Who uses LEE?

Like in a lot of other areas, some have the mentality of "Why spend $2 for an item when you can get one that works just as well for $200."

My first experience with reloading was with a friends Lee equipment, then I bought a Lee Loader in 357 Mag.

Jump 15 years, bought a RCBS Rockchucker kit worked with it for a couple years and bought a Lee Anniversary Challenger kit, sold the scale and kept the rest.

Traded the Challenger press later and bought the Class cast Turret, that is a great design if you prime by hand and want to jump to a turret type.

Over all Lee provides usable equipment that will turn out excellent reloads that far excel any off the shelf ammo.

Their beam scale is not very good ...

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The Lee beam scale is a best buy for the $.
I have checked calibration on mine with two different electronic scales and with a Lyman beam scale. It calibrated within one tenth of a grain with each.
It is, however, not the easiest scale to use.
Pete

Post # 78 accurately describes a Lee scale. Those not familiar with a vernier scale or a slide rule have problems using it. Also small hash marks for alignment are hard to see for some. It works great though if you can overcome these small quirks. Lee has a LOT of good products at reasonable prices. Why the problems some have with them???

Methinks that those that have the attitude of buy a Yugo and expect to get a Rolls are mostly to blame for flaming Lee products.

I have Lee scale which I don't like, but it works. Lots of Lee dies, a Lee single stage press for revolver rounds and a Lee powder measure. Good bang for buck.
The press is not sturdy enough for rifle rounds or fast enough for 9mm/.45 but it's fine for revolver stuff.

I've got a 4 hole turret I bought about 2 years ago, right before the 'great shortage', sure glad I did. I've loaded a couple thousand 9mm and 38spl, getting ready to do 223. Yup, I can see where the scale might irritate some, it's a bit touchy, but consistent and accurate. Can't beat the value of Lee equipment IMO.

I use all Lee reloading gear. Started with a single stage press to get started less then a year ago. I now have a Pro 1000 for 9mm reloading and a Load All in 12 gauge. Looking at getting a classic turret in 2014. Just love Lee reloading gear good buy for the money and they work good too. The only non Lee gear I use is a Rcbs 5-0-5 scale.

I have a Lee Classic Turret on my bench right now. It was the first press I bought for rifle/pistol. It works great. All I used on it were Lee dies and I loaded for about 15 different calibers.

After a few years I realized that the reloading hobby wasn't going away and I needed to up my output so I bought a progressive (Hornady LNL).

I have the money to buy whatever I want…but I still have the Lee press and it will remain on my bench unit they clear it out in the estate sale after I die.

I've been using a Lee press and dies since I started loading in 1990. I have yet to find a reason to change.

Pete D. said:

The Lee beam scale is a best buy for the $.
I have checked calibration on mine with two different electronic scales and with a Lyman beam scale. It calibrated within one tenth of a grain with each.
It is, however, not the easiest scale to use.
Pete

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The thing I dislike most about the Lee scale is that is only measures to 100 grains. For that reason only I am in the market for another scale, likely a digital. It was annoying at first, took a little learning curve, but I'm now master of the Lee scale. I know exactly how to zero it in a jiffy, set the weight settings, weigh charges quick as any balance beam can, and I have every confidence in its accuracy.
One thing I did to the scale was to use a little white nail polish to brighten those tiny hash marks.

splattergun said:

The thing I dislike most about the Lee scale is that is only measures to 100 grains. For that reason only I am in the market for another scale, likely a digital. It was annoying at first, took a little learning curve, but I'm now master of the Lee scale. I know exactly how to zero it in a jiffy, set the weight settings, weigh charges quick as any balance beam can, and I have every confidence in its accuracy.
One thing I did to the scale was to use a little white nail polish to brighten those tiny hash marks.

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I got the hornady digi a few months back. Unfortunately it recently started varying wildly by as much as +-.2gr (like I would have it zeroed with the pan and I would watch it jump up to .2gr out of nowhere, probably needs a battery change). Went back to the good ol Lee for measuring my recent 223 load development and she works like a champ. Key is to set the tray in and stop it swinging then put your finger over the top of the other end of the scale to settle it down more quickly. Also make sure no A/C vents blow onto it (same thing with digis though really), I switched the one in my reloading room to where it's blowing at the wall opposite my bench and never have problems with it interfering.

Like my Lee stuff just fine. Works for me.
Lee turrent, auto disk, pro disk (better), dies. Lee hand prime old and new model. The old model might not be as "safe" as the new "imporved" model with the little elevator thing but it is not a PITA sometimes like the new one.

I started with the Lee 50th Anniversary Breech Lock kit, to which I added a set of dies, digital calipers, and the Richard Lee reloading book.

Since I trim some cases, I got the Zip Trim and appropriate case length gauge. I later got the 3-jaw chuck which I use in a cordless drill. Worked better for me.

Wanted to start casting my own bullets. Got the Pro 4-20 melter and a couple molds.

Picked up the Lee Autoprime XR hand primer at Scheels last year- just wanted to try it out of curiosity. I use this all the time now.

Lee allowed me to get started in this hobby. I'm glad I did.

I use Lee pistol dies.
I use the Pro auto Disk on Dillon 550 and Hornady LNL AP.

Lee get bashed mostly because people have to justify there high dollar purchases.

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Yeah, there is that saying that you get what you pay for. Lee goes against that by giving more than you pay for relative to the others.

I understand that if one can afford it they might prefer Dillon or some other premium priced equipment, they don't want to buy Lee, I get that. I only chastise those who think their premium equipment will make better ammo and tell folks they might want to upgrade if they are going to load 'for real'.
I can't tell any difference between the ammo coming off my classic turret or the xl650.

Lots Lee stuff on my bench, still use the hand primer after many years, about 8 sets of dies, 8 of "other" brands...I have no issues with them.

My old Lee single stage aluminum press is relegated to a decapping station for mil. brass (crimped primers and volume) have upgraded a few items over the years but even the "cheap" Lee stuff keeps working well.

One thing I have done with my Lee dies is to take them apart, polish them with a bore mop, a drill and some Flitz polish. It really makes them much smoother.

I have even gotten used to the beam scale, still on the bench next to a digital and an RCBS. Zero it, check it, mine has been very accurate for years. Some folks don't like it, but I actually prefer it for tight accuracy. Go figure, I must have got a good one......or read the instructions!

If you ever give a Lee Breechlock or Classic Cast an honest try at decapping/sizing + priming at the same time, I think you will like it. The setup is uniquely superb for this. The gains in efficiency/productivity are incredible. And the priming feel is incredible.

Another big fan of Lee. I have one RCBS product, and it's earned a place in my collection (primer pocket swager dies) although I wish I knew about the CH4D earlier..
That said, sometimes the Lee customer service can be spotty, or great depending on who you get.
A steel toggle on the breechlock challenger press broke (I sort of blame the RCBS swager dies) and it was shipped out immediately.
I don't see a reason to purchase any other dies for the outside knurling of the die, or brand name.
I'll stick to Lee dies, but once I go progressive I'm going blue.

I went to some trouble to try various brands of equipment when I got started. Honestly, I like pretty much every mfg stuff. In my limited experience, Lee dies are great and the price is usually hard to beat. The only thing I can say about the Lee dies is that I don't really like the o-ring that is supposed to keep the die setting when it is removed. It is a really clever and inexpensive design. Of course, I don't like the set screw on the threads on the RCBS dies either. I solved this by using the lock rings from Hornady . So many great products and companies making reloading equipment, we are quite a lucky bunch. Makes it hard to go wrong as far as I can tell. Now, if we could just find the components we need to actually make our loads, things would be really great

I would guess that nearly everyone has at least some Lee equipment. I have a universal decapping die, a set of dippers, and several case trimmer/gauges. Most of my gear is green or blue, but the Lee equipment that I have works ok. Lightman

I use the dies, there progressive reloading press sits under my bench,

I also use Lee. I load 9mm and 7mm-08 both, and it is getting the job done for me without problems. If you are reloading to save money, I say they are the way to go. I only have a single stage press, and nothing fancy, but I am picky about my loads, and not in a big hurry. Their powder measure is dead on with every throw, but I always run about 20 shots through it first, to make sure it will be consistent. Their case trimmers work great in my electric drill, and I love the quick change bushings for their dies. Hope you are as happy with their stuff as I am.

I have bought several sets of Lee dies over the last 2 years and can't find a thing wrong with them, except the O-ring locknut deal which sorta works, but I prefer the Hornady lock ring setup. Most of the time, I just reset the size dies when I set up. Not a big deal since, I'm not loading for profit and it's easy to do.

I love the collet neck sizer for the calibers that I can use one for.

Another gem in their bucket is the universal decapping die. I use it to decap cases before cleaning. I do my sizing after the cleaning bit.

I'm happy with the ones I've got.

Texaszach said:

Awesome to hear guys. I didn't expect so many responses this quick!

I know you guys read/contribute to this question all the time, but what's the one item you'd recommend to compliment my set?

Trimmer, calipers, bullet puller, etc?

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Of those three, calipers first, but the other two pretty soon thereafter, with trimmer being second.

I got a lee die and did not like it as much as the RCBS. No set screws. I got my RCBS press for free so I didn't pick.