Elkins45
Member
I agree on the "O-ring" lock rings on Lee dies but if you use them with turrets to preset the dies for each caliber, they'll stay put when you swap out the turrets. If you are using them for single stage press, lock rings with set screws would do better.
+1 to this. All my handgun dies are mounted on turrets, so the Lee lock rings don't pose a problem for me. The dies don't move when I swap turrets, and I've had a couple of those turrets since 1989.
They also work reasonably well in single stage presses as long as you follow Lee's instructions and remove them by the ring and not the die body---but I still would put witness marks on both with a Sharpie if you really want to be sure. Or you can mod them to be lock rings.
I bought my first set of Lee dies in the late 80's before I owned a turret press and used them in a RCBS Reloader Special single stage press. This was the age before the internet so I didn't even know you could buy replacement packs of locking rings from other makers. Being the enterprising sort, I decided I would turn the Lee rings into locking rings. I drilled a hole through the side of each ring, tapped the hole and inserted an appropriately sized screw. 30 years later that same set of dies is still wearing those lock rings and they still haven't moved.
Other than a handful of other brands that were bought when the Lee version was out of stock, I think all my handgun dies are Lee. My general practice is to buy Lee dies for both rifle and handgun if they are in stock.