Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Some Lee Loader fun

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With a 223 Remington Lee Loader and the scoop included in the box, I loaded up 10 cartridges. I used a plastic card to level the top of the powder scoop.



For those who have never used a Lee Loader, the principle is simple. We'll not bother talking too much about priming for this exercise. If you prime the way Richard Lee did when he created the tool, you place a primer on the priming chamber. Next, you fully seat the new case into the die, so that the base of the case is fully inside the die (flush). Then you take the die with the case in it and place it over the new primer. Slide the black priming rod into the die and tap the rod with your nylon or wooden hammer to seat the new primer. Done!



Pick a powder from the list included with your LL. For this test I used Win 748.

Using a new, primed case, dump a level scoop of powder into the case. The case is still inside the reloading die (the shiny steel tube) - third pic below.. You dump the powder into the top. The scoop is dipped into the 748 and leveled using a paper or plastic card. In this case, I used my PAL. Finally, a good use for it!!



You seat the bullet by dropping it into the top of the die. The same place where you dumped the powder. Then gently tap the bullet to seat it. Seating depth is determined by adjusting the knurled, black knob on the loading die.



I put powder in ten cases. After I was done, I weighed the powder from each case just for fun. This is what I got.

1. 24.7
2. 24.8
3. 24.4
4. 24.8
5. 24.5
6. 24.4
7. 24.5
8. 24.5
9. 24.8
10. 24.8

24.4 to 24.8 grains of powder.

Average - 24.6 grains of powder.

I ran it through the computer and it told me that the cases were approximately 89% full. Average pressure would be about 37,750 PSI. Highest pressure - 24.8 gr - 38,600 PSI. With the 55 gr. Campro bullet, shot from my rifle with a 24 inch barrel, the velocity should be about 3000 fps. Safe. With the scope adjusted so that bullets will hit about 1 inch high at 100 yards, this load has a 200 yard zero.

Certainly, 748 may not be the most accurate powder, but the list included in the box has a lot of others to try.

Excellent post. Got a Lee Loader for a .30-30 that I've been wanting to try for several years (I'll get around to it). I'd like to know what accuracy you're getting.
Bob

Great post. I love Lee Loaders. They were my first tool for rifle and pistol.

In my experience, they will sometimes beat the accuracy of other tools. The LL dies is wonderful at seating bullets straight.

To me(after sighting in with one load), its fun to use the LL to load about 8 rounds before deer season. I inspect every case and round, even look at the primer anvils. Then I shoot 2 or 3 from a field position at 50yds. to check things.
Sometimes I'll carry those 5 rds. for years. When I shoot a deer I'll go load 1 or 2 to replace it.

Yes, some people don't appreciate them. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the post.

There is something relaxing about sitting inside when it's cold or rainy outside and making up a few cartridges by hand. I think many of us have made cartridges at the range, hunt camps, during boring family picnics or while listening to the radio and taking it easy. Sometimes you don't have to go full tilt.

Good tutorial. I enjoy using the Lee Loaders and I use the Target Model Loader for the 22-250 the most. I don't hit anything with a hammer, went to an arbor press.





The Lee Loader works well at the range. I set up in the comfort of my truck.

That's it. I'm getting an arbor press. which one is the best from Sinclaire?

An arbor press is very handy. I think if you spoke to the competition crowd, they would recommend something different, but I use an inexpensive arbor press I bought through amazon. It is made by Bald Eagle. If you ever buy LE Wilson seater dies, this is the cat's ass.



Sinclair has a press here. This is just about perfect. If you google reloading arbor press, you will find others.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/reload...sses/sinclair-arbor-press-prod37764.aspx

I loaded many rounds of .243 and .223 on a Lee loader before I got a press. The most accurate .223 load I’ve shot out of my .223 is a scoop of Varget from the powder measure and a 50 grain Hornady sx sp. one hole groups if I could hold steady enough, which is not often as I’m not a precision shooter just a hunter. I used a mallet every time lol. Fun times with the lee loader!

Had two of these in the mid seventies. One for 22-250 and 270. Worked great. Probably shot better than I could then. Was nice for a broke guy. I only had limited brass but I took them with on prairie dog hunts and could reload in the evening for the next day.
The norm for both guns was 1 inch groups. Doesn’t sound that great now but back then with factory guns and plain Sierra bullets it got the job done. Thanks for the memories. Edk

Richard Lee has introduced a great many people to reloading.

Bumping this old post up.

Just wanted to mention Lee's reloading manual. It is full of great information. New reloaders should read the whole book.

I’m currently using a single stage Lee press. I Prime and trim with my press also. Currently loading 300 savage, 222 Remington, 243 Win and 300 Win mag with my Lee single stage. D

Richard Lee was a smart cookie.

For fun, I checked around to get prices on new Lee Loaders. In Canada, they are about $56. In the US, about $37. Gun shows and gun shop used equipment tables are the places to look for less expensive kits.

You have to get lucky and find a seller that doesn't know the current market prices.

A kit for a .30-06 will be the cheapest. Rare or hard to find kits can get expensive. The older ones in .30-30 hover around $100 now.

... have a Lee Loader in 45-70 bought for $9.95

I was very fortunate and found an excellent Lee loader in 375 H&H at a yard sale, $10. 😀😀

I started my reloading experience with one of these for a R77V in 25-06, in 1974 or 75. Worked fine. Took about 20 caribou over 3 years, out to over 500 yards - probably well over!. 4831 powder, 120 gr Speer bullets. MOA for 5 shots.

Not a bad deal for $19, IIRC, including shipping, at that time, living in a remote village.

That's the way to get them these days. This is from a Canadian site in Cdn dollars. About 30% more than USD.

Midway has a decent price now. even for the .30-30 Win.

I can't stress enough ,If you are reluctant to reload, try one in your favorite caliber, or your deer rifle.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012833230?pid=735723

I like the Lee hand primer system too. Also a lee loader guy, 270 beginning in 1969.