16ga.com ~ View topic

On a previous thread, a poster mentioned using a Lee Loader. The Lee was my first set of tools for reloading shotgun shells and since then I have acquired 7 presses in gauges 28, 20, 16 and 12.
For the last 9 years all of my 16 Ga. hunting reloads have been assembled using the old Lee Loader. Am I the only dinosaur or do you use the Lee Loader?

I have one and will use it on occasion for fiber wads in plastic hulls. I do not use it for my brass hulls as you possibly do. I use a die set for my brass loads.

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

I have 12, 16 and 20 gauge shotgun shell loaders. .222, 22/250 and 25-06 rifle loaders. They all work but there not for a man in a hurry.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Kinda like mowing the lawn with a pair of scissors Laughing

It'll get the job done---BUT------

Unless I'm hunting huns, I usually have just a few rounds to reload after each hunt. My hunting loads take about 30 seconds per round to reload with the Lee Loader and I usually reload after each hunt. I have made two powder dippers for my favorite loads that cuts reloading time significantly.

Unless I'm hunting huns, I usually have just a few rounds to reload after each hunt. My hunting loads take about 30 seconds per round to reload with the Lee Loader and I usually reload after each hunt. I have made two powder dippers for my favorite loads that cuts reloading time significantly.

Don't use my 20, 16, or 12 (bought in 1971 upon my return from the Nam) to load shells as such anymore, but I find the shot dippers and crimp starters handy when loading a few loads for chronographing or patterning. It beats making changes to the MEC or Easy loaders.

got a 10 , 12 and 16 . 12 was beat into submission ! 16 is I believe unused . Discovered the 10 makes a perfect 16ga choke swage for a cut barrel - just did one of the 31's . (nothing religious around here !)

Jag , I believe I have a 243 and a 30/40 Krag around here also . When Creekside went down ( Turnbulls dad) , (a major gun shop) , the guys formed satellite shops and a couple of the former employees shot at our nearby club . They had barns full of nick-nack stuff and we were always swapping stuff . They knew I did 16ga stuff and that's how I got the 16 . The others were all obtained when stuff was considered annoying junk stuff that needed to be gotten rid of !! CHEEP !!

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1698 Location: Minnesota

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tDPrnM-Adw

Had never seen one of these used so found this you tube video. Guess what-its demonstrated on a 16 ga version!

Savage 16, thanks for the post. I was surprised as to how long it took him to reload a box of plastic shells. I timed myself once while loading 10 brass shells, averaging 30 seconds per load and that was using card and fiber wads. If I used 1- piece plastic wads, I might trim off 5-7 seconds per load. I didn't include the glue application or drying time.
He spent a lot of time with crimps, whereas with brass hulls, an OSC goes in quickly, as does the glue application if I use Fletch-Tight.
I use a 50 round loading block, but the video has got me thinking about adding a 10 round block to my travel loading box.

I was disappointed when Lee bought out the new packaging for the Lee Loader with the separate dippers for shot. When I began loading shot shells using a Lee Loader, everything I needed to reload fit in a .50 cal. ammo can, except wads and shot. We were living in a trailer outside of Ft. Rucker, AL and space was at a premium. It sure helped with storage issues. In fact, I had three .50 cal. cans for reloading .222, .357/.38 and 12 ga. Life was simpler then. Smile

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine