Lee Precision

Lee is good in my book.

Lee makes some great stuff and some no so great, but the customer service can't be beat.

I broke the linkage on a cheap challenger. I called expecting some automated phone system but no. A lady answered and not only did she not have to transfer me, but she knew exactly what I needed and sent it out that day free of charge.

I purchased the classic cast press because off this.

All John Lee needs is to add a high end shop to his awesome company.....he already has the ideas! Maybe he ought to make an offer to Vista Outdoors....I hear the conglomerate is less than profitable this year. Wouldn't it be something to merge John Lee's ideas with RCBS manufacturing?....Lee....Red division, RCBS Green division...hear that John?

Imagine RCBS's heavy duty Summit Press with a bullet/case feeder, heavy duty long/short handle (already offered), and Lee Breech lock threads cut beneath in place of the measly little insignificant shell holder holder...... Shucks jmorris could mod that in a few hours!.......hear that Johns? (Lee and Morris, both!)

They definately fill a void in the reloading equipment world with equipment that new reloaders can afford.
How many of us started out with Lee equipment and used it for years. Then move to something more expensive when we could afford it later on.
I know I did,
I got one of the Lee presses that wasn't so good and quit using it. But now they have improved their presses and I bought a ABLP and I really like it. I don't to prime on it, the priming system on it slows me down too much so I prime off that press.

But for the way I use it, I sure like it, and it has a permanent home on my reloading bench.

I have been using Lee equipment for more than 30 years. If not for Richard Lee and his reasonably priced reloading tools, there is a good chance I would not have started this hobby.

Whenever I had any problem with Lee equipment, the CS department has always done well by me. I have never asked for, nor expected anything free, but they have always treated me fairly.

GW Staar said:

All John Lee needs is to add a high end shop to his awesome company.....he already has the ideas! Maybe he ought to make an offer to Vista Outdoors....I hear the conglomerate is less than profitable this year. Wouldn't it be something to merge John Lee's ideas with RCBS manufacturing?....Lee....Red division, RCBS Green division...hear that John?

Click to expand...

Just leave John Lee alone. If Vista Outdoors got a hold of his company it would become as unprofitable as RCBS is right now.
I like Lee just the way they are right now. He is coming out with all these new ideas for new products and after my experience with their early Pro 1000, I am interested in their products again.

As far as RCBS goes, I love the idea of their 7 station progressive press but I don't love it enough to pay $900.00 for the basic setup. But I do get it that the only other game in town that is seven or more is the 1050 Super and Mark 7 with 10 stations. That's way out of my budget.

Not surprised. My presses and dies are all Lee: they work and are affordable. The few times I've needed their customer service they have been fast and courteous. I started reloading shortly after getting married in the early 80s. Turned out my in-laws lived a short drive from the Lee factory which gave me easy access to factory seconds with just minor cosmetic matters. I still use that gear and the savings was a big help to a young couple when money was tighter. My only regret is that I didn't buy every caliber of Lee Loader (whack-a-mole type) when they offered more than they do today.

Jeff

tightgroup tiger said:

Just leave John Lee alone.

Click to expand...

That's not what I said......I envision John Lee making an offer to Vista Outdoors to BUY RCBS! Vista Outdoors can go belly up as far as I care, they've really hurt RCBS. I think John could make it profitable with less money, without hurting quality.

I started with Lee equipment and still use it today. Did add a Hornady lnl ap, but its red as well.

And I got pummeled! LOL

I like everything Lee makes except for the fairly new bench mounted priming device. The folding magazines for the primers and some of the internal workings are rather prone to jams and failures. Still love and use the old hand primer with the hard plastic round primer magazines. Good equipment at reasonable prices.

I will buy Lee.

That's not what I said......I envision John Lee making an offer to Vista Outdoors to BUY RCBS! Vista Outdoors can go belly up as far as I care, they've really hurt RCBS. I think John could make it profitable with less money, without hurting quality.

Click to expand...

I completely agree with that GW.

Archie said:

Still love and use the old hand primer with the hard plastic round primer magazines.

Click to expand...

I'm still using their Auto Prime ll that primes on top of the press. I wish they wouldn't have discontinued it. It's fast and does and excellent job.

As an example, I refer you again to my original post.......John (either of them) could Make the Summit into the ultimate Automatic Processing Press! When I first laid eyes on the APP video, that's all I could think about....my Summit....an untapped opportunity.....

I've always said that the best idea of John Lee's APP is the case/bullet feeder on a single open front single station press. The lower die mount is just gravy!! Put together...genius.

I know Dillon makes a case processing press based on the 650....and it even trims. But 95% of the reloading market isn't going to spend that kind of money on a case processor......even if they had room for it...it's esoteric.

What I'm wondering is, what is the next trick from John Lee?

I'm getting the lee app , going to give it a go. I like the bullet sizing done downward better and saves effort for processing brass. When I get it I'll report back. The price seems too good for what it is, lee always surprises me with the value of their products.

My app will be here Wednesday.

Since Lee brought out the 4000 maybe they will bring out a new improved Loadmaster soon?

I think if Lee joined Vista the same thing that happened to Marlin when they joined Remington would happen to Lee and then they would truly be producing junk...

One more time: NOBODY ever posted, a want, or a suggestion for Lee to join Vista, ever, just the opposite.....I'm advocating that Lee RESCUE RCBS FROM VISTA.......ok? I didn't know my English was that hard to understand......

I have stuff from most of the main reloading companies. I’m not thrilled with my LEE Perfect Powder measure. It’s ok, but feels cheap. I love my Lee Custom Turret press. I like my Lee hand primer. The hand press is a cool tool but not one I use to load with on a regular basis. I do use it to decap while watching TV!

I actually like my Lee dies better than some of the more expensive ones that I have.

The gear I have from RCBS has been good. Likewise for Lyman and Hornaday.

But my Harbor Freight China Inc calipers are the best deal. They’re the same ones the reloading companies sell for much much more!

And I like Lees book better than the rest.

Overall, Lee doesn’t deserve the bashing some throw at them. My suggestion is to compare price and quality. Do some research. Avoid the few things they make that get bad reviews. Buy things that get raves like the LCT and dies. Weigh the rest and see if they are the best value.

I’m frugal. So I look for value. Not the cheapest. But best overall value. And Lee is really good at offering value.

Good ol' Lee Precision...

I'm a Lee guy...and an RCBS guy, and a Hornady guy, Lyman, etc. Just depends on my application or task at hand. There are pros and cons that I always consider, but good customer service is a must. These companies have all been outstandingly responsive to my issues.

I started out with an old, used RS2, a Uniflow and a 5-0-5. The press priming system was slow, the guy selling me the reloading stuff suggested a Lee Auto Priming tool. He said that it was less money but others that he had sold them to had nothing but good to say about it. Worked as promised. Simple and easy to use. Easy to change shell holders. Now I have about 50-50 on my bench, Lee and RCBS. I have upgraded to the LCT for my press, that is a fine piece of machinery. For Lee's customer service, I have nothing but praise for them. They helped me diagnose a problem with a used Auto Disk powder measure that I got off eBay. Broken decapping pin on their decapping die, replaced no charge. I also purchased a couple of extras to have on hand. Their decapping dies and factory crimp dies are just genius. American made too. I can use Lee powder scale but I still prefer the 5-0-5 and the 5-0-2 scales.

Every major brand except Redding is represented on my bench.
I have been happy with Lee products. I don't like their balance scales or their hand primers, but their presses, dies and casting equipment are great.