Noob needs advice.

[Kiowawarhawk]

I am new to the forum and have decided to try my hand at reloading. I have been searching online, and found that I can purchase a Lee Load Master for around $215 for the press, and another $27 for the bullet feed kit. They also have the Lee Pro-100 for $150. I can't afford a Dillon at the moment, so I was wondering if anyone had honest feedback about the Lee presses.

[SMSgt]

I haven't used either, so can't help you there. I use a Lee hand press for all my case prep (while watching TV) and have no complaints with it. Lee is good stuff, not top of the line by any means, but works well for the price. You'll find that many have stuck with it for years. Unless you're planning on pumping out thousands of rounds a year, Lee should do you fine.

[one eye joe]

Lee presses have been around forever. They make decent entry level reloading equipment for the hobbyist. You should be well served until you can step up. Your other option would be to buy a higher grade reloading press in good used condition.

[Alk8944]

Just starting to reload! Start with a single-stage press and learn the basics first before even thinking about any progressive press. The Lee Hand Press or RCBS Partner are a good place to start. Lyman used to make a press like the Lee Hand Press too, but not now. Even if you go on to a progressive these will always be useful to you.

[Moonman]

Start with a single stage and go slow to learn, but first try reading some reloading books. 1) ABC'S of Reloading 2) Spear's reloading manual #14 will get you off to a start. ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION AND DON'T GET DISTRACTED.
Good loading, it's a great hobby.

[Kiowawarhawk]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into the single stage presses, and head to the book store after work tomorrow.

[bananaman]

kiowa, I started loadind in 2009 with a Lee Classic Turret Press. I bought it in a package deal. I load 9mm, 40 S&W, and recently .38 Special. I have had no problems with anything of the press or Deluxe 4 Die Sets. You just need to concentrate, and be carefull when reloading. Bob

[venomballistics]

I like SOME of the LEE equipment ... their progressive presses are not in that list. If you cant swing a Dillon, go single stage like a challenger. In fact, being a noob to the reloading discipline, its probably for the best that you start with a single stage since they keep the progressive mechanics out of the learning curve

[kenjen]

go for the lee turret press. it's better than a single stage that you have to change dies,get a turret for very set of dies,set it in and go.

[OKFC05]

The first question I always ask is what calibers you want to load, and how many per year? I've mentored a group of beginning loaders.

Since you didn't say, let's suppose you want to load a pistol caliber or two, and one rifle caliber.
I have a Lee turret that is decades old, and still useful in spite of the Blue Presses I use for volume loading. The classic Lee turret would be ideal, and is about the best press Lee ever made. You can either load as a single stage, or as a rotating turret, and it uses standard dies. Changing calibers is a snap with the extra turret plates.

Now come up real close so I can whisper in your ear........the Lee load master is about the trickiest and pickiest loader they ever made and it's not for beginners.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by Kiowawarhawk

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into the single stage presses, and head to the book store after work tomorrow.

Skip the Lee single stage (nothing wrong with it) and get the Lee Classic Turret Press as mentioned you can use it as a single stage and then as a turret to speed things up. The classic is cast iron so it is heavier than the other turret press.

I started with the Lee single stage breach lock challenger press (still have it) but quickly went with the turret press. Mainly due to I load a lot of calibers, not that I need mass quantities of ammo, just change dies a lot.

This one here:

Real Guns

[chief38]

I would start out with a press that will keep up with your progression and not just a basic one. You can get into a Dillon press for a little more than the Lee, but IMHO it is way better than the Lee. Lee has been around for a long time and they do work OK, but the Dillon IMHO is just a far superior machine that you will not outgrow. Dillon's customer service is just unbeatable!

No matter which press you buy, the other stuff is going to cost as much if not more than the press. Stuff like a good scale, dies, tools, cartridge cases, tumbler, media, bullet puller, etc........

If you start out with a low end machine you just might get frustrated in the very beginning and get turned off. The other thing is if you buy a quality machine the first time around, you won't have to replace it in a few months because it does not fit your needs. Not trying to spend your money, but you will never go wrong with a Dillon. I started off with a RCBS Rock Chucker and while it is a quality single stage press, it is slower than molasses! It was not too long before I bought my Dillon. Now the RCBS is basically a paper weight - although once a year I will load a few (less than a box) of specialty loads on it.

Chief38

[Neumann]

As with most things, you shouldn't spend more money then necessary, but no less either. A solid, single stage O-press like an RCBS Rockchucker, will handle anything up to .50 BMG. Carbide resizing dies are well worth the premium - they don't require case lube, and aren't damaged by dirty cases.

Once you get your feet wet, then consider getting a progressive press. The Dillon 550 is one of the best. For best use, standardize on single caliber, bullet and load for volume reloading. You will still find the single stage press handy for experimentation and calibers you don't shoot as much.

A turret press may save a little time, but cost 3/4 as much as a Dillon. Even the best turret has enough give to spoil cartridges. Once you set the locking collar on a die, the only adjustment you need to make is the bullet seating depth, which can be done by feel. Finger tight on the press is usually good enough, but a little nudge with a wrench won't disturb the setting.

I put a 0.1" washer under the crimping/seating die when seating the bullet, then remove the washer and back off the seating screw to crimp the shells in a separate operation.

[Titegroups]

Search youtube for lee classic turret press. Save me some typing.

[Kiowawarhawk]

Thanks for all the info guys. To answer the main questions, I only plan on loading .40S&W, and I was hoping to load around 1000 rounds a month. Not all for me, my dad shoots a .40 as well, and I told him I would give him some rounds.

[papajohn428]

I would avoid the Lee Load Master like the plaque. I have been reloading for thirty years, but I bought one in 45 ACP, and fought with that thing for 2 months before I finally sent it back.

The Pro 1000 is full of compromises. I'd get a Classic Turret, neuter it to single-stage (VERY easy to do) and proceed from there. I'm still loading on a 3-hole turret I bought when I started reloading, if I were to upgrade I'd get the Classic Turret and never look back. I have two dozen turrets, each with dies installed and ready to go. All my pistol dies have designated powder measures on them, and batch loading with prepped brass lets me load about 300 rounds an hour.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by Kiowawarhawk

Thanks for all the info guys. To answer the main questions, I only plan on loading .40S&W, and I was hoping to load around 1000 rounds a month. Not all for me, my dad shoots a .40 as well, and I told him I would give him some rounds.

To give you an idea, the Lee turret will give you 100 rounds per hour. That's going slow and methodical. Maybe a little more if you push it but it's not worth the effort. So for 1000 rds/mth you may be better with a progressive

I could load almost that amount using the "batch" method on a single stage but you have to handle the same piece of brass 3 or 4 times. I use the Lee factory crimp die on everything so that adds the 4th pull of the handle.

[Sam_Snake]

All good points by the other posters. Been reloading since '63, when I started at Camp Pendleton (on loan to the USMC from the USN). Still have the original CH single stage I learned on and still use it, along with two Dillon SqDeal B's I use for loading Cowboy Loads.

Personally, I agree with those who suggest starting with a single stage press. To be safe you need to never allow distractions while reloading. And learning on a single stage is a good way to get the basics nailed down. Then move up to a progressive reloader.

Look forward to enjoying many years of reloading and shooting fun.

~Snake

[arjay]

I'm still using my old single stage RCBS press that I bought in the early 80s.Does the job,just takes longer.Good hobby for winter evenings.

[Skip Sackett]

A Lee progressive is a tinkering nightmare. If you want to spend a bunch of time fiddling with the machine rather than loading, go for it.

There was a thread here on the forum about the worst press you ever bought, my comment was that I never bought a bad press, I left them on the shelf, the Lee was the one I was referring to.

A friend had a Lee progressive. Had primers blow up, had tons of problems with the powder measure and priming features and had he not been a tool & die maker, he would have had to buy a ton of extra parts. Instead, he made them better than original on his equipment at work.

So, yeah, if you want to, or if you are a tool & die maker, go for the Lee progressive!

If you want to load a ammo "trouble free", in the quantities you are stating, the Lee Classic Cast Turret press will do that.

If you aren't planning on loading anything but handgun ammo, or want a dedicated press that will deliver those 1000 rounds a month in about 2 hours, get a Dillon Square Deal B press. You can use it single stage too and it is a real progressive with auto case advance.

Lots of other things to consider about getting a true progressive, at least in my opinion. If you have one iota of mechanical aptitude, you can handle it just fine. If you have problems with "righty tighty, lefty loosey" then forget it, get a single stage.

Many folks get the RL550 from Dillon, not sure I would have one in the house, honestly. I don't want an almost progressive press that by my nonattendance could produce a double charge in a heartbeat. Um, thanks but, um, no thanks.

It is the workhorse of the Dillon line, that is a true statement, just not in my house or for everyone. That is the whole reason that there is more than one press that sells! Not everyone is the same! I know that I will take shots for saying so, but, hey, if you don't realize that some folks are different than others, you are going to miss a lot of stuff in life!

Just sayin'

Buy the books, read them voraciously before you ever make one round. Be safe, start slow, follow known procedures before you attempt any "shortcuts" (which in reloading can be SUPER dangerous) that you think of on your own.

At any rate, the most important part of the equation about reloading is START AND START NOW! You will never regret it.

[Skip Sackett]

Sam, welcome to the forum!