it's been my experience that there's snobbery regarding lee equipment. loadedround admits that the lee die set he has works well, but prefers redding. no arguing that redding makes a great product, but lee's product does everything necessary to produce fine ammunition, too. i try to use the equipment that does the job most efficiently with cost in mind, and have no trouble matching lee dies to my dillon 550.
i love tools...a dillon 550, two dillon square deal b's, a chucker, and an orange crush sit on my bench but the press i use most is a lee classic cast turret...for runs under 100 rds, it's the most efficient for me.
there are lee products that i avoid...scales and powder measures come to mind (even though dillon pays a design royalty to lee for dillon's measures), but lee's innovations are hard to beat, i.e.:
1) shell holders included with standard die sets
2) nearly unbreakable decapping pin assemblies that double as stuck case removers
3) the gold standard for hand priming tools...have the hornady and use the lee exclusively.
4) factory crimp dies
5) lee collet dies
as a long time bullet casting hobbyist i've retired most of my lyman and rcbs gear in favor of 6 cavity tumble-lube/liquid alox pistol bullet molds; with gas-checked rifle bullets. i love the inexpensive and efficient push thru bullet sizers, again with the liquid alox lube...oh, yeah i retired a lyman 10 lb casting pot in favor of lee's pro 20, too.
the repair/replacement service advertised by lee isn't as comprehensive as dillon or rcbs, but in practice, the one or two times i've needed help, it was free.
in short, regarding lee equipment, you get what you pay for...and sometimes much more!
budman
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