Opinion on Lee
- Thread starter old codger
- Start date
old_heli_logger
Gold $$ Contributor
For my brass, it is always the first step and last step...
First step--Lee deprimer
Last step--Lee Mandrel die....I mean, Lee Collet die
First step--Lee deprimer
Last step--Lee Mandrel die....I mean, Lee Collet die
I have no idea of the quality of Lee products EXCEPT their cast iron press.
I didn’t need it but it was on sale for a great price.
This press is one of the very best in both design and quality. I have 7 presses mounted right now. Even including my RCBS A-4, this Lee is really well built. Strong beyond what I would have ever imagined. Design? Well that man at Lee went to engineering school. I’ve read posts about handles breaking etc. How someone could do this is quite a bit beyond my understanding. There’s a bunch of presses out there with handle attachment via threads. Normally (whatever that is today) threads would be ok. However the first three fully engaged threads carry 70% of the load. Not to good. The first exposed thread is where it will break. Other presses like an RCBS Summit have the handle screw all the way in until it bottoms on the butt. Like a rifle barrel. Better? You bet. The designer at Lee beat them all. No threads.
Accountants would have loved him. No threads to cut, period. Their handle clamps to the side which is nearly unbreakable in design but allows you to infinitely adjust the handle height as well a change in the angle. To me it was ingenious.
I like well designed tools. For this one Lee gets 5 stars from me. ( and unlike some folks) I’m not applying my 200+ pounds driving a case into a die without a clue how I’ll withdraw it.
It does do 50BMG also, btw. Probably a good amount of force to f/l resize that although I’ve never tried it.
I didn’t need it but it was on sale for a great price.
This press is one of the very best in both design and quality. I have 7 presses mounted right now. Even including my RCBS A-4, this Lee is really well built. Strong beyond what I would have ever imagined. Design? Well that man at Lee went to engineering school. I’ve read posts about handles breaking etc. How someone could do this is quite a bit beyond my understanding. There’s a bunch of presses out there with handle attachment via threads. Normally (whatever that is today) threads would be ok. However the first three fully engaged threads carry 70% of the load. Not to good. The first exposed thread is where it will break. Other presses like an RCBS Summit have the handle screw all the way in until it bottoms on the butt. Like a rifle barrel. Better? You bet. The designer at Lee beat them all. No threads.
Accountants would have loved him. No threads to cut, period. Their handle clamps to the side which is nearly unbreakable in design but allows you to infinitely adjust the handle height as well a change in the angle. To me it was ingenious.
I like well designed tools. For this one Lee gets 5 stars from me. ( and unlike some folks) I’m not applying my 200+ pounds driving a case into a die without a clue how I’ll withdraw it.
It does do 50BMG also, btw. Probably a good amount of force to f/l resize that although I’ve never tried it.
Out of curiosity I put together sets of dies for my 5 interests, .32 and .38 revolver families (all variations in each), .22 Hornet, .223/5.56 and .30 M1 carbine.
I emailed Redding asking which sets are the best for each option. Got their reply and off to Midway. 5 sets $759. Then put together the most expensive Lee options for each. 5 sets $238.
Some will automatically say Lee is "cheap" stuff. Bad brain wiring. Lee is definitely inexpensive comparatively. I won't say maybe you don't get something extra other than the name. Wait, yes, you do. The boxes also double as bullet trays. Not sure what else. But I could buy 3 sets of each Lee die set and still have $45 left over. Mr. Grumpy Checkbook is happy I'm in the Lee camp.
I emailed Redding asking which sets are the best for each option. Got their reply and off to Midway. 5 sets $759. Then put together the most expensive Lee options for each. 5 sets $238.
Some will automatically say Lee is "cheap" stuff. Bad brain wiring. Lee is definitely inexpensive comparatively. I won't say maybe you don't get something extra other than the name. Wait, yes, you do. The boxes also double as bullet trays. Not sure what else. But I could buy 3 sets of each Lee die set and still have $45 left over. Mr. Grumpy Checkbook is happy I'm in the Lee camp.
I started out almost 20 years ago with the Lee Whack a Mole set for 7mm Rem Mag.
Then my new wife informed me that I was no longer hammering on the dining room table.
Got the Lee 4 hole turret press kit.
And I reload everything with it!
380ACP to 7mm WBY Mag and 45-70.
Plinking, hunting, competition, all loaded on it.
For the vast majority I have Lee die sets also.
I have around 20 die sets that are in the turret plates.
I also have one for my collet bullet puller, and keep 2 spare plates on hand for any new purchases.
Simple twist, lift, place, twist. Done!
Then my new wife informed me that I was no longer hammering on the dining room table.
Got the Lee 4 hole turret press kit.
And I reload everything with it!
380ACP to 7mm WBY Mag and 45-70.
Plinking, hunting, competition, all loaded on it.
For the vast majority I have Lee die sets also.
I have around 20 die sets that are in the turret plates.
I also have one for my collet bullet puller, and keep 2 spare plates on hand for any new purchases.
Simple twist, lift, place, twist. Done!
I have a Lee APP press for handgun brass processing - greatly simplifies and speeds bulk brass processing. I just got a few of their micrometer seating dies and I have to say they work pretty darn good.
It's kind of a pain to change calibers but I found some 3D printed caliber specific inserts that are of preset height. Just set it to them and go.
Put me in the majority, like their dies and shell holders but not a fan of their presses
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charlie b
Gold $$ Contributor
I wish they still made it. I have the new model without the feed tray. Uses the ram prime for all of my priming duty.
FWIW, although I really hate what it takes to adjust the decap stem on Lee size dies, they have 'saved' me grief several times, especially on the progressives. When a .380 case 'hides' inside a .45acp the decap stem slides up instead of something breaking. Yes, sometimes the decap pin will break, but, I always have spare decap pins, even with other brands of dies.
I also forgot. The Lee collet neck size die is what I use for a mandrel after the Redding body/bushing die. It has been reduced for just the right amount of neck tension. Lee can also supply different dia mandrels for the collet dies if you ask for one.
I just have a set of lee 223 AI dies. I got the micrometer seating top too. The sizing works just fine. The seating stem design was totally stupid though. It was designed for old style stubby bullets and was damaging vmax. I had them make a custom one and then it had to go back and get adjusted again. The shipping and waiting was really annoying. However, it works fantastic now. The BTO is more consistent than any of the Forster or Hornady micrometer seater dies. The rifle shoots as good as anything I have loaded with other brands. The micrometer top works awesome. I would buy them again and just get a custom stem from the get go. I'm about to go seat 50 rds with the Lee dies right now!
I have one and think it's great. I haven't used it in a while because I use my old Auto Prime because they are quicker to get out. I could feel perfectly happy with that setup if my Auto Primes went South.
Danny
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I bought one at about the same time for 7.5x55 Swiss. It stuck and I also ripped a neck off. I sent it back. They rebuilt it and sent it back. I have not used it since, nor have I checked the mandrel size before or after. It was also tearing up the neck interiors. It would stick and pick up brass on the mandrel. In talking with the person on the phone before returning it, we discussed the mandrel brass pickup issue. We were both on the same page with the idea that a "haze" of brass was normal, and the thick streaks that I was getting was not normal. No polishing of any sort nor any lube I tried would stop that. When they sent it back, they put a note in that said something like "do not neck up brass with it". I wasn't. I was just using it to size new brass necks.
Danny
Herters, RCBS, pacific, Lyman, Redding....some lee although their molds are ok, I prefer Lyman,ideal, I may try others but not many machinists advertising molds. . So Lyman is my choice.
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