Classic Lee Loader or Lee Hand Press?

[Javi]

The round that I want to start reloading for is the 6.5x55 Swede. Reason I'm looking at those two is because I have no work bench here at my parent's house. There's really nothing here stable enough for a mounted press and I won't have one until I get a condo or home of my own. I don't know a lot about reloading, just some basics. If I'm not mistaken, the Lee Loader can size the neck of the cartridge but not the whole thing, right? Sounds like it's a great kit for brass that has already gone through your rifle. I shot 40 rounds of Prvi Partizan ammo and I have 80 rounds of Miwall reloads to go through(the rounds look better than the Prvi). I do plan on getting some nice Norma, Lapua and Nosler brass to put together so I don't know if the Lee Loader would be appropriate for making sure those are the correct length n' all. Thanks for your responses.

[gunboat]

actually neither will check your case length. You need a set of vernier calipers or a case gage to do that chore.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with the lee loader I prefer the hand press. With regular dies you can both full length size or neck size by backing the die off slightly.
If you want a actual press a black and decker type bench will suffice.
The first thing you need is a loading manual, I prefer lymans but others are good --
my tuppence

[epcii]

Are you sure you don't have anything stable enough? I used to use an old subwoofer box as my workbench.

[rsrocket1]

You should really look into your options before getting either of these. Perhaps with a bolt action round, you won't mind spending an evening just to load a box of 20 rounds, but either will get old pretty fast.

Have you thought about getting a Black and Decker Workmate bench for your table? They fold away and take up little or no space (if you hang it from a wall) and you can mount a sturdy Single Stage press such as the Lee Breechlock Challenger to a section of 2x4" or 2x6" and clamp it to the bench with $2 Harbor Freight C-clamps. You can also mount the powder measure to a wooden block and clamp that to the bench.

When you're all done for the day, everything fits into a box and the table folds away under the bed or in the closet.

I mounted a heavy cast press to a 2x4 by drilling holes for the mounting bolts, then counter sunk the bottom with a Dremel tool (a router would also work) so that the bolt head and a wide fender washer fits through the bottom and the wood sits flat on the Work Mate surface. It makes it easy to clamp the whole thing to the bench.

[Javi]

actually neither will check your case length. You need a set of vernier calipers or a case gage to do that chore.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with the lee loader I prefer the hand press. With regular dies you can both full length size or neck size by backing the die off slightly.

Ah, I meant full-length sizing, not just checking. Midway does have a sale on some Calipers so I'm going to snatch one up! I hear these Lapua and Norma brass are pretty darn consistent in sizes. So for new brass, the hand loader would be more appropriate? Yes, I plan to get the Lyman book before I buy any equipment. I just recently felt like starting reloading sooner rather than later like planned.

Are you sure you don't have anything stable enough? I used to use an old subwoofer box as my workbench.

Nice haha. I think my dresser would do well but I'm not mounting anything to that lol.

You should really look into your options before getting either of these. Perhaps with a bolt action round, you won't mind spending an evening just to load a box of 20 rounds, but either will get old pretty fast.

Have you thought about getting a Black and Decker Workmate bench for your table? They fold away and take up little or no space (if you hang it from a wall) and you can mount a sturdy Single Stage press such as the Lee Breechlock Challenger to a section of 2x4" or 2x6" and clamp it to the bench with $2 Harbor Freight C-clamps. You can also mount the powder measure to a wooden block and clamp that to the bench.

When you're all done for the day, everything fits into a box and the table folds away under the bed or in the closet.

I mounted a heavy cast press to a 2x4 by drilling holes for the mounting bolts, then counter sunk the bottom with a Dremel tool (a router would also work) so that the bolt head and a wide fender washer fits through the bottom and the wood sits flat on the Work Mate surface. It makes it easy to clamp the whole thing to the bench.

Never heard of that one. I'll look into it. I don't remember watching any videos of people using the handloader making rifle rounds but watched Lee himself load up a rifle round with the Lee Loader and it looked pretty easy and fun. I think it's pretty cool they have a Lee Loader for the Swede round, must be a popular option. I did get used to the cost of these two as well (around $25) as well haha even though $100 for a Lee press kit is very good too. I'm not looking to really crank some new rounds out but maybe..at the very least 100 rounds in a week? Would 100 in a day take too long? They both seem pretty fast

edit: Ah, just watched someone load some .223 with the handloader. Didn't look very tough to seat the bullet.

[moulton]

I have a classic lee loader in .270 and I've loaded hundreds of rounds with it without complaints. I bought it when I was 16 and I was just getting into reloading and I used to load on the kitchen table......I can make some pretty good loads with it, taken down two whitetail does and can hit metal at 500 yards.

[Javi]

Would I need this to use with the Lee Loader?

[ejhc11]

I recommend the Lee Handloader, works great, I load .223 and 30-06 for my ARs and M1 Garand. Also, get the Lee Deluxe Die Set 6.5x55, 90611 it has both Full and Neck sizing dies.

I'm in the same boat as you OP. I bought the Lee Lock Hand Press Kit, it came with a nice primer die accessory, allows you prime small/large primers by hand plus case lube. Also, the breechlock is a breeze to change between different dies. You may have to buy an extra set of breech locks. Kit only comes with one.

You need part number 90126 (Case length gage/shell holder 6.5x55) but I would recommend Lee Cutter 90110 (you can chuck it to a drill) and you'll need 90109 Chamfer Tool, 90101 Primer pocket cleaner

A Lee Perfect Powder Measure, a scale, and a tumbler would be almost everything you need.

Have fun it'll be another hobby reloading....

[stand125]

A Lee Perfect Powder Measure, a scale, and a tumbler would be almost everything you need.

In my very ElCheapo opinion, all of the above are optional. If you use the load chart that comes with either your dies or the Lee classic loader and use the powder that corresponds to the powder type and bullet weight, you do not need a scale since the dipper will throw a very accurate charge. A scale is needed if you plan to use other powders than the load chart as I did. As an experiment a while back I threw 10 charges of Titegroup with my LEE dipper .5cc that came with one of my pistol die set. The throws where all within +/- .1 grains of eachother. I decided to see how much variation I could get if I scooped a heaping powder charge. It was over by a whole .4grains which seems like a lot untill you consider that anyone who would throw a level scoop and then a heaping scoop the next charge will blow themselves up anyways sooner or later.

A tumbler makes nice shiney brass, but you can wipe down a case in a few seconds and it will accomplish the same thing. Is a $50.00+ dollar tumbler really worth it if you are not shooting high volume. I went a good couple months without a tumbler while I decided if I was going to get really involved in Reloading. I even would fill a small tupperware canister with brass and crushed walnut shells and watch TV while I rolled the canister in my hands to clean the brass. It took a few hours but over a few days watching TV it was no big deal. I have a tumbler now, but thats because I reload a lot of ammo so it makes sense.

You can clean primer pockets with a small screw driver, but a tool is only a few bucks so it is worth it ( i used a screw driver untill I bought a single stage kit that included one)

My initial setup required for 45ACP was a whole $32.00 and after the first few rounds I was comfortable and could do a round in under a minute. I understand that rifle takes a trimmer and chamfer tool but those are pretty cheap/

LEE CLassic loader $28.00
Harbor freght plastic mallet $2.00
Harbor Freight manual slide caliber $2.00
and a 1ft piece of 4X4 from a construction area.

[EmmaGoldman]

get the Lyman manual or the Lee manual, so you know more about the whole operation. Read everything cover to cover (except all the load data). That will put you in a much better place to make these decisions.

[Javi]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm going to order a book before getting one of these two kits.

Stand: I was thinking of getting that set of Lee powder scoops. As far as the Lee Loader, I wasn't sure if just that one scoop would have been good.

[ejhc11]

I have the Lee pooper scooper set, I can let it go for to you if interested - cheap too, lightly used. I like my scale and powder measure more.