Author Topic: Lee Dies? (Read 1301 times)

DirtyHarry · « **on:** December 20, 2007, 12:57:58 PM »

All my dies right now are RCBS, but I have been thinking about trying out a set of Lee dies since they are so inexpensive. Are they any good or should I just stick with my RCBS dies? I read that the Lee dies only have a 2 year warranty and I know the RCBS dies have a lifetime warranty.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2007, 01:32:44 PM »

Lee die function is just fine. Personally, they have become my preferred die. I find the Lee to have a finer interior finish compared to my RCBS, which admittedly are all over 15 years old. I have also had better luck with Lee when sizing for tight chambers.

blackpowderbill · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2007, 01:48:54 PM »

Ive used Lee dies for years. 7.5x55, 303, 45-70, 7.62x54R. Never had a problem.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2007, 05:52:41 PM »

I use Lee for most all my loading.I load 14 different cals.Have never had any problems whatsoever.I do own RCBS and Lyman dies,but prefer the Lee.........Rick

coyotejoe · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:17:50 AM »

I've used about every make of die over the years and the only BAD dies I've ever gotten were RCBS. I've had two RCBS dies in different calibers which didn't size the case necks enough to tightly hold a bullet. There are a couple of things I don't like about Lee dies, like the "O" ring lock nuts and those stupid round boxes, but I've never had a complaint with the quality of the actual dies.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:47:18 AM »

I have been using RCBS, Lyman and Lee dies for many years and don't see any difference in accuracy or finished product quality between them. I do like the Lee decapper since I haven't been able to break one yet, while I have broken RCBS pins; and the included shell holder and data sheet. Why pay more for less?

jgalar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2007, 03:36:11 AM »

All the different manufacturer's dies do the same thing, but they do things differently. If you are used to RCBS you may have trouble adjusting to the Lees. I use almost all Lee dies and prefer them over my RCBS dies.

I actually like the round die boxes as I use a turret press and the turret fits in the box. I also like the o-ring lock as there isn't room in the turret to tighten a set screw on my Lyman and RCBS dies

rbergum95 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2007, 08:42:10 AM »

i use lee dies for all my reloading. out of the 27 calibers i have i havent had any problems with them yet. the only change i have made is that i use redding competition seating dies in a few of the calibers, but the lee dies will do just fine for about 99% of your reloading.

Catfish · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2007, 02:36:12 PM »

Personally I think that there is a very good reason the Lee dies are the lowest priced on the market, and in my opinion they are still to high. Stick with RCBS, or anything else.

jpshaw · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2007, 08:18:34 AM »

What is the problem with Speer bullets and Lee dies? The info sheet in the Lee die set I just bought has a disclaimer saying; "Speer has claimed that their bullets shouldn't be used in certain Lee dies." They didn't say which Lee dies. I just ordered 100 Speer 150 gr .308 in FP and when my dies arrived it said not to use them. What is the problem?

coyotejoe · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2007, 11:07:06 AM »

Not sure but can only guess they object to the use of the Lee collet crimp die on bullets which were made without a crimp groove. I also think it is probably not a good idea to force a crimp into a smooth sided bullet but those dies sure work fine with a bullet made to be crimped.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2007, 11:11:37 AM »

Quote from: Catfish on December 22, 2007, 02:36:12 PM

Personally I think that there is a very good reason the Lee dies are the lowest priced on the market, and in my opinion they are still to high. Stick with RCBS, or anything else.

Personally I think RCBS are the most overpriced dies on the market, I sure don't see any quality advantage to RCBS over Lyman or Lee.

warrior1 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2007, 01:18:42 PM »

lee dies have always worked for me.

Castaway · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2007, 02:28:35 PM »

For pistol loading on a single stage press, I only use Lee dies and combine them with the Lee disk kit. Saves a step since they bell and charge simultaneously. Each box loaded gets a marking with the actual charge weight and also the particular disk used for quick reference.

jpshaw · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2007, 04:52:30 PM »

Quote from: coyotejoe on December 24, 2007, 11:07:06 AM

Not sure but can only guess they object to the use of the Lee collet crimp die on bullets. I also think it is probably not a good idea to force a crimp into a smooth sided bullet but those dies sure work fine with a bullet made to be crimped.

Then we won't have a problem since I plan on using them in these dies. They do have a crimp grove but if I decide to load long (Handi Rifle) to get closer to the rifling I will do that too but will crimp a whole lot less.

jeclif · « **Reply #15 on:** December 25, 2007, 01:16:36 AM »

rcbs warranty =savings

gypsyman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 25, 2007, 03:23:33 AM »

Ya get what ya pay for. gypsyman

Tn Jim · « **Reply #17 on:** December 25, 2007, 06:39:34 AM »

Some of you guys have obviously never dealt with Lee. They tell you their dies are sized on the small end of SAAMI specs. That's the main reason they work so well in semi autos. Kinda works like a small base die. Their interior finish is second to none. My RCBS dies wish they were that smooth. I have only had to contact Lee once since I started using their stuff in 1991 and was very pleased. I bought a Lee Auto Prime hand primer and one of the pieces was missing. I called and they shipped it out free of charge that day. For all they knew I was lieing my butt off. Trash talk Lee stuff all you want but their equipment does what they say it will and does it for a reasonable price.

roger460xvr · « **Reply #18 on:** December 26, 2007, 04:20:13 AM »

I'd go with lee any day too, I load for 44mag-460-7mm mag never had a problem yet. I bought a redding profile crimp die could not even get it to work for me on the 460cal -junk- I'm ordering the 45lc factory crimp die from Lee.. ROGER

GypsmJim · « **Reply #19 on:** December 26, 2007, 12:01:11 PM »

Quote from: Catfish on December 22, 2007, 02:36:12 PM

Personally I think that there is a very good reason the Lee dies are the lowest priced on the market, and in my opinion they are still to high. Stick with RCBS, or anything else.

While I won't argue with the poster's statement, I DO think it requires further explanation. If there is some we should know about it.

gypsyman · « **Reply #20 on:** December 27, 2007, 05:38:28 AM »

Redding and RCBS have lifetime warranty's, Lee 2 year, Lyman 1 year. I guess some company's have a better expectation of their product. gypsyman

Savage · « **Reply #21 on:** December 27, 2007, 10:42:46 AM »

I have been reloading 40yrs. I have yet to wear out or break a die, (other than bending depriming stems and breaking decapping pins on RCBS dies) so I am not too impressed with a lifetime warranty. I have Lee, Lyman, RCBS, and Redding dies. They all work equally well. My preference is for the Lee dies due to the powder thru case mouth flaring die, the sizing/ depriming die designs and the included shellholder. I'd buy the Lee dies if they cost more than the RCBS dies.
Savage

billy_56081 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 27, 2007, 11:11:50 AM »

I have found my Lee dies simple to use and durable. I have used LEE, RCBS and Hornady dies. I have found the LEE and RCBS to be the easiest to use. The warning on using LEE dies come from a fight between LEE and the CCI Blount company, the CCI blount company I beleave owns Speer and RCBS and it is claimed that the LEE factory crimp die damages thier bullets. I have a factory crimp die for my 22 hornet and It produces very accurate durable ammunition.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #23 on:** December 29, 2007, 05:31:16 AM »

Quote from: gypsyman on December 27, 2007, 05:38:28 AM

Redding and RCBS have lifetime warranty's, Lee 2 year, Lyman 1 year. I guess some company's have a better expectation of their product. gypsyman

If you get a defective die you will surely know it in less than a year, probably the first time you use it, so what is the value of a "lifetime warranty"? As Savage mentioned, I too have been reloading for over fifty years and the only breakage I've ever experienced is decapping pins and that doesn't even happen with Lee dies. It seems clear to me that those who bad mouth Lee have never used them. Now it is true that Lee does make some products I would not recommend but there is nothing wrong with their dies. And if I ever should wear out a set of Lee dies, which I don't believe possible, I could buy another set and still have spent less than for one set of RCBS with their useless warranty. And of all the brands I've ever used, which is most of them, the only bad dies I've ever gotten were RCBS. So maybe RCBS does need a good warranty. I'm sure we all know what RCBS stands for, Really Crummy BS!

, Of course that is not fair, they are OK, just grossly overpriced.

Tom W. · « **Reply #24 on:** December 29, 2007, 08:50:12 AM »

I've started with Lee products, because that is what was I could afford at the time. Most of the stuff worked well, with a few glaring exceptions. As I got older and the boys moved away, I slowly sold off almost all of my Lee Stuff, and now have some Hornady, RCBS, and Redding dies. I still have a Lee C style press in the shed and a Challenger press on the shelf, plus a few of the Lee case trimmers, but what I use is RCBS. I've had to invoke the lifetime warrenty a time or two for o-rings for my bullet sizer, primer tool and a mold and handles.
The last Lee Die I bought was for a .45 Colt, and the shellholder fit nothing that I was trying to load. Lee did send me a replacement within three days of my e-mail, but the I ended up replacing the dies with those from RCBS. The expander didn't want to work well with oversized bullets....

SM Bob · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2007, 06:34:38 PM »

I have been reloading for close to 40 years. I have used many different brands of dies.
Lee, RCBS, Redding, Hornady, and others. They are all good in my opinion. Now days
Lee dies are all I buy. They have always worked well for me. I just can't justify spending
extra money on a set of dies just for the name. The quality of all the Lee dies that I have
ever bought has been fantastic. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. My opinion is go
with the Lee dies. You get the most for your money without sacrificing quality. If you
ever have a problem their customer service will take care of you. I have found them to
be very friendly and helpful.

Robert

gypsyman · « **Reply #26 on:** December 31, 2007, 03:41:12 AM »

I have a Redding profile crimp die, that I had for years, I messed up and somehow managed to get a piece of grit in the die. It started to scratch cases, and being .375SM, I didn't want to mess up many cases. I sent it back to Redding, with a note, my fault, please fix. Came back fixed, no charge. For fixing a custom die. My kind of company. gypsyman

Dave in WV · « **Reply #27 on:** January 01, 2008, 03:48:24 AM »

The brand of dies I have the most of is Lee. I have replaced all of the lock rings on them so the savings isn't so great for me. I have RCBS, Hornady, Lee, and Redding. I like Hornady rifle full length sizing die sets best and my Redding neck sizing die best because they have a carbide expander ball option for their neck sizing dies. For handgun dies as long as they're carbide resing dies the brand isn't important to me.