Author Topic: Reloading the handi-is a Lee Loader sufficient? (Read 3667 times)

wreckhog · « **on:** March 21, 2009, 09:26:36 AM »

Am starting from nothing, don't even have brass. Thinking of attempting reloading for the 30-30 for fun and economy, with cast bullets and black powder being a very interesting stage 2. Is the neck sizing limitation an issue? Is there much cost benefit in this load? More of a paper puncher than a hunter.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2009, 09:30:03 AM »

Though I haven't tried it, I think you should be OK. The Lee Loaders only neck size so they are best for someone who is going to fire them through one gun like you are doing. Should be a good set up.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:03:48 AM »

I have used one for over a year now for the 45/70 and if you load 40 or so it's fine.If you have a class 3 and shoot full auto maybe a little slow.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:17:18 AM »

Considering the 30-30 is a rimmed low pressure chambering, the Lee Loader will work just fine, whether blackpowder is cost effective is another matter tho, it requires a compressed case full of powder, cast loads of just 5-10gr of smokleless powder would seem to be more economical to me even tho BP can cost less.

Tim

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:20:03 AM »

Not to mention a lot easier to clean up after.

Pete

FW Conch · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:27:31 AM »

wreckhog, IMHO the Lee Loader is just fine for starting out, in fact I have one for every round I load even though I have dies for everything also. I would suggest that as soon as you can swing it , get a powder measure scale.

Good Loading- Good Shooting - Jim

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:43:50 AM »

Tim, to cut the load down with black powder, can't you use cornmeal or some other inert filler to get the compression?

Pete

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2009, 10:49:48 AM »

I dunno, maybe, not my cup O'tea, I'd rather eat cornmeal that shoot it!!

Tim

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2009, 11:10:04 AM »

Best to check with the BP form,but I have used corn meal to fill up the cylinders on a blackpowder pistol,to bring the ball flush with the top of the cylinder.

greg916 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2009, 11:24:13 AM »

I have been using a Lee Loader for my 30-30 for a while now. Have had no problems. I can load 2 boxes in about an hour.

burntmuch · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2009, 12:28:23 PM »

Ive used them for my 45/70 & 357 max. No problems. Other than getting hooked, then spending more & more money on reloading equipment.

brennemanj83 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2009, 12:36:59 PM »

I have just recently started loading for my 30-30 with a classic loader I picked up a while back $10.I am amazed at the quality of the ammo I can produce with such a simple system.Its a little slow but once you get a rythm going you load 40 or 50 rds quite quickly.I have yet to have one that would not chamber in my rifle.I plan on putting my Classic Loader in my survival pack (since my 30-30 is my go to gun) along with a little supply of powder and some cast bullets.

mitchell · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2009, 08:06:14 AM »

short answer .......no.

u said you a paper puncher mostly im sorry but i just dont see how you can make a good reload by scooping powder in and wackin the top of ur round with a hammer?

u would be better to buy the lee starter kit and upgrade from there .

quality doesn't have room for short-cuts.

save up and buy the real deal you wont regret it

FW Conch · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:08:28 AM »

mitchell, I'm sorry, I must respectifully disagree with you. The LEE LOADER makes unbelieveabley good reloads, especially considering the low cost investment. With the L L your not "knocking the top off" anything !

As I said above however, I do recommend (@ the very least) getting the Lee Powder Dipper Set, or better yet a powder measure scale.

JMHO - Good Loading - Good Shooting - Jim -

Sourdough · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:32:01 AM »

I used a lee loader for a few years for a .308. It worked fine when my shots were all close, but as ranges increased the inconsistancy in the amount of powder started showing up in poor groups. I got a powder scale, problem solved. Those scoops are just not that accurate. The depriming punch is best when depriming crimped military brass. I have broken several RCBS depriming pins. So now when I go to deprime a batch of military brass I use the Lee Loader to deprime.

Today I use an electronic powder measure/scale to measure all loads. I use Lee presses, lee trimmers and case length gauges, and Lee dies. Yes I own a full Set of RCBS presses and Dies for many of the calibers I reload, but I just like the Lee stuff better. Especially the case trimmers and gauges. I'll sit in the evening and trim a bunch of cases as I watch TV. I use a Black and Decker electric screwdriver for power, and it works slick. I honestly hate that RCBS case trimmer. If you are not real careful it's easy to get inconsistant lengths with the RCBS trimmer. It's the collet that is the problem.

bilmac · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2009, 12:35:06 PM »

Another nice thing about the hand tools is you don't need a big heavy bench. I started loading while I was going to college in my little 23' trailer house with a Lyman Tong Tool. I thought they had stopped making them a long time ago, but I saw one in a catalog recently. I have used both it and the Lee, and if you could find one I would recommend the tong tool. I think Lee also makes a pliers type tool that will full length resize.

I kind of dislike the idea of seating primers and bullets with a hammer. If nothing else it's noisy, especially when them primers go off. I still take the tong tool to the range occasionally to seat bullets, and it seats primers with more precision than just about any other method.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2009, 12:46:34 PM »

I always use the Lee Auto-Prime,it's the best for getting a "feel" when setting primers.That is a draw-back to the kit.

shootercochran · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2009, 01:14:48 PM »

The lee loader is a gear tool from the reviews I read.

How do you know how much black powder to compress? I know 30 grains, but it is different with different bullet weights right?

I'm actually intrested in doing this same thing with 45/70

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2009, 01:26:19 PM »

The 30-30 doesn't use 30gr blackpowder, never did, it was developed using smokeless.

Tim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,128740.msg1098470185.html#msg1098470185

mechanic · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2009, 01:39:10 PM »

The Lee Loaders work fine, just slow. I use one at the range to work up loads. By the way, the powder dipper is VERY accurate if you learn how to use it. Don't dip the powder, take an old spoon and spoon the dipper full, then brush across the top with a card. If you do this right, you can weigh your charges on a good scale, and the accuracy is as good as the scale.

If you plan to use the dipper that comes with the loader, wait before you buy powder, and buy the type powder recommended in the loading chart with the loader. Otherwise you will HAVE to buy a scale, or a Lee dipper set.
As far as the black powder, I tried it in a 45-70. Its not nearly as economical as smokeless.
Best of luck,

Ben

tykempster · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:39:56 PM »

The hand press might be a better bet but isn't as compact...

mitchell · « **Reply #21 on:** March 22, 2009, 05:20:07 PM »

well let me just say that i've never used one and this is just my feelings on it, the whole ideaof the lee loader just dont add up to me . to make a good batch of bullet consistancy is key. there is too much stuff that can be differant on the lee loader from round to round . i dont know what they run now but the lee starter kit was only like $60 or last time i looked at one and will really get the job done alot better . but to each his own

FW Conch · « **Reply #22 on:** March 23, 2009, 03:06:13 AM »

This is the NEF/H&R forum, & these guns were designed & sold to people who couldn't afford a firearm, but had to have one anyway. I got back into these things after being away from them for 30 years & the most I have paid for one is $250 "out the door", & that is probably the most I will ever pay for one. I got back in because of "nostalgia" & because I felt that a small American company, that produced a good product , @ a very fair price, deserved my support. By now, I expected to have a closet full of barrels but until I know that I am dealing with people whose "yes is yes & no is no", & that I won't be the victim of suprise "tacked on charges", I'll be holding off on the barrel program.

There are still companys out there doing what Gardner used to do, & some of them are making firearms !

One of those companys is LEE PRECISON, INC. An American company, making very good products, sold for extremly good prices, & providing excellent customer service ! They produce the LEE LOADER, a tool that can easly match, & even excede the performance of factory loads !

I will conclude this "soap box rant" with this - I paid $18 dollars for my last LEE LOADER, & feel that anyone who has the ability to "arbitrarily" spend $60 dollars needs to , when he gets up in the morning looking down @ the grass, give great praise to THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING for the wonderful GRACE that has been bestowed upon him !

Sincerly Submitted in Good Fellowship -

Jim

jedman · « **Reply #23 on:** March 23, 2009, 03:22:54 AM »

F W Conch, Very well stated and I agree completely. Jedman

rickt300 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 23, 2009, 03:53:46 AM »

I also have LEE loaders for all the cartridges I shoot although I have 2 presses, 60 sets of dies and everything else I need. I spoon the powder into the dippers and level the powder off with the side of the spoon handle, make sure and pick a spoon with straight sided handle. I also use a wide mouthed coffee cup to hold the powder while I am doing this. I prime every round I fire with the priming set up that comes with the loaders. You should use a mallet with hard plastic faces, not a solid steel hammer as this will make your tools last longer and will make it a lot tougher to pop a primer, wear safety glasses. I usually put a couple of magazines under a piece of pine 2x6 board and use this to do my priming and bullet seating on. The magazines have some give and soften the noise. I often use a scale to weight charges after I fill the dipper and with some powders (ball and short granulated types) and generally I am at least +or- 2/10 tenths of a grain. This is plenty accurate. If I were you I would start out with IMR or H4895. Forget about using blackpowder.

mitchell · « **Reply #25 on:** March 23, 2009, 09:22:27 AM »

well in good fellowship to rant back i will say that my family has been blessed with two good paying jobs and very few bills , but at the same time $60 isnt chump change either. my reloading room is made up mostly of hornady and forster stuff with a little of rcbs and lee on the side, and i will say it wasn't cheap and took me a long time to get it all. but now days a tank of gas and a pack of smokes will run you $60 for what you get in the lee starter kit it a great and unbeatable deal that you wont find anywhere else . will the lee loader make rounds that will compete or out do factory?? yes (form what i've read) but remember reloading will bite you like a bug , its worse then guns, and you will always be wanting to upgrade . the lee kit is a great foundation to learn on if you watch the for sale form on here of even go toebay you can find what you need to get started for not that much out of your pocket. in my mind it beter to wait and get the better , and if you hunt around and buy used it can be even better.

[on soap box]

you will make better rounds on a press and make more faster, as for lee loader being enough for handi, no its not when i reload for my handis i use every trick of the trade that i use when loading for my benchrest gun as well as the same reloading gear and my handi shoot darn good

[off soap box]

please take this as just my feelings on the subject , by no means am i telling you not to get into reloading just because you want the lee loader , im just saying that there are better things out there for you to consider before you make up your mind.

good luck and welcome to the world of rollin your own

mitch

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 23, 2009, 09:46:46 AM »

This detailed tutorial on the Classic Lee Loader is a bit dated as you'll see with the prices, but the basics are there, it's a great tool to get started with if you're on a budget and don't know if you want to jump in with both feet, they run about $20-$25 now, I started on one for the 45-70 along with a used balance beam scale, and quickly graduated to a Lee Anniversary kit and subsequently upgraded to the Classic cast press, then their cast turret , but I still have the Lee Loader.

Tim

Handloading on a Shoestring By J. Marshall Stanton on 2004-06-30

burntmuch · « **Reply #27 on:** March 23, 2009, 09:53:48 AM »

Its all about your purpose? If you want to load ammo that will give you inch or so groups & kill deer. The lee loader will be fine. If you want to shoot smaller & smaller groups, The Lee loader may not be for You. If you buy one You will not regret it. A year later you may have a bench full of reloading equipment. You never know. One thing I do know is If you wanna reload, drop what youre doing go to store & buy primers NOW, Cause I cant find them. So buy twice what your gonna need, then send the rest to me

. Good luck

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #28 on:** March 23, 2009, 11:23:26 AM »

The good thing about reloading equipment is if you out grow it,bring it to a swap meet,you can always sell it or trade up.

rickt300 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 23, 2009, 05:10:25 PM »

I can think of no better way to learn the inside out of reloading ammo. I have shot some very tight groups with shells loaded with LEE loaders.