Reloading With the Old Whack-a-mole Lee Classic Loader - Page 3

rajbcpa · April 23, 2013, 05:48 PM

I used the wack-a-mole Lee reloader starting in 1976 for a 30-06. It made good ammo and I worked up a sub-MOA load pretty quick.

I would not want to use one today but I might consider using it at the range.... it is actually pretty handy and very portable.

These things are not available for a lot of popular rounds, however. I remember trying to buy a Lee wack-a-mole for a 35 Remington lever gun - NO DEAL. They don't make them for this caliber.

444 · April 23, 2013, 06:38 PM

Like many, I started off loading with a "Classic" Lee Loader (before it became a classic).
My first one was in .38 Special. I owned 100 cases. My uncle gave me a keg of Unique powder. During the summer, assuming the weather was nice, I would shoot 100 rounds in the late afternoon, then spend the evening loading those 100 cases. I loaded quite a bit of ammo with that tool.

Years later I got into milsurp rifles and I ended up going on a Lee Loader buying binge. I have at least a half dozen of them. I know I have .38 Special, .45 ACP, 7.62x54R, .303, .455 Webley, .30-06 and I probably own others but am too lazy to look.

I still occasionally break one of them out and load some ammo. They are kinda fun to use and bring back good memories. If I only shot a moderate amount, knowing what I do now, I might not even buy any other reloading gear. The Lee Loader works fine, and I personally don't think it is a whole lot slower than a single stage press. However, I must point out that I am using some additional accessories like a Lee Auto Prime, and a powder measure/scale.

Gbro · April 24, 2013, 05:58 PM

It was stated back a couple pages that these handy-dandy reloading tools will only neck size a case, TBS, one should cycle any brass that wasn't fired in the gun you are reloading for.
I had a lot of trouble years back with my 1894 30 WCF if I didn't test every case.
I still take one to the hunting shack for the youngsters to use.

jolly roger · April 25, 2013, 12:09 PM

Got one of these in 303 British since I don't shoot massive quantities of 303 ammo. With neck sizing and using Sierra 174 match bullets and an appropriate dose of 3031 these loads will make my Enfield SHOOT. Way better than surplus ammo or Prvi Partisan.

Old 454 · April 25, 2013, 05:03 PM

Look at that, loading on a picnic bench having a great time.

I bet he will tell that story to his friends. Nice to see the youngsters getting into our hobbie!

pathdoc · May 5, 2013, 03:08 PM

When seating the primer with the primer rod the primer will make a very distint sound when it seats, and no more primer pops!

Components all came together, I got mine out and was finally able to have a play with it this afternoon after much waiting.

The change of "note" once the primer is seated is quite easy to pick out, even with earmuffs on in the event of a premature. I seated one, then a few more, and finally finished the box of twenty without a premature. Not bad for a first time. (Cases had all previously been FL resized due to change of rifle.) After the first ten I was actually enjoying myself.

The only thing I haven't got sorted out is throwing a good, consistent charge weight with the scoop. Right now I'm just practising, throwing a charge, weighing it and then returning it to the container (I locked all the cases away before I started this!). I'm getting up to a grain above or below the charge weight I'm promised for the scoop and powder I'm using (2.8cc, Varget). I expect this will get better with time - an article in the 8th edition of Handloader's Digest suggests that variances of no more than half a grain either side of average should be possible.

Now here's the interesting thing - maximum loads at the high end are two grains higher than any amount of Varget I can get into that scoop (40gn), and both the Lyman 49th manual data for the Hornady 174gn RN and the Hodgdon website's data for the 174gn Sierra FMJBT agree with the Lee "no-maker-specified" load card that 42gn is tops. The Hornady 7th edition handbook (YES, I have ordered the 9th but it's not here yet) says different - according to them, 40.8gn is tops and some of my scoop thrown charges are nearly there, but the undercharges I was throwing (nearly down to 36gn) are well within limits. Depending on who I choose to believe, I'm either covered at both ends or risking trouble via near-max or gross undercharge!

Assuming the high-end data are correct, I'll be loading (and hopefully finding time to fire) some live rounds as soon as I get my scoop-inconsistency problems sorted out.

SFsc616171 · May 6, 2013, 10:03 PM

Hi folks!!

1. Can you, with much ease, and using the Lee Loader, reload .38 Special brass with lead semi- or full-wadcutter bullets?

2. I watched a few YouTube videos on this loader, but I might have missed, if there were any comments that "the scoop" was factory-formed to hold "'X' grains" of powder. Are they?

3. Somebody mentioned 'a glove' for safety reasons with primers being tapped into place. Which kind would suffice? One of those "mechanix"-style gloves, or something a little heavier?

Thank you for your time.

444 · May 6, 2013, 10:17 PM

1) You can load any bullet you want. After this thread started, I got mine out and loaded 50, lead SWC bullets. The bullet seater appears to be made for a round nose bullet. However, I have never had any problem loading wadcutters or semi-wadcutter lead bullet. I am not sure, but I think I am safe in saying that every round of ammo I ever loaded with a Lee Loader in .38 Special was a lead bullet. When I just loaded these 50 rounds, I specifically looked for any kind of indentation or damage to the bullet nose caused by the bullet seater: there was none.

2) The dippers are measured in CCs. Different powders have different densities, so a given scoop gives you a different number of grains depending on what powder you are using. The Lee Loader comes with one scoop and a chart giving recommended loads using the included scoop.

3) I have never used a glove and have loaded thousands of rounds wiht a Lee Loader. If you take your time and pay attention, I don't think there is much danger in setting off a primer. Yes, I have done it. But that was when I was a teenager and was in a big hurry and I didn't fully understand what I was doing. when the primer seats, it is obvious because the case starts backing out of the die and the sound made by the mallet is different.

Geezerbiker · May 9, 2013, 04:42 AM

I bought one for the 7.7mm Arisaka back in the late 1970's. I loaded a bunch of rounds for that rifle. I started with 2 boxes of Norma ammo and I reloaded it until I got a set of 7.7x50 RCBS dies about 10 years later. After that I resized military 06 cases down and fire formed them for the Arisaka.

I gave the Lee loader to a friend along the way. I'd buy a couple of the shot shell ones if they still made them. The originals sell for way too much on eBay...

Tony

USCS · May 9, 2013, 07:23 AM

When I was 14 or 15,I was given a .30 cal carbine and a case of ammo. I burned through the case within a month. I was then given a Lee "whack a mole" reloader. I loaded with it for several years and untold thousands of rounds. Then I discovered RCBS

Blindstitch · May 9, 2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

I'd buy a couple of the shot shell ones if they still made them. The originals sell for way too much on eBay...

Tony

Well that's some info I didn't know. I have a 12 gauge one that I actually used today to remove a primer and make a dummy shell to check the firing pin of my Mossberg after disassemble/reassembly without having to shoot a live round.

Rggates · May 12, 2013, 08:19 AM

MidwayUSA has the Lee Classic Loader in 303 British for $26.99 available to ship. They also have the Lee 2-Die set for $18.79 and the Deluxe 3-Die set for $33.99.

I started with the Lee Loader in 7x57 Mauser about 47 years ago. Popped about 3 primers over the years due to my own inattention.

After I got married and also in the Navy, I got a Lee Loader for the .357 magnum and a Speer manual. The dipper was slow and didn't offer the loads I wanted so I got a Lyman scale. Production was pretty good when my bride weighed the charges and I did the 'whacking'.

However, one day she spilled the beans. She was only doing the weighing because she didn't have anything else to do. Next purchase was an RCBS uniflow powder measure.

Still use the Lee Classics for test loads or just decapping cases, etc.

Peter M. Eick · May 12, 2013, 02:40 PM

I still use mine for 38/357's that I picked up almost 40 years ago. It works great, easy to use and is helpful for occasionally little things like tapping out primers, tightening up crimps, flaring the occasional piece of brass.

April 23, 2013, 06:38 PM	#52
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	Like many, I started off loading with a "Classic" Lee Loader (before it became a classic). My first one was in .38 Special. I owned 100 cases. My uncle gave me a keg of Unique powder. During the summer, assuming the weather was nice, I would shoot 100 rounds in the late afternoon, then spend the evening loading those 100 cases. I loaded quite a bit of ammo with that tool. Years later I got into milsurp rifles and I ended up going on a Lee Loader buying binge. I have at least a half dozen of them. I know I have .38 Special, .45 ACP, 7.62x54R, .303, .455 Webley, .30-06 and I probably own others but am too lazy to look. I still occasionally break one of them out and load some ammo. They are kinda fun to use and bring back good memories. If I only shot a moderate amount, knowing what I do now, I might not even buy any other reloading gear. The Lee Loader works fine, and I personally don't think it is a whole lot slower than a single stage press. However, I must point out that I am using some additional accessories like a Lee Auto Prime, and a powder measure/scale. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

April 24, 2013, 05:58 PM	#53
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	It was stated back a couple pages that these handy-dandy reloading tools will only neck size a case, TBS, one should cycle any brass that wasn't fired in the gun you are reloading for. I had a lot of trouble years back with my 1894 30 WCF if I didn't test every case. I still take one to the hunting shack for the youngsters to use. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

May 6, 2013, 10:03 PM	#57
SFsc616171 Junior member Join Date: June 9, 2011 Location: "In the swamps of Montana" with the gators Posts: 84	RE: Reloading With the Old Whack-a-mole Lee Classic Loader Hi folks!! 1. Can you, with much ease, and using the Lee Loader, reload .38 Special brass with lead semi- or full-wadcutter bullets? 2. I watched a few YouTube videos on this loader, but I might have missed, if there were any comments that "the scoop" was factory-formed to hold "'X' grains" of powder. Are they? 3. Somebody mentioned 'a glove' for safety reasons with primers being tapped into place. Which kind would suffice? One of those "mechanix"-style gloves, or something a little heavier? Thank you for your time.

May 6, 2013, 10:17 PM	#58
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	1) You can load any bullet you want. After this thread started, I got mine out and loaded 50, lead SWC bullets. The bullet seater appears to be made for a round nose bullet. However, I have never had any problem loading wadcutters or semi-wadcutter lead bullet. I am not sure, but I think I am safe in saying that every round of ammo I ever loaded with a Lee Loader in .38 Special was a lead bullet. When I just loaded these 50 rounds, I specifically looked for any kind of indentation or damage to the bullet nose caused by the bullet seater: there was none. 2) The dippers are measured in CCs. Different powders have different densities, so a given scoop gives you a different number of grains depending on what powder you are using. The Lee Loader comes with one scoop and a chart giving recommended loads using the included scoop. 3) I have never used a glove and have loaded thousands of rounds wiht a Lee Loader. If you take your time and pay attention, I don't think there is much danger in setting off a primer. Yes, I have done it. But that was when I was a teenager and was in a big hurry and I didn't fully understand what I was doing. when the primer seats, it is obvious because the case starts backing out of the die and the sound made by the mallet is different. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

May 12, 2013, 08:19 AM	#62
Rggates Junior Member Join Date: April 6, 2010 Posts: 1	Lee Classic Loader MidwayUSA has the Lee Classic Loader in 303 British for $26.99 available to ship. They also have the Lee 2-Die set for $18.79 and the Deluxe 3-Die set for $33.99. I started with the Lee Loader in 7x57 Mauser about 47 years ago. Popped about 3 primers over the years due to my own inattention. After I got married and also in the Navy, I got a Lee Loader for the .357 magnum and a Speer manual. The dipper was slow and didn't offer the loads I wanted so I got a Lyman scale. Production was pretty good when my bride weighed the charges and I did the 'whacking'. However, one day she spilled the beans. She was only doing the weighing because she didn't have anything else to do. Next purchase was an RCBS uniflow powder measure. Still use the Lee Classics for test loads or just decapping cases, etc.

April 23, 2013, 05:48 PM	#51
rajbcpa Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2012 Posts: 321	I used the wack-a-mole Lee reloader starting in 1976 for a 30-06. It made good ammo and I worked up a sub-MOA load pretty quick. I would not want to use one today but I might consider using it at the range.... it is actually pretty handy and very portable. These things are not available for a lot of popular rounds, however. I remember trying to buy a Lee wack-a-mole for a 35 Remington lever gun - NO DEAL. They don't make them for this caliber.

April 25, 2013, 12:09 PM	#54
jolly roger Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 179	Got one of these in 303 British since I don't shoot massive quantities of 303 ammo. With neck sizing and using Sierra 174 match bullets and an appropriate dose of 3031 these loads will make my Enfield SHOOT. Way better than surplus ammo or Prvi Partisan.

April 25, 2013, 05:03 PM	#55
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Look at that, loading on a picnic bench having a great time. I bet he will tell that story to his friends. Nice to see the youngsters getting into our hobbie!

May 5, 2013, 03:08 PM	#56
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	When seating the primer with the primer rod the primer will make a very distint sound when it seats, and no more primer pops! Components all came together, I got mine out and was finally able to have a play with it this afternoon after much waiting. The change of "note" once the primer is seated is quite easy to pick out, even with earmuffs on in the event of a premature. I seated one, then a few more, and finally finished the box of twenty without a premature. Not bad for a first time. (Cases had all previously been FL resized due to change of rifle.) After the first ten I was actually enjoying myself. The only thing I haven't got sorted out is throwing a good, consistent charge weight with the scoop. Right now I'm just practising, throwing a charge, weighing it and then returning it to the container (I locked all the cases away before I started this!). I'm getting up to a grain above or below the charge weight I'm promised for the scoop and powder I'm using (2.8cc, Varget). I expect this will get better with time - an article in the 8th edition of Handloader's Digest suggests that variances of no more than half a grain either side of average should be possible. Now here's the interesting thing - maximum loads at the high end are two grains higher than any amount of Varget I can get into that scoop (40gn), and both the Lyman 49th manual data for the Hornady 174gn RN and the Hodgdon website's data for the 174gn Sierra FMJBT agree with the Lee "no-maker-specified" load card that 42gn is tops. The Hornady 7th edition handbook (YES, I have ordered the 9th but it's not here yet) says different - according to them, 40.8gn is tops and some of my scoop thrown charges are nearly there, but the undercharges I was throwing (nearly down to 36gn) are well within limits. Depending on who I choose to believe, I'm either covered at both ends or risking trouble via near-max or gross undercharge! Assuming the high-end data are correct, I'll be loading (and hopefully finding time to fire) some live rounds as soon as I get my scoop-inconsistency problems sorted out.

May 9, 2013, 04:42 AM	#59
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I bought one for the 7.7mm Arisaka back in the late 1970's. I loaded a bunch of rounds for that rifle. I started with 2 boxes of Norma ammo and I reloaded it until I got a set of 7.7x50 RCBS dies about 10 years later. After that I resized military 06 cases down and fire formed them for the Arisaka. I gave the Lee loader to a friend along the way. I'd buy a couple of the shot shell ones if they still made them. The originals sell for way too much on eBay... Tony

May 9, 2013, 07:23 AM	#60
USCS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 114	When I was 14 or 15,I was given a .30 cal carbine and a case of ammo. I burned through the case within a month. I was then given a Lee "whack a mole" reloader. I loaded with it for several years and untold thousands of rounds. Then I discovered RCBS

May 12, 2013, 02:40 PM	#63
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	I still use mine for 38/357's that I picked up almost 40 years ago. It works great, easy to use and is helpful for occasionally little things like tapping out primers, tightening up crimps, flaring the occasional piece of brass. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!