Taking the plunge

[ditto1958]

Well, I'm taking baby steps, but tonight I ordered up some things to start reloading. I decided to start small by ordering a Lee Loader in .357 magnum. I also have a scale, calipers and a couple of other basic things on the way.

I don't have a data sheet for the kit yet, so other than some brass I don't have any components yet.

I like shooting .357 in my Blackhawk, but factory ammo for it is ridiculously high priced.

 

[powder smoke]

Couple good manuals and you'll be good to go! Enjoy. ps

 

[contender]

Manuals are one of the most important tools you can buy.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

You can load some very servicable ammo with the simple Lee Loader, it is just verrrry
slow. You will soon be replacing it with a faster system. The good thing is any other tools like scale,dribbler,funnel,trimmer etc. are still needed and can be used with whatever loader you replace the Lee Loader with. Have fun!

 

[dougader]

Grab the Speer 14 and Lyman 50th (just out) and you're good to go.

If I was starting out new with 357 (like I did in 1986??? or thereabout) I'd forego the bottle of W296 for flame thrower loads and grab a couple pounds of Power pistol or another good "medium" burn rate pistol powder so I could load medium to heavy loads with the same powder.

Read the instructions carefully and follow them and you'll be cranking out quality handloads in short order! 8)

 

[mikld]

I'd suggest getting a copy of The ABCs of reloading. Even though you have a Lee Loader (I think they are the greatest thing since smokeless powder) the text will show you how to do each step and why it's done. It will also show you what equipment is needed for later when you wanna "upgrade".

I started in '69 with a Lee Loader in .38 Special, 200 generic cast lead bullets, 100 CCI primers, 1 lb of Bullseye, and my trusty yellar mallet. I picked up a lot of brass at the local Police Range where I shot and used this set up for over a year and a half before I could afford a bench press and dies. I supplemented my Lee Loader with a scale, and home made dippers, but basically that's all I used for a couple thousand reloads.

Lee Loaders ain't slow once you learn how to use them and get on a roll...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc About 45 seconds per round.

 

[volshooter]

Welcome to reloading. It is very rewarding and cost effective. I'm a big fan of LEE products. Something very pleasing producing your own loads. Enjoy!

 

[frontstuffers]

Yep, definitely how I got started. Loved it, you get to learn all about the components you are using and it teaches you to take your time and do it right. Used these loaders for a LONG time before getting a single stage press. Welcome to reloading, it is addictive. :)

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

My first metallic cartridge reloading was for a .38 Spl with the little ol' Lee Loader. Slow it is, BUT it gives the new loader a chance to see every operation up close and personal, with time to check everything, which in my mind is necessary to develop a good, consistent and SAFE loading regimen. In a crawl-walk-run analogy, the Lee Loader is "crawl", the single stage approach I prefer even to this day is "walk", and moving to a progressive is "run", which is nice when required, though that's not nearly as often as some people think. Especially newbies!

Add as many manuals as one can get their hands on, read carefully (and often!), and with practice one can make ammo that's just as good with that Lee Loader as my buddy down the street can on his big Dillon 1050. Now, his "runs" generally run from 10k to 20k at a time. He loads for his club: when the guys get enough cases and components together for a run, they bring 'em to him, the cover comes off and that Dillon goes to work, for real! He's not gonna live long enough to make many batches that size hammering away on the Lee Loader, but his ammo won't outshoot that loaded in other ways, just more slowly! ;)

Rick C

 

[mr surveyor]

Ditto, just be sure that in that "couple of other things" you ordered with this first start-up kit, you got a tube of Lee Case Lube ... I can assure you, you don't want to hammer a .357 case into the sizer without lube!

jd

 

[ditto1958]

Ditto, just be sure that in that "couple of other things" you ordered with this first start-up kit, you got a tube of Lee Case Lube ... I can assure you, you don't want to hammer a .357 case into the sizer without lube!

jd

Excellent point. Putting a little bit of Lee Case Lube on the brass makes things go a lot easier.

 

[pruger45]

The Lee loader should have some data included to get you started.

 

[Throckmorton]

Primers do go off occasionally when being seated on the Leeloader,so eye protection ALWAYS,and ear protection not a bad idea either.
I never had one go off in many hundreds of shotshell rounds,but users do report it happening.
Lee's powder bushings and dippers are famous for measuring light, so having that scale will come in handy.

You can make excellent ammo,and they are a lot of fun to start with,.

 

[Rook]

I started loading 20 ga. shotgun shells with a Lee Loader when I was a youngster back in 1962. It was the Lee Loader in the red cardboard box. Very slow for sure but I could load enough shells in the evenings after school during the week to last me all weekend hunting dove and squirrels.

 

[WMB30]

one will find the need of a caliper sooner than later

Bill

 

[LAH]

You will love making your ammo. It's a way of life.

 

[dixie884]

All above is good advice, be careful and don't get distracted............

 

[Galaxiedan]

Look at the Lee classic turret when your ready to pick up the reloading pace.