Opinion on Lee

[kneedtospeed]

LEE Challenger Kits are on sale for
$149 right now. Just add dies..
Add up all of the equipment you
have on your bench right now.
Scary, huh?
There is obviously no better way to
introduce a new loader, to trying it.

 

[FNSafari]

Lee...somethings like the universal neck expander are fine. Most items leave things to be desired imo.

 

[HuntClub]

Haven't read the complete thread but I have found LEE to be very good. One item that I have really come to enjoy is the LEE Deluxe Quick Trim case trimmer. I didn't care so much for the chamfering/deburring aspect so I punched out the pin and removed those three blades. I only trim to length and then use a hand held Wilson case trimmer for the chamfer/deburring.

The LEE trimmer is really quite accurate and consistent on the case length.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Got into a friendly discussion about Lee reloading dies and equipment. His opinion of Lee hardware was very low. I on the other hand like Lee and started my reloading hobby with Lee equipment. I told him I bet more people got their start with Lee than any other brand. Think I was right or wrong?

I go with mainly Lee due to price, but I don't feel that I'm suffering all that much over it. I think you're right.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I bought a used set of Lee dies. The powder dipper and instructions were missing. I sent a photo to Lee to be sure they knew exactly which set I wanted to complete, asking how much to buy the missing bits. A few days later, yesterday, Robert, our mail carrier, delivers a small box containing the missing items. Items I intended to buy since Lee is not responsible for a used set of dies. I got a nice note thanking me for being a Lee customer. Lee is always going to be my first stop, and only stop unless they don't offer what I need. A1 CS.

You had a lot n better luck with Lee customer service then I ever had.
For me their customer service SUCKED .
With RCBS customer service I never had any issue. RCBS has the very best customer service out there and they have changes ownership several times.
100% warranty NO BS.
I have atleast fifty caliber set up mostly used RCBS dies.
If I buy a used die set missing a dire or missing or broken or bet stem they replace it no questions asked.
A friend bought a worn out RCBS press and contacted RCBS about rebuilding it. They mailed him a brand new press that day.

I have had issues with a few Lee products and they always wanted cash.
I do like some of their products but for the most part I do not buy much Lee stuff.

 

[shoots100]

I use Lee for single stage and Dillon for progressive.
Tried all the rest over the years, but have been all Lee when they came out with the breech lock press in 2008.
Lee has treated me fairly over the years and they are a state away if I need anything quickly.
As far as warranty, parts are available, but for the cost of a Lee press if something ever wears out I'll just buy another press.
SJC

 

[HighlandLofts]

Lee’s factory crimp dies are the best thing they make, maybe the best crimping die I’ve used. I also really like their push through bullet sizers and I’ve cast 10’s of thousands of bullets with their molds. Not a fan of their case sizing dies with the collet de-capping pin rod or their bench primer.

I picked up their 2nd edition reloading manual about 6 months ago for 20 bucks and it’s a great manual. Wish they’d come out with a 3rd edition.

I also like the Lee crimp dies, I load a lot or 100 - 200 rounds of 38sple on two Hornady single-stage Lock n Load presses. For priming I love the Lee bench prime.
I just had an issue with the two set up for small prices. I called Lee about the issue and I had to pay for the two p arts. If it was a RCBS product the PO arts would of been replaced for free.
As far as their reloading manual I really dont care for it.
Some of their loading data starts our higher then Hornady's max powder charge.
Plus Lee is constantly slapping his own back over & over & over, again & again through out the book.

But like everything in life people get by with whatever they have. With reloading we have Iots of options.
Most of my stuff I have bought used and continue to buy used equipment off of Ebay, gun shows, from clarified section from gun forms, craigslist.
Lots of savings out there if you have time to look and have patience to wait until the right deal comes up.
I also have bought several complete reloading set ups from people who gave it up.
I probably could go the rest of my life without having to buy anything related to reloading except primers, powder & bullets.
I do have a bunch of casting equipment and several hundred pounds of lead so I can cast most of my bullets if I needed to.
But I have a local supplier that I buy from really reasonable $30 for five hundred 158 grain 38 caliber bullets for cowboy shoots.
I do have three different lead pots and lots of molds.
I was buying scrap lead, got it all ready to use molded into cupcake tins and selling it when oboma was in office. I sold over three tons of lead at that time. i was shipping 70 pounds of lead in the mediumsize flat rate box from the post office.
I might do it again this spring.
At that time I was also buying a lot of range
brass, separated it, wet tumbled itand was selling it all across the country.
With the readily available supply of fairly reasonable ammo brass isn't bringing much of a price right now so I still buy range brass and get it prepped and have been storing it.

A lot of guy are using the Lee app press to prep brass, knock the primers out and resize.
When I was selling the range brass I did not deprime or resize.
I will be picking up a Lee ap press and get some brass prepped .
When the prices get more higher I can offer unprepared brass or prepped brass.
This reloading adventure sure has been a fun time and I got to meet some fantastic guys then again I got to meet some really cheap guys too.

One thing on my bucket list is to attend the Tulsa OK gun show, 4,200 tables.
You can not see everything there on a weekend.

 

[jk80]

I commented earlier. Just gonna ask if anyone remembers the 2001 press? Think it's the challenger now. Bought one when they first came out and thats the only press I had until I purchased my first Dillon. It was guaranteed until 2001. Still use it mostly for de priming but it's still going strong. Ive had good luck with everything I bought from them except a progressive 1000. Had that pos on the bench a week and couldn't get rid of it fast enough!!

 

[Aaron23]

RCBS has the very best customer service out there and they have changes ownership several times.
100% warranty NO BS.

They charged me 7 bucks shipping here recently to send me replacement plastic primer guides for their hand primer (tool needs one for large primers and one for small).

I did get 20+ years out of the original guides but still...

Back in the old days they did not charge anything to send out replacement parts. Most likely I will never buy another anything from RCBS ever again due to their new warranty policies. Not going to let them ‘cheat me’ if I can help it...

(That RCBS hand priming tool is freaking awesome. They could have changed me twice as much and I would have gladly paid it)

 

[hpshooter]

"Ive had good luck with everything I bought from them except a progressive 1000. Had that pos on the bench a week and couldn't get rid of it fast enough!!"

I am a stubborn ( and tight wad) transplanted WV Hillbilly. When I was seriously shooting USPSA, PPC, and Bullseye I had 4 Lee 1000"s set up on the bench. All were cast offs From fellow shooters that had binned them due to their challenging mode of operation. Loaded good ammo once you learned how to keep the primers flowing and the shell plate indexing and didn't break the operating lever.. Still have them on the shelf and use a 450 Dillon, two 550's, a Square Deal and a Rock Chucker for most of the loading. Yea, all the Dillons are used- acquired from folks who upgraded to higher grade Dillons.

Several people have asked to purchase the 1000's and I have refused to even give them away telling them that the 1000's would cause their blood pressure to rise and could create anger management problems.

 

[jk80]

I am a stubborn ( and tight wad) transplanted WV Hillbilly. When I was seriously shooting USPSA, PPC, and Bullseye I had 4 Lee 1000"s set up on the bench. All were cast offs From fellow shooters that had binned them due to their challenging mode of operation. Loaded good ammo once you learned how to keep the primers flowing and the shell plate indexing and didn't break the operating lever.. Still have them on the shelf and use a 450 Dillon, two 550's, a Square Deal and a Rock Chucker for most of the loading. Yea, all the Dillons are used- acquired from folks who upgraded to higher grade Dillons.

Several people have asked to purchase the 1000's and I have refused to even give them away telling them that the 1000's would cause their blood pressure to rise and could create anger management problems.

Ive got two 550's on my bench. I'm a pretty notorious tight wads to but I bought a second one because I was to lazy to swap primer systems! Lol.

 

[charlie b]

...Several people have asked to purchase the 1000's and I have refused to even give them away telling them that the 1000's would cause their blood pressure to rise and could create anger management problems.

ROFLMAO

I felt the same way about the Loadmaster. Quirky thing, but, if you moved your hands just right it worked really well.

 

[Oldbloke]

Started with a 12g Lee loader. Then 30.06 Lee loader. And them 12g Lee loadall.
I now have mix of brands as ive added press, balance, dies etc.. Happy with all the Lee gear except the 223 case holder, it's pretty loose. Have a Hornady now much better. I have discovered Lee only has about 20 or so case holders. Most other makers have over 40.

I think for the average Joe blow, mostly Lee gear will suffice.

 

[dantiff2]

Several people have asked to purchase the 1000's and I have refused to even give them away telling them that the 1000's would cause their blood pressure to rise and could create anger management problems.

My 1000 is a workhorse. It’s 20 years old and still running strong. I use it for high quantity range brass processing. No complaints. Keep it clean and lubed and make sure no spent primers get under the shell plate to hinder the timing and it runs fine. I load up the case collator and tubes and process thousands of any single caliber at a time. Biggest hiccup is priming, but I do that off press. that makes the 1000 operation very simplified. Just like anything else. Patience and attention is needed.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Im sure many started with Lee when young and money was tight. I started with rcbs and sierra bullets in 1974 because my mentor used them and it worked well. I like Lee’s case lube, collet dies, factory crimp dies, deluxe powder measure, and their ram prime to name a few

 

[hpshooter]

Ive got two 550's on my bench. I'm a pretty notorious tight wads to but I bought a second one because I was to lazy to swap primer systems! Lol.

Same reason I have two 550's.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Same reason I have two 550's.

I have several Lyman case trimmers, once i get one set up for a caliber it stays set up for that caliber and when i reload for a new caliber i buy another case trimmer and set it up for that caliber and leave it set up for that caliber.
I like to hand prime my cases, i love the Lee Bench Prime.
So I bought four of them.
One set up for small pistol primers.
One set up for small rifle primers.
One set up for large pistol ptimers.
One set up for large rifle primers.
I cut the primer box with the primer information and tape it into the primertool base.
i have two Hornady Lock n Load single stage presses set up side by side.
I will resize, take the case out of press #1,
Put it in press #2 flare it.
Then prime the cases.
Then charge the cases. Seat the bullet in press #1, trsnsfer the cartridge in to press #2 , crimp it and done
I have two sets of dies for all of my most used calibers all set up in the Hornady bushings. If i have an issue with a die i take it out of the press, grab the other die set, grab the die I need and keep going and fix the problem later.
I have two Hornady powder drops, one for pistol, one for rifle.
I just grab the one i need, i don't have to waste time changing the drum out.

I buy what ever I need to make my life easier.
And 99% of my reloading equipment is bought used.
When i am done with it I shoukd recoup most if not all of my money back when i dispose of it.
i like the lee hand priming tools too.
Same with them as the Lee Bench Prime.
They are set up for the four different primers.
Plus I have a bunch if extra Lee hand priming tools that i picked up off of Ebay, gun shows or off of the gun forums.
Some people cheap out of reloading equipment.
Some people go way overboard.
I think I am probably a little overboard, but I am sitting back prepaired for what might come up.
If i have a problem i can keep going.
If a friend comes up with a problen, i can loan them what ever they may need and they can keep going.
I ordered a couple of things from ebsy for reloading that will be arriving in tbe mail next week.
It's all good.

 

[Hipshoot]

Man, I would have no room in my basement/shop if I did that.

I reload for 35 cartridges+ !

 

[charlie b]

For a number of reasons I downsized my gun hobby (a LOT) about 10yrs ago. These days I only shoot 200 or 300 rounds a month, only 3 different cartridges. I use a single stage press and I thread each die in at a time. Prime on the press as well. I use all small rifle primer brass so only have to deal with one size primer (and most of the time one type, Rem 7 1/2). I only have 3 powders that I use. Only 4 different bullets. Makes everything easy to manage.

 

[ISS]

Likely more people (like me sixty years ago) got their start with a Lyman Tong Tool. Starting about 1874 or even a bit earlier.
I've owned enough to consider them more of a plinkers' tool than precision.