Opinion on Lee

[dantiff2]

There's always going to be support for a company that tries to appeal the the average joe (who's not willing to spend a month salary to enjoy things). Like anything else in life- Not everything needs to be the highest quality possible, but some things do benefit from being higher quality than others. I enjoy "some" Lee products but when they break, I upgrade. Their die quality can vary a little more than most other manufactures dies but don't be fooled, even more expensive company's still have a lemon now and then. Decide what works for you and embrace it.

 

[danny]

I would bet that it's 10-1 people getting started with RCBS over LEE.

That's probably because RCBS has gotten overxposure way beyond normal for its brand and casual shooters don't know that there's anything else. They start thinking "that's what you are supposed to buy". There are choices out there.

Danny

 

[danny]

I have a lot of love for Lee Classic Cast press and some of his dies. A few other things also.

The Classic Cast is a great press. I have one. It is my number two press.

Danny

 

[danny]

That was the 7th case to be run through the die.

When I measured the ID of the sized neck, I found it to be too large then I measured the mandrel again too large.

The 7 cases were once fired Lapua. I was not happy!

Ok, but was brass sticking to the mandrel OD?

Danny

 

[danny]

LEE is the Harbor Freight of loading equipment. I am like others, I use some of their stuff.
Sorry I refuse to use their bottle neck dies, I will pay the extra to have something that is already finished inside. Their carbide pistol dies I have found to be fine.

They are finished inside...and I'm not "just saying".

Danny

 

[BHP9]

Ok, but was brass sticking to the mandrel OD?

Danny

Yes it was.

 

[JSH]

They are finished inside...and I'm not "just saying".

Danny

Well all I can say is I must have gotten all the lemons.
I have had numerous Lee dies all but trash some brass(virgin)over the years.
Oh I still have some, that I spent a fair amount of time polishing burrs and reamer scuffs out of.

 

[danny]

Yes it was.

That's the problem I had. I polished that mandrel down a bunch of times after it grabbed brass. I think I also used motor mica to lube the necks, even though, as far as I know, you aren't supposed to need to on collet dies. NOTHING changed it for the better. I haven't tried it since they returned the repaired die.

Danny

 

[KMW 1954]

I have a lot of Lee tooling and much of it was also purchased used. Including dies and I am more than satisfied with them. Also have some Hornady tools that I wish I hadn't of bought. Also have one RCBS press and a die along with 2 RCBS labeled OHaus balance scales. Sure, none of this performs as a Ferrari but then I also didn't pay Ferrari prices for it either.

Sitting here now, thinking about it, I bet 75% of all my reloading equipment is second hand! Yet I can still shoot well under MOA.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Lee’s factory crimp dies are the best thing they make, maybe the best crimping die

I use them also along with a Lyman M die, saves me a lot of time and the RC II press gets the workout instead of my fingers.

 

[J_Hensley]

I breathed a little bit of new life into my Loadmaster, last night.
I added a "prime on the bottom" conversion.