I'm still looking to get into reloading. First off I'll be reloading 44mag for my single shot h&r for deer hunting. I would like to load up some lighter loads for the girlfriend to shoot as well. Should I purchase the Classic Lee loader since it has everything I will need to start? Or should I purchase the press and dies and everything else I will need for reloading and take up a considerable more money without knowing whether I will like it? I would plan to reload for my. 25-06 eventually aswell if I enjoy it. Input please.
Classic lee loader or full reloading setup?
- Thread starter SVTOhio
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I don't know if they still make this model or not, but when I got started reloading about 5 years ago I bought the Lee Classic Turret Progressive Press (I think that's what it was called) from Cabelas for about $350. It's a 4 turret progressive press. It came with everything you need to get started except a tumbler and dies. I've upgraded the powder charging system to the Lyman #55, but other than that I'm still using all the original Lee parts that came with the kit and have made at least 10k+ rounds with it. I'd recommend a kit like this to get started
I think that is something I would get into for a long term fix if I enjoyed reloading. But a classic lee loader can be had for 25-30$ and it comes with most everything I need.
ironworkerwill
Member
So, what will you do WHEN find that it's really fun?
notaglockfanboy
Member
The kit will serve you well to get started. I would invest in a set of scales as well. Not that the Lee safety scale will not work, but it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to scales in general. I got the same kit and have loaded several thousand rounds from 9mm to 30-06 with zero issues. It is a great bundle to get you started, and if you decide reloading aint your cup of tea, you can always get most of your money back. Good luck and happy reloading.
WestKentucky
Member
I have a 44 mag classic loader. To say it's a pain to resize is a gross understatement. Same for 357 and 38. I got them in a big bench I bought from a gentleman's estate. I keep the 44 set to load 44 spl, and the 38/357 set to size .256 win mag cases.
Do yourself a favor and buy at least a single stage kit.
Do yourself a favor and buy at least a single stage kit.
WonderDavid!
Member
I spent months researching about your very same question before I decided to go full in with a press and such. I was able to get a single stage setup with everything I need for under $200. It helped also that I got my dad to go in with me 50/50 for the stuff we would both need, i.e. press, scales, ect. I am very happy with my decision but for $30 it's not that costly of a endeavor to try with the other.
Lost Sheep
Member
Thanks for asking our advice
1) The Lee Loader does NOT have "everything I will need to start". True it has everything to load ammo, but since there is no scale and only one dipper, your ability to tailor loads is severely limited. Powder choices: limited. With any given powder, power levels: limited
2) You don't HAVE to purchase "everything else I will need for reloading". You can start out with a minimal setup and have admirable flexibility at only a bit more than the Lee Loader.
My next post will have details. I wrote an article a little while ago and I have to find it.
Lost Sheep
You ask the wrong question, due to two assumptions which drive you into a binary thinking mode that limits your options to only two. There are solutions all along the continuum between the two extremes.
1) The Lee Loader does NOT have "everything I will need to start". True it has everything to load ammo, but since there is no scale and only one dipper, your ability to tailor loads is severely limited. Powder choices: limited. With any given powder, power levels: limited
2) You don't HAVE to purchase "everything else I will need for reloading". You can start out with a minimal setup and have admirable flexibility at only a bit more than the Lee Loader.
My next post will have details. I wrote an article a little while ago and I have to find it.
Lost Sheep
DaveInFloweryBranchGA
Member
My suggestion is to buy neither, but rather, see if you can find someone to let you experience reloading your cartridges using their equipment. Then you can make a decision if you want to invest money in reloading or not.
Lost Sheep
Member
If you are really on an absolute budget, the Lee kit will do. But your load formulas (recipes) are highly restricted, both in choices of components and flexibility of power level.
Some accessories greatly increase utility (enhanced safety and quality control as well as flexibility in component choices and power levels). These accessories will approximately double the volume required for storage and add about $80 to the cost of the kit.
Scale
Calipers
loading block
dippers and a funnel
A kinetic bullet puller is a good idea, but can wait. The ability to disassemble cartridges about which you may have doubts is good to have. $15. Little extra space
For convenience of meting powder into your cases, add a set of powder dippers/scoops (either Lee's dippers or a few you make yourself) and a funnel $0 to $20
For convenience in handling a batch of cartridges, one (or two) Loading blocks. Homemade or store-bought. 0 to $9. You don't want to have a batch of cases standing in your workspace and accidentally topple half of them over.
Calipers capable of measuring .001" $20 to $100. Easily found for $30
or so.
So, the $30 Lee kit, in order to be flexible needs about $65 to $100 accessories.
If you want to add another caliber, another $30 basic kit.
Consider the alternative; getting a press
You can mount the press on a board and secure it to an end table.
Challenger press $80 to $130 (or Classic Cast or Classic Turret or Deluxe turret)
dies, 1 dipper and shell holder $30
Total $110 to $160 and you are equipped as well as the Lee Kit will make you, but much quieter and with better quality control. That is an $80 to $130 boost
The same accessories already suggested for the Lee Kit brings the tab to $190 and adding another caliber tacks on about $30 each.
Scale $30
bullet puller $15
loading block $0 to $9
Calipers $20 to $100
The accessories below make life easier (and loading quicker) and you can add them as you feel the urge.
You don't need a powder measure as you can weigh your charges on the scale. But a powder measure will be faster (note that dippers count as a powder measure, albeit a primitive one). You don't need a powder trickler (a discarded bottlenecked cartridge case twirled between your fingers will do, or maybe a salt shaker). You don't need a tumbler (cleaning cartridge cases by wiping down by hand is fine, but washing and tumbling does make them prettier). A funnel can be made of paper, but the Lee funnel is only $4.
Choosing between Lee's mallet-driven kit or a press? To have versatility (which you indicated you wanted) either approach needs a scale. The press kit is more expensive, but quieter, moderatelyl faster and not that much more expensive to get the extra fine control of the process.
Speed. The press is marginally faster for a skilled operator, plus it is faster to gain that skill than the same degree of skill with the mallet kit.
Quality control. The press-based process is significantly easier to control than the mallet-driven process
Versatility: For bottle-necked cartridges, especially, there are many different specialty dies. Full-length sizing for starters (mallet tool does only neck-sizing), then different crimp styles and such.
Quieter: the mallet-driven tool is noisy and unnerves onlookers as you whack live ammo and primers (though seldom does anything go off).
Lost Sheep
Some accessories greatly increase utility (enhanced safety and quality control as well as flexibility in component choices and power levels). These accessories will approximately double the volume required for storage and add about $80 to the cost of the kit.
Scale
Calipers
loading block
dippers and a funnel
A kinetic bullet puller is a good idea, but can wait. The ability to disassemble cartridges about which you may have doubts is good to have. $15. Little extra space
For convenience of meting powder into your cases, add a set of powder dippers/scoops (either Lee's dippers or a few you make yourself) and a funnel $0 to $20
For convenience in handling a batch of cartridges, one (or two) Loading blocks. Homemade or store-bought. 0 to $9. You don't want to have a batch of cases standing in your workspace and accidentally topple half of them over.
Calipers capable of measuring .001" $20 to $100. Easily found for $30
or so.
So, the $30 Lee kit, in order to be flexible needs about $65 to $100 accessories.
If you want to add another caliber, another $30 basic kit.
Consider the alternative; getting a press
You can mount the press on a board and secure it to an end table.
Challenger press $80 to $130 (or Classic Cast or Classic Turret or Deluxe turret)
dies, 1 dipper and shell holder $30
Total $110 to $160 and you are equipped as well as the Lee Kit will make you, but much quieter and with better quality control. That is an $80 to $130 boost
The same accessories already suggested for the Lee Kit brings the tab to $190 and adding another caliber tacks on about $30 each.
Scale $30
bullet puller $15
loading block $0 to $9
Calipers $20 to $100
The accessories below make life easier (and loading quicker) and you can add them as you feel the urge.
You don't need a powder measure as you can weigh your charges on the scale. But a powder measure will be faster (note that dippers count as a powder measure, albeit a primitive one). You don't need a powder trickler (a discarded bottlenecked cartridge case twirled between your fingers will do, or maybe a salt shaker). You don't need a tumbler (cleaning cartridge cases by wiping down by hand is fine, but washing and tumbling does make them prettier). A funnel can be made of paper, but the Lee funnel is only $4.
Choosing between Lee's mallet-driven kit or a press? To have versatility (which you indicated you wanted) either approach needs a scale. The press kit is more expensive, but quieter, moderatelyl faster and not that much more expensive to get the extra fine control of the process.
Speed. The press is marginally faster for a skilled operator, plus it is faster to gain that skill than the same degree of skill with the mallet kit.
Quality control. The press-based process is significantly easier to control than the mallet-driven process
Versatility: For bottle-necked cartridges, especially, there are many different specialty dies. Full-length sizing for starters (mallet tool does only neck-sizing), then different crimp styles and such.
Quieter: the mallet-driven tool is noisy and unnerves onlookers as you whack live ammo and primers (though seldom does anything go off).
Lost Sheep
Lost Sheep
Member
Check this kit
Kempf's gun shop (now owned by Sue Kempf, who is good people) offers a kit that includes everything you need to get started in style except manuals and a scale. A little over $200
http://www.kempfgunshop.com/
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=190&Itemid=41
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
Kempf's does not do backorders. If Sue says they have it, they do.
Lost Sheep
Kempf's gun shop (now owned by Sue Kempf, who is good people) offers a kit that includes everything you need to get started in style except manuals and a scale. A little over $200
http://www.kempfgunshop.com/
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=190&Itemid=41
https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41
Kempf's does not do backorders. If Sue says they have it, they do.
Lost Sheep
B!ngoFuelUSN
Member
FWIW, I got started with the RCBS kit. Single stage press, scale, powder metering and a few other basic things. It's certainly pricier but I doubt I will ever get rid of the press and powder system. You still need dies of course and I have since ended up adding a lot more, but you don't have to. It seems like a great starting point and I suspect you could resell it if you found you weren't interested.
B
B
BADUNAME71
Member
I just bought this setup off Amazon for $126. It will get you started, but you still need a few things, like a good dial or digital Caliper, bullet puller, dies,brass, bullets etc . I resize 32-40 cartridges out of 30-30 brass and that's a fairly tough chore as resizing goes. So you know the press will do most jobs. It comes with a scale and powder metering dispenser which to me is essential. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CC5xpzeLL.jpg
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BCRider
Member
If you're going to spend on any sort of reloading gear get a bench mount press of some sort. A hand held press is fine if you're only loading a couple of dozen rounds now and then. But if there's going to be much of any volume loading to be done then you'll value the stability of the bench mounted press over the hand held gizmo.
CajunBass
Member
When I first started reloading, I used a Lee Loader for everything. I did buy a couple of small inexpensive tools, (case trimmer/guide, chamfer tool, and a lube pad and lube, and of course a plastic hammer) but I loaded thousands of rounds of 38 special. Sure it was slow. Sure I couldn't tailor my loads, but I didn't care. I wanted ammo to shoot. I'd size 50 cases tonight, and load them tomorrow, and shoot them the day after. A box of lead bullets, a pound of powder, some primers and I was in business.
These days, I use a Lee Hand Press. Still sort of slow, but plenty fast enough for me. I use a Lee powder measure and scales, and a Lee priming tool. Those same case trimmers and such.
These days, I use a Lee Hand Press. Still sort of slow, but plenty fast enough for me. I use a Lee powder measure and scales, and a Lee priming tool. Those same case trimmers and such.
This is what I had in mind. The 44 mag will be used in a h&r 44 mag. I would be shooting no more then 200 rounds a years. I'm just not big into spending 1$ a round for 44mag when I can reload it for way less.
TimSr
Member
I'd skip the Lee and look at the RCBS kit. It costs more, BUT it actually has everything you need to get started, including scales, and Speer manual. Aside from components, the only additional cost is Dies and shellholders.
konertjm
Member
SVT, lots of good advice here.
My trip into reloadig started with an RCBS Rockchucker kit, as mentioned by TimSr.
You will never regret going the RCBS route. You may regret some of the other options that have a lower price point.
But in the end, you have to make a choice based on your budget. If the current budget does not allow for what you decide will work best for you, then delay your purchase until you can.
Remember, you will never regret purchasing quality.
$.02
My trip into reloadig started with an RCBS Rockchucker kit, as mentioned by TimSr.
You will never regret going the RCBS route. You may regret some of the other options that have a lower price point.
But in the end, you have to make a choice based on your budget. If the current budget does not allow for what you decide will work best for you, then delay your purchase until you can.
Remember, you will never regret purchasing quality.
$.02
BullRunBear
Member
SVT, If you are loading only about 200 rounds of 44 mag a year, the Lee Loader can meet your needs. It will be slow but will do the job. A set of the Lee scoops for a few bucks will add a lot of flexibility. The same for the 25-06 cartridge you mentioned except for full length resizing, which the Lee Loader doesn't do. For that I would add the least expensive single stage press or Lee hand press, the shell holder and a resizing die. The Lee Loader can handle the rest.
Another possibility: do you have a friend who can show you the ropes and let you use his gear? That would be a way to find out if you will pursue the activity before spending for tools.
Jeff
Another possibility: do you have a friend who can show you the ropes and let you use his gear? That would be a way to find out if you will pursue the activity before spending for tools.
Jeff
spitballer
Member
I started with a Classic Lee Loader for my bolt-action .223 and I'll always be glad I did. It's an excellent learning tool for the money and fun to use, too. Eventually I moved on to more expensive equipment, but only on a piece-by-piece basis as I needed it. The biggest drawback to my Lee Loader was that the neck was sized really small (.245") and made the necks too tight when they started to get work-hardened, but even this can be remedied by Lee for a fee. The little Lee Loader is one of the best buys I ever made and I'll never toss mine.
A bit over 20 years ago I started with a Lee single stage press and a few tools. I quickly found out that I shoot much more than i could load for. Loading .30-06 mil cases broke the cast links in the Lee press. Researched several manufactures of presses and counted how much I shot on a weekend. Dillon 650 was the way to go since I had saved all my brass from 6-8 years of high power shooting.
I second the posts that recommend getting a bench-mount press if you're going to do any volume at all AND if you're hoping to enjoy reloading.
I've used Lee Loaders before, and they work, and it's neat to be able to load right out at the range, but they're not ideal by a long shot.
A step up is the Lee Hand Loader.
But you're going to get tired, and it's somewhat awkward to use.
~$30
The best entry level press (in my opinion) is the Lee Reloader Press, the one on the left in the picture below. It is available for under $30 (Amazon, etc).
The one on the right is the Lee Challenger (~$65, Midway, etc) and is a little stronger (O-shape instead of an open "C") but other than that isn't any better.
Both of those beat the Lee Loader and hand presses by a mile.
I've used Lee Loaders before, and they work, and it's neat to be able to load right out at the range, but they're not ideal by a long shot.
A step up is the Lee Hand Loader.
But you're going to get tired, and it's somewhat awkward to use.
~$30
The best entry level press (in my opinion) is the Lee Reloader Press, the one on the left in the picture below. It is available for under $30 (Amazon, etc).
The one on the right is the Lee Challenger (~$65, Midway, etc) and is a little stronger (O-shape instead of an open "C") but other than that isn't any better.
Both of those beat the Lee Loader and hand presses by a mile.
Lost Sheep
Member
Kframe,right on. Good advice.
However, if I recall correctly
Regards,
Lost Sheep
However, if I recall correctly
The Lee Loader ("C" press on the left) does not have provision for seating primers. The "O" frame Challenger can do that.
Regards,
Lost Sheep
OilyPablo
Member
Lee Classic Turret Press. It's really hard to go wrong with that choice IMHO.
Lost Sheep said:
You are probably right about that, I don't know.
I prime cases with the handheld Lee AutoPrime (the old round one, not the piece of crap new one with the diamond shape).
I prefer a hand-primer because I can get a better 'feel' of the primer being seated in the pocket; that, and a press ram handle is too long and has too much leverage on tap for priming properly (IMO).
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