Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Who all began it all with a Lee Loader?

There's a post elsewhere on 24-hour about a Lee Loader. Man it brought back some memories because that is what I started out with back in 1964, a Lee Loader in .284 Winchester, some Sierra 120 grain bullets, IMR 4350 Powder and Winchester Primers if my memory serves me right. Now I wonder, how many of you started your reloading career with the simple little Lee Loader? This is just for grins. Thanks ... Tom Purdom

I did.

Yes.

243 Win
IMR 4831
Hornady 100gr Spire points

Me too...in 1974, in .30-'06. Bought it, and a box of 125 gr Seirra's, a can of IMR 3031, and a box of CCI primers.

It was very exciting <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yep...

First was a .22 Hornet and the second was a 7X57, maybe about 25 years ago.

I did that for about a year and saved enough money up to buy an RCBS press...still got/use the press.

Those two rifles and the lee loaders are long gone now....sad to say.

7x57mm Mauser:
Certainly not ME. I began with the Lyman Three Tong Ten Tools.
Smitty of the North

I did back around 1984. For my Remington 760 in 30/06. Stll have the Lee Loader but no 30/06!

+ 1.Started with the .308.I could really draw a crowd at the range when I was seating a bullet with a mallet! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mine was a 270 back in the early '70's. I loaded a lot of rounds with that thing before I had a place to set up a bench.

Dick

Yep, Sure did!!
My dad bough one in 38/357 when he started and got one for me in 12 ga when I recieved my first gun a few yrs later. We both, with the help of one of his work buddies, learned on these and went on from there.
A great little tool to learn the basics on.

Me too. Have no idea what bullet's and primers I was using but it was a 308 with 4064. Come to think of it, it could well have been Herter's bullet's and primer's. That was my Bible.

Mine was for my 7mag and I still have it but I used an RCBS now.

I started with one, loading for a JC Penney 30-06. I hand weighed each powder charge. The Lee Loader and a little scale were the core of my reloading outfit.

My neighbor wanted to help, and he was convinced that 165 grain hollow points were optimum for deer.

Wish I had that rifle back. It was a good shooter. For that matter, I wish I had back the eyes that I had then...

I did. .250 Savage. Still have it and several other calibers. Trying to find an affordable one on eBay for the .348 Winchester. Thanks...Bill.

Me too, as far as the Herter's Catalog goes. I would pour over the catalog like it was the one, and only, reading material in existance. As far as my Lee Loader, I owned a Model 88 Winchester in .284 Winchester. I must have hot-loaded the hell out of that because I can still remember some of the loads were so damn hot that I almost needed a mallet to beat the lever open. The primer pockets expanded so much that I could easily seat a primer with my little finger. Through it all, though, I lived. I was my own teacher back then. When Herters went out of business, it was as if I had lost a friend. Keep up the posts folks. I find this very interesting. Thank You ... Tom Purdom <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My brother and I started loading 12 gauge with a Lee Loader in the late 1950's. Worked fine for us.
Shortly after I got out of the Air Force in the mid-60's, I started loading 30-06 with the Lee Loader. I still use 'em both, still for 12 gauge and 30-06.
I now use scales and weigh each powder charge. I use an arbor press type bottle-capper to form the crimp on plastic 12 gauge cases, and also use the capper to neck size and seat the bullet on the 30-06.
I tried a press with dies/etc. for the 06 during 1 reloading session, and promptly gave it back. Too complicated.

Lee Carkenord Denver CO

I started mid 60's with a 20 gauge loader and then about 1970 with the 270.

I started with one in the mid-70s, loading for a 270 Win.

Yup, me too. Late 60's, .30-06 and 150 gr Hornadays. Great tool!

Ditto - mid 70's and .270 Win. Later on .223 Rem and 12ga.