Author Topic: Idea for new forum  (Read 944 times)

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Offline Questor

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Idea for new forum
« on: June 20, 2006, 07:11:21 AM »
How about a separate forum for flaming and counter-flaming Lee reloading products?
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Offline skb2706

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« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2006, 08:51:38 AM »
Are you kidding...........you'd be able to feel the heat right thru the screen.

I chose to stay out of that one. I'm floating on middle ground. My loading bench has a little green (in two shades), blue, red, orange and some colors I can't even identify anymore on it.

Offline Questor

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« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2006, 09:34:11 AM »
Yes, I most definitely am kidding!
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Offline Glanceblamm

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« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2006, 05:10:45 PM »
If you were not, I think most would quickly say that the Auto Prime
Would be exempt.

Any other lee products for salvage???
How about some of the bullet molds? :wink:

Offline gwindrider1

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« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2006, 02:32:31 AM »
The only Lee products that have ever graced my reloading bench, are the "Factory crimp dies". :-D   The rest of their products, well, I consider them something like putting a B-Square mount on top of a classic Oberndorf mauser. :eek:

Offline Questor

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« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2006, 02:36:59 AM »
glanceblam:

Have you gotten a new autoprime lately? I have. I junked it after the first attempt at using it. Before that I had two that were good, but which broke.
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Offline skb2706

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« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2006, 03:55:59 AM »
Auto prime II ...the one that mounts on a press is a workable and effective way to prime cases. Best system I've found but the materials are pretty cheesy.

Offline dubber123

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« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2006, 04:26:03 AM »
I have several sets of Lee dies that work well, except for the cheesy O-ring locks.  Those get replaced immediately.  The bullet molds?  Well, After buying a bunch of them, I can say I would'nt want to go into business with them.  I have learned lately, if you get a good one, keep it lubed VERY frequently with LBT's mold lube, and treat it like the finest china in the world, they will give reasonable service. (hey, their only 16$).  I did recently buy a 6 cavity for my .45, and with a little care and lots of lube, I expect it will last fine.  The 6 cavities are made ALOT better.  Makes a pile of bullets in no time, the worst cavity is 1/2 thousandths out of round, which is really good.  Might be the only good one they ever made, but I'm going to find out.

Offline june6th1944

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« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2006, 04:38:20 AM »
I've been lucky so far.  I use quite a bit of Lee's tools.  Press, scale, length gauges and cutter, primer pocket cleaner, case lube, powder measures, and dies.  Believe it or not I didn't get all of this stuff in an Anniversary Kit either.  I even use Lee Loaders for .30-06, 7mm-08, 8mm Mauser, and .30-30 at times--at least to neck-size the cases.  I've also got Lee Loaders for 2 3/4" and 3" shotgun shells.  I can't buy what I load for turkey hunting at the price I can load myself.  Nothing has broken and some of older designs work really well.  I can load high-quality, accurate ammunition with what I've got.  I can't wait for all of the posts that will start chastising me for using this many (and old) Lee tools!

A friend of mine uses RCBS exclusively and his powder weights and ammunition quality aren't any different than mine--at quite a bit of difference in cost of tools.

I will be getting a better scale in the near future.  The Lee scale is a 'fill-to-weight' scale and is not meant to be used to use to actually weigh something from zero.

I do have a Redding trickler and an old Herters chamfering tool (although I do use the little Lee chamfering tool sometimes).  I found the Redding trickler to be the most stable, b/c its heavy.  I also have an RCBS bullet puller.

The real question is why does Ohaus not make reloading scales in the self-contained hard case as they did decades ago?  I think they would sell quite a few of those today.

Offline Glanceblamm

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« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2006, 03:55:55 PM »
Back at ya Questor.
Yours isnt sounding good with two autoprimes being junk.
Hope my old one will hang in there.
I consider this to be one of my most important tools. I will try an RCBS Model if the Lee quality has gone south.

Mine is a 1986 vintage. Had had to do a bit of filing on the rounded lower part of the linkage rod due to a flat spot in recent years. I keep alittle white grease on it and it seems to be working fine.

Offline Bad Irv

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« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2006, 03:59:57 PM »
I really like Lee Collet neck sizing dies. I don't have to use lube, and I don't have to trim very often. The brass lasts longer because it doesn't get worked as much, and the rounds made with this brass are very accurate with very little bullet run out. Here's a link to another guys opinion of these dies that pretty much matches mine. http://www.jamescalhoon.com/ Just click on Informative Articles to find his testamonial on the Lee collet dies.

Irv

Offline june6th1944

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« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2006, 05:05:05 PM »
I forgot to mention I use an Auto Prime--greatest thing since sliced bread.

Offline jack19512

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« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2006, 09:50:12 PM »
If everyone just showed a little respect for what others choose to use you wouldn't ever need such a forum.

I'm sure most of us don't criticize others for what kind of car they drive, why do it with Lee products.

If you use Dillon products I'm happy for you, if you use RCBS products I'm happy for you.  If you use Lee products guess what?  Yep, if you're happy I'm happy.   :grin:

Offline Reed1911

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« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2006, 02:34:28 AM »
While jack has a good point, I agree and disagree. When someone has a small problem with Lee equipment and asks for help - no problem. When someone is trying to figure out why they have .09" of runout, or seeing is .05" variance (not .005, .05"), loads suck and want to know if they should replace their Lee dies, I have to jump all over it. To me it is akin to someone trying to compete in a high-power match with an AK and not understanding why everyone is beating them. Here's your sign......

With that being said, for someone who has never re-loaded before and wants to try it out on say 9mm or .45. I do recommend Lee equipment. Its cheap, for common pistol rounds it will do fine, and if they want to upgrade later, that "O" or "D" press will make a fine priming platform with the APII attached to it and sitting in the corner.
Ron Reed
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Offline Questor

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« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2006, 02:37:32 AM »
jack19512:

Isn't it amazing how much interest this topic gets? It's a recurring thing on this forum and the phenomenon is fascinating. Some people have had nothing but bad experiences with Lee products. Others are quite satisfied.  Of course, both sides are right. Overall, I think we're lucky to have Lee products because it has allowed so many people to get started in reloading for a modest cost.

Best regards,
Q.
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Offline june6th1944

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« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2006, 02:47:45 AM »
Here are a couple of websites that I've found useful re: Lee.  It's like buying a car, you seem to find all of the articles justifying your recent purchase.

http://home.earthlink.net/~dannewberry/dannewberrysoptimalchargeweightloaddevelopment/id7.html

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/Lee1.htm

Offline mg66

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« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2006, 02:06:12 AM »
I use Lee 4 stage dies and 4 stage turret press and they do the job just fine. I guess I load 5-6000 38spl, 357 and 44mag each year. I also have a Lee 'O' press just for seating 44 as I think it does a better and more consistent job, the feel is better.

Lee does what I want it to do, easy to setup and seems to do it quite well. Remembering here that I dont load in great quantity.

It's just like my $30k home does exactly what a $250k home does. If something gets the job done, it works for me.
mg66 - "every deer you legally take with a bow is a trophy"


Offline jack19512

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« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2006, 03:54:01 AM »
I try not to take posts about Lee products personal but when a new reloader comes on the forum, and by the way I am still a new reloader myself I do get a little frustrated when some veteran reloaders give advice like "Lee is junk, buy Dillon".

Especially when the person states he doesn't want to invest a lot of money in case he doesn't stick with it or makes it clear he doesn't reload a lot and isn't going to use the ammo for competitive shooting etc...etc...

I am puzzled by some peoples inability to use Lee equipment.  I reload 4 rifle calibers.  .223, 8mm, 7.5x55 swiss, and 7.62x54r.  I have improved the accuracy of all of my rifles and some dramatically by reloading.

A lot of people consider the Swiss 7.5x55 ammo to be match quality and I am beating it with my reloads for my K31.  I do not reload any ammo for target shooting purposes.  All of my ammo is reloaded for hunting in mind because I consider all of my rifles hunting rifles and not target rifles.  I am curious what kind of groups I would get if I started reloading with target type bullets instead of bullets intended for hunting.

The 70's production Yugoslavian surplus ammo shoots very good in my K98 and my 2 Yugo 24/47's and my reloads beat it.  I am doing something right or maybe I am doing something wrong with my reloading equipment but it is working very well for me.

  Now, if I were to reload against someone for competitive shooting I would probably get beat.  But I am not so it doesn't really matter.  I wish some of you lived close to me as I would really like to compare some of my reloads to yours.  :-)

Offline A MOOSE 4 GOD

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« Reply #18 on: July 01, 2006, 04:33:16 PM »
Well I've just finished reading all the yea's and nah's about Lee. I had one for going on 18 years and a 7mm Rem Mag/ 223/ and a 45/70 that I used to reload these calibers. As a lot of you have stated it got the job done. The 223 would shoot a .316 at 100 yds. the 7mm with a 100 Gr. sierra hp would shoot .678 at 100 yds after I was told that small of bullet would not shoot in this caliber. A 154 gr. round nose for hunting would shoot under 2" at 200 yds. And I can honestly say it never missed what was in the scope. The 45/70 well lets say I  just reloaded those. I just sold the whole kit for $40.00 to a friend of mine who learned to reload on this press. He shoots a custom 308 and is very happy with it. I  have just purchased a Lyman Expert Crusher reloading Kit and all I can say it looks pretty on my table. I like it and enjoy using it but it's new. Guess what after reading reviews on the Lyman I purchased an AUTO PRIMER AND THE LEE SHELL HOLDERS! We had a 2002 Chevy Avalanche and traded for a 2005 and all I can say it looks pretty in the driveway "IT'S NEW" different and fun to drive.  So to make a long story short if you like what you got use it and BE HAPPY!!!!!!   LIFE IS TO SHORT FOR THE LITTLE THINGS* :idea:  :idea:

Benny :D
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2006, 12:23:57 AM »
I use some of there products and really like there handgun dies. BUt theres not enough bandwith to be bought to bash there progressive presses in my opionion.
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Offline PaulS

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Re: Idea for new forum
« Reply #20 on: July 03, 2006, 11:26:11 PM »
Not a Lee fan - as most know, but I haven't got time to bash them either. There are a couple of guys here that have explained that they have good results using Lee gear and I can't argue with their success. If you can get Lee gear to produce rounds that shoot sub-MOA regularly then I don't see why you shouldn't use what is giving you good results. I also think that they must have a great technique to make ammo that good with all the play in their turret presses.
If it works for you then use it - be proud that your loads shoot well. If you don't like Lee products then don't buy it. I do reserve the right to kid anyone about the gear they are using at anytime -  and I expect the same in return.  ;)
PaulS

Hodgdon, Lyman, Speer, Sierra, Hornady = reliable resources
so and so's pages on the internet = not reliable resources
Alway check loads you find on the internet against manuals.
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads.

Offline Will52100

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Re: Idea for new forum
« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2006, 07:51:58 AM »
I have one of there 3 hole progressive presses, and an O frame.  I use the O frame for 45-70 BPCR loads, and the progressive for smokless and black powder pistol rounds, 38 long  colt, 45 colt, 44 colt.  I reload around 4-5000 rounds a year, sometime more sometimes less.  The ammo I produce is not what I'd call match grade, but that's more to do with sorting my cast bullets and case prep than the  press.  It does require that you hold it's little hand, but it produces good bullets, especialy for coboy shooting.  The only automatic function is the auto index and primmer feed.  I put powder and bullet and case in by hand.  I use a Dillon scale, and Lee carbide dies.  While not match grade, I can ring 200 meter steels reliably with my 1860 Henry in 45 colt with factory sights.

For the money I've been more than satisfied with Lee products in general.  I love there moulds, especialy there 6 cavity moulds.  I only wish they'd produce a 6 cavity round ball mould.  I do not like there scale, mine was accurate, but a pain to set-up and use.
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Offline daddywpb

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Re: Idea for new forum
« Reply #22 on: July 08, 2006, 07:35:11 AM »
I bought a set of Lee dies in 30/06, and tried to use them for about 6 months. I had many cases that wouldn't chamber in my rifle, and problems with consistent oal. I recnetly replaced them with a set of Lyman dies, and all of the chambering and feeding problems have disappeared. I think most of the problems lie with the locking rings. I do use a few of the factory crimp dies. They are great.

Offline Questor

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Re: Idea for new forum
« Reply #23 on: July 21, 2006, 04:13:00 AM »
This month's American Rifleman has an article on Lee products. The main point is that it's been a good way for a lot of people  to try reloading without sinking a large investment into it up front. It also got described some of the products they make that the author considers to be non-junk. I disagree with him about a few things.
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