Lee Reloading dies

[1911crazy]

A few years back i purchased a set of 308 RGB Lee Reloading dies for $9 new for my RCBS Rockchucker reloading press.(yes the lee dies do fit it)  We ran about 6,000rds of 308 win thru them without a problem.  This started me on Lee products.  Soon after i purchased every die set for all my military calibers too besides some modern calibers wether i reload for them or not i wanted them inhouse if i ever needed them.

I used the LEE dipping cups to bring the powder charge close to my setting and used the powder trickler to max it out.  Each round is exactly the same all 6k of them. It goes fast once you get the rythem.

I would look into getting your reloading stuff now just incase the prices go up on that too.

[Troyboy]

I like the lee dies and the other lee stuff i have. I also like the rcbs stuff as well. I am new at reloading but i have bought all lee dies and their working great.Good bang for the buck imo

[res45]

I bought a Lyman crusher reloading kit over twenty years ago the whole shooting match,picked up my first set of Lee dies about three years ago when I started reloading for my SKS rifles,they were allot cheaper and worked and produced the same quality ammo as any of my RCBS or Lyman dies.  I also use the dippers and tickler combo and do the majority of my case trimming with the Lee case length gauge trimmers.  I have since bought Lee dies in 243 & 7.62 x 25,I have no problem using Lee works for me and I love the Lee FCD.

[Steve in Michigan]

I have at least 25 sets of Lee dies for rifle and pistol and I have had a Lee Turret Press for over 25 years as well. I buy only Lee stuff because it is the best deal for the money and the dies are easier to use than anybody else's. I've used that little Lee Turret Press to reload all these calibers. The only problem that someone might have is that they would have to remove the auto-advance mechanism if they wanted to reload a caliber like .375 H&H or something that is really long. I will admit that the Lee Turret Press takes a little finesse, but after you learn how to operate it, it is the very best press you can buy. Why? Because you reload a complete round as you reload - decap & size, prime, powder seat and crimp. Mine is a three station and it works for everything except .357 and .44 mag. and any other case that I use the Factory Crimping Die for. I think the Factory Crimping Die is one of the best inventions in reloading because you can load up any mixed cases and get a perfect consistent crimp on every one.

I guess I like Lee products.

Steve

[mountainview]

There are a lot of good reload products out there though Lee usually gives me pretty good bang for relatively few bucks. Their dies have always worked well and the dippers are great too. That reminds me that I need to start loading for my Yugo 8x57 so I can begin testing some loads when the weather breaks.

[lakota]

When I got my .204 Ruger I startd with a Lee die set and thought to myself that if I was reloading accurate ammo with the Lee set think of what good ammo a Redding benchrest die set costing nearly 5 times as much must load!

Well I shelled out the money for the Redding set and I have to say that it is NO BETTER than the Lee dies! Really the only difference was the micrometer seater die on the Redding. If Lee would make such an animal they might completely eliminate the competition!

Live and learn I guess. That was the first and last set of "fancy dies" I wll ever purchase. Lee works well enough for me!

[cybin]

I really like the lee crimping dies--I use one for the 30-30 and it is great. before that I always had problems with bullets pushing back in the case--for 30-30 I can vouch that the crimping die is the only way to go.
I have never had any bad lee products. I use rcbs and lyman presses, I have never seen a lee press that I though wasn't as good what I presently have.

cybin

[bilmac]

I use lots of Lee products and the only one that disappointed me was their auto disc powder measure. After a few thousand rounds it leaks like a sieve.

One real star that everyone should have is their auto primer tool. This baby is the only way to prime. I bought the RCBS equivalent because I thought it would be better to be able to use the same shell holder that I use in my press, but the RCBS is horribly un ergonomic. My hand gets tired seating just a box or two, whereas I can seat primers all day long with the Lee.

Another Lee star is their 6 hole bullet mold. You can cast multiple bullets without taking out a loan to buy it, and it has advantages over the competition. Being aluminum it is less tiresome to use, and the lever sprue cutter is much nicer to use than a hammer.
 
The idea guys at Lee are some of the best in the business.

[Old Fart]

I've been a fan of Lee since back in the early 70's when a friend got me started reloading. Over the years I've bought and used all of the different brands of reloading equiptment. As a matter of fact my shop looks like a smorgas board of brands. I have a RCBS Rockchuker press, a Hornady press, a Lee Progressive, and a couple other smaller ones that only get drug out once in awhile. Own a RCBS and Lyman powder scale. I have at least 5 different brands of dies. I buy what I can get. If giving a choice I usually purchase lee. Although I'm a big fan of the Hornady New Dimension pistol dies. All of my casting molds are Lee. Never seen a reason to spend more. They produce great bullets.
Some people get all up in arms about brands, some like to look down thier nose at brands like Lee. You know what? The darn things work. And if they do that at a lower price, it just means more money for me to spend on other supplies. Spend your money how you like.

Just the idle ramblings of an old fart.......

[1911crazy]

With me being very frugal at times i was looking to get the dies for my military calibers for my rcbs press.  Being away from shooting for a while i was in shock at the prices on the rcbs dies when i compared them to the Lee dies.  The prices are like 3 to 1.  I didn't look any farther and i haven't looked back since.

I wanted a better case trimmer and got the lee setup its the best one i have used so far its powered by my portable battery drill.  I did my 6k of 308 with it while my son resized them.

[Czech_too]

The only set of Lee dies that I can say I've had a problem with would be in 7.62 x 25. 

[AtlLaw]

A few years back i purchased a set of 308 RGB Lee Reloading

Ya know, I did the same thing... And I just bought a set for 44 Mag.  I've got some others tucked away somewhere which tells you how long it's been since I used them.    I never really had a any complaints with Lee dies.     But I DO have an image to maintain, and I can't let my friends see those Lee dies laying around so most of my dies are Redding.   

[1911crazy]

I broke away from reloading when the cheap affordable surplus ammo became available.  But i always knew someday it would end.  Right now with the surplus ammo dryup and the higher costs of new ammo were going back to reloading soon i guess.  I'm thinking of using the lead furnance and bullet molds too so it will be cheaper rather than the rising cost of bullet components too.  Of course we'll be shooting the 22's a lot more too.

I have all the stuff for doing lead bullets now i need to figure out how to use it.
Furnance, lead ingots, bullet molds, sizer/luber.....

[Old Fart]

I have all the stuff for doing lead bullets now i need to figure out how to use it.
Furnance, lead ingots, bullet molds, sizer/luber.....

Just read the instructions. Fot the most part it's pretty straight forward.

If you get jammed up just ask the board. There's hundreds of reloaders here. Someones probably experienced a similar problem.

Lot's of people will tell you to get one of the cast bullet books. That's good advice!
RCBS make one that's a "Just the fact." book. It will do to get you going.
Lyman makes one that 's clearly much more in depth, but still a easy read.

As a side note I'm real close to closing a deal on my first Swiss.

[bluebayou]

I have no problem with my Lee dies themselves (other than .308 mandrels in the Russian caliber dies, WTC?)

But, what do all of you Lee-lovers do about the goofy lockrings?  I have Lee dies in 3-4 calibers, but I always change out the lockrings for Hornady ones. 

[jgalar]

If you are concerned about the locking rings moving when installing/uninstalling just put a drop of blue loc-tite on the threads when they are adjusted properly.

[FW Conch]

   Lee products work well & are an excellent value !       Jim

[lakota]

I got a Lee Breech lock press and since the dies stay in the bushings now I have no issues with the lock rings anymore.

[ALWAYSSHOOTINSOMETHING]

Most of my reloading equipment is lee, and the only product of theirs that wasn't perfect, was, one of my 4 hole turret heads would bind, and not rotate properly, and it was replaced free! Really like their dies, but wish I had the Classic Turret rather then the 4-hole. Hear you loud and clear about shooting more 22's. Started doing that more last year about this time!