I have read ALOT of great things about these two products , has anyone here used these two LEE items to reload? I'm looking at reloading for the 45/70....

I'm not an expert on them but I've been collecting them and do enjoy loading with them at times. It's not speedy but it's relaxing and fun and the bigger cartridges like the 45-70 are easier to handle.
I'd try one if I were you.
Mike:)

The hand-press will offer alot more "flexability" than the basic Loader. Both are good tools. Good ammunition produced by both.

Good too OWN both IMO.

Cheezywan

Dogman,

I own and use the Lee Loader for my 45-70. I like it so much I've ordered one for my 7mm, and am constantly looking for good deals on them now. Also got one for my 16 gauge.

A couple things I've found.

1. They're just cool and fun! I love that I can sit at the kitchen table with a piece of wood or a cutting board for a work surface and just load away.

2. You'll need a good mallet/soft face hammer which is almost impossible to find in stores now. Lowes and Home Depot in my area don't carry them. I found a cheapo for 5 bucks in Harbor Frieght but quality was poor. Bought it anyway and it works ok. Got a Proto from Granger in the mail and it's a good one. The kind with interchangable plastic heads is best. You want a hard plastic. Rubber is too soft and brass would probably work but I think it would mar the loader.

3. Look for a full set of the powder dippers. Cabellas has them for about $8.95 and there are 15 different size scoops. It comes with a sliding charge card with all sorts of load info.

4. If you pour your powder into a fairly wide, flat bottomed bowl like a butter dish, you can get a nice sweep through it with the scoop and get very consistent weights. Practice at first and weigh each one until you get a feel for it. Since I want accuracy, I weigh each charge but you can get them very close with one nice scoop. Use paper or cardboard shims in the bottom of the scoop to fine tune the volume.

5. For 45-70, if you plan to load cast lead, you will probably need to contact Lee and order a case mouth expander that normally comes with a 45 cal pistol set like the 45 long colt. You can pull up parts on the website. I got one and it was maybe two bucks and change. Helps a lot. Oddly, the rounds I loaded before hand where they were shaving lead shot just fine... Thought I'd have accuracy problems but I didn't.

6. Some people get nervous about seating the primers with a hammer and rod but it's pretty easy. Use your ears.... About three good taps and the third or fourth one will sound totally different. More SOLID sound. That means the primer is seated.

7. You can get a hand primer (I did) and it works slick but it kinda throws my sequence off. I got the routine down and like loading a single round from start to finish instead of doing each step in batches. It's your choice though. With this loader, you can do it either way.

8. Don't be afraid to put a strong crimp on them. It don't take much of a whack but you don't really have to baby it either. 45-70 seems to like a strong crimp.

9. They'll shoot as accurate as ammo loaded on anything else.

10. Did I say they're fun!? My kids like to help me with them especially knocking out the primers.

Hey......

Just realized I'd already posted to your other thread about what loader to buy...:)

Sorry to be redundant.:rolleyes: but I DO like the Lee Loaders.

I have Lee Loaders in the basic rifles calibers (.30-30, 30-06, 45-70) and in the shot gun gauges. They are what I started with. Still very handy.
Then I "graduated" to the Lee Hand Press. Used to go the the beach with it and a few hundred clean fired .45 ACP cases. I'd sit and size the cases, sunbathe, take a swim, size some more cases.
Then, as my need for ammo increased, I got a progressive.
Pete

Have owned and used both for years. Started out 20yrs ago with the Lee Loader just to see if I would like this whole reloading thing. Reloading is a series of steps and the Lee Loader will give you a good working foundation of these steps that will serve you well. If your just curious I would go with the loader but for a few more dollars the Lee Hand Press will give you more versatility and make things go a little faster.

I have them both. I use the Lee Loader when I'm in no hurry and want to get back to "basics" (sometimes I feel a bit nostalgic). I even have a Herter's copy of a Lee Loader in 30-06. I often use the Hand Press for various chores; sizing, priming, etc or when I'm not set up for a particular caliber. I reciently used the Hand Press to size and seat gas checks on about 100 Ranch Dog 246 gr. 44 cast boolits in a Lee push through die. Not something I would want to do every day, but not that bad at all.

You don't mention the .45/70 you are thinking of. Basically it works at 3 pressure levels. Trapdoors are pretty much restricted by lack of strength to black powder pressures. 15K LUP. Like todays shotguns and guns shooting black powder, etc. Then there are the lever actions that work in the .30/30 range, 35K CUP. Then there are the single shots, like Ruger that can get hot. 50K CUP. I cannot encourage it. The case is a bit thin but some get squirrelly. Their life, not mine. (I have a Siam Mauser that I don't hesitate to load into the 40K CUP range...)

Actually the original LEE loader design dates from the days of black powder and the early cartridges that were pretty much pure copper cases. If you have a trapdoor and plan to load to these low pressures, it is great. The other option for more money was the "nutcracker" by Ideal that I think Lyman/Ideal still has available as the model 310 (last I looked). Bottom line? These "neck size" ONLY. Lyman sells a full length die. To full length resize you beat the case in with a mallet and then turn the thing over and beat it out with a rod... PAIN... I started there and moved on fast for .357 Mag. Light .38 loads would be much more pleasant.

Lee Hand press is an adequate press for reloading. It is poor, POOR for case forming or bullet making. If you do a LOT (1,000s) of full length resizing and don't already look like "the hulk" you willlllll With a good set of dies, it will do about anything you should do with a .45/70. And you can switch to another caliber with another set of dies. I think the LEE Loader retails at $20.- and another set of dies can be had for $15. You do the math/arithmetic. I like mine. Knock out fired primers in front of the boob tube. And when I am weighing each charge, seat the bullet... great feel.

I would more strongly recommend the Lee hand press and dies. More flexibility. But if you have some desire to be period authentic... Re enactor, whatever... O.K. Enjoy. Happy trails.

I have found the Lee handpress to be a great tool. With cases for the 357, 45, 30 carbine and .223 I can resize, decapp, prime and seat the bullet anywhere I want to plop my butt down. Even use it at times for the 8x57. Not good for reforming say 30-06 to 8x57 though. I have a couple of Lee Loaders I bought off of EvilBay several years back but have never gotten around to using them. I do love the handpress though.

I started loading with a Lee Loader, in 9mm. It's not very fast but when you have nothing better to do on a rainy day..... If you're loading just 1 caliber it is most economical. I graduated to the Lee hand press, economical for a young fellow but hand strength required for full length resizing rules it out for us old guys with arthritis creeping in. If you are going to get into reloading heavily invest in a good multi-stage press. I use a Lyman T-Mag, 6 stations with a capper. Set up 2 3-die pistol calibers or 3 2-die rifle calibers and never have to adjust it again.

Just a quick historical correction.
Actually the original LEE loader design dates from the days of black powder and the early cartridges that were pretty much pure copper cases.
The original Lee Loaders were first invented and produced by Richard Lee in his garage in 1958. They were for shotgun shells. Loaders for rifle and pistol cartridges came along in the 1960's. (Company history from the Lee website)
Is there a similar design from the days of BP and balloon head cases (other than the Ideal tong tools)?
Pete

I don't doubt that Mr. LEE came up with his thoughts/products as represented. My question? Who/what inspired him. There is a shortage of detailed info on loaders from those "buffalo days." I have seen the "tong tools" that came in the walnut chests with Winchester single shots and a bullet mold in the leg of the tool.... And a very few tools for reloading shotshells that you "lean on." I will not swear Mr. Lee did not come up with some new wrinkle, just as Bill Ruger added coil springs to the single action design, but there were tools before. Wish there was a book on Ideal and other tool makers the equal of Madis on Winchesters... oh welllll...

First post on something i really like to use. I got a 30-06 in 80, i think and have added in a 222, 243, and 30-30. I purchased a 25-06, 308 and recently a 223 neck sizing die, lock nut and a stop collar to go with the other kits without having to buy the whole outfit. The cost was 10-12 bucks for each of those. I do have the dipper set and use it on everything but the 25-06. Basically, no more than i get to shoot anymore, it works great for a multiple of calibers.

I do have an old arbor press that I got from a local company that keeps me from having to hammer. I use a piece of poly pro under the stop collar and a piece of 1/4" oak on the cartridge head. As mentioned above, decent brass or hard rubber hammers are hard to find.

Great little tools and for a VERY low cost you can add several caibers by just getting the sizing dies, stop collars and lock nuts for similar cases.

best of luck and enjoy a great little pc of equipment.

Ted