I am thinking about getting 2 items for reloading .30-30. And I was woundering if they would work together.

the Lee Hand Press and Classic Lee Loader, would these two items work together? I dont got room for a press of any kind and I really want to get into reloading.

Or is it possible you can list me everything thing i would need to reload .30-30? Minus the fancy scales and all that?

thx

You don't need the hand press if you get the classic Lee laoder. If you get the hand press then you need a set of dies, a powder measure and a powder scale to load ammo.

The hand press
a powder measure or set of Lee dippers
a powder scale
a Lee trimmer/case length gauge
a set of dies for the cartridge your going to load
Some case lube, Imperial sizing wax is good
a loading block to hold cases
a small c clamp to clam the powder measure to a table or bench

If you go the classic Lee loader that's all you need aside from a small mallet to drive the cases into the sizing die and out and drive the primers into the case.

Either way you go you will need powder, primers, cases and bullets.

A Lee Loader will get you there except for keeping your cases at a safe to shoot length. Add a Lee trimer/case length gauge and componants and you are good to go shooting.

The reason for adding the trimmer is because your brass case will get longer the more times you reload/fire it. At some point, it will jamb the case neck and bullet into the bore such that the bullet can't release easy. That preasure will go somewhere!

Buy the trimmer to make that pressure go down the barrel.

Cheezywan

For the hand press, remember to order either the lever prime unit for it or pick up a hand prime unit. I prefer the quick and easy hand prime.

I started with the classic loader in 45-70 and it worked just fine, except for getting a consistent crimp for the level action rifles and being sloooow. I do everything with the handpress now for 45-70 and 44 Mag, all my gear fits in a milk crate for easy storage because I'm space limited too. Faucettb's list is good but I'd add a primer pocket cleaner (Lee's works fine for $3) and a current manual if you don't have one on the shelf. I'm partial to Lyman's 48th.

ok after some thought this is what i am planning on getting.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40606-11751-1747.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40403-20398-1711.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40362-20370-1695.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/40522-11706-1733.html

Is this everying thing i need to get into the wounderfull world of reloading safely? minus case/powder/bullets/primers of coarse.

And really thank you guys for helping out so much!

The only thing you need to add is a little plastic dead blow mallet and a solid surface to pound on. I used a stump in my front yard when I started loading with one of those. Used to sit for hours looking at the mountains making 357 mag loads for my old model 19 S&W. I'd add one of the Lee hand primers to this mix. Sure makes priming easier than pounding them in with a hammer.

I went to that site and priced the hand press and a set of dies. They will only cost $16 more than the Lee Loader.

If you plan on loading more than a box or two of shells per year; I really think you should reconsider.

Agree with Ken, and would advise you check Midway (http://midwayusa.com/) and Midsouth (http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/) before buying. Cheaper Than Dirt lists good prices, then whacks you with 20% or more on shipping and handling, so it isn't really as cheap as it looks. Additionally, you didn't specify the rifle, but if it is a lever action you need to realize the Lee Loader only sizes the necks of the cases, which is great for single-loading in bolt guns, but can lead to hang-ups feeding from a magazine.

Back in the days of more time and less money, I lived in an apartment, and didn't have a loading bench. I managed to keep things running with a portable press stand constructed of 1" plywood, and held together with lag bolts. Later I used it to load at the range, today it's mounted on my bench. It can be C clamped to a table, and if you used one of the little Lee press's I have bolted to the side (the best priming tool in the biz with a ram prime or autoprime II) it is both light and portable, and could fit almost anywhere.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/TMan51/PressBench.jpg

Tman, explain the ram prime and how it works, I have a small lee press like yours I use for decapping and would like to prime with it also. Can this priming tool be bought separate or does it come in a set with something els?

Good advise from the folks. I would get your original items. Get the Lee hand press and a set of Lee dies along with that Lee classic Loader. My reason is that you will need to full length resize that brass at some point. The Lee loader only sizes the neck. Mid South has the best prices as far as I can see. Midway is going up higher then most. Check both web sites and go with the best deal after shipping is included. Don’t forget to also check out Lock Stock and Barrel also.

Happy Shooting
<O:p
30-30 Man

Lynx-30-30, I'd get the least expensive Lee press kit from either Midsouth Shooter Supply, Natchez SS or F & M Reloading Eqpt. Mount that press on a good solid 1 x 6. Get a couple of 4" C clamps and clamp it to a table to use. Use a later of towel on top and another 1x block underneath if its you wife's favorite table. Remove and store ia a closet between sessions. Its far more versitile than the Hand Press or Lee Loader. I do this with all my press'. None are hard mounted any more.

I would definitely get the Lee Hand Press. which will use standard 30-30 dies. As mentioned above, a case trimmer is a must, as all cases must be trimmed to the same length in order to get a uniform crimp.

Crimping is necessary on the 30-30 as recoil and the pressure of the magazine tube spring will tend to drive the bullets further into the case, a potentially dangerous situation. Once the bullets are seated, then you perform a separate crimping operation by screwing the seating die down a little bit and raising the bullet seating plug so that it will no longer touch the bullet. You will need to screw the seating die down incrementally until you get just enough crimp. Too much crimping pressure can easily deform the shoulder of the rather thin brass of the 30-30 case. Deforming the shoulder usually will result in a cartridge that will not chamber.

I don't believe that the classic Lee Loader has the ability to crimp.

8iowa,

You are correct on the crimp. The Classic Lee Loader is intended for people who will load and shoot their rounds one-at-a-time. The neck-sized-only cases often will not feed from a magazine because the case body has not been sized back down. An alternative to what you suggest is a separate crimping die, like the Lee Factory Crimp die.

First buy you a reloading manual, then the Lee hand press $24.95 a set of dies,(IF you get Lee dies they will come with a shell holder, powder dipper and reloading information) all for less than others charge for the dies alone $20.99!
For about $9 you can be set up with a complete case trimming set for one caliber, also from Lee. A powder funnel$2.79
The Lee powder scale will cost about $21 maybe less.
The Lee hand priming tool should cost $14
All these prices are from the Midway catalog #31, and none require mounting and will store in a shoebox. Glenn

Hello forum
I use my Lee Loader for my Marlin 30-30 and it works just fine for the about three loadings. I then resize the brass. Not a problem feeding into the chamber. I do however trim the case after each firing. One thing I do after using the Lee Loader is to put a crimp on the bullet with the Lee crimp die in my press. This is an extra step but well worth it. My 30-30 shoots both 150 grain and 170 grain loads at under an inch at 100 yards! The crimp does not seem to affect the accuracy. My hunting buddies are just dumbfounded at the results.
<O:p</O:p
30-30 Man

The best prices on Lee products and fine service go here http://www.fmreloading.com/.

Tman, explain the ram prime and how it works, I have a small lee press like yours I use for decapping and would like to prime with it also. Can this priming tool be bought separate or does it come in a set with something els?

Smitty, the Ram Prime works out of all porportion to it's price. In the little red Lee press, it's actually way better than some in line priming tools I've tried. The priming unit mounts on the ram of the press, and the shell holder mounts in the threaded die section. I have two of them and leave them set up for small and large primers. They are very handy, and I use them for the times when I don't need to prime a large number of cases. The Autoprime II also works way better that you'd imagine for $15, and you can zip through a pretty good pile of priming boredom in no time.

Blackhawk44,

Before you get too excited about F&M, you might want to look at this thread at the Firing LIne (http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284070) forum. Sounds like you need to call them and be darn sure they have the right stock and the right price for your order.

When I started reloading I did not have much room either, so I used a portable reloading stand. Then I could move it out of the way and bring it out only when I needed it. The Lee classic makes quick work of reloading. Check this stand:
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Categoryid=19920&categorystring=9315***731***10458***