Lee Precision Lee 4 - Reloading Components Guide; Cartridge Case Preparation; Military Case Preparation; Powder Selection and Storage

CASES
The easiest and best way o getting cases is
to simply save those rom your actory loaded
rounds. New and used cases can also be pur-
chased. Cases must be clean and sae. Do not use
cases that have cracks or splits. I they have been
used more than twice, they should be checked to
see that none o them have become too long or
sae use. The easiest way is to trim them is with
a Lee Case Trimmer. This automatically cuts them
to the correct length and no gauging or measur-
ing is needed. Aer trimming, be sure to chamer
both the inside and outside o the case. A Lee
Chamer Tool works best, but it can be done with
a pocket knie.
Straight sided cases, such as those used by
most handguns, are loaded with a -die set.
MILITARY CASES
Used military cases are readily available at
low cost. Usually, these have primers that are
crimped in place. This is to prevent the primer
rom coming loose in automatic weapons and
jamming the action at an inopportune time.
The crimp must be removed beore repriming.
This can be done with a primer pocket reamer
or swaging tool. Even a Lee Chamer Tool can be
used to ream the crimp.
POWDER
Powder is usually classiied as smokeless and
black powder. There is also Pyrodex, which is a
substitue or black powder. We will be using only
smokeless powder or reloading.
Each set o Lee Dies is supplied with powder
measure and charge table with a generous selec-
tion o loads. Additional load data is available
rom all the powder manuacturers and bullet
makers. This is excellent inormation and should
be ollowed exactly.
Dierent powders are available to do dierent
jobs. Bullets having a high sectional density ( long
length in relation to their diameter ) require a slow
burning powder. This permits sustained peak
pressure to gain maximum acceleration within
working pressure limits.
Short, light bullets use quicker burning powder
or complete combustion within the barrel.
A wide selection o powder is readily available.
Powders should always be stored in their original
containers. While smokeless powder is not an
explosive and not as dangerous to handle as
gasoline, it would be oolish to handle it carelessly
and store excessive amounts. Follow the powder
manuacturers’ recommendations or storage
and use.
PRIMERS
Rile and pistol cartridges require dierent
primers. Rile primers have a thick and
stronger cup to withstand the higher
pressure. Pistol primers have a thinner
cup or easy detonation with a lighter
hammer blow. Both rile and pistol primers
are available in regular and magnum. Use
regular or all loads except i the load data
speciies magnum primers.
Primers must always be stored in their
original containers. It is always a wise idea
to wear saety or shooting glasses when
shooting or reloading.
BULLETS
Commercial rile bullets usually have a so
lead core with a copper jacket. Point shapes
come in a variety o styles, but usually
have some so lead exposed to properly
mushroom on impact.
The jackets serve a dual purpose: to control
the bullet expansion and act as a bearing
surace or its high speed travel down
the bore. Some bullets have a crimping
groove called a cannelure. This groove
must be seated almost entirely in the
case when crimping the case. The very
end o the case mouth is turned into this
groove by the bullet seating die used in a
tubular magazine gun and most revolver
ammunition.
Cast bullets are very popular with the
handloader. These are very economical to
use and or all guns where the velocity is
less than , eet per second and can
be as accurate as jacketed bullets. They do
not normally expand as well as so lead
jacketed bullets on game. Thereore, it is
poor economy to use them or hunting.
CRIMPING
Ammunition loaded or hunting should
always have the bullets crimped in place,
as should ammunition used in tubular
magazine and auto-loading riles. It could
ruin your hunt i a bullet wedged in the
chamber or pushed back into the case.
Best accuracy is usually obtained with
crimped ammo as the crimp has an eect
on ignition, velocity, pressure and ballistic
consistency. No die does a better job
crimping than the Lee Factory Crimp Die.