Lee hand loader and .44 Colt.

[Darto]

I reload .44 Colt on a single stage press (RCBS). Was thinking about a Lee hand loader to try just for fun. For a few rounds now and then.

Anyways, I know 44 special can be loaded with a 44 magnum lee loader (the hammer banging loaders Lee used to make). I wonder if the shorter .44 Colt will load on these tools as well? Anybody tried with 44 Colt or Russian?

[1961MJS]

Hi

I don't have the hammer version.  I have the hand press where you push your hands together.  I use mine to deprime everything I reload.  You can DEPRIME watching John Wayne movies, and it doesn't matter.  Loading on the other hand, I try and concentrate.

Later   

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

+2 on the LEE Handloader Press!  It works!   (corrected 26Aug15)

Doesn't hurt that it uses regular dies from any maker.  When you upgrade to a bench or progressive press you will have most of the things you need.

[Jake C]

+2 on the LEE Handloader!  It works!

Doesn't hurt that it uses regular dies from any maker.  When you upgrade to a bench or progressive press you will have most of the things you need.

Make that +3

I started on, and currently use, one of these, and they're solid, work really well. I'd like to upgrade to a bench mounted press, but for now, this works just fine.

[Drydock]

Guys, he already has a press and dies.  He wants the loader kit for grins.  And yes, to actually answer your question, the 44 special loader kit will load .44 Colt.  Nice few hours on the range developing loads for a Richards Conversion.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Drydock; I noticed that, but also noted the reference to the old hammer-banger lee-loader. I used a couple of them over the years, until I obtained the hand press set-up. After that the old kits became history, or the source of spare bits of this&that.

The hand press is the way to go, whether as a kit or alone to use with your current stock of dies; 

Many sources, but here ya'ar;  http://www.ebay.com/bhp/lee-hand-press

[Jake C]

My apologies, got kinda carried away.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

If it is tradition you are striving for, there are original tong tools out there, but the LYMAN 310 seems to be currently available, with  .44 mag listed as an available caliber.

The 310 Shop can likely make it work for .44 Spl/Colt.  http://www.cnyauctions.com/the310shop.htm

The 310 tool is the closest to a traditional set-up but nowhere as flexible as the Lee Hand Press.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/dies/lyman-310-tool.php

[Mean Bob Mean]

Yes, I load .44 colt on .44 spec/mag dies and setup, works fine. 

[Darto]

ok that answers my question that a Lee Loader hammer tool made for .44 special will load the .44 colt.

Will the Lee Loader hammer tool made for .44 magnum also load the .44 colt?

I'm not talking the reloading hand press nor the bench press (I already have both of those, the hand press is made by Decker not Lee).

Thanks.

reference: I have a .44 colt/russian gun , it will not shoot .44 special nor .44 magnum and I want to use a Lee hammer tool with it. So I don't want to buy a .44 magnum Lee hammer tool and have it not work on .44 Colt.

thanks.

[Mean Bob Mean]

ok that answers my question that a Lee Loader hammer tool made for .44 special will load the .44 colt.

Will the Lee Loader hammer tool made for .44 magnum also load the .44 colt?

I'm not talking the reloading hand press nor the bench press (I already have both of those, the hand press is made by Decker not Lee).

Thanks.

reference: I have a .44 colt/russian gun , it will not shoot .44 special nor .44 magnum and I want to use a Lee hammer tool with it. So I don't want to buy a .44 magnum Lee hammer tool and have it not work on .44 Colt.

thanks.

Unknown, I use Lee dies and holders but not for the hammer tool.  I would contact Lee, need a different shell holder for .44 Colt than you do .44 Spec/Mag.

[Montana Slim]

Will the Lee Loader hammer tool made for .44 magnum also load the .44 colt?
-----------------
My turret press setup, using Lee 44 Mag/Spl dies will not fully load the .44 Colt. The re-sizing die works fine, though.
Case flaring...no, bullet seating/crimping..no, As always ,YMMV....as another users press combination may work....good luck.

However, using the Turret press, I can & have adjusted Lee 44 Russian dies to load the .44 Colt....just add the 44 Colt shellholder.

Don't have any of the Lee hammer-banger sets, so I'm not familiar with their range of adjustment...but suspect the "magnum" may have problems adjusting to a case length significantly shorter than the "special".

I do echo recommendations for use of the Lee hand Press....very useful item for many tasks.

When no one knows...dive in.  All one has to do is spend the $$ and become the newest expert.

Hard to imagine dropping down to a hammer-powered loader, when one has a deluxe single-stage press available 
That's one reason I luv my C&B...built-in loading tools...Hi-tech!

Slim

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

44 Colt yes .
44 Russian No.