My new/old Lee Loader

[KHornet]

I taught a number of folks in tight budgets in the early 60's to load with lee loaders. The only one that I owned was a 20 gage. However back at that time I had progressed rifle and pistol loading to a CH C press, and never bought a rifle or hand gun lee Loader. Did have a 310 tool in 222 however. Still have my old 20 g. Lee and the 222 310 tool and dies.

On a whim while pawing thru EBay listings I saw a Lee loader early box in 303 Brit, and put a low bid on it, and won. Think I got it for 12.00 and postage. It came today. I am looking forward to loading a box for the
P14 and the #1 enfield Probably all I will ever load on the thing, but it is one of those back to basics things
that old codgers like me need to once in awhile pull out, look at, remember, and put away until the next time

As a sideline, I taught a young airman who was stationed with me to load with a 38S Lee loader. He lived in a trailer not far from the base. He asked me one day to stop over and see some of his loads and how he was
doing. Just as I walked thru the door I heard a small bang, and there sat doug with a sheepish look, and the
primer rod sticking out of the ceiling of the trailer. The instructions always said to prime with small taps on the
primer rod. I doubt that he ever made the same mistake again.

Like the song title says "Memories are made of This!"
Paul

 

[Ian]

Some of us younger folks like to do that once in a while, too. It's good to step away from the auto-index progressives and automatic case feeders for a little dose of perspective. I bought a very old .30 WCF Lee loader some years ago used, and a 16-gauge kit too, complete with both crimp starters (those were additional items to purchase IIRC) to compliment my Dad's old Savage 219 with rifle and shotgun barrels. Not a bug out or prepper thing, just a little useful nostalgia. If my wife and I ever have a son, that will probably be his first centerfire rifle and shotgun, and first foray into handloading.

Never mind the ~500 .38 Special cases I trimmed and chamfered by hand tonight...almost halfway through that 5-gallon bucket now, or the 850-odd powder-coated .223 bullets I sized last night.

 

[35 shooter]

The old lee loaders bring back a ton of memories for me too. I started my re loading career in the mid 70's with a 12 ga. lee hand tool.

I always managed to keep enough squirrel, rabbit, dove, and quail loads on hand with it to keep me and my old bird dog busy and happy.

I still have that old lee loader, but somehow lost one crimper along the way.
That's also how i got my start using unique powder. Lol, back then it was unique for all my 12 ga. loads for quite a while.
I still load a few shells with it from time to time, even though i moved up to a mec 12 ga. press long ago...still have it too, along with my original rock chucker rifle and pistol press.

Come to think of it, there's lots of good memories in my loading room. It all started with lee hand tools though!

 

[Intheshop]

Started with one for 30-30 back in the mid 70's.Then got a first year 722 Rem. in .222.The 'ole guy had a very fine 10x Weaver,CH dies,bunch of bullets,and 4198.He gave me the loading dope.Bought a press and started getting real serious.

Had a 100 m. range out the shop door.Things haven't changed a whole lot.Still loading on single stages....still shoot "out back".

 

[KHornet]

Yep, it was Unique back then, and for the most part still is today, for a high percentage of
my PB loadings in rifle, and a lot of pistol loads as well. Back then I lived less than 50 mi
from Shawnee Mission, and Hogden. He sold surplus 4895, 4831, and Bl-C2. Sold it in
paper bags, from one to 5 lbs, and in 25 lb. Kegs at 50 cents to a dollar a pound. A 25 lb
keg of 4831 was, if memory serves me right about 22.50. 4895 was a bit higher, but under
25.00, and Bl-C2 was only a little over 20.00 a keg. Those were for a shooter, the "good
old days!"

Paul

 

[300BLK]

The ONLY Lee loader I ever had was a Target Model in 30-06. The inside of the case neck was reamed while the case was in the die so that the inside was concentric with the outside. I have no idea as to what ever happened to that loader.

 

[KHornet]

Always meant to buy one of those Target Models, but like so many things in my life, meant to,
and get done seem to fall by the wayside.

Paul