lee reloaders questions
- Thread starter DFisher3112
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The "cast iron" single stages and Turret presses are good loaders especially to learn on, and the prices are are low.
The Turret press works great for pistol, I can't vouch for rifle.
The one 'progressive' press I've used , I was glad I didn't own it.
Lee carbide dies are a good buy for the money and often used by reloaders with higher end presses.
The Turret press works great for pistol, I can't vouch for rifle.
The one 'progressive' press I've used , I was glad I didn't own it.
Lee carbide dies are a good buy for the money and often used by reloaders with higher end presses.
It's the Hyundai. If it's the only one you can afford, it will truly get you where you need to go. It's just not the Cadillac.
You would prefer to drive a classier car (or truck) but only if you have the money to pay for it.
You would prefer to drive a classier car (or truck) but only if you have the money to pay for it.
They've been building them for over 50 years. I'd say they must be doing something right? -lol
Mine work very well. The round count I can produce on my turret matches my realistic shooting needs without question. Absolutely no complaints and I fully expect them to last my lifetime.
To continue the 'car' comparison, if you need something reliable to drive to the grocery store and take the kids to school, while maybe a $250,000 Aston might be neato, your Dodge will work just fine and dandy and carry a heck of a lot more grocery bags. If you need to join the Nascar circuit? You might need more than a showroom Chevy -lol
Figure out what your needs are, and let your budget guide what hardware you purchase. ALL the brands are very good and will create plenty of safe, reliable and accurate ammunition.
Mine work very well. The round count I can produce on my turret matches my realistic shooting needs without question. Absolutely no complaints and I fully expect them to last my lifetime.
To continue the 'car' comparison, if you need something reliable to drive to the grocery store and take the kids to school, while maybe a $250,000 Aston might be neato, your Dodge will work just fine and dandy and carry a heck of a lot more grocery bags. If you need to join the Nascar circuit? You might need more than a showroom Chevy -lol
Figure out what your needs are, and let your budget guide what hardware you purchase. ALL the brands are very good and will create plenty of safe, reliable and accurate ammunition.
I have a Dillon and two Lees. I do most of my loading on my Lees. I load 45LC, 45-70, 223, 44mag, 30-06, 357/38, etc.
If you are going to drop major coin on a progressive--go with a Hornady or the like. However, for a single stage or turrett, Lees are just fine. Cheap enough to experiment, as well.
I have the single stage and it has been fine for me. No complaints on their dies or other x-cessories either.
If youre just getting into it and want to take your time getting your feet wet and dont want to sink a whole lot of money into reloading, its the way to go.
If youre just getting into it and want to take your time getting your feet wet and dont want to sink a whole lot of money into reloading, its the way to go.
Lee makes a single stage that in my opinion is better than the famed Rockchucker for much less money. The Lee Classic Turret is cast iron with steel linkage. It will do pistol and rifle. It's about 3 times faster than a single stage. It can be used as a single stage also.
I had a Dillon XL650, a very nice progressive, for a number of years but quit shooting and sold it. Getting back to shooting I needed a new press. I'd never have considered a Lee Classic Turret until I used the Lee Classic Cast and what has been said by numerous people on gun forums. Do a search. The Lee may not be the quality of the Dillon but let me tell you it's a very good press. I couldn't believe what you get for 96.00. Mechanically this press is well designed and of course very strong. Being a maintenance mechanic I have a pretty good knowledge of mechanical gear. Don't let anybody tell you Lee doesn't make good stuff. They didn't used to but they sure do now.
I had a Dillon XL650, a very nice progressive, for a number of years but quit shooting and sold it. Getting back to shooting I needed a new press. I'd never have considered a Lee Classic Turret until I used the Lee Classic Cast and what has been said by numerous people on gun forums. Do a search. The Lee may not be the quality of the Dillon but let me tell you it's a very good press. I couldn't believe what you get for 96.00. Mechanically this press is well designed and of course very strong. Being a maintenance mechanic I have a pretty good knowledge of mechanical gear. Don't let anybody tell you Lee doesn't make good stuff. They didn't used to but they sure do now.
Would it be ok to ask basic questions?
Receiving the Lee Ann. Kit for Christmas, I figured out how to attach the handle to the press and inserted the shell holder.
The instructions assume they it is not our first kit.
Have only used other equipment, only once, and the friend's gear is really different.
Screwed in the neck-sizing/depriming die and had no problem punching out primers.
But tried to check whether my new .311 bullets would barely fit into the once-fired Prvi cases. "Sierra 150 gr. .311 Spitzer". Green box...
They fit so loosely, can fall into the case, that the neck-sizing must not have worked at all. This was not the case on my friend's gear.
The collet guide said to let it contact the shellholder, then close the die two turns before neck-sizing.
Did other beginners stumble thru this process alone or have somebody spend time with your gear?
Receiving the Lee Ann. Kit for Christmas, I figured out how to attach the handle to the press and inserted the shell holder.
The instructions assume they it is not our first kit.
Have only used other equipment, only once, and the friend's gear is really different.
Screwed in the neck-sizing/depriming die and had no problem punching out primers.
But tried to check whether my new .311 bullets would barely fit into the once-fired Prvi cases. "Sierra 150 gr. .311 Spitzer". Green box...
They fit so loosely, can fall into the case, that the neck-sizing must not have worked at all. This was not the case on my friend's gear.
The collet guide said to let it contact the shellholder, then close the die two turns before neck-sizing.
Did other beginners stumble thru this process alone or have somebody spend time with your gear?
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I think you misread the instuctions.
http://leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/video.html
these vids may show you what is not working
http://leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/video.html
these vids may show you what is not working
I have the Lee classic cast turret press, and I reload .308 and .223 with it, and I have had no problems. If you want a good single stage, Im told that the new Lee classic cast single stage press is very hard to beat for the money. If you are learning on the Lee Challenger, either of the new Lee cast presses would be a good affordable upgrade.
I have zero issues with my Lee progressive Loadmaster. I do understand though that $200 progressive press is usually bought by less skilled people than the $700 progressive, and bare statistics is well affected by this.
A Lee press is going to load ammo just like any other press. It might not be as fast as some, or as fancy. But all it has to do is hold the dies straight and go up and down. If it is what you have, or what you can afford, then use it. The fancy stuff will come later on. When you are starting out I think simplicity is a very good idea.
Good point. I have a friend who thought his Loadmaster was the greatest thing since the light bulb...until he tried a different brand.
Thank you.
Ask your friend to tell you what problems did he have with the Loadmaster, and the share this with us. You may keep silent though.
I have used a Loadmaster for 7 years now....I only load 9m and 45acp.....took some tweaking when I got it....mostly from me being new to reloading.......no problems since.......couple buddies of mine have dillion 550B's and they are fine presses also...if you like having to turn the plate by hand and like expensive things!!
Lee also has a 100% no-crap warrenty on thier presses even though they don't advertise it!!
Kinda like buying guns,,,,depends on how much you want to invest and and so forth.
Lee also has a 100% no-crap warrenty on thier presses even though they don't advertise it!!
Kinda like buying guns,,,,depends on how much you want to invest and and so forth.
Lee presses
I have used Lee presses for years , mostly the Challenger press .
The weak point of this press is the linkage . Last time it broke , I strengthened / patched the linkage with J B Weld .
Has not broken again , but I have been a little more careful with it .
I had an early Lee die cast turret press . with the roll pin pivots . Broke 2 of them . Latter learned that Lee had updated them with bolts or something to make them stronger .
I now have the Lee cast iron turret press , it is plenty strong . I really like it . For a single stage press , you can remove the rotator shaft and use it that way .
Lee also makes a cast iron single stage press , which I am sure is fine , too .
BUT , first , go out and buy the Lyman reloading manual & read it cover to cover at least 3 times .
God bless
Wyr
I have used Lee presses for years , mostly the Challenger press .
The weak point of this press is the linkage . Last time it broke , I strengthened / patched the linkage with J B Weld .
Has not broken again , but I have been a little more careful with it .
I had an early Lee die cast turret press . with the roll pin pivots . Broke 2 of them . Latter learned that Lee had updated them with bolts or something to make them stronger .
I now have the Lee cast iron turret press , it is plenty strong . I really like it . For a single stage press , you can remove the rotator shaft and use it that way .
Lee also makes a cast iron single stage press , which I am sure is fine , too .
BUT , first , go out and buy the Lyman reloading manual & read it cover to cover at least 3 times .
God bless
Wyr
Been a while, but as I recall, need constant adjustment, plastic parts would wear quickly, press would easily hang up...
FWIW, after looking at my presses he said something like, "These even look better built."
Not trying to insult anyone. Lee offers a lost cost way to get into reloading and has some very innovative ideas. I use a couple of his products, the FCD for straight walled cases, for instance, but after my experience with a Lee progressive, I decided life was too short and moved on.
Rack me up as one whom must have gotten a good Loadmaster. Other than a couple tweaks it kicks out ammo fast. It is not a press for a non-mechanically inclined person. But for the money I have no complaints. Primer system on mine works like charm and reloads quickly with the tip up tray. Have not had a desire to trade it up as It does exactly what I want. I am contemplating getting one in every caliber I reload frequently.
I also have the classic turret and no complaints there.
I also have the classic turret and no complaints there.
OK, generic moan again with no specific issues as I understand. If you do not know of any problems with the press, and do not have the press, then why do you state that it is any bad?
LiveLife
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How good are Lee reloaders? I would say very good.
Since 1995, I have reloaded over 150,000 rounds on a Lee Pro 1000 progressive. Most of the rounds were used for USPSA match shooting and practice with very good accuracy (average 1"-2" groups at 7-15 yards off hand using modified/built 1911 for limited class and 2" groups at 7-15 yards off hand using stock Glock 22 for production class).
All of my pistol dies are Lee carbide dies and they will last a lifetime. I am still using my original dies bought back in 1995.
WyrTwister - "BUT, first, go out and buy the Lyman reloading manual & read it cover to cover at least 3 times." - I think you hit the nail on the head. Many people posting negative experience with Lee products maybe that they started out on Lee not knowing much about reloading and subsequently got frustrated/broke parts and moved on to different reloaders while blaming the Lee products.
For more detailed information on Lee Pro 1000 pros and cons, check this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=497331&page=2
Since 1995, I have reloaded over 150,000 rounds on a Lee Pro 1000 progressive. Most of the rounds were used for USPSA match shooting and practice with very good accuracy (average 1"-2" groups at 7-15 yards off hand using modified/built 1911 for limited class and 2" groups at 7-15 yards off hand using stock Glock 22 for production class).
All of my pistol dies are Lee carbide dies and they will last a lifetime. I am still using my original dies bought back in 1995.
WyrTwister - "BUT, first, go out and buy the Lyman reloading manual & read it cover to cover at least 3 times." - I think you hit the nail on the head. Many people posting negative experience with Lee products maybe that they started out on Lee not knowing much about reloading and subsequently got frustrated/broke parts and moved on to different reloaders while blaming the Lee products.
For more detailed information on Lee Pro 1000 pros and cons, check this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=497331&page=2
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I got a Lee classic and I love .I have not had any problems with it. I only buy their dies they are cheaper and they come with the shell holder.
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