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Bang out 50 rounds on the Lee Classic Loader.
38 Special
158 Hornady LRN
Rem Cases
4.2 gr UNIQUE
Fed Small Pistol
~1.455 COAL

Nice. I got my start handloading with those back in the late 70s and early 80s. I made a lot of .38 Special for the range with mine.

It’s hilarious! The Lee Classic Loader is the only reloader that can pay for itself in 1-2 boxes of ammo. It’s helpful to have a set of calipers and a scale if you do not have them but not necessary. The scale can be used to verify your technique with the powder scale. For example, if I use .5cc scoop with Unique one way I can consistently get 4.2 gr, and another way 4.6. The calipers could be helpful but if you are loading projectiles with crimp groove it is unnecessary. Get one for every caliber just for $hits.

My 1st Lee Loader was in .308, neck sized only. I added a scale and Lee handheld case trimmer, and loaded a lot of shells. Then I got a Lee Loader in .30 carbine. It full length resized. Took a lot of blows from my wooden mallet to siza a case. Yes, I used case lube. I then cut two hardwood blocks and resized with the shop vise and the Lee die! I worked pretty well. So...was that my first press?

Looking to pick a Lee Classic Loader up, just for the memories.

Only one I saved is for 250 Savage.

They are fun. I was teaching a little one about the concepts and components and the kit is great for that. Rimmed pistol calibers are great for it. You can get a 45-70.

Yep. Just the other day I was struck by this fact when I went to the range with a SAA .45 Colt and shot up 100 rounds. It struck me that I just blew well over 100 dollars. Aluminum cased ammo, at that, so no reloading it either. Made me think long and hard about taking up the hobby of handloading again after a 22 year hiatus.

I had five or six of them back in the early 1980s. Have no idea where they are today.

Just ordered one for .45 Colt. Now I need bullets and powder. Still have large pistol primers left from the 1990s.

TRH, that’s awesome. I’ve made pretty consistent ammo on mine. Some of the starter kits from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS aren’t too bad. And really even a single stage press kit will start to save (though you’ll shoot more). Reloading has other benefits like, it keeps us off our phones.

I still have the one for 16 gauge I bought in '75. Man, I loaded a lot of shells with it..

Good memories.

I'm thinking Unique powder, right?

I mean for my .45 Colt.

I started reloading with the Lee Classic set back in the 1970s. Still have sets in 223, 243, 30-30, and 44Mag.

My first set was this one for the 243 Win,

I loaded a lot of .38 Specials with one of those!

So, does a typical gun store have the supplies I need, e.g., bullets, powder, primers, etc., or do I need to go online for everything? If the latter, where do you folks recommend?

Damn! Called around to all the stores near me, and none of them carried Unique, not even Bass Pro Shop.

Ended up buying one pound of it from Natchez for $97.00 after all the added on costs. Still beats Midway, which was asking $128.00 after all the added on costs. I guess it still makes sense if you consider 100 rounds of factory .45 Colt is over $100.00.

Now I just need bullets. I figure lead round nose. Any thoughts on sources?

Missouri Bullet Company has a pretty good variety of bullet shapes/types, and their prices are fair enough. There's no need to stick with LRN unless you just want to be "classic". I'd load semiwadcutters for everything, then you can use it hunting, or for self defense, or whathaveyou. Same powder charges, primers, etc. Might as well use something useful instead of just being "traditiional".

Thanks for the source.