LEE Loaders

[358156 hp]

I'm working on cleaning up some of my junk treasures and found my first reloader, a LEE Loader in 38 S&W from the early '80s. I see these are discontinued by LEE, but before I set this on the table at the gun show I'd like to know if this is one of the "collectable" calibers. Is anybody here into Lee Loaders? Mine is missing a couple of small, easily replaced pieces and I'd buy them to complete it if it's worth the effort.

 

[Rick H]

Mine are all collector items......
Collecting dust on the shelf.
Sorry, I'm no help. I have a number of them. 38sp., 308W, 222Rem. I don't know if any of the whack-a-moles are collectable.

 

[Jeff H]

Lee Loader® - Lee Loader

One of Michael Reamy's sites. He's a good guy and the crowd that gathers there is a decent bunch. I've not visited there in some time, but I think they'd know or have some valuable information.

My personal and cynical opinion on whether any of these is "collectible" is that anything that doesn't provide instant gratification QUICKLY and in great VOLUME is of little interest of anyone but us Geezers here, and our far flung ilk.

 

[fiver]

if it were a 310 tool you could probably get 30 bucks out of it.
but someone might want it for their BOB [shrug]

 

[Ian]

The .410 loaders were going for stupid money last I looked. I bought a bunch of shotgun and a few metallic kits from various people on the other site for chicken feed many years back, have used the 16 and .410s a little bit. I figure they'll go in the same roll-off container as the rest of my treasures when I'm gone.

 

[RicinYakima]

My best friend has a Lee loader for every caliber he shoots, all rimmed ones. He will pay $40 for a "snow flake", one in perfect condition, complete and the plastic white as new. Otherwise, $15.

 

[Jeff H]

My best friend has a Lee loader for every caliber he shoots, all rimmed ones. He will pay $40 for a "snow flake", one in perfect condition, complete and the plastic white as new. Otherwise, $15.

Last time I looked, not that long ago, the ones still being made are about $40 - brand new, but the selection is limited.

I feel like I SHOULD have one for 357 and 30/30, but the LEE hand-press and extra dies sets for those two are so much handier...

...and quieter.

 

[Rushcreek]

Having a portable reloading setup is very handy at times. I have three Lee Loaders; I break them out occasionally. They are .223, 30-06 Target, and 45-70.
The .38 S&W and the 22-250 were the first cartridges I reloaded (in1972)- and suddenly I could shoot-a lot- on dairy kid income!
I banged my ammo out on Lee Loaders.

 

[JonB]

They are a tough sell in my area. A couple years ago, I found a Herter's Clone of the Lee whack-a-hole in 222, never used with box and papers. I thought I found a gold nugget to flip, but found out it was fools gold, so my Daughter will have to figure out what to do with it, I guess. There is a bunch of Herter's stuff in my stash, I hope she can find a collector, otherwise it'll be a dumpster ride to the scrapper.