Lee Loader?

[Weatherby223]

I had one of these years ago for .222. Just wondering what you all think about them for  the .223. I dont remember how accurate the Bullets were i reloaded for the .222 years ago. Does anyone still use these or do you all get turned off with priming the case using a Hammer!! ahaha. I am on a budget and in Australia reloading set-ups are quite expensive. I would just like any feed back on just how good these reloaders are?
Cheers..
Mick

[Leftoverdj]

The Lee Loaders necksize only and are slow to use but they turn out as good ammo as any. It's a decent option if you are tight for money and/or space.

[Sixgun]

When I was getting started in re-loading I would buy a new Lee Loader with every new gun I bought.  I got one for a 7X57, 30-30, 308, 38/357, 44/44mag.  I loaded lots of rounds with them and killed lots of game.  

It is true that they only neck size the bottle necked cases and so you have to keep brass seperated for each gun and once-fired-brass will not work unless you full length size it.  I haven't had any trouble with the pistol brass though.  It will usually work in any other gun.  Sometimes I would run into a round that would not go into the cylinder of my revolver.

The thing about the pistol loaded rounds was that I never could get what I considered to be accurate ammo and I think it has to do with the crimp that you have to do with the Lee Loader.  It if almost impossable to get a good even crimp with a Lee Loader.

I still use my Lee Loaders once-in-awhile.  They are handy for loading up a very small amount of ammo or for other small tasks I may take up.

Sixgun

[Thomas Krupinski]

Mick,

It should work fine if you have the time.

The only other caution is the neck sizing may cause you some trouble if your are using a .223 in a semiauto action.  For everything else it should work just fine.  

You may want to find someone with a powder scale and then make yourself some powder measures from old cutoff pistol cases for the different charges you may want.

[Weatherby223]

Thomas,
that sounds like a good idea about using the cases to measure. I was wondering about the charges because i know the kit only comes with 1 measure. I dont have to worry about the scale though, my Brother works for A.N.D Mercury. He builds the scales for that very job. Dont know if you guys in the States have these make of scales but they do the job very well. Thanks for all the replies guys! Sounds like the Lee is going to fit the bill again.
Mick

[Thomas Krupinski]

Mick,

Just cutoff the straight wall pistol case to the length that throws the proper charge, then take some heavy wire and wrap it around the case and solder in place to make your handle for the measure.   Also instead of cutting off the case to reduce the capacity a little, put in a little glue to take up some space.

Lee also sells a set of plastic powder dippers (forgot how many in the set) that are very reasonably priced.  They are the same as the one that comes with the Classic Lee Loader.

Another option if you would care to explore it is to find one of the adjustable powder measures used by muzzleloader shooters for black powder.  They come in different sizes and Thompson Center sells one a clear plastic.  They are very inexpensive and if you have a scale to periodically verify what weight charge you are throwing by volume, it will work fine for smokeless also.

Good luck and enjoy.

[boneguru]

my first set was for 30-30, I used a fired 45 colt brass with the fired primer reversed and wire wrapped around the rims for powder dippers and just wrote the known capacity they had been cut for on the outside. 54gr win 748 for example. the lee's are great for reloading brass fired in your weapon only. you need to full length or short base in other weapons for obvious reasons of different chambers and actions. Raymond

[Dand]

I used several for 30-06, 30-30, and 41 mag.  But - I slowly beat up the case bases.  For a cartridge like the 223  I'd recommend you wait a little, save up and get a Lee press,or one of the economy RCBS or Lyman presses.  Note - Lee has a "Surplus" section on their web site and you can sometimes get factory seconds, or factory refurbished gear for very good prices. I've nabbed a few bullet molds this way.  I don't know how the Australian Ebay is but I see a LOT of economical presses on Ebay. I'd look for an RCBS Jr or similar.

Also - I highly recommend some sort of a powder scale - I think it will assure more consistency and safety in your loads.  In addition it lets you explore a wider range of powders.  

Have fun!