Why Only Lee?

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Striker Fired said:
It is going on because some of us DARE to say anything about what Lee does and the fanboys.
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I am a fan of Lee products but will tell it like it is (Lee safety scale requires time/patience to use and could use a heavier base, FCD is not for larger diameter lead bullets as it may post-size, Pro 1000 has primer feed attachment issues, etc.).

If Lee wants to buck the industry trend and include shell holders and powder scoops in their die set, maybe because John Lee makes them do it. ;):D
 
Ya know, if having 49 extra shellholders bothers you that much, you can sell 'em on eBay for $5 apiece and then your new die set costs what, $25?

I got rid of my RCBS dies and went all Lee. Simple, easy, reliable. The powder-through-expander with case actuated powder drop works great. Plus it seemed to me Lee's carbide pistol dies sized better, further down to the case head than the RCBS dies did.

I use only pro-1000 or 3-hole turret press, so all my dies go in their own pre-adjusted turrets with Lee lock rings, that work fine for me.
 
I have nothing but lee dies (except one redding comp seating die) and they work well for me. I use a breechlock single stage for the bolt guns and a lee classic turret for everything else.
I have no need for the locking rings but could see where they would be neccessary for standard single stage with no bushing. That would be a major pita to have I reset dies every time. It does seem like lee could upgrade their locking rings!
 
lee gives you a freebie to make up for dies that wont stay tight and where you put them.
 
I have not been doing this as long as many of you, so perhaps going into this with an open mind might be good or bad. I have never had a problem with the dies in any way. they seem to just do the job that they are ment to do. To me I just do not see any added value in spending a vast amount more for something with little return.
 
lee gives you a freebie to make up for dies that wont stay tight and where you put them.
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All the ranting and wailing every time the name Lee is mentioned get's real old.
There's reloading equipment out there in every flavor for what ever turns your crank.
I've got tools from when Richard Lee first started the company, they always have and continue to do a good job.
Around my shop there is equipment from just about every maker, some from companies that don't exist anymore.
Some have some things that do a better job than others for certain duties.
I doubt there are many reloaders who have all one brand of equipment, any more than shooters who have all one brand of firearm.
 
"lee gives you a freebie to make up for dies that wont stay tight and where you put them."

Now that there's funny, don't care who ya are!
 
"lee gives you a freebie to make up for dies that wont stay tight and where you put them."
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And some have ten thumbs and little skill to figure out how they work. In post #35, I explained how the lee lock rings work. If that doesn't do it for you, then I give up, you're hopeless.
 
Quote:
"lee gives you a freebie to make up for dies that wont stay tight and where you put them."
And some have ten thumbs and little skill to figure out how they work. In post #35, I explained how the lee lock rings work. If that doesn't do it for you, then I give up, you're hopeless.
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There are some people out there who could use that o-ring locking system that Lee employs for a month without a blip and still swear it's worthless. :banghead:
 
snuffy said:
And some have ten thumbs and little skill to figure out how they work. In post #35, I explained how the lee lock rings work. If that doesn't do it for you, then I give up, you're hopeless.
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You bet me to it.

I see they have 21 post. I wonder if there is as much wisdom in the other post.
 
+1 for shell holders !

Think of it as the toy in the happy meal.

This happened to me (shell holder ordeal) when I bought my 45 dies. That grey box produces some great bullets, but that empty space where the tool I needed most should be was heartbreaking that sunday....

FWIW the lee new ACTUAL lockrings are FANTASTIC.:what:

There are some people out there who could use that o-ring locking system that Lee employs for a month without a blip and still swear it's worthless.
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Indeed.
 
Knocking Lee is a lot like knocking Savage. The fanatics come out of the woodwork accusing you of either not appreciating them for their "value", or being some kind of elitist.:rolleyes:

Don
 
My bench(floor) is covered with a rainbow of colours. I don't buy anything without some type of footwork on my part first. I don't like to waste money. I like my Lee's and Herters, love my Pacific Durachrome's, dislike my Hornady's, and HATE my RCBS dies. The only thing I would change about the Lee dies is the finish. I'd give them a phosphate bath before they left the shop.

I have often wondered why someone didn't come out with a small diameter set of 7/8-14 locknuts that used a long spanner sleeve or socket that would fit over the dies to tighten the jam nut. http://www.epcserver.com/graphics/jamnut.gif
 
So far for me, I use 90% LEE everything. I will say I have replaced all of the full length sizing dies I use for rifle calibers. Way too much trouble to keep clean.

I have a Lyman sizing dedcapping die for my .223 and a old Pacific sizing/ decapping die for my 30-30. RCBS for 7.62x54 and 8mm Mauser

Just twist the top of the decapper and out it comes. clean it and back together in less than a minute.

Usually when I start a new caliber I always start with LEE, well because I am broke by that point. The get Better dies when cheap on ebay.

Honady makes one heck of a nice bullet seating die. I bought a set on sale for 32 H&R mag. Nice stuff.
 
Good point. Except that without a proper shell holder, you can't reload.
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And some have ten thumbs and little skill to figure out how they work. In post #35, I explained how the lee lock rings work. If that doesn't do it for you, then I give up, you're hopeless.
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Some of us use a Forster press and don't need the shell holder. Plus only about half of the lee rings fit Forster presses.
 
Not only does Lee provide a shell holder, but their dies are sometimes less than 1/2 the cost of other brands.

Out of 17 sets of dies, 15 are Lee.
1 RCBS, I bought 'em just to see what the difference is ... (I don't think they're worth it. )
1 Redding, which came with a gun.
 
My post was hardly a rant. And i use lee almost exclusively. Thats why i am intimate with their issues. Mine didnt come with locking rings i use duct tape to hold them from moving until i can afford some decent dies
 
bds said:
I
If Lee wants to buck the industry trend and include shell holders and powder scoops in their die set, maybe because John Lee makes them do it. ;):D
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To Lee Precision's credit, they are innovative with their products and they serve a price point less than the other players in the market.

Some of their stuff works great, some of the stuff not so great.

Some folks put up with the equipment's idiosyncrasies because of the economical price, some folks won't regardless of the price.

Some folks have used Lee as well as other manufacturer's products and have formed valid opinions one way or an other. Some folks have not used one or the other but still voice an uninformed opinion.

For some folks, they like the one stop shopping and get the shell holder and dipper cups with their dies. Others do not need the extra stuff cluttering up their reloading room.

Variations in opinions is what makes the world go around.
 
Just because it's in the box, doesn't make it free. The cost of the shell holder is built into the cost of the die set. Including it, just means you if you want the dies, you have to buy the shell holder with it. Even if you have 3 already, and don't want another.
 
Constrictor said:
My post was hardly a rant. And i use lee almost exclusively. Thats why i am intimate with their issues. Mine didnt come with locking rings i use duct tape to hold them from moving until i can afford some decent dies
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Duct Tape? If you don't use the tool right how do you blame the tool?

Every time I hear Lee bashing & try to help them work out the problem I here stuff like this. Had one member bashing Lee dies because it wouldn't push the shoulder back. I tried to explain how to adjust it to his press & he says "I don't want my press to cam over. It shouldn't have to.". It blows my mind how lazy people are that they would rather blame the tool then learn how to use it. It is like saying this wrench is junk because it won't fit this big bolt & that little screw with the + on it.
 
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The "free shell holders" are a so what issue, I mean who really cares? Lee products are innovative, accurate and inexpensive. They are capable of reproducing as/or more accurate ammo as any other brand. AS FAR A THE LOCKRINGS GO, most of the complaints are voiced by those who are too AR or haven't read the instructions(RTFM). Instant adjustability is easily enjoyed by placing index/witness marks on the press and the dies-markers will give good results for those who don't want permanent marks on the press or dies. Just reset to the index marks when you reinstall the dies. The flexibility of the "O" ring allows the dies to self center, which a rigid ring will not permit. Again as far a loosening-if they loosen in use you have some other problem, look elsewhere. Enough of a rant, but I get tired of the blustering detractors of the Lee lock rings................................
 
AS FAR A THE LOCKRINGS GO, most of the complaints are voiced by those who are too AR or haven't read the instructions(RTFM). Instant adjustability is easily enjoyed by placing index/witness marks on the press and the dies-markers will give good results for those who don't want permanent marks on the press or dies.
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See - here we go with the Lee fanatics. If you don't like the way Lee has done something, in their infinite wisdom, you have either not read the instructions or are AR. Heaven forbid that you just plain like the way Lee's competitors make their dies.:eek:

Don
 
kingmt said:
Duct Tape? If you don't use the tool right how do you blame the tool?

Every time I hear Lee bashing & try to help them work out the problem I here stuff like this. Had one member bashing Lee dies because it wouldn't push the shoulder back. I tried to explain how to adjust it to his press & he says "I don't want my press to cam over. It shouldn't have to.". It blows my mind how lazy people are that they would rather blame the tool then learn how to use it. It is like saying this wrench is junk because it won't fit this big bolt & that little screw with the + on it.
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i know how to use the tool right. these lee dies did not come with locking rings, nor would they fit.
 
What kind of die set did you get from Lee that came without lock rings?
What didn't fit?
The rings they sent you or rings from someone else?

I think Lee would have fixed you up immediately if you had contacted them.
 
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