I have been looking into this reloader just for my 44spl setup and I am very thankful for the video. Excellent video and review on the Lee system! Thank you sir!
I use one of these for my 357 mag and 38 specials. Doesnt take much time to get a few hundred rounds loaded up. And unlike a press, you can try different loads out while out shooting. You just make a couple and shoot them right there, and adjust where needed.
I have several of these .Good to take to the range and make 3 or 4 to test Beats making up 3 or 4 sets at home on press and then having to take them apart when you find the load that groups best.Make some shells,test and make more till you get the right combo. Besides these would be good for in a bug out bag .Make different loads for the game that you are hunting to survive.
Seating depth is adjustable as shown in the video. If you're firing fairly heavy loads in a revolver, you want to match that groove to keep bullets from "walking" out of the case while its brethren are being touched off.
The best thing about this loader is its easy portability for away from home reloading. I know a couple of shooters who got their start reloading with these, but now I appreciate its value for experienced reloaders looking for the portability aspects of it...
I love Lee Classic Reloader - great for reloader who lives in small apartment and does not have place for good reloading bench - now days I am saving for a SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL ARBOR PRESS with L.E.Wilson dies, seaters, trimmer and 21st Century Stainless Primer Seating Tool...
it came in the kit. the flaring tool only comes with the rimmed cartridges, like revolver rounds 44 SPL, 38 SPL ect. something like 45 ACP or .380 ACP wouldn't have a flaring tool because as a rule most of those rounds shouldn't be flared or crimped.
You're paying for convenience and better productivity, mostly. Over a century ago, many folks would reload cases in the field. It wasn't really too strange for 'em, as we'd just gotten out of the muzzleloaders and this was cleaner and stored better than paper cartridges. I'd like a progressive press for the .45 and .223, but I think an old-fashioned Lee Loader for my .44 magnums would be a pleasant form of meditation.
I use mine in .45Auto quite a bit. I did by a hand primer, it saves my fingers for other things like cheeto's lol! You do get what I mean if you've ever blown a primer.
you gotta commit to it! It made it REALLY cheap to shoot 44 special, as cheap as 9mm, but what you save in money you give up in time, by hand it takes me about 1.5 hours to reload 50-100 rounds, it would be faster if I had a multi stage press, I could do the same amount of rounds in about 15 minutes
@dieselmac - dude, its paid for itself 3 times now, and if I find something interesting, I can reload right at the range!! You don't need to drop $400 to get into reloading. All this stuff was about $130 - the reloader, scale, scoop kit, bullet puller, 1 lbs of powder, and 100 lead 200 gr .44 bullets, I've loaded about 100 bullets.
so you don't need all that equipment that the extreme hobbiest use with the presses and fancy stuff. you just need a mallet and a die set,( assuming that the brass is clean and ready to go ofcourse) nice to know. thanks for the great and imformative video
doesn't matter AS MUCH for a revolver, as well as fairly NEW brass that hasn't been stretched and reloaded a lot, I only reloaded each shell twice before getting new brass
@wilfred1471 - though about it, then I thought: you have to hammer on the primer seat end to drive it into the die, if I primed all the cases first, I would be hammering DIRECTLY onto a live primer... so I decided against it
I have a couple of questions about the flaring and crimping steps (I understand all the rest incl. the seating at the right depth to match the crimp groove). These seem to be all-or-nothing operations - basically put the thing in and hammer till it stops moving. Is this true? Or is there an art to them? (I understand there IS an art to the crimp function for bottlenecked rifle rounds - you can't hammer that all the way in.)
what size (cc) powder measure did you use? i got the 44magnum kit as they only make the mag kit. and i think the 1.3 cc would blow up my bulldog. curious as to what size came with yours.
I think you may be under-utilizing your Brass. Two reloads is nothing. I have .44 brass that's at 3 reloads and show no signs of distress or stretching at all. I have not had to trim at all.
Idahomountainelk - From where I'm at, I can't really say what happened either. When I got my first kit, I also set one off. As you said, very loud and startling. I re-read the instructions, watched what I was doing, and have never had it happen since (started out in the 70's). Since you say that several primers have gone off, look for potential problem areas. Is the die body cleanly seated in the recess of the reprimer cup? Is the floating washer freely floating? Is there any debris in the primer cup of the brass? Is everything straight and in line? Is the correct rod being used at the correct time? Etc,etc. Of course, you can get a hand priming setup and not worry about it anymore, but careful use of the kit shouldn't cause any issues.
James Hedstrom - How much powder to use? Simple answer is "one scoop". The dippers supplied by Lee will provide a safe load for that caliber USING THE POWDERS AND BULLETS LISTED IN THE PROVIDED TABLE OF ACCEPTABLE LOADS. Now, for those who have plenty of experience, Lee also makes a kit with several sizes of scoops and a conversion table that shows how much powder weight each scoop holds with various powders, but the scoop in the kit is safe with the LISTED powders and bullets in the load list that comes with each kit. Step outside the provided table of loads, and you need a good loading manuals, weight scales, conversion tables, and experience.
@dieselmac - seriously man, I've been thinking about titling every new video either Glock part 1, 2, 3 or "Hot chick shoots assault rifle" from here on out...
wow! I just can't figure it out.936 views 4 likes on some great info. If you put up a vid of whats better plastic gun or steel gun you get 10,000 hits half like it half don't.and no one knows how to run a lee die.I just don't understand.well good job once again.
I have been looking into this reloader just for my 44spl setup and I am very thankful for the video. Excellent video and review on the Lee system! Thank you sir!
I use one of these for my 357 mag and 38 specials. Doesnt take much time to get a few hundred rounds loaded up. And unlike a press, you can try different loads out while out shooting. You just make a couple and shoot them right there, and adjust where needed.
I have several of these .Good to take to the range and make 3 or 4 to test Beats making up 3 or 4 sets at home on press and then having to take them apart when you find the load that groups best.Make some shells,test and make more till you get the right combo. Besides these would be good for in a bug out bag .Make different loads for the game that you are hunting to survive.
Seating depth is adjustable as shown in the video. If you're firing fairly heavy loads in a revolver, you want to match that groove to keep bullets from "walking" out of the case while its brethren are being touched off.
The best thing about this loader is its easy portability for away from home reloading. I know a couple of shooters who got their start reloading with these, but now I appreciate its value for experienced reloaders looking for the portability aspects of it...
I love Lee Classic Reloader - great for reloader who lives in small apartment and does not have place for good reloading bench - now days I am saving for a SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL ARBOR PRESS with L.E.Wilson dies, seaters, trimmer and 21st Century Stainless Primer Seating Tool...
***** Wow, Sinclair stuff is the stuff of accuracy....Good reloadin' to ya...
I just did 500 of these on my Progressive Press. I couldn't even imagine doing it this way.
I use that exact kit...and how You are using it is insane!
I do .357 and 9mm with one of these. Great to learn the steps to reloading. Plus portable and you can adjust load one shot at a time if you want
it came in the kit. the flaring tool only comes with the rimmed cartridges, like revolver rounds 44 SPL, 38 SPL ect. something like 45 ACP or .380 ACP wouldn't have a flaring tool because as a rule most of those rounds shouldn't be flared or crimped.
simple and to the point. Thank you.
I just got one of these and your video helped. Thank you.
Great and informative video. This makes me what to get into reloading.
You're paying for convenience and better productivity, mostly. Over a century ago, many folks would reload cases in the field. It wasn't really too strange for 'em, as we'd just gotten out of the muzzleloaders and this was cleaner and stored better than paper cartridges. I'd like a progressive press for the .45 and .223, but I think an old-fashioned Lee Loader for my .44 magnums would be a pleasant form of meditation.
@Air Handler, Lee used too, back in the 60s, and 70s. Since then they have discontinued the Shot shell Lee Loaders...
@drycreamer You could prime them after flaring. You're hammering on a live round now anyways.
I use mine in .45Auto quite a bit. I did by a hand primer, it saves my fingers for other things like cheeto's lol! You do get what I mean if you've ever blown a primer.
Thanks! Great post!
you gotta commit to it! It made it REALLY cheap to shoot 44 special, as cheap as 9mm, but what you save in money you give up in time, by hand it takes me about 1.5 hours to reload 50-100 rounds, it would be faster if I had a multi stage press, I could do the same amount of rounds in about 15 minutes
@dieselmac - dude, its paid for itself 3 times now, and if I find something interesting, I can reload right at the range!! You don't need to drop $400 to get into reloading. All this stuff was about $130 - the reloader, scale, scoop kit, bullet puller, 1 lbs of powder, and 100 lead 200 gr .44 bullets, I've loaded about 100 bullets.
so you don't need all that equipment that the extreme hobbiest use with the presses and fancy stuff. you just need a mallet and a die set,( assuming that the brass is clean and ready to go ofcourse) nice to know. thanks for the great and imformative
video
no, the resizing die is a different depth, but I know that you can get the classic reloader kit for 44 Mag for the same price
doesn't matter AS MUCH for a revolver, as well as fairly NEW brass that hasn't been stretched and reloaded a lot, I only reloaded each shell twice before getting new brass
Damn son, that's awseome. Nice job.
@wilfred1471 - though about it, then I thought: you have to hammer on the primer seat end to drive it into the die, if I primed all the cases first, I would be hammering DIRECTLY onto a live primer... so I decided against it
I have a couple of questions about the flaring and crimping steps (I understand all the rest incl. the seating at the right depth to match the crimp groove). These seem to be all-or-nothing operations - basically put the thing in and hammer till it stops moving. Is this true? Or is there an art to them? (I understand there IS an art to the crimp function for bottlenecked rifle rounds - you can't hammer that all the way in.)
what size (cc) powder measure did you use? i got the 44magnum kit as they only make the mag kit. and i think the 1.3 cc would blow up my bulldog. curious as to what size came with yours.
@FrustratedNameSearch, Don't be turned away from this Lee Loader, once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad.
yep, but you can't get them from Lees, you gotta get it from their distributors, its called the Lee Loader
@wecstewart I just picked up some different powders so we'll see how they work out
Well done video! Thank you.
I think you may be under-utilizing your Brass. Two reloads is nothing. I have .44 brass that's at 3 reloads and show no signs of distress or stretching at all. I have not had to trim at all.
@drycreamer WOW that is fantastic!!!
Did you use case lubricant at all when you were reloading? You sure were smacking pretty hard even for a Lee Loader.
just this .44 SPL, but I'd like to get one in .32 ACP, its a shame they don't make it :/
Does the flaring tool come with the kit or do you have to buy it separate.
I try and tell people who shoot revolvers about this reloader how great it is......all I get is blank stares.oh well
Did not know there was 44 special semiautomatic.
@backelskin89 - if I would ever get around to it, I have a video coming up about some of the different loads I've tried, do it!
hello nice video! with this kit you can also upload the 44 magnum? thanks
Are you using the .44 mag kit to make the .44 specials???
Can you load 44 special with a 240gr using accurate 7?
What about trimming for overall length?
@dieselmac - love it, people tend to have positive impressions of it when they see me shooting it
can you use this to load 44 mag for a lever action rifle?
waynohouse74 no, the rezing dies are sized wrong. Lee makes a 44 mag Lee loader for 44 mag
@UChiN7_b26oZvUQex2uTWyCQ I can't remember. But... you could probably make it work.
How many calabers do you reload with the lee hand loader?
I set off several primers loading 44 mag. Very load but no blood. Not sure what happened
Idahomountainelk - From where I'm at, I can't really say what happened either. When I got my first kit, I also set one off. As you said, very loud and startling. I re-read the instructions, watched what I was doing, and have never had it happen since (started out in the 70's).
Since you say that several primers have gone off, look for potential problem areas. Is the die body cleanly seated in the recess of the reprimer cup? Is the floating washer freely floating? Is there any debris in the primer cup of the brass? Is everything straight and in line? Is the correct rod being used at the correct time? Etc,etc.
Of course, you can get a hand priming setup and not worry about it anymore, but careful use of the kit shouldn't cause any issues.
Me to. Made my brown eye pucker up.
intense!
cool
do they make this to reload 20 gauge shotgun shells?
This guy's reloading scares me
Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam,... BOOM!
Um, no thanks. I think I'll spend a little more money and get a regular loading press.
If so how much powder to use?
James Hedstrom - How much powder to use? Simple answer is "one scoop". The dippers supplied by Lee will provide a safe load for that caliber USING THE POWDERS AND BULLETS LISTED IN THE PROVIDED TABLE OF ACCEPTABLE LOADS.
Now, for those who have plenty of experience, Lee also makes a kit with several sizes of scoops and a conversion table that shows how much powder weight each scoop holds with various powders, but the scoop in the kit is safe with the LISTED powders and bullets in the load list that comes with each kit.
Step outside the provided table of loads, and you need a good loading manuals, weight scales, conversion tables, and experience.
is there anything like this for the 5.56?
@dieselmac - seriously man, I've been thinking about titling every new video either Glock part 1, 2, 3 or "Hot chick shoots assault rifle" from here on out...
wow! I just can't figure it out.936 views 4 likes on some great info. If you put up a vid of whats better plastic gun or steel gun you get 10,000 hits half like it half don't.and no one knows how to run a lee die.I just don't understand.well good job once again.
@LMarshall32 I picked this guy up on e-bay for $28
What a waste of time