Richard Lee, forever 88 years old

Rest In Peace sir.


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Richard Lee brought inexpensive reloading to many of us over a half century ago. His handy "Lee Loader" reloading kits ($9.95, if memory serves me correctly) made the task simple and affordable.
I recall the occasional misstep which accidentally set off a primer and elicited an unfavorable response from my wife (who was more concerned with the potential damage to the kitchen table than to me).
Many years ago I attempted to make a purchase at a Syracuse gun show. When asked if the vendor had any Lee Loaders in a particular caliber, the gentleman looked at me and said with some arrogant disdain "We don't sell Lee Loaders."
I don't use those classic Lee Loaders any longer, but do notice that those in unusual calibers or gauges sell well in excess of $100 on ebay.
Thank you, Richard Lee, for inexpensively introducing me and hundreds of thousands of other people to the fun of reloading.

Learning that makes it a very sad day

I use and value LEE products and Salute the innovations that have come from his Company over the decades

Requiescat in Pace Richard

I started my Metallic and Shotgun reloading with Lee equipment. My wife may as well blame him as anyone else, for my extensive ammo habit!

RIP Mr. Lee

Ivan

Mr. Lee was probably the most influential person in the reloading world since Elmer Keith...

My first reloads-38 WCs with a Lee Loader on the kitchen table.

I started loading 12ga on a Lee handloader in 1966 or 67. Then 357 mag and 25-06 in about 1974.
I sold those loaders years ago, but remember them fondly.
RIP mr Lee and thank you.

That's a good word to describe the man.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Absolutely! The only caveat is that many newer/younger shooters don't have the avid admiration for Mr. Lee from their youth. Other than that, any one who data-mines this information will soon be a convert (IMO).

REST IN PEACE, and thank you very much Mr Lee for what you have contributed to this sport/hobby.

I did not know Mr. Lee but I regret his passing.

Maybe now Mr Lee and Mike Dillon are sitting in heaven and comparing notes. Many years ago there was an active rivalry going on between the two. Lee products got a lot of us into loading on the cheap back in the "old" days. I still use Lee dies and molds.

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S&W Accumulator

The day I got my first S&W revolver, a model 29 that I still have and will always have, I went out and got a Lee Loader, a Lee Auto Prime, and a Lee Powder Dipper kit. I also got some primers, some Hercules Unique and some local cast bullets.
I shot through some W-W 44 ammo (the only time I ever bought factory ammo) just so I could get the empty brass to reload.

What an intro to reloading!! The reloads shot great...better than the factory stuff. Nice light target load, still a fave!
I still have all those Lee tools. Even though I load faster on my Dillon set up, I like to dig up the Lee stuff for fun.

I think it's about time to do so again....
Jim

Sad day. My first loader was a Lee turret press. Still use it, primarily for 357/38.

Sad day indeed. I started reloading toward the end of 2014 with a LCT. I chose value over buy once cry once and was very happy with it. The reloading community would be much less had it not been for Mr. Lee.
Long live Lee Precision

I have quite a bit of reloading equipment, but it was Mr. Lee that got me started. Thank you, R.I.P.

Lee always had my respect. He made reloading possible for so many of us in one way or another.
Rest in Peace Mr Lee.
Jim

I have enjoyed reloading and shooting many thousands of rounds thanks to his tools. May he Rest In Peace..

Mike D also used Lee's ideas for their powder measures with Richards approval. Richard proudly mention this in his manuals.

Although I started with Herters press and dies and LOVED the Herters catalogs as a kid I am glad Richard Lee stepped in followed in that tradition to make reloading a poor man's pursuit. Both could exaggerate and focus excitement, a win for the entire reloading community.

A man of vision. Rest in peace........

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Quite a remembrance by his son John. Thanks for the link.

Got started in 1980 with a 38 Special Lee Loader Kit, still have them and use them on occasion. Probably 80% of all my reloading equipment is Lee, thank you so much, Richard Lee, for all the thousands of reloaded rounds I have shot through all my firearms!! Rest in Peace sir...

That's sad news. Right next to my Dillon equipment with case feeder, bullet feeder and all the other bells and whistles, sits my very old Lee classic, which I still use for one off load development stuff. Wouldn't be the same without it. I suspect just about every handloader has a similar story. Thank you mister Lee.

Attached Images

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Minimize the variables

RIP. IMO his finest and most lasting impact on the world of reloading is the Lee Auto Prime hand primer tool, a product that has never been surpassed and has no equal.

There are some indeniable facts that Mr Lee is responsible for getting a huge number of guys and gals started into reloading.Wether we stayed faithfull to the brand or not is a moot point here;he has started a lot if not most of us into a hobby that we all like;and for this we all owe him all our gratitude.His achievements let us enjoy our sport and hobby.
If the Great Spirit lets him have it as Mr Lee wishes,I bet he is now grinning at every round that is being loaded up from one of his brainchild.
Mr Lee,thank you for making my life bettered by a hobby you contributed so much to make accessible to a lot of newcomers.

I have used Lee des in my Dillon press, and Dillon dies in my Lee press. I never settle in on a load without seeing what my Lee manuals say. Don't always use the Lee data, but I always cross check data with Mr. Lee's manuals.

May you RIP Mr. Lee. Job well done.

I still have my first Lee Loader in 38 special dated 1968, price sticker on the original box was FED-MART $8.39. I bought it in 1989 for $5.00 at a pawn shop. It had been well used but I went on and loaded several thousands of rounds with it. Of course I moved on to a Lee press, but that Lee Loader allowed me to shoot cheap when money was scarce. I have been very bran loyal since purchasing that first Lee Loader. All the equipment from Lee worked and lasted.

I heard that early on, Mr Lee would travel around to gun stores. Walk in and bet that he could load cartridges right there on the counter. The owners would say no way, but of coarse he would prove them wrong!

Thank you Mr Lee. A great innovator!

Back in QUEBEC in the 60s, a poor country boy saved up to buy LEE reloading gear and he has shot and hunted every yeas since......thanks to a great man with a vision to get folks started reloading without the cost of a new house !!!!!!
I was in my motorhome this evening ,reloading 38spl hbwc for a fun shoot on Tuesday ....strangly,i was using my LEE hand primer and a LEE single stage press..... just like the ''good old days'' now in BRITISH COLUMBIA, Mr.LEE's equipment works just like it did so long ago.
like so many others have said THANK YOU SIR....for allowing so many to have been able to afford enjoying this great hobby.... bless you ......respectfully WASATCH CHARLIE
a.k.a. glenn