Another problem with lee equipment

[jhalcott]

 seems they are American made! RCBS is buying their press castings from CHINA now. That must make them HIGH quality.
   Aug/Sep Handloader magazine , page 31 read the caption.

[R.W.Dale]

 That's nice waddya want a cookie

 Do you really think that the aliminum, steel, plastic and let's not forget POT METAL that Lee uses for thier products is all of domestic origin?

[jerkface11]

 So lee stuff is american made? I guess that explains the quality.

[WVMikeyC]

As with any type of production process, making it cheaper is always priority and why they have accountants, and with the numerous types of metals that there is it's no wonder that one will see this. Now where I see that RCBS is making their's in china,  this tells me that they can have it made cheaper over there, shipped and sold here for less than here. Yes I know there goes more jobs in the U.S etc, etc. Face it it's a fact of life now, go figure.

[MnMike]

To a degree I care where something is made. I would prefer to buy American. I will not do this if it is twice the price or poorly made. This is sadly the fact in many cases. Lee is an exception. Their stuff is really pretty good for the price, and it is made here. It is not of the highest quality, but it fits my budget. If RCBS is now made in China, have they lowered the price?

mike

[snuffer#1]

I like the Lee equipment. I haven't had any problems with it so far. I guess it's preference. I have a lot going on and Lee fits my budget and it works good enough for me.
                                              snuffer

[PlacitasSlim]

In the issue of Handloader this was in, RCBS imports the raw castings and them machines the castings here on state of the art CNC machines.  I have never had a Lee Press, 3 RCBSs, but have many of their hand tools that are quality and have some factory crimp dies I am very happy with.

[rickyp]

I have a RCBS press, I had a new in box lee press that I traded for a Lee hand press, A long time ago I bought a lee hand press, when I got out of my apartment and into a house I gave it away and got my current RCBS R.C. press. I regreted giving away the handpress in very short time. For dies I ahve RCBS Lee, Redfield and Hornady. They all work good I have only ever had to send one pice from a lee die back and had to pay for it to be replaced. now on the other hand I have to call  RCBS quite often and ask for a now decapping stem or some other part never had any troubles with my Hornady that wasnt my fault,  the redding dies are no troubles.

Fora powder measure I ahve the lee perfect powder mesure it is not as smooth as the RCBS I had at one time but it has never changed its volume.

Yes Lee is not as gracefull as RCBS but theya re just as usable.

[Dand]

I started my reloading career with Lee loaders. I still use the dippers for putting charges on a scale. I use a Pro- Auto disk for most handgun loading - (9mm, 38/357, 41, 40), mounted on their expander dies,  several factory crimp dies, a coupe full die sets, primer pocke cleaners, and two hand auto prime tools.  I've worn out one auto-prime tool that I was able to refurbish with new parts.  I really like the pro-auto disk, and charging the cases at the same time as expanding - it really saves time with medium handgun rounds.

Today was my first use of a new set of carbide die set for .40 SW.  I sized and deprimed about 400 cases.  Worked fine.  Only issue was I wanted to change setting on decap rod. The stem  was set so tight, I almost rounded one wrench flat getting the decap stem loose (durn loose jawed Crescent wrench). So marred up my new die set.  But they worked great. Maybe not as nice as my RCBS carbides but on sale the Lees were too good a deal to pass up. I like the shell holder, its front has a scallopped milling that really facilitates inserting the cases.  This is new to me; I have a 41 mag shellholder for the autoprime that has a different cut that snags the case rim once in a while.  I really like this new .40SW holder. Nice to get the shell holder as part of the die package.

I see my primer pocket cleaner tool seems to be wearing.  Its probably cleaned out 5,000+ cases.

Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman or Lee I'm really grateful we have so many choices - we should all count ourselves lucky.

[ggeilman]

I had the opposite problem with the decapping stem on my 30-30 die last night. The stem came loose and stuck inside the shell! Had to pry it out of the case. Not sure I got it in tight enough as it seems to slide down a bit.

[Tn Jim]

I've been using a Lee Challenger press since 1991. Still works as good today as it did the day I bought it. I also use their length gauges exclusively, 4 different sets of Lee dies, and their Auto prime tool that I bought the same day I bought the press. Never had anything but good luck with their stuff and will continue to use it.

[DWTim]

And if you like that, you've probably noticed that a lot of those companies (RCBS included) sell a magnetically-dampened scale which is made by Ohaus. And if you look at the bottom, there's a sticker on it that says it's made in Mexico.

How about Lee's dies? They're the most affordable in the business, and a lot of folks swear the quality is top-notch.

[millwright]

I load with Hornaday, RCBS, Lyman, Redding, and Lee equipment, and have for many years.  I have found small problems with each over the years.  I guess I am satisfied with all because they all work as well as I can shoot.

[gypsyman]

Reloading is done for 2 main reasons. Save money, and accuracy. If all your concerned about is saving money, Lee equipment is ok. If on the other hand, accuracy is your goal. then the mind game begins. If your shooting in a compitition, or just trying to shoot the best group you can, you might just start to think, did I do everything I could to make the most accurate ammo I could.
Being that reloading dies and press's are durable goods, unlike bullets,powder and primers, I don't mind spending a few extra dollars on them.I figure that 15 years from now, I'll still be loading top quality ammo. Considering that some of the dies I presently own, are over 25 years old, have loaded 10,000 rds. or more, saving 10$ when I bought them, is less than a tenth of a cent a round. Very minor, when it comes to satisfaction. -gypsyman

[victorcharlie]

Reloading is done for 2 main reasons. Save money, and accuracy. If all your concerned about is saving money, Lee equipment is ok. If on the other hand, accuracy is your goal. then the mind game begins. If your shooting in a compitition, or just trying to shoot the best group you can, you might just start to think, did I do everything I could to make the most accurate ammo I could.
Being that reloading dies and press's are durable goods, unlike bullets,powder and primers, I don't mind spending a few extra dollars on them.I figure that 15 years from now, I'll still be loading top quality ammo. Considering that some of the dies I presently own, are over 25 years old, have loaded 10,000 rds. or more, saving 10$ when I bought them, is less than a tenth of a cent a round. Very minor, when it comes to satisfaction. -gypsyman

IMO, a conventional press with screw in dies is not the most accurate way to load ammunition.......IMO, the Wilson gear, which is hand or arbor press operated is extremely accurate, especially the inline bullet seater.....it's slower than a press for sure.....

[jack19512]

Reloading is done for 2 main reasons. Save money, and accuracy. If all your concerned about is saving money, Lee equipment is ok. If on the other hand, accuracy is your goal.

And your point is 

[gypsyman]

My point being, that spending a few extra bucks, on what I consider better quality equipment, is minor in the long run. If you think that your getting the best reloads you can make, with Lee dies, then by all means do it. Like I said in my earlier post, alot of shooting is a mental game. It all depends on how far into this shooting/reloading game you want to get.  Benchrest shooter will spend $1000 on just an action, $300-$500 on a barrel, $600-$1000 on a scope, and pay a gunsmith big money to put it all together.
If any of them would think that they could compete with a Handi-rifle, Simmons scope and Lee dies, for half the price of just an action, don't you think they would. And in reality, that combination could shoot some really good groups. 
What I find kinda funny, is a couple of years ago, at one of the gun shows I do, a major Lee dealer and I were talking, he mentioned that he was getting ready for a varmint hunt out to the Rosebud reservation. He said that he just got thru loading up over 2000 rds for a couple different guns. His exact words were, I cranked up the dillion press, with RCBS dies and had all the ammo loaded in 2 nights. He doesn't sell either brand. Wonder what that means??gypsyman

[beemanbeme]

Doesn't somewhere Lee guarentee that their dies will load ammo as accurate (or more accurate) than anyones? 
I believe in using eq that matches your ability.  A intro Lee outfit can load ammo as good as anyone starting out can load.  Spending several hundred dollars more isn't gonna make you a better reloader nor are you gonna reload better ammo.  Too many folks want to get to the top riding on their pocketbooks instead of their ability.  And it ain't gonna happen.  We all know folks that own rifles that have been vetted by top smiths: blue printed, accurized, lapped, etc.  And, of course, on top of the rifle is a scope, the cost of which could feed a third world nation.  And the owners are more than willing to tell you all about it.  However, they can't shoot worth a #@%$&. 
This is kinda funny.  Over the years, I've used very little Lee Eq.  What I've used has done the job it was intended for but overall I've used very little of Lee stuff.  However, I find myself defending Lee against folks that seem to be making their judgements solely on price. 

[Lone Star]

IMO, a conventional press with screw in dies is not the most accurate way to load ammunition.......IMO, the Wilson gear, which is hand or arbor press operated is extremely accurate, especially the inline bullet seater.....it's slower than a press for sure.....

But top-rated highpower shooters, firing at 600 yards (and some at even 1000 yards) use bench presses and dies, and their accuracy performance is certainly not compromised by their loading equipment.  Of course, they don't use $30 presses or $15 die sets either....

.

[jgalar]

1997 1000 yard champion used Lee dies.

[gypsyman]

New worlds record is held in 16 1/2# weight class, 1000yd.,is by a shooter using Redding dies and press.

[jack19512]

My point being, that spending a few extra bucks, on what I consider better quality equipment, is minor in the long run.

It isn't minor for those that do not have an extra pocket full of cash that they don't need for anything else.

I use a Lee press and Lee dies and I have to be honest with you, for myself a different brand of press no matter what the cost isn't going to make a better shooter out of me.

For the most part the rifles that a lot of us shoot are only going to be capable of a certain amount of accuracy whether the ammo was loaded on a Lee press with Lee dies or on a RCBS press and RCBS dies.

Does anyone on this board have a rifle that can put all 5 shots into one hole at 100 yards?  If you do then maybe the equipment you reload with would matter.  But I think for the most part the majority on this forum is happy with sub MOA groups.

I have shot some very respectable groups with my reloads and I really don't think that if I were to go out and buy a more expensive press and dies my groups are going to shrink any to amount to anything.

I have offered this challenge in the past and it still stands.  I will put my reloads up against anyones as far as accuracy goes.  We will use the same components and shoot the reloads from the same rifle.  Yours or mine, it doesn't matter to me.

[jack19512]

Too many folks want to get to the top riding on their pocketbooks instead of their ability. 

+1

[Little Joe]

I  use mostly RCBS equipment but do have a few things made by Lee and Redding. I like Lee's Auto prim tool as well as their powder dippers. I also have the Lee Perfect powder measure. It works great with stick powder. I just love my RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Press. I also like my RCBS Trim Pro case trimmer and the RCBS Range Master scale. I use RCBS dies but have a Lee crimp Die with each set. Lee crimp dies are great. My one and only Redding item is their deluxe die set in 308 Winchester. I was taken back when I opened the box on these dies. They were the most polished and refined die set I ever looked upon.  There were no burs on them anywhere and the steel looked to be of the highest quality. They make really great handloads as well.

Little Joe

[ggeilman]

Here is a review of the new Classic Turret Press that you may find interesting. I looked at the Rockcrusher, but this instead:

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

[Dand]

Last night I stumbled into Midway's customer reviews of the "new" Lee Turret Classic. I guess its been out at least a year now.  Nearly all reviews said great things about this press and there were quite a few experienced loaders commenting.

It makes me pretty interested.  I've been pretty happy with my Lyman turret but the auto index of the Lee would really speed my production and cut down my wasted  motion.  Maybe not a Dillon or Hornady Projector but enough to get me real interested - especially for the  price.

 

[millwright]

Don't condemn Lee dies for accuracy until you try the Lee collet die!  Follow the instructions and you will be amazed.

[jack19512]

Here is a review of the new Classic Turret Press that you may find interesting. I looked at the Rockcrusher, but this instead:

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm

This is the press that I have and for me I have no desire to look for anything else.

[quickdtoo]

I bought the Lee Cast Turret press not too long ago, it's great to have dies all set up and ready to go in a dedicated turret for that caliber!! As much as I like the Classic Cast press, the 4-hole turret is the cat's meow if you load for a bunch of calibers!!

Tim

[BIG Dog454]

I have used Lee equipment for years, have had great luck with it and the ammo I loaded was very accurate, I also have some RCBS and other brands of equipment some no longer avalilable. SO! last Aug I bought a Lee progressive 1000 to load 38 special as I was doing more target shooting.  This was my mistake.  The bullet feed is almost manual and the primer feed misses 15 to 20 out of 100. when the primer misses I end up with powder all over the bench and in the workings of the press causing a shut down in loading.  I can load almost as fast on my old C&H single stage press.  If I could get rid of it for close to what I paid I woud try a RCBS or Dillon.