[Vitamin G]

Thats right. I picked up my lee anniversary kit from my local cabela's at about noon today. Set it all up and started loading up some 10mm slowly around 3pm.
6:30pm - after I had finished up my 10mm, i was de-priming some .45, and the arm had worked it way out a little so that it was secured by only one hole, and it SNAPPED a piece of the press that secures the handle in place!!! :cuss:

I REALLY wanted to load up some .45!!!!

Cabela's was great though. They said they'd exchange it as "defective" but i'd have to bring the whole thing back, press, handprime, powder measure, scale and all!
Oh well. I guess its good news since the powder measure was a little leaky anyways.


I wish i could afford RCBS right now... $67 vs. $250 difference... :(

[R.W.Dale]

It never ceses to amaze me that in this modern age of information dissimination that people will still pay money for the LEE anniversary kit. I bought one at a Pawnshop new in the box so I could move my operation from a buddys house. Within 20 rounds the handle broke offin the press,the infernal measure alawys leaked and the scale was impossible to zero. At this point I've replaced everything except the hand primer,funnel and chuck for the trimmer.

[45Frank]

I've had mine for about 13 years and haved moved up to Lyman terret but still use it occasionally, been good for me, it is a starter kid so you sort of get what you pay for. But I guess I would be a little mad myself.
I've had a few powder powder measures over time and still use the lee plastic one. It's one of the more accurate ones I've ever used.
Good Luck it'll work for you.













Thats right. I picked up my lee anniversary kit from my local cabela's at about noon today. Set it all up and started loading up some 10mm slowly around 3pm.
6:30pm - after I had finished up my 10mm, i was de-priming some .45, and the arm had worked it way out a little so that it was secured by only one hole, and it SNAPPED a piece of the press that secures the handle in place!!! :cuss:

I REALLY wanted to load up some .45!!!!

Cabela's was great though. They said they'd exchange it as "defective" but i'd have to bring the whole thing back, press, handprime, powder measure, scale and all!
Oh well. I guess its good news since the powder measure was a little leaky anyways.


I wish i could afford RCBS right now... $67 vs. $250 difference... :(

[redneck2]

Why is it that, when people buy the cheapest thing on the market, they're suprised and upset that they get something cheap???

If I see...."well, the Lee is cheapest and the _____ (Dillon, Hornady, RCBS, Lyman) is more money", one more time, I might puke

I have a friend that got 4 used Lee presses used....cheap (go figure). We were talking about reloading. He said he'd like to reload, but he gets tired of fiddling with his presses every 20 rounds or so

In 6 hours, I could very EASILY load over 2,000 rounds of 10 mm, and never adjust my press once.

wish i could afford RCBS right now... $67 vs. $250 difference...

With all due respect, do something to get or save more money. I save by paying for everything with folding money and throwing my loose change in a basket when I get home. Yeah big deal...maybe $2 a day. Adds up to $60 a month. 4-5 months and you can buy a Dillon or Hornady instead of the Lee.

Or, rake leaves or mow lawns. Don't laugh. I had a college degree and was married with 2 kids. I did every odd job I could to make extra money. Mow 10 lawns at $30 each and you've got your press.

you buy crap, you get crap

[m0ntels]

Shooting and reloading would not be what it is today if not for Mr Lee.

*Justifications deleted because I think the first sentence says enough*

Randy

[Vitamin G]

I agree with just about everyone, if thats possible. Its far below the quality of other brands. With that said, it gave me a really valuable lesson that I would not have paid $250 to ask. I LIKE RELOADING.
I'm going to end up trading it back in for another one, give it a go, and save up for the rock chucker in addition to the classic press. That way if it really comes down to it, I can have 2 :)

[1911user]

Before spending $250 on an RCBS press kit, look into the advantages of a good progressive press especially for reloading enormous quantities of pistol ammo in a short time period. :neener:

[Powderman]

For me, I buy three different Lee products: their molds, the Factory Crimp dies, and their regular dies.

The loading dies load great ammunition. I hae a set in .30-06 and .223, both load ammo fit for semiautomatic rifles.

The Factory Crimp dies--in .308/.30-06/.223 I have come to regard as essential.

And, I have a set of Lee molds that I use for 200 grain LSWC bullets, in .452. These molds are approaching their 20th anniversary--and they still drop match quality bullets.

Their presses do leave a bit to be desired--but Lee does make a good product.

[JDGray]

My Lee kit was a gift, so if it breaks im out nothing! But after 10 yrs. and 3000 plus loads, its as good as day one. JDGray

[The Drew]

I bought a lee 1000 pro progressive reloader in 45acp , and while it isn't perfect, It works well and gives me very little trouble, I've loaded about 1000 rounds on it since I started a few months ago...

Cabela's price $119

[Lennyjoe]

I use a Lee progressive and a single stage and haven't had any issues yet. I must be one of the lucky ones.

[antarti]

i was de-priming some .45, and the arm had worked it way out a little so that it was secured by only one hole, and it SNAPPED a piece of the press that secures the handle in place!!!

Make sure the handle goes through both holes (I think that's in the instructions) and you shouldn't have a repeat issue.

Personally, I heard all the same stuff about LEE. Then I:

1) Bought their Classic Cast Press and though "hey, this is a darn nice press for the price".
2) Bought their carbide dies with FCD in various pistol calibers. Apparently those are darn nice too.
3) Bought the Auto Prime II to speed up priming. Haven't had anything but success with that (if its kept clean, as per directions).
3) Bought their universal decapper and went through a few thousand rds of crimped-in primers (and more without crimps) without incident. Guess that works fine too...
4) Then I got the Pacesetter .223 dies which resized mil brass just fine, suitable for use in my AR. Darned if that wasn't nice too.
5) Despite the internet kvetching about the LEE chamfer tool, I got one, chucked it into a Dremel, and removed mil-crimps faster than anything else, a couple seconds-per case at most.
6) Then I got the "plastic leaky POS" Pro Autodisk to speed up powder charging. It actually throws very, very consistently. Happy again...

See a trend here? I'm not saying my equipment is the be-all-end-all single-stage setup (it isn't), but it does WORK when I'm doing my part. Everybody hates LEE stuff (well, except for the dies, or this, or that, or this other thingie, which are great).

I can only say this because I know I am a bigger "reloading dufus" than you are. I've made just about every reloading mistake that can be made short of blowing up a firearm. Even so, and with all the "head scratching" and "trial and error" (had nobody to show me the ropes) at times, I can reload ammo that works, and in batches, crank it out when I need to. If I can make the LEE stuff work for me properly, anybody can (that "I am a real dufus" thing again).

I guess that also puts me in a position to more readily appreciate a "quality" (Hornady/RCBS/Dillon) progressive later on... so be it. I bought LEE based on price, which was my #1 priority at the time, no shame in that, it was just a matter of priorities. I found LEE works, and wasn't a waste of money. I seriously doubt whatever I get in the future will make me pack up and toss everything I have now into the ocean, regardless of price or color.

Read the directions... call LEE if you must (I have, and they have been nothing but helpful). Chances are you'll be happy too. If not, give it to somebody else who wants to learn reloading, and get whatever your heart desires.

[donkee]

That's the thing these days. Get the stuff, don't follow the directions, it's the manufacturer's fault. My LEE stuff has been great. And see no reason to retire anything I have, it just works too good. There are things I don't like, for example the O ring lock rings, but have replaced all of them with Hornady lock rings. No complaints anymore. I am getting a set of RCBS dies in 8mm Mauser to do a side by side comparison of the finished ammo. If the RCBS dies make any difference, I'll be sure to come out here and tell the world that RCBS dies make better ammo than LEE, but till then, I'll keep the LEE stuff.....

[yorec]

Lee products are designed to be able to function reliably and well for thousands of rounds under proper working conditions. No more - they don't have large overbuilt tolerances like many other brands - that's how they keep thier prices down. If you need the overbuilt tolerances cause you do something different than what the product was designed for then you need another brand. Simple as that.

I've loaded tens of thousands of rounds on my Lee presses over the years, but I've also broken a couple of them. I recognize that I can get a little "gorrilla wristed" at times too. But that's my fault and I'm still money ahead having bought a few replacement parts. It gave me a chance to test the Lee customer service deptartment too. Not disappointed in the least there either.

If it breaks and you were doing everything right, then it was probably defective - good for Cabelas for standing behind the product. Next time you'll do better, but if not - ask yerself if you weren't a little "gorrilla wristed too?"

My other press is a Dillon. I'm just as big a fan of thiers... Go figure. :p

[Vitamin G]

Nope, I actually considered myself quite gentle on it. I wouldn't be upset about breaking it because I didn't follow the directions, if i had intentionally not followed the directions. It seems to me that when a product comes with an arm that slides around so much that someone can accidentally not follow directions if they dont readjust all the time, well, THAT was what angered me.

Oh well though. Its a good excuse to get a single stage AND progressive anyways.

On that note, has anyone ever soldered or welded the arm in place so that it doesn't keep sliding around? I think that would probably fix it perfect for me.

[donkee]

The classic cast is a much beefier press. I busted a couple of the links on my old challenger, but LEE replaced them quickly for me. Still, I sold the challenger and bought the cast. It's been good to me and will last for eons.....

[halvey]

I agree with just about everyone, if thats possible. Its far below the quality of other brands. With that said, it gave me a really valuable lesson that I would not have paid $250 to ask. I LIKE RELOADING.
I'm going to end up trading it back in for another one, give it a go, and save up for the rock chucker in addition to the classic press. That way if it really comes down to it, I can have 2 :)

You bought a bum press, and you found out you LIKE to reload. So why get another bum press if you already know you like it? Save the $$, mortage the house, sell some food, but get a decent press!

[dracphelan]

On that note, has anyone ever soldered or welded the arm in place so that it doesn't keep sliding around? I think that would probably fix it perfect for me.

After assembling my Lee Anniversary kit, I found I had a spare nut & bolt. It turns out that they hold it in quite nicely. Tonight, when I get home, I'll see about taking a picture of it so you can see what I'm talking about.

[RON in PA]

The Lee Classic cast iron press is as good as anything out there. Their dies work well for me as does their priming tool (expect parts breakage on the priming tool). The red plastic powder measure should only be used with stick powder in my experience.

[W Turner]

Count me as another satisfied LEE user. I use their turret press, hand primer, and dies. Been VERY satisfied with all of their stuf regardless of the fact that all but the hand primer was bought second hand.

Take care of yousr stuff and it will take care of you.


W

[redneck2]

Probably should have qualified my statement better

I use Lee dies. For what I do with rifle, they're fine. And I do use FCD's. Collet dies look like a great idea.

Can't warm up to the powder measures. You can say what you want. I just can't trust them

Now as for progressive presses, they're "questionable" IMO. Maybe their single stage and turrets are fine. Never used those. There's just gotta be a reason that others cost more and Lee costs less.

Also, I've got Lee's book. While the info may or may not be correct, his assumptions that "I've got the answers and if you don't use my stuff you're an idiot" get old quick

[The Bushmaster]

And The Bushmaster has two Lee presses. A single stage (the cheapest one they make) and a turret three hole. I use the single stage to resize and decap all my fired cases from .30-06 to 9mm X 19. The turret is set up to reload these cases after cleaning and many inspections. I have been using these presses for almost 20 years with no problems. So you got one press that escaped the QA inspectors. And the rest of the manufacturers have never had one that escaped the QA inspectors. RIGHT??!!?? Give me a break......:neener:

[dracphelan]

After assembling my Lee Anniversary kit, I found I had a spare nut & bolt. It turns out that they hold it in quite nicely. Tonight, when I get home, I'll see about taking a picture of it so you can see what I'm talking about.

Here's the picture:
http://www.guntotinhippies.com/images/lee.jpg

[The Bushmaster]

And the problem???:D Nice photo...

[MNgoldenbear]

My Lee kit was a gift, so if it breaks im out nothing! But after 10 yrs. and 3000 plus loads, its as good as day one. JDGray
10 years and 3000 loads? You need to get out to the range more often!! :) What are you doing with all your time that's so important? Working? Feeding, housing, and clothing the family? Come on, prioritize! (sarcasm, in case anyone took those last comments seriously)

[The Bushmaster]

Has anyone ever taken you seriously MNgoldenbear...???:neener: But I do agree with you. It sounds like JDGrey needs to get out more...Although I agree with JDGrey too...Beans Jeans and a Roof are important too...:D

[dracphelan]

And the problem???:D Nice photo...

No problem. I was posting it to show how the press should look when properly assembled. From what VitaminG and others have wrote, it sounds like some the presses were not properly assembled. I know that before I put the bolt in, my handle would slide up and down (and out) while in use. I thought it might help.

[Vitamin G]

Yup. Slide all around it did.

Thought it was 'sposed to!

[donkee]

Nope, supposed to be tight. If it wasn't secured properly, then it's not LEEs fault.

A nice example of the cruddy LEE stuff, I load for 7.5x55 Swiss and 8x57JS Mauser (and more). My cruddy LEE dies and press make substandard ammo that allows me to shoot a pathetic 3/4" and 7/8" groups @ 100 yds with my K31 and M48 Yugo Mauser. Such poor quality and results! I'm sure if I used an RCBS Rock Chunker and RCBS dies I could easily get a single jagged hole with iron sites at 100 yds without changing my load recipe. I will now give my LEE gear to the unwashed infidels out there and spend a barrel of cash on the "quality" stuff.....

Sorry for the somewhat sarcastic tone, but I really get tired of hearing that you have to mortgage your kids to get acceptable gear, and if you don't, you're just another idiot..........

[Vitamin G]

Wow, a new unit made all the difference!

Yup, its tons better. I deprimed about 100rds of .45 last night, and about 80rds of 10mm. Reprimed the 10mm, but i'll load them later.

[Berek]

I picked up a Lee Classic and have pounded the s&*! out of it with .300WSM, 9mm, .357Mag, .44Mag and .45-70 and have yet to have a problem. Based on my experiences alone, I would not have a problem recommending Lee to someone. Of course, with everyone else's experiences added in, I would relay my success and explain that some were not as fortunate, so they might want to shop...

Berek

[Uncle Don]

Never had any problem with the Lee equipment I've had and some of it was purchased in 1985 that is still in use and in perfect shape. Use tools as they are supposed to be used and they will treat you well.

[rick_in_lb]

OK guys, there is one problem with the Lee turret press that if someone comes up with the solution they will make MILLIONS. Are you ready, yup you guessed it the depriming part. Those pesky little dimpled primers roll everywhere:cuss: . I keep a small shopvac under my bench for those cleanups. Soooo any Ideas for my great turret press that I really love and loads 500+ rounds of mixed ammo per week, I know I should shoot more:D .
God Bless to all and shoot safe

[The Bushmaster]

Sure do Rick... I have a 1" hole drilled through the bench under my Lee turret. I have one of those old aluminum ice trays mounted on slides so it can be removed like a drawer when I feel it needs to be emptied. ALL removed spent primers fall into the tray for easy and convenient disposal...Soooo...Where's my millions???:D

[jfh]

heh. About 1990 somebody advertised (SGN?) a "primer catcher" for the Lee presses--only $6.95 plus shipping. I jumped, bought two.

It was a plastic cup and top--IIRC, he didn't even have the hole in the top. It included 3 small RH SM screws to mount the top under the bench, an instruction sheet to drill that one-inch hole and cut it into the top.

But, they worked--barely. The cup did "fit" into the top well enough that it would not fall out when full of primers--but, if you bumped it with your knee--well, one of those "aw, sh__" moments.

FWIW, I think it was a Kokona (sp) cheese cup and top--but your tray-and-slides sounds better, The Bushmaster.

[The Bushmaster]

As a matter of fact, jfh...(English teacher? Oh good...Just what I need...Having my diction and spellin' graded again.:o )The ice tray drawer works rather well:cool: ...And thank you.:)

[donkee]

I took a pickle jar and ran three screws into the top to secure it to the underside of my bench. Drilled a hole and ran the tube from my classic cast to it. Just unscrew and dump, replace. I don't know if it will work with the turret press, it should.

Hope this helps, and I don't need the million, I wouldn't do anything but have fun with it anyway.....

[MNgoldenbear]

Has anyone ever taken you seriously MNgoldenbear...???
I hope not. :) Actually, I've spent the last 20 years as a HS teacher. I think it's some kind of penance for being such a smart@$$ in HS and college. :D "Use a pun, go to jail." ("sentenced to the punitentiary") Terrible humor is a prerequisite for entering the profession -- keeps us from crying! So please be patient with me -- those teachers who do not deserve your respect may at least deserve your pity! :D

[Papakeith]

I use a plastic peanut butter jar to collect my primers from my pro1000. I drilled a hole in my bench under the press, and screwed a skippy peanut butter lid (with a hole in the topof it) to the underside of the bench. I then screw the empty plastic container onto the lid. problem solved. All of the primers are collected by the container. Every now and then, I empty it out.

[rick_in_lb]

MMMM I looked at my primers as I pushed them out and they seem to pop right and then left and everywhere else. AH HA maybe I will buy a single stage and let my son use the turret... naaaa. If you guys read this today, have a great Turkey day or Ham day or Prime Rib day, I think you get the picture:D

[RON in PA]

FYI: Lee is coming out with a cast iron turret press in 2006.

[JDGray]

MNgoldenbear, I just bought a .45 in August, and have put close to 1800 rounds through it, Before that I just reloaded for my .357 revolver. This .45 is an ammo hog !! I will be buying a Lee turret, soon! JDGray

[timuchin]

Went through three sets of them (free replacement from LEE every time, no hassle) before I finally got it through my thick skull that I needed to put some loctite on the bolts that go through the toggle links. Problems solved. It doesn't matter how tight you torque the nuts, they will work loose. Loctite is your best friend with a LEE press. Other than that, it functioned flawlessly.

[sigstroker]

I deprime all my cases by hand first because it seems like I get a hangup of one kind or another too often in the progressive. I use a Lee hand press. It's easier to feel something going wrong before I break a decapping pin, and the primers collect in the hollow ram.

My first reloading rig was a Lee setup that you bang with a hammer. I think I paid $8.99 for it and $3 for a hammer. Reloading .44 Magnum, it paid for itself in about a box and a half. I still have it around somewhere.

[33-805]

Me too! My brother and I wore out a couple of those Lee kits that you hit with a mallet. Just plain wore them out and peened them over but we shot all the time too. I have no gripes with Lee, they let me shoot a lot when they were all I could afford. I hope they stay the owners of that market niche. I switched to Dillon's stuff years ago and I love them, but you can make a lot of good, safe ammo with the cheaper Lee stuff.

[racenutz]

FYI: Lee is coming out with a cast iron turret press in 2006.


Got a link?

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I have both the older RCBS Rockchucker and the Lee turret.

I use the Lee only for decapping and sizing and bullet seating on non-precision reloads such as mass production of, say, .45 ACPs, etc.

Precision loads, particularly rifle, are always done on the Rockchucker.

The problem with the Lee is that it doesn't camber over on sizing of the shoulders on rifle cases and the closest I can come to in accurate OAL is .05" on the Lee whereas I can get .005" closeness on the RCBS.

As mentioned by someone else the depriming of cases on the Lee sends the primers wherever. I've not found a catch container for the Lee so I use a large plastic container to catch as many of the old primers as possible.

The point I'm making is the Lee was cheaper than the RCBS and the Lee's operation and quality (even in the quality of ammo it produces) shows it lacks some.

But, for the length of time I have owned the Lee I've not had any breakage, wear, etc. and it still works fine...for what it's worth.

[RON in PA]

racenutz: Re the new Lee cast iron turret press, no link, saw it in a Lee ad in the January Shooting Times.

[roo_ster]

I own a RCBS Rockchucker I got with their Monster Reloading Kit. Quality stuff, that. I also have a Lee Hand Press and the bitty C-press Lee gives away with their reloading manual.

I also own a wonderfully ugly. large, & heavy metal desk I bought specifically for reloading...which my wife has found is ideal for her sewing projects. :uhoh:

So, I end up dong most of my reloading on the coffee table with the Lee Hand Press. The Rock chucker is an awesomely strong press, but the Lee Hand Press has it all over the RC with regard to handling of spent primers.

Does anyone else despise the RCBS die lock rings? The Lee lock rings, despite looking goofy with that O-ring, are a lot handier.

Last, the Lee powder dippers are great for load development. Add in the RCBS powder trickler and the 5-0-5 scale & you're cookin with gas!

[racenutz]

racenutz: Re the new Lee cast iron turret press, no link, saw it in a Lee ad in the January Shooting Times.

Stopped at the store tonight & checked it out. It looks like they just used the base from the classic cast & the top part of the current turret. The photo in the magazine looked to be a CAD prototype drawing but I was hoping for something for something more like the RCBS or Redding turrets.

IMO, there's 3 main problems with the current turret press.
1) Spent primer collection: The classic cast turret will share as the same hollow ram & tube design from the single stage classic cast.
2) Primer feed: Does the new style primer feed http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/shoppingcart/classicprimerfeed.jpgwork any better?
3) Auto Index: This just doesn't work on the current press & the new one looks like it will use the same design.

[drinks]

I still have and use 2 Lee Eng. loaders, not the current Lee Precision co.
I have a Lee comes with the book press, works fine, I also have an RCBS JR2, got it at a garage sale for 50c because the ram would only travel 1".
RCBS is $200, Lee is $15, took 10 minutes to fix RCBS, including a full lube with exp. lubes.
Took Lee apart on receipt, gave it a full lube with exp. lubes, do both presses and the hand primer once a year, full teardown and clean and lube, have 0 problems with either.
Have about 25 molds, Lyman, RCBS, Kirkland and Lee, only mold that did nor work out of the box was the RCBS, have several dies, about 20, have broken decapping pin on the RCBS and C-H only , no Lee.
Now use the Lee universal decapping die for all decapping.
Do you begin to see a pattern?
:rolleyes:

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

RCBS Rock chucker, and Dillon 450.

Nuf said!


I use Lee bullet molds, and a Lee Autoprime. But I've never been impressed with their presses. Especially for long belted magnum rifle cases. Nuttin better than a Rock Chucker.

-Steve