pace enjoyable even on my progressive press. I don't want to work a fast pace like I have to at work. I stop look out the window and watch the squirrels play in the trees. No one comes in the gun/reloading room.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I too started with Lee loader kits . 38 spl , I loaded over 30 boxes of ammo with that kit . I then got a 44 kit , then 45 colt . It was over a yr and a half before I bought my first lee press , the inexpensive “ C “ press . I have more kits now , 243 , 303 , 30-30 , 41 mag and 45 acp along with the above mentioned kits .
I still just use a lee single stage press “ 50 “ anniversary press kit . It’s slow but I just remind myself that it’s a hobby , relax and enjoy . Regards Paul

 

[muddocktor]

Anybody got a pic or 2 of one of these Lee rifle and pistol cartridge loading kits by any chance? I started loading 410 and 20 gauge with their shotgun loading tools but I never saw one of them made for loading rifle or pistol cartridges.

 

[Harley Fan]

I started with a Lee kit in 303 British in 1979. I found it very relaxing.....until I set off a primer! I'm sure glad I had good bladder control.

Ivan

Hahahaha! I did that very thing, after pecking away at the kitchen table loading many, many rounds of .38 special. My ears rang for hours!

 

[DWalt]

Back around 1964 I started reloading with the Lee Loaders in .44 Mag, .30-'06, and 12 Gauge, usually sitting on the floor in front of the TV. I still have those, have not used them in many years. I have a Lee Loader for .45 Colt which I do use occasionally.

 

[jeeps]

Like the lee hand press. Loaded 10's of thousands with it.

 

[deadin]

until I set off a primer!

Know the feeling! My first Lee Classic was used to load .45 Auto Rim. Those cases had the tightest primer pockets I have ever run across.
I used to set off about one in every dozen. Once I got used to the noise it wasn't so bad. I would wear a glove on my "holding hand" so it didn't sting. The biggest hassle was chasing down the priming rod that usually ended up across the room....

 

[daniel lawecki]

A nice slow pace in the reloading room today. As I was reloading .22K Hornet Brass and those little .45 Grain bullets with sausage fingers placing the little pill on top. Well no pinched fingers 250 rounds loaded and a lot of brass to go.

 

[Skeet 028]

I used Lee Loaders in shotgun variety. I used the heck out of a Pacific Packit for rifle cals. 2 weekends ago I even bought a Pakit and the powder measure can at a gun show for 2 bucks along with a bunch of other hand tools etc....even got two of the powder tubes for Belding & Mull powder measures. Haven't even figured out what caliber it is yet. . I loaded 1000s of rounds of 25-06 till I got a Herter's Super Model 3 press and 25-06 dies...before it was a standard caliber

 

[cowboy4evr]

muddoctkor , If my son was here he could get those pictures for you . He's a former Marine , works high tech these days . He's great on the inet stuff . Truth be told , when working cattle though , he was about as much help as " 3 good men left home " . Regards , Paul

 

[gwpercle]

I started reloading in 1967 and I'm still at it , enjoying every second.
Man that's been 50 Years...where did all the time go...it seems like only a few years ago I was asking my Daddy for a $10.00 advance on my allowance to buy that $9.99 Lee Loader...He slipped me a Twenty and said "Don't tell your momma I gave you this....you might need some extra's ." My old man was a good one !
Gary

 

[mikld]

I too, got my start with a Lee Loader. I reloaded for over a year before I got a press. I found that if I lightly chamfered the primer pocket mouths, just like I would for removing military primer crimps, OOPS! stopped. My 44 Magnum Lee Loader was the only one to pop primers but after I chamfered the primer pockets the popping stopped.

Over thirty years later I still have 5 Lee Loaders (along with 4 presses and 1.32 metric tons of dies and assorted tools) and when I feel "retro", or just because, I'll pull one out and pound out a few rounds. I think Lee Loaders are the best thing to come about since smokeless powder...

 

[les.b]

I still have my two original Lee Loader kits, one in 38 special, and the other in 44 special. These we're my introduction to loading back around 1970 or 1971.. I haven't used them for awhile, but maybe I'll take the advice of the folks here, and do a little stress relief!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[deadin]

My very first introduction to handloading was with a Lyman (Ideal?) 310 Tong Tool in 45/70. I was somewhere around 14 or 15 years old and shooting a trap-door.. I was just loading BP, so there wasn't much of a chance of an overload.

I remember complaining to one of the local shooters about how hard that tong tool was to use. It took a lot of hand strength to ram the case in and than to get it back out of the die. He asked me what kind of lube I was using on the cases. I'm sure I had a really blank look on my face when I said "What Lube??"
(I apparently missed that part of the procedure when I read the book..... After that the cases didn't scratch up near as bad as before ..)

 

[glenwolde]

Anybody got a pic or 2 of one of these Lee rifle and pistol cartridge loading kits by any chance? I started loading 410 and 20 gauge with their shotgun loading tools but I never saw one of them made for loading rifle or pistol cartridges.

Just google "Lee Loader .38 Special"..........or whatever.