Thread: Reloading - minimalist kit

Greetings All,
Lots of good stuff in this thread. A minimum kit for someone loading a few rounds per year, for one calibre, mostly bush hunting and willing to accept a little less velocity could be pared down considerably. A Lee loader kit and a few other tools can give excellent results this is what you need.

Lee loader.
Lee case trimming kit (two parts).
A chamfer tool.

This pretty much how I load my .303 ammunition. Steps as follows.

1. Drive out the old primer with the punch and base in the kit.
2. Clean the primer pocket with a small screw driver and clean the outside of the case with a Scotch Brite and polish with a Chux.
3. Size the neck. I use a little lubricant for this and also run the neck over the expanding button in my .303 die but this is optional.
4. Trim the case with the hand tool and chamfer inside and out. You should not need to do this again with light loads.
5. Seat the new primer. I use a hand tool for this but the Lee Kit will do it if care is taken.
6. Measure the powder with the scoop and charge the case in the Lee tool. You will need someone to help with this first time to make sure you have the right powder for the scoop you are using.
7. Seat the projectile using the Lee tool.

That is all there is to it. And yes I have tried seating the primer with the hand tool and a full face mask just in case. No problems. I tried a Lee Loader years ago in my first .303 and things did not go well. I think that the chamber was out of round, reasonably common in the older rifles. I gave my Lee loader to a young chap who had a P14 .303 and he used it for years.
Regards Grandpamac.