The Lyman 310 I've only got in 32-20, and I don't like it as much as the Lee, but I haven't used it that much, either. I used a Lee 'Precision' model (micrometer seating, inside neck reamer) which was an expanded version of the little Lee kit to load sub-MOA 6mm Rem rounds for years.
#LEE LOADER FULL#
Of course it only neck sizes, but at that point, you are likely not needing the full length resize. I never tried it 'at the range' but that really seems sensible.
I use them most for 'just loading a few rounds' to try out a new load then if I like it I can set up a press to make LOTS. I also like the Lee loaders, although I use a RCBS single stage and a Dillon RL550. I now load my plinker load for the 45-70 exclusively with the dippers.
I say this because in my 45-70 and 480Ruger, these loads had an es of 10fps. I think your tapping may actually make it settle which may not be as accurate as the Malamute method. Run the dipper in bottom first and let the powder flow into it so as not to compress the powder any more than it takes to lift the dipper back out, shake ever so slightly a couple times to knock off the extra. His method is to have a large cup and keep it full. This is somewhat similar to the method taught to me by Malamute a few years ago. Once through with the dipper and tap it twice with my index finger to settle and level the powder. I pour my 3031 into a Corel coffee cup that has a round bottom. You might want to try and vary your method of loading the dipper some. You might try looking over on and see some of Junior's writings on them. I do think the Lee Hand press is another solution to the reload anywhere problem, and used one of those to reload. I soon found the siren call of reloading, the fact that you can actually afford to shoot if you reload, and I haven't looked back ever since. I soon had reloaded two or three boxes of ammo and felt like a king with all that ammo at my disposal. I went home, and sitting at my parent's kitchen table, reloaded my first round. I bought it and a box of bullets and a can of 3031 when he offered to toss in a partial flat of primers (I think they might have come in with the Lee loader. One day, on a trip to the gunshop to pick up another box of ammo (I bought 'em 20 rounds at a time back then, being a poor college student) I got talking to the clerk and he showed me a Lee Loader kit, used, that they were asking something like $6.00 for.
222 to hunt groundhogs with, and was distressed at the cost of factory ammo. It's what I started reloading with, oh those so many years ago. I will test weighed charges in the future as well as trying the Lee Loader with Cast Bullets. If care was taken to produce more consistent charges by weighing them I would predict an improvement in already pretty good performance. For a guy starting out it or on a tight budget it could produce some decent quality ammo inexpensively. This was my first experience with the Lee Loader and I must admit for less than $20 it worked pretty well. It also printed an inch lower at 50 yards. The accuracy was actually pretty good, producing groups about 25% bigger than my go-to load. The average for the string was 1851 with a standard deviation of 66.18.įor comparison, my-go to 150gr Remington JSP / IMR 3031 load is 29 grains and it averaged 2073 fps, with a standard deviation of 26. The using IMR 3031 with the supplied scoop the high was 1915 fps and the low 1796 fps.
I wondered about the crimp but pressing the cartridge down hard on the bench on the bullet tip didn't shorten them.Īt the range as I expected the difference in the charges did show up over the chronograph. It felt a little odd seating a bullet in a charged case with a hammer but I was impressed how consistent I was able to keep the OAL. 6 of a grain but my extreme spread gave me a full grain difference. It took me a while but once you get the technique and develop a rhythm it goes pretty well.įor this experiment I used the scoop supplied with the kit for the powder, I weighed the charges but didn't trickle to make the uniform. As an experiment I loaded a batch to compare with a load that I commonly use on my single stage press. I was impressed by the innovation and simplicity. Out of curiosity I picked up a Lee Loader in 30-30.