any tips on cast with old lee hand loader?

[nekshot]

I am loading for a caliber that the only reloading tool I have for it is a old lee hand loader. The one you use a hammer to wack em in and out. Jacket works fine but cast is a little challenging. Any good tips you might have for cast with em?

[Green Frog]

Only 1... be sure to bell the case mouth enough to keep from shaving lead. Most of the Lee Loaders have some sort of feature to make that happen, but you may have to emphasize this step. Other than that, the rest is the same for cast or jacketed bullet loading.

Froggie

[jmort]

Go to the Lee Precision "Custom Services" and get the $8.00 "Custom Flaring Tool" for the Lee Loader. I have one for every one of mine. Very nice addition to a tool I love.
http://leeprecision.com/custom-flari...ee-loader.html

[nekshot]

that flaring tool sure beats my needle nose pliars! I never knew lee had extra's for the hand loader. They are kinda neat. Was my first reloader at 16 years of age. My eyes almost popped when I first saw a reloading press for the first time.

[jmort]

I'm a Lee Precision Fan Boy and I was clicking around on their site one day and stumbled upon the flaring tool. Immediately ordered one for each of my Lee Loaders. Highly recommended. I was considering have my own custom tool made by a machinist before I found it. Was going to pay $20.00 instead of $8.00. Shipping do drive the cost up, but it is still a good deal and a must- have addition in my opinion.

[jcwit]

I made my own, looks similar without the complete bullet shape.

Didn't know Lee offered one.

[jmort]

"Didn't know Lee offered one"

Neither did I. A pleasant surprise.

[Vinne]

When I first started reloading in the 70s, my first reloader was the old Lee Wacker in 38. I used it for a couple of years but maybe they never offered the flaring tool back then. Sure is a neat tool to up grade to.

[Michael J. Spangler]

+1 on the flaring.
I've loaded for 4 cartridges with a lee loader all lead bullets. Flaring is a must

[dudel]

I made my own, looks similar without the complete bullet shape.

Didn't know Lee offered one.

Didn't know it either.

They are included in some loader sets. I got one in my 357Mag loader; but not for .22 Hornet, .223, .30 carb, 9mm or 45ACP.

[Shooter]

The one you use a hammer to wack em in and out.

I would use a hardwood stick instead of a hammer. Easier on the dies.

[jcwit]

I would use a hardwood stick instead of a hammer. Easier on the dies.

As do I. I picked up a bundle of hammer handles at the flea market for next to nothing, this has kept me in sprue hammers & hammers for reloading with the Lee, let alone a few hammer handles replaced.

[Texantothecore]

+1 on the flaring tool. I also use a factory crimp die with a Lee Hand Press and gently crimp the cartridge. There are no other tricks......it is what it is.

Rocks or branches also work out in the field.

I started with a very small hammer that is useful for mounting and adjusting sights but switched to a 16 oz., plastic faced hammer and I am quite satisfied with the results. Most functions requiring a hit use only one stroke now.

This is now my favorite press and my bench mounted presses are packed away as it is really satisfying to reload using this tool.

[mdi]

FWIW, I have 4 Lee Loaders for handguns. The older .44 Mag/Special has a mouth flare tool and the newer one doesn't. My '70s .38 Special doesn't, but my 38/357 does. Also, check that your cast bullets enter the main die body easily, as I've read some are too small for cast lead bullet diameters, and may get sized when seating. I have used a dead-blow hammer, a large rubber mallet, and a yeller plastic hammer, but never metal to metal steel hammer. I think the dead blow is pretty good as it "pushes" more than the "tappy-tap" of the lighter hammers.

IMHO, Lee Loaders are the greatest thing since smokeless powder (I also have 3 bench presses and a hand press but still use a Lee Loader once in a while when I feel "retro")...

[nekshot]

All of fuss about the flaring tool got me to wondering. Years ago I picked up a 38/357 lee loader and I looked in it and low and behold it has a flaring tool! Never knew it was there . It took you fellas to get me to looking to find it. And my "hammer" has nylon on one face and rubber on the other! Any one other than me set a primer off in one of these??? Almost gave me a muskrat slide in my pants!!

[jmort]

"Any one other than me set a primer off in one of these???"

Not yet, but primer detonation is a possibility. You have to assume it may happen, but not sure how you could be fully prepared for such a random occurrence. I reload in condition "yellow" and you would have to be in condition "red" for it not to be one big surprise.

[Michael J. Spangler]

I've set one off. It's a little scary but not as bad as I thought it would be.
It was my first primer ever. I've loaded tens of thousands on a progressive press with some primers that were pretty squished without setting them off.
Something about smashing a primer with a punch and hammer that persuades them a bit I guess.

[Shooter]

I have set off many primers before I learned to seat them easy. You can feel them bottom out, if you tap easy.

[jmort]

This is why I always prime off the press. I love hand primers.

[Texantothecore]

"Any one other than me set a primer off in one of these???"

Not yet, but primer detonation is a possibility. You have to assume it may happen, but not sure how you could be fully prepared for such a random occurrence. I reload in condition "yellow" and you would have to be in condition "red" for it not to be one big surprise.

I have set off a primer but it is not a big deal, it just comes with the territory.