Why is the Lee so CHEAP!

Every review I've ever seen of a Lee product of any kind when compared to any other brand say's the Lee stands up. When you say accurate ammo, you indicate that Lee doesn't make accurate ammo, well it does. The dies do size to correct sizes and they had carbide cheap before anyone else.
My first loading kit was a 38 special Lee hand loader, It was slow made some good ammo with just a hammer, powder scoop and a 16" peice of 12X12 tember standing on end for workbench. I loaded thousands of rounds that way and never had a blooper.
Now I've got maybe 6 different press's and 76 different sets of dies I still have that old hand loader and sometimes will show a loading class how it works.
As to why they're cheap it's because they build exactly as strong as they have to be so they use aluminum casting instead of forgeings and then don't try to get rich off of every transaction I guess. They're excellent dies, I just don't know.

I use Lee products because they work well and don't cost a lot. I don't know how they do it and really don't care as long as their products continue to work well and the prices stay low. I do own some RCBS, Redding and Lyman reloading products but the majority of equipment has been Lee products.

I have tried Lee products and the only one that I was happy with was their dies. They believe in using a lot of plastic. I had the Classic Turret press and grew frustrated with it cause I was always having trouble getting it to work properly. I was always having to adjust the timing and the primer feeder gave me fits. I spent more time picking primers up off the floor than reloading. They use cheap material and that is how they make it so cheap. Their design its decent just a bad choice of construction material.

The Lee Reloading Manual by Richard Lee, founder of the company, discusses some of the manufacturing design and processes that let them offer their products for less. I've only used Lee presses so can't offer any comparison. But I've used my turret press for decades and tens of thousands of rounds and it still works great. (I don't need to produce huge quantities at a time so never investigated the high end progressive presses. Also, I use a hand tool for priming, not through the press.)

I've found the Lee dies to be the best value on the market.

Check out the book and I think it will answer your questions.

Jeff

Most Lee Precision products are good or great and are the best value for the $$$. The value engineer their products using plastic or other lower cost material where possible. The Classic Cast Single Stage is as good or better than any single stage press for less $$$ and the same with the Classic Turret. As discussed, Modern Reloading by Richard Lee explains his philosophy. It is no wonder that Lee precision is # 1 - Also Made in USA and good customer service.

There seems to be several reasons for Lee's gear costing so little.

1. They started as a family business, run by a world-class-entrepreneur and design genius.

2. Richard Lee introduced the products at a time when the chance for success was great--the reloading-interest explosion in the 50s and 60s.

3. His products featured unique design features that have ultimately become part of a standard design paradigm--the powder-through-expanding die, for example; Dillon has licensed it. The second one is that indexing feature to the Lee Turret design, combined with a superior approach to die 'solidity' with the turret mount itself.

4. It has remained a family business, albeit a "larger" one, so there has been no cost to paying for buying and selling the business itself.

5. They've introduced new products--the Classic Cast SS and the Classic Turret--that genuinely improved upon the design of their earlier SS and Turrets.

6. And, I suspect that their buy-sell model is generally direct--i.e., to large public-oriented 'distributors' that sell in volume. IOW, there is no middleman (a wholesaler) to kick up costs for the end seller.

The design characteristics, combined with a bit of materials selection, does mean their products generally need to be 'tweaked' and maintained regularly for optimal use. Consequently, the user really needs to be a process-oriented person--one who enjoys the trip as well as the destination, so to speak. A user who is goal-oriented (I just want the end product, with little fuss, and with no-questions-asked company service) is obviously better off buying a Dillon.

Finally, given the fact that many reloaders are looking to save money, the buyer is likely to be "cheap"--so, the price point at which Lee products are sold becomes a major attraction. As ArchangelCD says, they work well and don't cost a lot.

Jim

First, Lee Turret is not progressive press. The progressive is the one with "one crank - one round". With the turret one round requires three cranks. Lee pro 1000 and Lee Loadmaster are progressive presses. They still not too expensive: around $130 and $210, but not $100.

Then, even $100 is not that cheap. It is couple of days work for minimum salary after taxes with no other expenses. People, who made $100+/hr, do not reload too often.

The main reason why the Lee products are not that expensive, in my opinion, is that they have been designed with cost in mind. It is like in handguns, where you may have a semi-auto with only 23(!) parts (Makarov) that do not require precise fit in most of the components, and a gun that has 100+ parts, with many pins, helix springs and other stuff that needs mechanical accuracy.

Lee pro 1000 and Lee Loadmaster are progressive presses. They still not too expensive: around $130 and $210, but not $100.

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Actually, MidwayUSA sells Pro 1000 for $78 ($159 for the whole kit) and Loadmaster for $148 ($230).

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=117429

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=671219

Nearly every manufacturer warrants their products for life, with Lee you get 24 months.

As stated-it involves philosophy, design innovation and materials. I am a fan of Lee products. I prefer Lee dies and love the autodisc powder measures. However, if I were to buy a true progressive I'd buy a Dillon.

If you read the new Lee reloading book it tells the story about why he made his products the way he did. Generally he kept it at a reasonable price to make it affordable to the guy who doesn't make much money. He did achieve that.

Lee makes good products at reasonable prices. They have great customer service. I think the value engineering aspect is a good term that has been used when answering this question.
I use the Lee Classic Turret to it's capacity, including the safety prime and pro auto disk powder measure. Read, follow set up instructions and all works very well, with very little effort!
I think the LCT is great equipment for the money.
You shouldn't have to mortgage the house to be a good recreational reloader!

Nearly every manufacturer warrants their products for life, with Lee you get 24 months.

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Not entirely true. I've broken the Lee "C" press, my own fault, packaged it up and sent it to Lee stating it was my fault and offering to pay for it, I also stated I had had the press for an unknown number of years.

Less than a week later I get a package with a new press and a short note thanking me for returning it to them and no payment was needed.
Maybe it helps being honest.

Regarding the price of their products, its my understanding much of their machanery is CNC controled and instead of getting $100.00 per hour and having the machine idle3 hours a day, it would be better to figure $70.00 per hour and busy a full 8 hour shift. But what do I know as one of my last jobs was Production Manager for a company making parts for the RV industry.

Lee is a company that takes a minimalist approach to their products design and construction. They are very streamlined and basic with no fancy materials or excess features, yet remaining perfectly functional and precise.

In the "Modern Reloading" handbook, Lee explains his philosophy. While other companies build their products 20-30-40 times stronger than needed, he makes his -a minimum- of three times stronger than needed. In his experience, even his minimalist approach produces presses way stronger than is required to load cartridges. Example: he states that he filed down the support columns of his turret press to 1/8", and that it still was strong enough to withstand loading large magnum cases. So why make an expensive forged steel press, when a cast aluminum "O" ring press does the job equally well?

He also give a long list of very nice overbuilt reloading equipment from recognized manufacturers that received a lot of propaganda in their time but eventually were discontinued due to too high a price point for the consumer, all the while his underadvertised cheap-o presses keep on trucking because they make good ammo and are extremely affordable.

I think you guys have summed it all up pretty good, I have 2 LEE classic turret presses and one single station press. I had a little bit of a learning curve to get everything working correctly, i.e getting my dies set up right, learning to use the safety prime, etc. I now turn out excellent for my weapons ammo, at a very reasonable price. I would love to get a Progressive, but for my needs cannot justify the cost of doing so. I reload 38/357, 9mm, 45ACP, and 223. I have turrets all setup and ready to go. I could not afford to do this with the other brands.

Lee pro 1000 and Lee Loadmaster are progressive presses. They still not too expensive: around $130 and $210, but not $100.

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Actually, MidwayUSA sells Pro 1000 for $78 ($159 for the whole kit) and Loadmaster for $148 ($230).

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Just checked. Wideners sells Pro 100 kit for $139 and Loadmaster press/kit for $130/$206. Not too bad.

Lee is NOT cheap, it is affordable ...... and IMHO there IS a difference - lol

They don't also make a gazzillion other products, pretty much keep designs simple and don't change them until they need to.

Fortunately for us all they are still made in the good ole US of A, in a relatively small plant in Wisconsin. Their advertising is minimal and the gods know their instruction sheets ain't "fancy" -lol

Lee is cheap because of bare minimum engineering and low cost materials. Aluminum, plastic, and poor quality steel. I used to work for a steel mill that produced the steel used in Lee dies and equipment.

Lee also caters to the beginner and low volume market. You won't find many small commercial loaders running Lee equipment. Why? Because it won't hold up. Many competitive shooters load tens of thousands of rounds each month and they sure don't do it on a Lee.

For the casual handloader they are great. For anything serious I'd look elsewhere. Their collet dies are very good and overall their price point for their dies are great.

Lee is an innovative company and for the beginner they have probably opened the door to more loaders than any other single company. That being said their equipment is made from cheaper components with cheaper methods of manufacturing.
I have some Lee dies and love their Auto Hand Primers even though I continue to snap the handles.

I have presses from Bonanza, RCBS and Dillon, the Bonanza I got free from my uncle over 35 yrs ago and I got an RCBS Junior used a long time ago as well so I have never needed a new affordable press as a beginner. If you are in the market for a new press and wanting to get your feet wet I sure won't say not to get a Lee, any entry level single stage press can find a good home with one of your kids or another beginner when you decide to upgrade.

Lee is cheap because of bare minimum engineering and low cost materials. Aluminum, plastic, and poor quality steel. I used to work for a steel mill that produced the steel used in Lee dies and equipment.

Lee also caters to the beginner and low volume market. You won't find many small commercial loaders running Lee equipment. Why? Because it won't hold up. Many competitive shooters load tens of thousands of rounds each month and they sure don't do it on a Lee.

For the casual handloader they are great. For anything serious I'd look elsewhere. Their collet dies are very good and overall their price point for their dies are great.

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Well thats one mans oninion!

In my experience thus far, I have a Dillon Square Deal, a Lee slug mold and a Lee Load All 2. Apples to oranges product wise, but comparing quality and performance the Lee wins hands down as far as value for the dollar.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Dillon and will use it for YEARS to come...but beside it at SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER cost, my Lee tools will also hold up just as long and do the same job.

I'm not reloading to any special specifications, but for the guy looking to save some dough...I don't know how Lee does it, but they definitely buck the common philosophy of "you get what you pay for". Take advantage of it!

I heard he has more reloading patents than anybody else. He is getting income from the other companies on his patents.

Lee is cheap because of bare minimum engineering and low cost materials. Aluminum, plastic, and poor quality steel. I used to work for a steel mill that produced the steel used in Lee dies and equipment.

Lee also caters to the beginner and low volume market. You won't find many small commercial loaders running Lee equipment. Why? Because it won't hold up. Many competitive shooters load tens of thousands of rounds each month and they sure don't do it on a Lee.

For the casual handloader they are great. For anything serious I'd look elsewhere. Their collet dies are very good and overall their price point for their dies are great.

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Well thats one mans oninion!

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I've heard it from more than one man.