Review of the Lee Classic Loader in 45 Acp Review

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I'k looking into a Classic Lee Loader as an intro to reloading. If all goes well, I'll probably work my fashion into the more expensive equipment that undoubtedly will brand the job easier.
That said, the Lee website says that "considerable force is required for sizing" in the .45ACP kit. While I sympathize there are considerable limitations to the Classic Loader Kit in any circumstance, is the .45ACP kit especially miserable/frustrating/impossible to use?
Personally, I'd just get with a Lee Classic Turret Printing kit from Cabela's (in fact, I did). The Archetype you're talking about is single-stage, right? I sympathize wanting to starting time out as inexpensively as possible, but inside a week or two you lot'll be wanting to upgrade anyway. A single-stage is nice to have around for various uses, simply information technology's besides slow to practice a bunch of loading with, in MY opinion. FWIW.
I don't remember the .45acp requires any more forcefulness than anything else, but you DEFINITELY want to use carbide dies, not steel.
I wouldn't bother with the Lee Loader ... I started with one, that lasted about ii days (too much noise to accommodate the other humans in the house, and the occasional primer going off was nerve-wracking)... get a turret or unmarried phase printing to start with. I like Hornady stuff, but RCBS, Redding, and Lyman make top notch single stage and turret presses. Lee presses are OK if y'all're on a budget, too.
Oh, and similar Rondog said, get Carbide dies for the .45ACP ... information technology's worth the extra $$.
concord with the other guys. i have most nine lee loaders. I occasionaly use them when im bored or something. In fact just the other day i was depriming and sizing with one. Thats what its actually good for. depriming. i put the decapper on the die and so its ane long tube. then start de priming. and then i sized them all. I was doing 9mm. Well my son sees me. Starts to laugh enquire why am i messing with that thing. I said just to become some practice and well its so easy. So a few minutes subsequently he comes back and easily me a box of primers. And so i say to myself what the heck. I deprimed them sized them. Might equally well prime them. Well i was doing box of 50. And then when i got to around 45 kaaaaboooom. That was enough i picked up the stuff and put the lee loader abroad. Got out my manus prime and finished the remaining 5. A few minutes afterwards my son comes walking in. Said the cat was lying in the window when the primer went off she fell to the floor. He was laughing his head off. And then ya lee loader is a proficient tool i accept always found that its very easy to set off pistol primers with information technology though. i must take done around xxx or and then now. Rifle i have never had one get off. Shotgun neither just pistol. Any how they do work only like the other guys said. For 45 acp yous best getting a press
If by classic loader, yous hateful the practice all the work with a mallet kind, I wouldn't suggest it.
I have ane in .357/.38Special that I bought for that same reason - an intro to reloading. Cost me about $20 plus another $seven or and so to ship. It'southward slow (but fun, in a "playing with firecrackers" sort of way while priming). Very slow if doing pistol ammo - which is what you are planning to do.

If upkeep is key, get either a Lee Hand press or their unproblematic, C-type press. Ordinarily you can observe information technology for nearly the same price - in fact, a few places have the C-press with a Lee transmission for about $thirty-35. Yeah, you'll invest some other $25 in dies, but for $50 or so, you'll have a solid tool that will not aggrevate the hound out of you and still allow you lot a decent rate of speed.

I'll keep my Lee Classic Loader - if for no other reason, if I ever have to or want to take information technology with me, it fits in a little kit with a box of bullets and a bottle of powder. Merely if I had to do information technology once again, I would skip the LCL and get straight to the single-stage press.

Q
ants Member

Joined:

Nov 24, 2007

Messages:

3,710
If y'all simply do a one-half dozen rounds at a time, it'south OK.
I've used the Lee Loader on and off for 40 years. If you're but doing 5 or 10 rounds at a time, there is nothing wrong with information technology. While growing up I reloaded shotshells sitting with the family while they watched TV. There'due south nothing wrong with a uncomplicated hand kit if your volume is very low.

Priming:
In 40 years (peradventure a thousand metal cartridges and a few thousand 16ga shotshells) I've never set a primer off. Then once again, I'yard a competent reloader, and proficient care and safe from Twenty-four hours One 40 years ago.

But if y'all want to reload larger volumes and be consistent and precise, in that location are inexpensive single stage presses that work great! Others will advise you to go more expensive equipment (just the all-time) merely they are probably spending money yous don't have. Let them buy it for you lot.
Thanks, gents. I think I'll give another look at the bones Lee presses, based on your advice.
I have one in .357 and in .45. The .357 kit was a gift from my Dad back in '92 and the .45 kit was bought a couple of years ago. The .357 kit is very like shooting fish in a barrel and smooth to use only the .45 kit is another story. I establish that it is extremely hard to get the case in and out of the sizing die on the .45 kit to the point of becoming some serious work for very piffling result.
I load everything on a Lee iii phase press now, but I still use the .357 kit on occasion if I just want to throw a few rounds together without irresolute out my dies and resetting my powder measure on my printing when I am in the middle of loading some other quotient. It is besides nice to accept a reloading setup that I can merely throw in a dufflebag and take on a camping ground or hunting trip if I feel like it.

As to setting a primer off when using ane of these kits, I accept never done so and honestly I don't come across how information technology could be done unless the person was either doing something wrong or using WAY more force than is needed to seat the primer. That said, I don't set primers with my face hanging over the rod either! (And no, I own't gonna lol )
Oh man, are you talking about one of these?

There ain't NFW I'd waste material the time or money on something similar that. This is what I was talking about, beginning with i of these kits from Cabelas or elsewhere and never await back........
Vacek Member

Joined:

Sep xiv, 2006

Messages:

316
Tackleberi,
If you desire to try out reloading, get to actually empathize and know the nuts and y'all are content with an output of 30-60 rounds per hour, yous tin't really beat the Lee Loader. At least when you lot wait at the price, the stride by pace ability for quality control, and generally getting into a fun hobby... get for information technology.

I started with Lee Loaders, still use them for some rifle calibers and revolvers even though I accept the Lee Breechlock and a Dillon Square Bargain.

Sometimes, I only want to relax dorsum, make a few really good bullets with my Lee. The forcefulness needed for pistol...not that bad.

By the way I have a Lee Loader for every common burglarize and pistol quotient. Also have the original 60's vintage for 12 and 20 guage.
+i on what rondog said. I accept been using a Lee archetype turret for two years and couldn't be happier.
Rusty
I merely acquired 1 for .45. Started with .223 a couple of months ago. I have not used the .45 yet.
It is slow going, and noisy. Nonetheless, I enjoy the portability and practicality of the Lee Loader. I have no room for a bench or press at this time, then I unremarkably load outside in the shade.

Having loaded about 200 rounds then far, I'll say that it works well and the savings add together up quick. If I had the space I would pace up to a Lee Anniversary Kit. It has everything but the dies for $80. and the dies are simply $20.

Though I would definitely keep the Lee Loaders, and make use...
I used the Lee Loaders many moons agone when I was a teenager.
Mom and Dad would run me out of the firm due to the "whack, whack, whack" audio of driving the cases into the dice. Those were the days when I was pinching pennies to buy components.

I wouldn't start that way today, knowing what I do.
Tackleberi,
I have a few of these lee loaders in some of my chief calibers: 38spcl, 357 mag, 30-30 win, seven.62 Russian, 308, and 30-06 and I think a couple of others. I think they are great.
Hither it is:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=480380

Lee C-way press with transmission - $25 plus S&H.

I would go that way instead. The manual alone is about $fifteen-20, or the press past itself is $25. It'south a great deal for the budget-driven reloader!

Q
Y'all can still find Lee challenger press kits for effectually $35 bucks. I did but terminal weekend. Kit includes: Challanger "O" Frame press, lube, ram prime tool, and a pulverisation funnel. All you need is a couple of reloading manuels, a scale, calipers and dies and yous can outset loading. You can add together trimmers, champfer/de-burr tool, case brushes for neck and primer pocket, and a tumbler afterwards. We are talking way ultra econo style and you won't win no awards for the best reloading bench on the block but you volition exist able to load proficient ammo.
Me personally, I would concur out and relieve a bit more than cash for the LEE Classic Turret and build that way. The principal reason I bought this Challanger press is to have a press correct side by side to my recliner on my mini demote. I have 3 Dillons, one T7, and a practiced sturdy Lee Classic Cast in The Cave l paces away.

Cheers...
Vacek Member

Joined:

Sep 14, 2006

Messages:

316
The boy wants to load up some 45ACP.
He can do it with $25 for a Lee Loader, $20 for some pulverization, $4 for 100 primers, some other $xx for some bullets. Cost is around $lxx bucks and he can have some skilful reloads.

Cheapest Lee printing is going to set him back $35 plus some other $35 for the dies, now add together the $44 for the materials and he is at $104 requite or take. Not to mention finding a table or something to bolt the press to.

Takleberri....requite it a endeavor. If you similar it, keep doing it. If you lot actually similar information technology...you might want to upgrade sometime...sell the Lee Loader on Ebay and get most of your initial investment dorsum. If you don't similar it....sell information technology on Ebay and get about of your initial investment back.

This kind of decision ain't rocket science.
I've about twenty Lee Loaders. I employ several weekly. They own't quick, just they are effective and will give you lot expert quality loads.
At habitation, I accept a classic turret, a dillon, and a unmarried stage.
ants Member

Joined:

Nov 24, 2007

Messages:

three,710
Chan's the man.
I have an entire room in the business firm dedicated to reloading. Presses for pistol, rifle and shotshell.

But when my son wants to larn, I'll give him the Lee Loaders and a plastic mallet. Before long he volition accept a deep inner feel for what he's doing. Just like I did at xiv years of age.

[By the manner, when I started we couldn't notice components, case lube or bullet lube locally, and at that place was no Internet. We cast our own bullets, mixed our ain lube, cut our own shotshell wads, and reloaded everything with Lee Loaders. My get-go four Loaders were 16 gauge, .30-06, .30-30 and 44 Mag. No wimpies here.]
thanks for the nifty info posted here im a young guy who has no one in my family who even owns a gun besides a 2nd cousin and am on a tight upkeep simply i want to try to cut ammo costs i spent 50 bucks which is quite a chip of money for me and am going to effort to pick the hobby of reloading would reloading a .40 exist cheaper than buying ammo every other week which is how much i tend to shoot well-nigh a 100 rounds a trip
All comments have been helpful and appreciated. My take from all of them is:
-The Classic Loader kit works as advertised
-The Classic Loader kit is meaty (very important)
-The Classic Loader kit is SLOW (which I tin live with)

That said, I'll be picking upward a .45 ACP Classic Loader kit this weekend, and I'll terminate dorsum to say how it went. I know the difference betwixt the Classic Loader and the next step up in presses is non that much dollar-wise, but it'due south more than I take at the moment. However, all the comments about the "side by side footstep up" presses have likewise been helpful, and I will certainly reference them when I don't have wintertime heating season to pay for.
Vacek Member

Joined:

Sep 14, 2006

Messages:

316
tackleberi.... Good decision. Have fun, be careful.
If that's going to go you started so expert for you. The nearly important matter is to beginning reloading. Skilful luck and permit us know how you lot like information technology.
Rusty
You won't regret it. Savor!