Is Lee the way to go for a beginner?

[absolute0]

Guys,

I'd like to get into reloading, initially for handgun shooting in .357, .45 ACP & 44 Magnum. From the research I've done, it seems the Lee presses get a lot of recommendations for being good quality, affordable gear.

I plan on loading no more than 150-200 rounds a week to start with, and my budget to get up and running is $300. Should I look at buying a Lee (or similar) kit, or would I be better served piecing a kit together piecemeal to get better components?

 

[Rockstar]

I started with the Lee Anniversary Kit, because I wasn't sure I was going to like reloading. In hindsight, I would have been better off buying better components by just buying what I needed with a better press. It's hard to go wrong with a Rockchucker, if your budget precludes a manually-indexed progressive like a Dillon 550.

If you can possibly afford the 550, along with the accessories required to get you up and running, I'd certainly recommend the 550. There are some reloaders who insist that one should start with a single-stage press, and there's a lot of validity to that opinion. On the other hand, this stuff really isn't rocket science, and I believe you can learn basic reloading on a press like a Dillon 550.

 

[ktd]

The Lee is a decent starter in my opinion, though the powder measure I had (from ten years ago) was a little dinky, though I think they may have improved it now. On mine you had to attach the powder hopper with little pointed screws which stripped out the screw holes pretty quickly. I would get the turret press. You can run it like a single stage, one round at a time until you get familiar with it, then you can crank out rounds serially at a pretty high rate. When you decide to get that progressive (and for that I think the other companies are better), you now have a useful press to use as a decapping station, crimp station, whatever.

 

[antarti]

I started with (and still use) a Lee Classic Cast press, Lee dies, and Hornady model M scale. I can't say that I've seen a single-stage I'd rather have (save possibly the Forster Co-Ax, which alone blows both our budgets). I use the Hornady Lock-N-Load adapters, and they make changing dies a breeze, a worthwhile upgrade IMO.

Lee's carbide 4-die pistol sets seem to get the job done just fine, with no problems and no lubing cases. Lee's case trimmers are dirt simple to use, especially if you chuck the lock stud in a slow drill.

IOSSO cleaning solution is cheap (check Boses guns) and works well, if you aren't looking to get a tumbler anytime soon.

In hindsight, I would have gotten a powder measure instead of the dippers, but that's all I would change for starting out.

I have had occasion to both email and call Lee concerning loading and equipment questions, and they've been nothing but helpful.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Yes. Especially if your on a budget.

 

[Canuck-IL]

I started a year ago with a Lee 4 hole turret kit, 45 and 38/357 dies ... in 6 months I had bought a Hornady progressive for 45 but still use the Lee for 357. Good way to start - in the kit, all the accessories are useable later when you upgrade presses and you'll always find some use even for the turret.

Midway has the cheapest prices...get the hand primer for about $10, the turret's little rocker arm for priming was the only useless part of the kit. As mentioned above, the powder drop screws have to be inserted and removed with some care but that's only when changing powders or powder disks. With care, they're OK...powder drop itself is surprisingly accurate.

/B

 

[Bandit01]

It's up to you budget as was mentioned earlier. I started with the Dillon 550 progressive machine. In my humble opinion, after a short while, you're going to get tired of a single stage loader. That's just the way that I feel.

 

[Arch]

I just purchaced the Lee Anniversary Kit. But I haven't been able to use it yet, for three reasons 1. My dies haven't arrived yet 2. My gun hasn't arrived yet 3. I only got it yesterday, so I haven't had time to set up a bench.

But I did sit around playing with it last night. The scales, handprime, and handtools all look great. Though the scales seem a little fiddly to set. The challenger press looks more than adequite for my needs (as I will only ever load handgun cartidges), and pretty darn sturdy. And the powder thrower is a new unit, which looks quite good. Generally the kit looks like it's all very simple, non-fancy-schmancy equipment. For a noobie to reloading, that's what I am quite comfortable with.

It all seems like well made, no-nonsence equipment. By well made, I mean it will last, and operate, and do a decent job of it, but dont expect the cast press and scale base to be nicely finished. Cast marks are abundant, and the inside of the scale base is not properly powder coated etc. This may be importaint to some?

 

[W Turner]

I started about 6 months ago on a Lee Turret Press and other used equipment with a modest budget.

Here is my cost breakdown....

Lee 3-hole turret press in .45acp and a Lyman #55 powder measure - $75 used off of GlockTalk.com

RCBS 505 Scale- $30 (I think) shipped from ebay

Pawn Shop special calipers - $15

Frankford Arsenal Tumbler - Christmas gift

4-hole update kit and Lee FCD - $25

Lee Hand Primer and case holder - $25 (I think)

I specifically wanted the press and powder measure that I got otherwise I had been sizing up a Lee Turret Kit. I am a low-volume reloader in that I usually do a 200-300 piece batch load every month and can usually turn these out in about 3 hours time if I have already tumbled/decapped/primed the brass. I had not trouble setting up the equipment and it has been fine so far.

Overall I feel that the Turret Press is the best option out there for starting. You can use the Auto Index and it will function similar to a progressive or remove the AI and use it as a single stage (my preference).

W

 

[Major Beer]

new guy - bought a Lee

a friend and myself bought a Lee Anniversary Kit this year - i have been loading 9mm (he loads .38 special) for a few months - we love it.

never reloading before it, a Lee single stage helped me learn the steps and their importance. brings a different appreciation to shooting for me. so far everything we have put in the magazine has gone "BANG!".

depends on your ammo caliber(s) consumption - for me it became a logical move because i am a major plinker. hope you try it out and like it.

my 2 cents - shoot safe

 

[saands]

The Lee single stage presses are great, you won't hear many say that about their progressives, though. They seem to excel at simple. Their dies are great, the more moving parts, though, the more I would look elsewhere. For example, you will be a lot happier with a RCBS scale like the 505 or the 502. I have and use their "Perfect Powder Measure" that I refer to as the "not-so-perfect powder measure" If I load extruded powders, the measure is fine (maybe even close to perfect) but if I'm using flaked powders or, God forbid, tiny ball powders like AA#9, then the powder starts to gum up the mechanism and it becomes exercise just to dispense 8 grains of powder The good news is that there are extruded powders for almost everything (all the VihtaVuori powders I've tried are extruded and I really like them, so it isn't much of a limitation) and to be fair, IIRC the folks at Dillon told me that they don't guarantee THEIR measure to the +/- .1 grain level unless you are using a ball powder ... so they all seem to be optimized for something.

+1 for the hand primer (whatever they call it) just don't forget to buy the shell holder for that one as it is different than the shell holder for the press

Did I answer the question? In a word, "yes"

Saands

 

[halvey]

From the research I've done, it seems the Lee presses get a lot of recommendations for being good quality, affordable gear.

Yes affordable they are. Unless you factor in all the Advil and Tums you'll require messing with 'em.

 

[Automac]

Or unless you factor in the cost of replacing them if you want really good equipment, and you want to keep reloading, while getting better at it.

Just leave the option open of getting better equipment someday, and you may understand what I mean later.

There is no way anyone will start with really good equipment, I dont think.

Enjoy!

 

[bakert]

I've been using a 3 hole Lee turret press for a lot of years. Took the auto index off and use it as a single stage with extra turrets and die sets for .38sp, another for .357 and others for 9MM, .45 ACP, .44spec/.44 mag, and .45 Colt calibers. I like try dfferent combinations so only may load a dozen or so sometimes. Other times may load up to a couple of hundred rds. Not as fast as the progressives but it suits my needs. I also think the Lee turret press is one of the best for a beginner or otherwise but I don't like the auto index feature.

 

[1911user]

Start with Lee to make sure you have the interest, but never forget there are better quality, smoother, faster presses available but they cost more (sometimes a little more, sometimes alot; how fast can you afford to reload?).

If you are doing pistol ammo, get into a progressive (even a Lee 1000) press ASAP! Pistol shooters go through alot of ammo and progressive presses are good for making lots of ammo quickly. Don't be deluded and think that a Lee turrent is a huge upgrade over a single stage press, it isn't.

Lee is often recommended to the beginner because it is built to a low price point (cheap) and doesn't require as much investment up front to get into reloading. That is good and bad. Lee makes decent simpler items. Once you're serious about reloading pistol ammo, look into Dillon or Hornady for a progressive setup.

 

[Bandit01]

After reading some of the posts, here's my additional 2 cents. How many calibers are you going to reload and how often do you shoot? If you're an occassional shooter with 1 or 2 pistols, I say go with the Lee. But, if you shoot often and at a high rate with a lot of calibers go with a progressive machine like the Dillon 550. I started with the Dillon--at the time, I was reloading .357 and .45; however, I was shooting several hundred rounds each week (going to the range 3 times a week). It made sense time wise to go with a faster machine. And buddy, let me tell you, it's not brain surgery, you just need to pay attention to what you're doing. Now, I'm loading for for 2 additional calibers (4 in total) and I now go to the range 1 - 2 times a week. But, I shoot on average 400 - 500 rounds a session. In the beginning, I didn't think that it made sense to start with 1 machine, invest the money and then purchase another machine afterwards. Plus, you just can't beat the Dillon "No Hassle" policy. If anything goes wrong with the machine or if you break or loose any parts, they'll replace it, no questions asked. At first, they were sending me pieces every week. Now, I'm confident in my machine and my reloading skills. Now, I'm cranking out a few hundred for each hour that I'm reloading.

Again, everyone has an opinion but I say if you're confident that you're going to stick with this, go with a better machine, it's more cost efficent and time efficent in the long run.

 

[Primersinmyshoe]

I started reloading with a Lee Pro 1000. At first I kinda used it "single stage" style, one round at a time - until I got a good understanding of what was going on. Once I had it figured out, I could produce good ammo quickly. The Pro 1000 is not the perfect reloader, by any means. It needs constant attention to keep it running smoothly. Keeping the primers feeding was one of the challenges - constant knocking of the primer tray was required. Oh, let's not forget the spent primer disposal. [side note: it was the spent primers sprinkling from the press that gave me the inspiration for my username] Perhaps it is the perfect beginner progressive. Once you have mastered it, and then buy a Dillon 650, you'll feel like you've died and gone to reloading heaven. I have a real appreciation of the superior quality of the Dillon, but am glad I paid my dues with the Lee. Keeping the Pro 1000 running gives a reloader a real lesson in the art of reloading. At one time I had 5 Pro 1000's, all set up for different calibers, so I became intimately familiar with them. I am glad I started with the Lee.

Just my 2¢

 

[halvey]

There is no way anyone will start with really good equipment, I dont think.

Why not? I started with a 550.

Lee is often recommended to the beginner because it is built to a low price point (cheap) and doesn't require as much investment up front to get into reloading.

While true, you'd be better off with a 550. Dillon's resale around 90%. Don't believe me? Check out eBay. The last Lee O press I saw sell used went for maybe half.

 

[donkee]

I started with a challenger kit about a year and a half ago. The only things I have changed were the challenger press to a classic cast, the lee not so perfect powder measure for a lee auto disk powder measure (I still use the not so perfect for rifle loads). Other than that, I just keep adding lee dies to the collection. I turn out great consistant ammo that always goes boom and hits what I'm aiming at (as long as I'm doing my part). I had to send back one of my 9x18 dies to lee, a week later a new die was there, no questions asked. Broke the linkage on my challenger, less than a week later, NQA, I had replacements. I would say to go with the challenger press kit and an auto disk powder measure. Try it out, it you like loading, get the classic cast. lee stuff has been good to me and I will continue to buy it. But then, I shoot IDPA with a CZ75BD, so I must like cheap junk. The funny thing is, my cheap junk allows me to out shoot my buddies with dillion presses, sigs, XDs, etc. I do have a redding neck sizer in british .303, that is one fine die I must say, but would have bought a lee first if it was available.....

 

[Arch]

If you are just shooting handgun ammo, is the Classic Cast Press a big advantage over the Challenger press?

Just asking, because I have the Challenger press.

 

[donkee]

The only really bad thing I feel about the challenger is thay it might be a little too flimsy for anyone other than the occasional reloader. I resize .284 Winchester to 7.5 Swiss and and run hundreds of cases through it at a time (rifle and pistol) and figured it would be better to go with a heavier press for that kind of work. Seems like I felt some flexing when sizing. Might just be me getting paranoid in my old age. I do everything in batch mode. I'll be resizing 1000+ 9mm, 500+ .38 spl, 250+ 32-20 resized to 7.62x38R, 200- .38 S&W, and about 250+ each 8x57JS, .303 Brit, .308, 30-06, and 7.5 Swiss cases through it this week, then measure and prime. Those cheap a** Lee dies just keep eating them up. This routine I do about once a month. Then I can start loading them up on my single stage classic cast. The ADPM really makes the pistol cartridge charging fast and it is consistant. Charging the pistol cases was the most time consuming before (as it should be), now I measure every 10th charge and visually inspect the whole tray under a strong light before seating a bullet and it moves right along...

 

[Arch]

donkee,
You don't like the lee dies?

I thought they looked quite well made (I have the pistol carbide ones). Granted I have no basis for comparison though, as they are my only set.

 

[oldfart]

There have been several suggestions made... some of them are even sensible! Let's recap:
If you know you're going to continue reloading for an appreciable time and you're going to be loading a lot of rounds... go with Dillon.
On the other hand, if you're only loading for one caliber and then not too often and you're not really sure you want to get into reloading... Lee's the answer.
I started out with Lee and still use it, having upgraded to a turret press from the Challenger. Lee does everything I want it to. Someone else may want a progressive that will turn out hundreds of loads an hour; they need a Dillon.
There is one thing I would suggest though. If you've never done any reloading and you're not dead certain you're going to do it for many years, buy a used setup. Don't spend money you don't need to. If you can find a used Anniversary kit (I did) for half the price of a new one you can use the savings to buy dies, powder, primers, bullets, etc. You can even use the money to buy a Dillon...

 

[donkee]

It's a bit of sarcasm, I love those dang LEE dies. You get a great value on an item that works and lasts. I get all sorts of jeers when I go shooting my LEE loaded ammo with my sub standard CZ75BD Police and Bulgarian Makarov.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I almost thought I was going to have to get rough, Donkee. I've been loading with the same Lee dies that I bought 20 years ago and they still resize to the same tolerence as they did when new.
I use the Lee single stage press for resizing and the Lee three hole turret for all the rest of the operations. Other then having to retime the nylon ratchet every once in a while the Lee turret has giving me years of pleasure and excelent ammunition in rifle and handgun.