I've been shooting and reloading for 45 years. I have a bunch of Lyman All-American triple chromed dies that are the best dies I have ever used for bottleneck rifle cases. However, The LEE collet neck-sizer and the factory crimp dies I got for my new 243 makes me want one for EVERY caliber, especailly 30-30 and 303Brit, because it is easy to louse the crimp process up on them. The LEE collet neck-size die is high on my list for those two, because I think that will extend brass life enormously, as they totally end any lengthwise exertions on the cases.
I have an abundance of RCBS, Pacific, Herters, Lyman, Belding & Mull, MEC, and LEE stuff, and I will say LEE is no second place to any of them. Each one has its own idiosyncrasies, but that means each and every one. I've never used their "Perfect" powder measure, as I have an old Lyman #55 that is better than nearly everything I have tried. I have an RCBS set up just for 223, and it works just like it ought to - foolproof ( but not damn-fool proof).
Regarding the AutoDisk powder measure, I have one, and it performs flawlessly on the LEE Loadmaster, but in order for it to function properly, one needs to follow the directions and attach the pullback chain correctly. (try that, W.E.G.) "Priming" it with some powdered graphite is extremely important to smooth operation. Also, their micrometer adjustable slide for that Auto Disk is a great favorite of mine, as it allows me to dial in EXACTLY the powder charge I want for any pistol load ( pistol is all I load on the Loadmaster)..
Speaking of the Loadmaster, It taught me a lot about the reloading process that I had kind-of taken for granted in the preceeding decades. Sure, you have to be attentive, to a degree, with EVERY press and every load and every single catridge. Who wants to reload where you can afford to put your mind and common sense and intelligence and attention in a bag and tie it up and set all that aside while you just pull a handle without any thought for what you are going to put in your gun? If any progressive press were that good and foolproof, it would come with a trained monkey that would make your ammo for you while you popped another Bud and watched the TV. Or maybe just filled the hoppers and turned it on while you stepped out to the 7-11 for a loaf of bread and a jug of milk and came back to your Saturday's range ammo all done.
But I digress.
The LEE Loadall for shotgun shells is just absolutely the least expensive loader for shotshells there is, and it too is as foolproof as any loader can be. I have one in 12, and one in 20. They have cranked out thousands and thousands of shells in the 40 years my kids and I shot trap, skeet and squirrel with our own loads. The only advantage some other presses have over them is being able to empty the hoppers for a component change more easily.
My main single-stage press used to be a Pacific "Super C", but has been replaced by a big RCBS Rockchucker I got at a yard sale for $5.
I haven't tried the case-trimmer, as my Pacific, RCBS, and Forster do all I need, and I've got parts and collets galore.
The LEE scale works, period. But I now have an Ohaus 1000 grain, which serves me so well that I retired the old oil-damped Pacific.
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Am I a LEE fanboy? Well, maybe yes and maybe no, but I will say that their of products that I, personally, have used represent great value for the money, there is very little waiting time for any kind of order/service, and they produce consistent quality ammunition when the user is doing his part.
They are not products to be "bashed" because of their price, for they do the job as well or better than stuff costing 2x or 3x. Often with far less hassle, always at less cost.
Flash
