[velvalco]

I'm headed to Cabelas Monday to pick up some items that i need to start my first reloads.

Powder
primers
bullets
Lee auto prime
dies...etc

My question is. The lee dies come with a dipper. Would i necessarily need a scale right off the bat, if i plan on using the dipper until i learn what it is i'm doing? From what i read the dippers are the most accurate.

 

[deputy125]

dippers are accurate as far as bein' repeatable from throw to throw-------however they are not exactly what the chart says they will throw----it will be under the listed weight in the charts for the selected powder due to variances in density of the powders from the maker in production run (lot) to productin run.....
with dippers, however, i've made some very accurate loads.
a little $20.00 lee scale will show exactly what the dipper is doin' and is a good investment as sooner or later you wil need it anyways......

 

[gunman42782]

I agree with deputy. A scale is a must have item. All loads should be verified by a scale, not matter what they are measured with.

 

[Terry_P]

Scale is a necessity as it's cheaper than a new gun. Look on e-bay or check the used items at your retailer if you are concerned about cost. A decent balance beam scale will give you a good start with reliable powder charges. In a previous thread in this section Deadeye did some testing of a few beam scales and found the lee as the most accurate so you can benefit from his research.

 

[Deadeye]

+1 Yes do not trust anything but a good scale. The Lee is the must accurate I've found. It's a little more difficult to use than other scales but for the accuracy & price you can't beat it.

What type of press did you decide on?

 

[Wizard]

I can only add what has already been said....don't rely on the dippers.....a good balance scale (Lee, imho, is the most accurate), is a must.....later, a digital will be in order.....

 

[deputy125]

i will say, yes, you can rely on the dippers-----------just question the published data----and verify what is goin' on with a scale.........properly used, the dippers are very consistant from "dip to dip".....but ya got to know just what consistant weight you are dippin'............

here is an excellent article about the lee loader.......while you are not using this tool, you are using dippers and about half way thru the article there is a detailed section about dipper usage to get consistant volume throw "dip to dip"----complete with pic illustrations.....
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_no ... tes.htm/51

i've known a few old die-hards who will always use dippers and even modify the cavity of a dipper to give a precise amount of powder that they want by either reaming them out bigger or fillin' them in with glue to make a custom dipper for a paticular powder/charge that they want................just verify with a scale to get where ya want and always re-check when ya buy a new pound of powder...........

 

[Terry_P]

I think we are all saying the same thing just a little differently. I don't see a dipper as any different than a powder thrower, just a different system. Weigh the charges until you are sure you have a consistent powder charge each time that is within loadbook specs and then dip or flip away.

Good luck

 

[Bountyhunter]

I agree with everyone here. You have to have a scale to measure or you'll never know the actual weight. I still weigh every charge I throw, or dip.

 

[Deadeye]

You might also think about getting a press that has a priming post with it. That would save you some $ to start with then you can get the Lee auto prime later. Most presses come with a primer post that primes on the down stroke. It's not the best system around but it got me by until I got a good priming tool.

 

[velvalco]

You might also think about getting a press that has a priming post with it. That would save you some $ to start with then you can get the Lee auto prime later. Most presses come with a primer post that primes on the down stroke. It's not the best system around but it got me by until I got a good priming tool.

I bought a lee turrent press off ebay, for 45 dollars. This came with it along with 2 extra turrents. I do not have the auto indexing guts, so the one i have is probably the older model. I'm pretty sure this is a priming tool to be used on the downstroke, but i have no idea how to use it. I looked online and downloaded the pdf manual. I need to watch some of the videos. Anybody know how this do hicky works.

PS is it normal to feel alittle overwhelmed when starting out?

 

[Bountyhunter]

I was and am still overwhelmed at times.

The prime tool should slip into the press post somehow. I have 2 seperate ones for large and small. That one does both. Once the prime tool is slipped into the post it will point up and slip into the primer seat on the down stroke. Mine are a bit different and ride on a pin that crosses the post via a notch in the prime tool. I'll see if I can get pics of my set up for you.

 

[velvalco]

here's what i've figured out so far:

But Where does the Primer go or how does the primer get in there?

The updates from lee will be about 60 bucks ( update to the new autoprimer and pin set up, along with the auto turrent guts.)

 

[Bountyhunter]

Here goes. I hope this helps. The first pic is of the 2 prime tools. One small. One large. The next pics are of it working.

The slot in the post.

Prime tool in place.

Notice how the tool comes up to push the primer into the case.

 

[Bountyhunter]

The primer sits into the little opening on the tool solid side down. Charge side facing up into the case.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I also noticed that you don't have a shell holder on the press post. The dies will come with one for whatever size the dies are for. The tool will rotate on the down stroke and push the primer into the primer seat on the case.

 

[velvalco]

ohh so you place the primer
here:

that ought to make things easier, I was under the impression that you couldn't touch the primers.

 

[velvalco]

yeah all i got from ebay was the press, the (now that i know) primer tool, and 2 extra turrents (3-hole).

It's all starting to fit together now.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I have the four hole and use the crimp dies.

Go to the Lee site, if you haven't already, and watch all the videos. That'll help quite a bit. It did for me.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I load all my primers by hand and have never had a problem. Make sure your hands are fairly clean and don't touch the top of the primer. You should be fine.