Lee

[StretchNM]

I just upgraded to the Lee Classic Turret Press from the Deluxe and I'm very pleased with it. I knock off 50 rounds every day after work in around a half hour without hurrying to relax. For $186 I think it's a tremendous value and rock solid.

I'm curious, who charged you $185 for a Classic Turret? Top street dollar would be $120, I think, and many vendors down around $108.

I used mine for about 6 months before giving up on it. I have nothing positive to say about that POS.

That's really too bad. It bothers me to hear that a Lee Classic press let someone down. Oh well, you can;t go up any higher, so you're now stuck with inferior products and a whopping insurance surcharge to boot. Maybe you might give the Classic another try(?)

 

[floydster]

In my opinion, if you are a reloader and don't know Lee, you don't know Jack

 

[edfardos]

I got a Lee taper crimp die the other day for 12 bucks. It shaved off more brass than it crimped. The insides looked like the surface of a record. Incredibly rough, no polishing whatsoever. It's in the trash.

anyhow, that's my first and last lee experience,

edfardos

 

[joecil]

I use Lee dies and with most cast bullets it works fine but their are exceptions such as WFN rounds. For those mostly 45 Colt and 45-70 I use RCBS Cowboy dies designed just for that type of bullet. Lee's are mostly designed for standard jacketed or close to spec lead cast. I've never had a problem with Lee using say a 405 gr L-RNFP for 45-70 or for 45 Colt a 255 gr L-RNFP nor any round nose shaped bullet.

 

[floydster]

My bench.

 

[Bmac1949]

I agree with Stretch about the Lee scale. I've gotten to where I actually like mine. I prefer it over a digital and it is amazingly accurate for an inexpensive scale. I will admit it is an acquired liking. I didn't think much of it at first.

 

[Certaindeaf]

floyd
Heh, I really like your clear dust covers so one can enjoy the beauty.. I just use a lame deathshroud/pillowcase.
Nice setup

 

[splattergun]

I got a Lee taper crimp die the other day for 12 bucks. It shaved off more brass than it crimped. The insides looked like the surface of a record. Incredibly rough, no polishing whatsoever. It's in the trash.

anyhow, that's my first and last lee experience,

edfardos

the shaving was a matter of adjustment. As for the polish, I would have given Lee a chance to make it right.
But I'm glad you have enough money to throw it in the trash.

 

[floydster]

Cert, the dust covers are very easy to make, heavy 25 mil vinal from the home store, this is used for covering windows--very strong and will not deteriorate from U/V rays and clear as glass.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Cert, the dust covers are very easy to make, heavy 25 mil vinal from the home store, this is used for covering windows--very strong and will not deteriorate from U/V rays and clear as glass.

Did you heat gun glue those to shape or sew or what? Does that lamp shade spin around? I really like your setup!

 

[StretchNM]

VERY nice bench there, Floydster! Impressive. On edit, I just noticed the alum channels so you can slide your presses. Hehe, very good! I should cover my equipment too, but I don;t.

I always love the guys that had a problem with a Lee die and "threw that POS in the trash". One guy even said one day he threw ALL of his Lee dies in the trash. Nobody reads the instructions or calls Lee, but everybody that has a problem with a piece of Lee equipment throws it... "in the trash".

I just want to know: Where are these trash cans and can you at least tell us right away that you threw some Lee stuff in there? I mean there's getting time off from work, driving time, increment [sic] weather, all this stuff in the way of getting there before the garbage man.

I suppose one of the downfalls of owning Lee equipment is that you have to be ready for the occasional tantrum. Warn other family members, I guess - "Honey? I just received some new Lee equipment! You and the kids steer clear of the shop just in case I can't figure this thing out, and I want to scream and strike someone!". I got my first piece of Lee equipment circa 1978 and so far, I've been spared any fits or seizures. Knock on wood.

Lee honors their products (just like the "others", only without the premium insurance payment) well beyond their stated "2 years".

 

[kingmt]

I've had a few dislikes with Lee stuff but add for problems they have always made good. When I've broke something they still replace it & refuse to let me pay.

I didn't like the hand press & really don't like the handles on my molds but for the cost difference I'll love with it. One of my handle sets keep sliding off & so did the one on the sprue plate but a call to Lee & new ones were in the mail. Now I have a few thousand dollars in Lee tools & love everything else. I don't guess I can like everything they make.

 

[StretchNM]

I agree. Not everything Lee makes is for mass consumption. I've used Dillon progressives before and I've read reviews on Lee's machines. I do not think I would order one. They occasionally fall short on other "less major" items too.

One day a couple of years ago, I broke the little pot metal handle on my Lee safety prime (hand primer). I called Lee and told them it was several years old, beyond warranty, and I broke it. "How much for just the handle?", I asked. No charge. I felt guilty. Anybody that sells quality equipment at those prices should not be giving away things for free. But it's a nice testament.

 

[kingmt]

I actually love the progressive presses. I have both the Pro1000 & the Load Master. I have never had the first problem out of ether. There powder measure is by fat better then the Uniflow & LNL I have owned. The case feeder comes with the press also & is just simple.

I did try the bullet feeder & didn't like it at all. I may have not of given it a proper chance tho.

 

[StretchNM]

.......if you are a reloader and don't know Lee, you don't know Jack

Can I borrow that for my "signature' line? (Eh.....That's a serious question)

 

[foolsgold80z]

I'm curious, who charged you $185 for a Classic Turret? Top street dollar would be $120, I think, and many vendors down around $108.



That's really too bad. It bothers me to hear that a Lee Classic press let someone down. Oh well, you can;t go up any higher, so you're now stuck with inferior products and a whopping insurance surcharge to boot. Maybe you might give the Classic another try(?)

I should have been clearer. It was the Classic Turret Kit with Safety Primers, Pro Auto-disk,
etc. Mid-South Shooter's Supply.

 

[joecil]

That is a good price for a kit depending on what is in it. FS Reloading has a Classic Turret kit for $235.49 and $108 for the press only.

 

[StretchNM]

I should have been clearer. It was the Classic Turret Kit with Safety Primers, Pro Auto-disk, etc. Mid-South Shooter's Supply.

I hear you. I kindly thought it was a package of some sort.

I actually love the progressive presses. I have both the Pro1000 & the Load Master. I have never had the first problem out of ether. There powder measure is by fat better then the Uniflow & LNL I have owned. The case feeder comes with the press also & is just simple.

I did try the bullet feeder & didn't like it at all. I may have not of given it a proper chance tho.

It's good to hear more praise for their progressives. Alot of guys that own them love them, but I have read some reviews that were not as kind, and from men who are usually sincere and fair. As I said, I have never used or even fondled a Lee progressive, so maybe the criticism from me is unfair. However, I was very impressed with the Dillon which I reloaded on more than once in the early and mid-nineties. The price is.... substantially more than either Lee.

 

[kingmt]

I have helped a lot of people get theirs going. Sadly there it's almost as many that I couldn't get then to listen to me & they have up. Some people just refuse to follow institution even after asking for it.

 

[floydster]

Cert, on the covers I just folded the ends over and stapled them, work very well.

 

[under_dawg]

I got mine in 2007 from Cabelas as a kit. I really like it. People get bent about who makes the best STUFF. It really depends on what you require from it. The guys shooting IDPA etc need lots of bullets every week or two for practice and competition. I don't blame them at all for getting Dillons and such. I am in no particular hurry, I don't compete, and I enjoy reloading. So the LCT is great for me. I take indexing rod out and put in rifle dies and load single stage when I want.

I am guilty though of buying the Auto Disc Pro powder dispensers everytime Midway has the on sale. I am going to put one every turret I have set up with dies. That along with the adjustable charge bar makes changing calibers very quick.

 

[kostner]

VERY nice bench there, Floydster! Impressive. On edit, I just noticed the alum channels so you can slide your presses. Hehe, very good! I should cover my equipment too, but I don;t.

I always love the guys that had a problem with a Lee die and "threw that POS in the trash". One guy even said one day he threw ALL of his Lee dies in the trash. Nobody reads the instructions or calls Lee, but everybody that has a problem with a piece of Lee equipment throws it... "in the trash".

I just want to know: Where are these trash cans and can you at least tell us right away that you threw some Lee stuff in there? I mean there's getting time off from work, driving time, increment [sic] weather, all this stuff in the way of getting there before the garbage man.


Lee honors their products (just like the "others", only without the premium insurance payment) well beyond their stated "2 years".




That has been my story for the last twenty five years the wife and I had side by side turret presses and after supper we would reload and talk.
Fast forward we now have one classic turret press and reload about a dozen different calibers on it. Lee has been good for us.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I used mine for about 6 months before giving up on it. I have nothing positive to say about that POS.

Please share with the rest of us specifics of your dissatisfaction. It would be helpful to anyone considering one.

I am a fan of the Lee Classic Turret but do recognize that is has shortcomings. If those shortcomings might be important to a user, you would be doing a service to anyone considering a purchase.

Or, perhaps the shortcomings can be overcome by a change in usage technique; our collective knowledge might be helpful.

Thanks

Lost Sheep

 

[Reefinmike]

Dillon 650 with automatic case feeder and bullet feeder or go home, Everything else is pure garbage

actually kidding, one year lee turret owner with well over 20,000 reloads and zero complaints on the press. 250 rounds an hour is pretty easy to do while paying full attention, I honestly dont know if I could ever trust myself behind a progressive press... just too much going on at once to keep track of.

 

[splattergun]

I have helped a lot of people get theirs going. Sadly there it's almost as many that I couldn't get then to listen to me & they have up. Some people just refuse to follow institution even after asking for it.

Agreed, kingmt. And therein lies the biggest "problem" with Lee gear, failure to follow instructions.

Before I ever bought any press I spent months researching different products. One thing I learned was that the vast majority of complaints of Lee presses was because of a 'defective operator'. I decided to take the chance and save money and bought Lee. Lee posts all the instructions to all their products on their website. I read the ones for the tools I bought before I placed my order. I knew how to assemble and operate the presses I bought before they even showed up on my doorstep. I have not had a single problem with Lee that was not my own fault. When I did break something, Lee sent me replacement parts quickly, at no charge.

If anyone is going to throw Lee products in the trash, message me first. I'll pay the postage so they can send it to me.