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.

I still use them. Actually I prefer them as I've loaded my most accurate ammunition in them in a variety of calibers.I buy 1 for each bullet I use so I'm not fiddling around trying to repeat the seating depth when I change loads. At $ 14 at Cabelas you can get a bunch of them for the price of a press and some conventional dies. I do use a hand priming tool though...

.357/38 Special for my Ruger Blackhawk .357 - that was my first centerfire revolver bought when I was 16.

Loaded up some .38 Special rounds with whatever powder and the dipper that came with the Lee Loader - I'm guessing Unique or Bullseye.

Took the revolver out to a rockpit at the edge of the Everglades, stuck it out in front of me and turned my head away from it since I figured it might blow up, and squeezed the trigger. Was sort of surprised when it went bang and held together. Fired the rest of the box and that was it, I was hooked on reloading. Used that Lee Loader for about a year or more and finally upgraded to a Lyman C press, then a couple of years later to the RCBS Jr which I've been using ever since.

That was 38 years ago and I ain't blowed myself up even once so I must be doing something right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Almost. A Lee Loader was my first set of centerfire rifle dies. However, while in college, I bought a National Match 45 with all the reloading equipment (Lyman turret press). That stuff was well used then, but is still working 40 years later.

Rem 600, 6mm and started in 1964. Fond memories, and I could consistently drill golf balls at 100 yds. That was my goto rifle for deer and chucks for about 15 years. Still have the rifle, but got my money back for the Lee when I picked up a Rock Chucker from Clark Brothers near Warrenton Va. in 1977. Wish I could start it all over again. 1Minute

I use Lee Loaders for rifles and shotguns today. I can't buy the turkey loads I produce w/ my Lee Loaders. They neck-size just fine for my needs. I recently sold my 7mm-08 Lee Loader on eBay to a fellow campfire member. When I finally buy a 7x57 rifle, I'll probably try to find a 7x57 Lee Loader. I'd like to find a 6.5 Arisaka loader at some point, even though I have Lee dies for it.

When did I start using Lee Loaders? 2004. Use what works. My hunting partner who has 25+ years of hunting and reloading experience thinks I'm nuts, but my groups are as good as his w/ his press and RCBS dies.

.30-06 (<1" groups)
8x57 (1" groups out of a k98K)
.30-30 (I get 3 neck-sizings before FLS) (1" groups w/ HiViz iron sights)
12 Gauge 2 3/4"
12 Gauge 3"

I started out with a Lee Loader for my 30-06 Model 70. Used a sierra 150 grain bullet, cci primer, DuPont 4320 Powder.

Same here, about 1973, 16 ga shotgun.

Yes, I started reloading with a Lee Loader. It was about 1972 and I decided that I could shoot my Marlin .30-30 deer rifle much more often for the same money if I started handloading. For a year or more I used only the Lee Loader set up, including dippers, to cobble together hunting and practice ammunition. In those days it was IMR 3031 and 150 gr Speer FN bullets-- still the best FN profile on any bullet made for the .30-30, IMO. The ammo I made was always safe and pretty accurate and effective even though it was somewhat underpowered. Those were the days!

Tom,

Me too, and about the same time. .30-'06 and 165 Sierra hunting bullets. Rifle was my M721 Rem.

jim

I started with one for a .308 Winchester. Gave it one scoop of 4064 with the dipper provided. Used to pound the cases into the resizer with a piece of 2 X 4. Used it for 4-5 years before I got a press. I still use the Lee Loader when I'm working up a load at the firing range for my 308's. Use it to seat the bullets. Just measure the powder and drop it into a previously resized and reprimed case. It is a good piece of equipment to have.

Must be my age-I started with my dad's Lyman 310 "nutcracker" for a 243. We had some 85 grain Sierra spitzers and used a charge of 3031. I can't remember how much 3031 we used but I remember Dad saying the velocity was around 2800fps. I know now it was a light load but we never had to shoot a deer or groundhog over once with it.

My first loading tool was the Lyman 310 Tong Tool AKA "the Nutcracker", way back in 1954 for loading the .38 Spl. I never even saw a Lee tool until I got a rifle in .308 Win. about 1972. The store where I bought the gun had a Lee loading kit, so I decided to try it out. Never did get comfortable seating primers with a hammer. I have a couple of other sets laying around someplace gathering dust. I much prefer the Lyman Tong Tool. I'm always looking for more dies for that tool.
Sometimes, when I'm in the mood for reloading in a more leisurely manner for a cartridge like the 30-30 and cast bullets, I'll set up the Tong tool and load up the ammo like maybe my great-grandfather did, with that tong tool and a well cast bullets. A very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. The only concession to more moderninty is I'll charge the cases with a powder measure. I've never been too comfortable with those dippers.
Paul B.

.243 and I still have it.

Actually Lee loaders load up some pretty good ammo. For years I used it along with a powder scale. They neck size only so cases will eventually get tight if you use that scale to push things over the "dipper" loads. They also seat bullets in a straight line and often have less runout then conventional dies. They work just like stright line seaters used today in benchrest shooting.


Lefty

I began my rifle cartridge reloading career in 1969 with a Lee Loader for my .444 Marlin. I used a dipper for IMR 4198 powder, Federal 210 Large Rifle primers and Hornady 240 grain jacketed bullets. An hour's careful work would produce 20 loaded .444 Marlin rounds.

I just picked up a Lee Loader in 6MM International. Does anyone have a charge card from which I could get a copy?
The measure is missing too, but I have an old cubic inch scoop set I think I can cannibalize.
Then I will need to buy a gun to go with it.
I already have the .222 and .244 target kits. The target loaders are a bit different and rather nice, I think.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

i actually started on my dads stuff...
after high school i joined the army... in the barracks on ft. bragg i had no place for a press and graduated to a lee loader in .243 and .308... i have lee loaders for several cartridges now, and occasionally use them all..... john w

Yup, loading for my Savage 340 in .223 with one back in the mid 80's.

as a former competitive rifleman, i still hold two world tactical records in all modesty. I must say that the lee loader is by far the best basic loader available.. dependable and out of a bolt gun you wont get any more accurate than that... fire form the cases so they are gun specific and take on off.. i however do weigh the charges as opposed to dipping them... i load for my 243's with a lee loader eventhough i have several dillion presses.. i use a sierra 85 gr hpbt # 1530 with a fed 210 M primer and 37.3 of imr 4064.. awesome accuracy and in my "OPINION" the finest whitetail load available.. thats my 2cents... be well all.....

i would however nearly give a chunk of my anatomy for a lee loader target model in 243 win... so if anyone finds one please drop me an email!!! thanks.. Chris

Mastersniper,
Target Loaders show up rarely around here. I've only come up with three - .222 Remington, .244 Remington, and 6MM International, which is , I suppose, especially uncommon. I haven't had an opportunity to buy a 6MM International gun yet so that I can try it out.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

I started with one in 20 ga. and 38 S&W way back around 1971. Still have 'em but don't use 'em anymore.

Telly

1972, loading 20 guage for my savage 24c

Tim,

What is the target model?

The Lee Target Model Zero Reloader is a deluxe version of the old Lee Loader.
It includes a chamfer tool, a primer pocket cleaner, a trimmer cutter, pilot, holder and lock stud, a neck reamer, a squeeze-type primer tool and micrometer seater, as well as the other usual parts, but no hammer primer seater.
I believe a few benchrest trophies were won with these. They are not too shabby.
I'm sorry I can't scan one for you.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

Count me in. Started in 1980 with a lee loader in .243, IMR4350 and 100 gr sierra gamekings out of a 788 remington.

weagle