Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Lee Loaders

Hey guys -

I'm just getting into loading a bit (i've used handloads before but i've always paid someone to do it for me). A buddy is setting up a nice little rig and we're going to try our hand at it, but I was also wondering about 'lee loaders'. The reason is this - someone suggested to me that they liked to have a lee loader handy to play with a few load ideas at the range before they went into 'mass production' so to speak on their rig at home. I looked at the website, but it seems strange to me that a 25 dollar device could load as well as ones costing a heck of a lot more. Do these things work at all or are they just toys?

Lee loaders are not toys. You can load acceptable and I stress acceptable handloads on them. They are slow and unless you buy a scale you are limited to the dipped charges with the powders listed on the little poop sheet that comes with them. If all you wished to do was load a box or three of ammo for hunting purposes they would fill the bill quite well. If you are setting up to handload anyway I personally would by pass the Lee loader and spend the 25 on fill in equipment for your loading bench.]


BCR

Foxer,

Are you're talking about the little kits that Lee Loader sells or the Hand Press? If it's the little loading kits then the answer is YES they work. Maybe they won't give you a load quite like a bench press will. And the loads are usually somewhat mild due to scooping your powder instead of measuring them. I started out using these 40 years ago. Still got kits for nine different calibers sitting on the shelf in my reloading shed. Now I use a Lee Hand press for tinkering at the range. Uses the same dies as a bench press. All I do is add a scale and you are able to make up loads while at the range and then go home and get into loading them if they work. Lawdog

They can be used to load some very good ammunition. My first experience with reloading was with one of these kits in .223rem. Just remember that they only neck size so if you have more than one rifle of the same caliber you need to segregate their brass. as their chambers will not be exactly the same. I also don't think they would work very well for a semi-auto because of the fact they neck size only, but I have no first hand knowledge of this.

They work very well. They are neck-sizing dies, so the force of a press isn't required. To speed things up a bit, use a vise instead of a plastic-faced hammer.
Get a powder scale. Those dippers aren't consistant until you have a bunch of experience with them.
I have a set for almost everything I handload. I don't use them very often anymore, but they work well when I do.

Thanks for the responses guys! Think i'll pick one up and give it a whirl, for 30 bucks or so it's hard to go wrong <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That is how I started out as well. They do work! One of the most accurate loads I ever made for my M1917 Rifle was from one of these kits. I had 1 1/2" groups at 200yds. But, it is slow. Buy youself a press and dies. I got my stuff at a gunshow, used, for a reasonable price.

George

Foxer, did you end up getting one of those Lee Loaders after all? Are you thinking of getting one in '06 for your Remington pump? If so, I'd probably suggest you save your money because you should generally full-length resize for pumps and autoloaders and those little Lee kits only neck-size.

Anyway, I'm sure we can talk about this and more on our little scouting/plinking/varmint-shooting trip in the next couple of weeks.

I know, i've been hearing different things - some say as long as you fireform the brass in the same gun you're loading for it's not a big deal - others say it's gonna jam for sure sooner or later (which translates into 'when you need it most <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

As a hunter obviously that's a concern to me. I'm thinking of just going with the aniversary kit - but I think i may still need to buy a special 'lever/pump' die if I go the 'full size' route. A couple of guys said they haven't had any problems in their pumps - but i'd sure hate to find out with an animal in my sights.

I'm so mind meltingly incompetent at this stuff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> As long as I don't blow myself up i'll be happy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Yeah - we'll go over it when we're 'lookin fer a lil' rabbit (heeeeeeee)'

sneaky pete puma was a personal hero <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you want to start reloading, my suggestion is to get the lee anneversary kit they run around 65 bucks and that enough stuff to get you started, even comes with a realoding manual. Reloading is not something that you just decide to do and then jump into it. You should do a little research, and really one of the first things you should do is buy a good reloading manual and then read it thoroghly. Just a thought.

This just my opinion but I would not have a Lee Press if they gave them away. I simply think they are as close to junk as you can get. I feel that if you are getting into reloading you should start out with a quality Press such as RCBS, Hornady, etc. Purchase good quality equipment and you will have a more harmonious outcome. Like I said this is just my own opinion but I'm still using the Rockchucker RCBS press I bought in 1970. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Foxer, one of these days when I get set up and settled in to our new place, I'll let you check out my reloading setup. I still use that basic Lee press, and I've loaded easily over ten thousand rounds with it and without complaint. As you know, I'm shooting competitively now.

For the pump, you definitely want to full-length resize, and that may involve a small-base die. I have a pretty tight .30-06 die myself, and I'm sure there'd be no problem running your brass through that one first before you load it, especially since we only live a couple of km apart. I've also got a bunch of '06 brass which is sized and ready to go.

I'd highly recommend that Lee Anniversary Kit. Order it through Ammomart/Higginson -- the best prices in Canada. That kit comes with press, dies, scale, shellholder, powder measure, primer pocket cleaner, and the Lee hand priming tool with the full set of shellholders for every centerfire cartridge. That is by far the best deal going. The only other things you'll need are the little Lee trimmer that works with your electric drill, which you can pick up for a little over 10 bucks, and a simple caliper to measure overall length. It should read to .001".

Many people may scoff at me, but for more than ten years I've been getting by with a plastic Lyman caliper called the "Acculine". You should be able to get a perfectly suitable tool for under $50.

That's it. That's all you will need to load ammo as good or better than the Federal Premium stuff you feed your Remington.

I'd go with the anniversary kit from LEE, you can even set it up on a portable bench for use at the range. I've had great luck with the LEE equipment that I've had for upwards of 18 years. I still use their $20 reloader press for forming brass for my 250 Savage & 243 Win (yes I'm cheap I have 4000+ 308 military cases that form great lol). That press still works great for loading too.