Anyone use a

Lee Classic Loader to manually hand load each round?

For the amount of shooting I do of .38 special this might be a good way for me to shoot more and save up for a progressive. Can I really go wrong for 20$?

My two concerns are: how messy and how safe is this?

THe Lee "Classic" is probably the most frustrating way to handload IMO. You are far better off w/ a cheap single stage kit like the Lee. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=423081
Less than $75 & you have a usefull tool that you can still use after you buy a progressive. I have two 550B & still use my single stage for high power rifle rounds or short runs of handgun rounds, where I don't want to change over & to load 20-30rds. Your time has to be worth at least min. wage.

The "handloader" is for field reloading.

And of you just really want to punish yourself.

I got one of them things in the loading cabinet,bought at a yard sale for a buck.Too much of a step down for me to even try it.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
I got one of them things in the loading cabinet,bought at a yard sale for a buck.Too much of a step down for me to even try it.

If it's a .38 special setup I'll give you 2$ plus shipping! (Now you just made 100% on your investment)

Hehe..

quote:

Originally posted by psychephylax:
Anyone use a

Lee Classic Loader to manually hand load each round?

For the amount of shooting I do of .38 special this might be a good way for me to shoot more and save up for a progressive. Can I really go wrong for 20$?

My two concerns are: how messy and how safe is this?

I used one for loading .45 ACP 30+ years ago. It's a major pain - especially sizing (i.e. hammering). If you want to have consistent rounds, you'll end up weighing your powder charges on a scale so the powder measure will just become a scooper. I used my kit once and then bought a single-stage press.

quote:

Originally posted by signoir:

quote:

Originally posted by psychephylax:
Anyone use a

Lee Classic Loader to manually hand load each round?

For the amount of shooting I do of .38 special this might be a good way for me to shoot more and save up for a progressive. Can I really go wrong for 20$?

My two concerns are: how messy and how safe is this?

I used one for loading .45 ACP 30+ years ago. It's a major pain - especially sizing (i.e. hammering). If you want to have consistent rounds, you'll end up weighing your powder charges on a scale so the powder measure will just become a scooper. I used my kit once and then bought a single-stage press.

Signoir, where you been,I thought you might have kicked the bucket or something.
I oppoligise for the drift.

I started that way 35 years ago. It is slow and you have to use brass from the same pistol as it only neck sizes.

I started out that way. Loaded many .44 magnum rounds that way. I finally broke the deprimer pin. Started using a friends single stage after that. Bought a 550b about 6 months ago.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
[ Signoir, where you been,I thought you might have kicked the bucket or something.
I oppoligise for the drift.

Oh - I've been around. The Reloading forum is one of the ones that I visit frequently. There's so much collective wisdom here that I feel the need to contribute less and less. But Psychephylax's question got me reminiscing about my old Lee Classic Loader. I still have it around somewhere - probably keeping my electric typewriter and 8-track tape player company. Checking Lee's site, they advise that considerable force is needed to use the Loader for .45 ACP - NOW they tell me! It makes me realize just how long I've been reloading. So - my advice to Psyche is...before you buy the Loader for $20...and before you've cleared off the kitchen table, sneezed gunpowder onto the carpet, gotten your neighbors angry with all your hammering...do yourself a favor - log onto the computer and find yourself a nice single stage press.

I used one to get started back in the 80s. I loaded 357s with it.

It was okay, although inexact and slow. It used to scare my friends, but all of the bullets went bang.