Lee equipment

[Slasher]

Thanks everyone for the welcomes and encouraging words. I plan on loading .40S&W initially and probably .223 but as I collect other guns I am sure I will start loading for them as well. I would like to get a nice progressive one day but want to learn what I am doing first plus I will only be loading to shoot IPSC/USPSA matches a couple of times a year so I don't need to pump out that much ammo at one time, although it would be nice.

It was nice to come to a forum and ask a reloading question and not get bombarded with the typical "Dillon is best answer", although I do appreciate any answers or help. Thanks again to everyone, I have learned a ton lurking around here for the past couple of months.

 

[aerod1]

I have a small Lee single stage "Reloader" press, the Lee Classic Cast and the Lee Classic Turret. I also have the pro auto disk powder measure on my turret. I also have the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I use nothing but Lee dies. All work great.
I think you are making a good choice.

 

[RustyFN]

The Lee classic turret is hard to beat. I have been loading on one four years now. I shoot some competition ( not hard core like some ) and it meets my neesd fine. I load 9mm, 38 spcl, 357 mag, 45 auto and 223 on mine. Don't worry about the two year warranty. That is what they say but they will stand behind the press longer than that according to a lot of threads I have been reading. The only real piece to break or wear out is the nylon ratchet piece. They cost 50 cents. In four years and thousands of rounds loaded I haven't broken or wore anything out yet. I might step up to a progressive some day when my shooting habbit requires it but I will never get rid of my classic turret.

 

[paradox998]

I have two Lee Breechlock challenger setups. With the quick change bushings, I see little need for a turret loader. A single stage loader is a bit safer for a novice. I just do batches of one step at a time. Overall the press is pretty good and the power dispenser works fine. I am not pleased with the hand primer. It is not designed to be easy on your hand and I have had lots of trouble with lake city brass (223) and the shell holders from Lee. The scale looks almost like a toy, but works well and is easy to set. I would go with single stage breechlock to start with.

 

[Walkalong]

The Lee turret press is a great design. (Except for the measure going round and round, which drove me nuts)

 

[Lee Roder]

I have a few Lee Loaders, Lee's hand press (which I really like), one set of dies, and Lee's little case trimmers in 38SPL.

These trimmers really are an excellent idea in terms of simplicity but, unfortunately, followthrough in manufacturing was lacking.

Lee's package claims the tips on these things are hardened, but they in fact are not and will "wear", sometimes quite rapidly and with no warning other than the odd fact that previously trimmed cases seemed to still shed material on repeated retrimming. While Lee customer service replaced the trimmer for me free of charge, I still have a bag of "new" Winchester brass which I "trimmed" too short for me to use.

With this one exception, in my experience, Lee's stuff does what it advertises.

 

[twigs]

I've had the Lee Classic Turret and the Pro Auto Disk for about 3 years and really like it. Mine also came from Kempfs. I primarily load 45 ACP but also do 38 Spl. I ran off some 38 Spl last week and it only took a few minutes to swap out the 45 turret, shellplate and primer setup for the 38. Since the 38 turret was already set up, I ran a few checks and was up and running right away.

It is helpful to have a riser for each turret setup if you are using the same powder measure. You also may want to order some extra square plastic inserts. I wore out a few before I caught onto the right technique,

I'll be adding a progressive later this year but only because my sons have started shooting 45ACP, too. The turret will stay in business to work up loads, do smaller runs, and do the 38s.

 

[Robert Wilson]

"We all have our opinions. Vague "poor luck" and "lacked quality" comments say nothing useful. It's common comment virtually always lacking any specifics to support the claim. ?? Lee's tools lack the pretty finishes and knurling found on the externals of other brands, and the cost reflects that frivilous lack, but ammo is made inside and Lee's insides and functions are as good, on average, as anyones. Moderate exceptions occur with any brand's tools, that's why they all have a customer service call line. ?? "

My specific problems included a chain on a progressive press which broke regularly, a single stage with the ram misaligned with the die opening, and a sizing die with an apparently unfinished interior. Additionally I have found their instructions to be poorly written to the point of occasional incomprehensibility and surly, ill-informed customer service representatives.

I realize that my experiences are not universal, but I also understand that they are not unique. An examination of the "product review" sections of major online outlets may be illuminating for interested parties.

 

[DIM]

I started out with Lee single stage press 5 years ago, hmm I still using it to load all my ammo, but I'm thinking my next press will be arbor type with Wilson dies, however after experimenting with Lee dies I found Forster product very compelling...

 

[flashhole]

The Classic Turret is a great press. If money were not much of a concern I would encourage you to get both the Classic Turret and the Classic Cast Single Stage. That way you have all the bases covered. I outfitted mine with an interchangable funnel for powder charging and use the Lee Dipper Cups. I can easily load well over 100 rounds an hour with this set up.