Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Or why don't we just post up Brent Favre type pics...
In 11 years of surfing the internet... well, never mind... sheesh.
But yeah... I would guess Lexus!
Lee tools--the best and the not so hot
- Thread starter Hovnnes
- Start date
Or why don't we just post up Brent Favre type pics...
In 11 years of surfing the internet... well, never mind... sheesh.
But yeah... I would guess Lexus!
My Dillon 550 is used exclusively with Lee Carbide dies. Reason? They're cheaper and they do the job. Some calibers I've loaded 10's of thousands of rounds with and the dies are still in great shape. In fact, I've had no issues with the dies at all. I also use Lee 6 cavity bullet molds and a pair of Lee 10# bottom pour pots for casting. I don't like the alox flavored kool-aid, so I use a Lyman lubrisizer. I've had some of the Lee 2-cavity molds, and they are pretty flimsey, though they do work. The 6-bangers are much sturdier and still not real expensive. There are better melting furnaces, but they cost several times what the Lee equipment costs. One of the little 10# pots I have used since the early 70's. You do get what you pay for; if you're lucky. Sometimes the more expensive equipment just isn't enough better to justify the increased cost. Sometimes it is.
azasadny
US Veteran
I use 3 Lyman Spar-T turret presses, Lee dies, RCBS hand primer, Hollywood Gun Co, powder measurer, Lyman digital scale and calipers, Lyman Turbo Tumbler and I've made over 35k of pistol and rifle rounds over the past 3 years. Everything works well and was reasonably priced!
The seating plug on Lee dies come with generic round nose profile and they usually have a lot of machine marks. Try smoothing off the marks first and if that doesn't work try calling Lee to see if they will either make one cut specifically for the bullet shape or at least make one flat.
For those that use their powder through expander die without using the powder through feature, you can block the expander plug so it doesn't move up and down. This is the part that makes their dies beat a progressive to death and makes my arthritic hands hurt even by itself on a single stage. It might also give you some erratic powder charges on a progressive.
I don't have a problem with their carbide dies, as long as I polish my brass first, and if I do upgrade to a more expensive brand I will buy regular steel dies if I can and use the Lee carbide sizer with them, that is a big price difference.
dickttx
Member
I started accumulating equipment and supplies for reloading on the Lee Classic Turret a couple of months ago. Started single stage, hand primed, old Ohaus powder measure. Was getting inconsistant powder charges so I bought the Lee Auto Disk Pro. Finally decided to try the auto index feature, so I bought the primer feed. Had read lots of bad about both of these, but decided to try them anyway. For the powder measure I have to use a cavity size about three or four sizes larger than recommended. When I want to start fine tuning my loads will probably get a few more of the adjustable ones.
The primer feed is the junkiest looking piece of equipment I ever saw. Almost returned it but decided to try it. I was careful lining it up as had been recommended. So far I have loaded 450 rounds of large pistol. NOT ONE SINGLE MISSTEP. Easily the best primer feeder I have ever used.
I am using the auto index now and everything is working very well. Have loaded 45acp and 45 colt so far. Going to do 357 next. I Lyman TC die set for 357 and the Lee powder thru die.
The primer feed is the junkiest looking piece of equipment I ever saw. Almost returned it but decided to try it. I was careful lining it up as had been recommended. So far I have loaded 450 rounds of large pistol. NOT ONE SINGLE MISSTEP. Easily the best primer feeder I have ever used.
I am using the auto index now and everything is working very well. Have loaded 45acp and 45 colt so far. Going to do 357 next. I Lyman TC die set for 357 and the Lee powder thru die.
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
IIRC Lee will make a custom die if you send them a boolit. Dirt cheap, too. Like $9 or something.
Been considering getting one for Nosler SJHP. The plug on my .357 die kind of rounds the nose & closes the HP a bit.
Joe in SC
US Veteran
I use the Lee auto prime. That's the only piece of Lee stuff that I use. I use it for priming bottle neck rifle cartridges and the handgun ammo that I rarely load in small quantities.
I think the rest of their stuff is fine for beginners who don't know if they will be into reloading for the long haul. Lee equipment is adaquate for the reloader who hunts a little in the fall or certainly for the shooter who can't afford higher quality equipment.
I chuckle when I see the Lee ads that proclaim such and such 1000 yard benchrest record was set by ammo loaded on their equipment. Or the ads that brag up the same thing about their progressive presses. All you have to do is attend a few regional or world class matches to see what a long shot this would be.Try finding Lee eqipment at precision accuracy matches and you might be looking for a long time.
Lee stuff is just OK. If you are reloading lots of ammo (a couple thousand rounds or more a year) and you are using Lee equipment you owe it to yourself to at least try some other brand. You don't realize what you are missing. If you can't afford anything else, that's different.
I think the rest of their stuff is fine for beginners who don't know if they will be into reloading for the long haul. Lee equipment is adaquate for the reloader who hunts a little in the fall or certainly for the shooter who can't afford higher quality equipment.
I chuckle when I see the Lee ads that proclaim such and such 1000 yard benchrest record was set by ammo loaded on their equipment. Or the ads that brag up the same thing about their progressive presses. All you have to do is attend a few regional or world class matches to see what a long shot this would be.Try finding Lee eqipment at precision accuracy matches and you might be looking for a long time.
Lee stuff is just OK. If you are reloading lots of ammo (a couple thousand rounds or more a year) and you are using Lee equipment you owe it to yourself to at least try some other brand. You don't realize what you are missing. If you can't afford anything else, that's different.
DGNY
Member
Lee tools
Dies fine, especially appropriate for me in calibers never used much, giving a worthy cost/benefit ratio. But the pull-type case trimmer must have been made when someone was in a hurry...
Regards,
Dyson
Dies fine, especially appropriate for me in calibers never used much, giving a worthy cost/benefit ratio. But the pull-type case trimmer must have been made when someone was in a hurry...
Regards,
Dyson
beach elvis
Member
Due to the cost, the only way I could ever be able to own a Dillon would be if one fell out of the sky.
Well, thanks to Belfastman here on the forums, an RL550B did just that! What a Christmas present and what a friend!
After finally getting up the nerve (and the DVD) to put 'er together, I was blown away by the fact that everything that CAN be excellent about a press is all there in the Dillon. And to my mind, incredibly fast. Here's the perspective from which I originate:
The first reloading gear I ever had was bought used from a gunsmith buddy. Included were a set of Lee powder dippers and a Lee Auto-Prime, along with a Pacific single-stage press.
Long story short, the only place where there was room to bolt a press onto a table was about 40 miles away so I didn't get as much reloading in as I wanted. Then I heard about the Lee Hand Press. Everything changed.
I've easily loaded 10,000-plus rounds in different calibers on that Hand Press without nearly a bobble.
In fact, that setup has been kept in an Israeli assault bag and it's my mobile reloading station. I can (and have done so) make loads at the bench and immediately test them.
Point is, they all have their uses and I love 'em all.
Well, thanks to Belfastman here on the forums, an RL550B did just that! What a Christmas present and what a friend!
After finally getting up the nerve (and the DVD) to put 'er together, I was blown away by the fact that everything that CAN be excellent about a press is all there in the Dillon. And to my mind, incredibly fast. Here's the perspective from which I originate:
The first reloading gear I ever had was bought used from a gunsmith buddy. Included were a set of Lee powder dippers and a Lee Auto-Prime, along with a Pacific single-stage press.
Long story short, the only place where there was room to bolt a press onto a table was about 40 miles away so I didn't get as much reloading in as I wanted. Then I heard about the Lee Hand Press. Everything changed.
I've easily loaded 10,000-plus rounds in different calibers on that Hand Press without nearly a bobble.
In fact, that setup has been kept in an Israeli assault bag and it's my mobile reloading station. I can (and have done so) make loads at the bench and immediately test them.
Point is, they all have their uses and I love 'em all.
Sebago Son
Member
Lee Tools.
The only thing that Lee makes that I would buy again would be their Auto Prime.
Especially now that they have replaced the Zinc internal cam with one made of steel.
I've outgrown everything else of theirs I once owned and have replaced it with RCBS wherever possible.
Drew
The only thing that Lee makes that I would buy again would be their Auto Prime.
Especially now that they have replaced the Zinc internal cam with one made of steel.
I've outgrown everything else of theirs I once owned and have replaced it with RCBS wherever possible.
Drew
m1gunner
US Veteran
I like the Lee dies, don't like their lock rings, though.
The hand held case trimmers are great and inexpensive.
I Don't use their powder measures or scales.
Got a turret and a single stage Lee press, gave the turret to my brother, I prefer the single stage.
I like the Auto-prime II, works fine.
The hand held case trimmers are great and inexpensive.
I Don't use their powder measures or scales.
Got a turret and a single stage Lee press, gave the turret to my brother, I prefer the single stage.
I like the Auto-prime II, works fine.
m1gunner, have you ever crushed any primers with your Auto Prime II? Mine wouldn't feed primers when they got low because of the lack of weight pushing down on them. If I was using it on a hand press it was easy to just shake it a little bit to get them to feed, but if used on a bench mounted press I had to use a high tech paper clip inserted in the drop tube to push them along.
For anyone interested, Lee has updated their site.
For anyone interested, Lee has updated their site.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Jelly,
Thanks for the info! The site looks lots cooler now!
As for the on press priming tool, I have the one that came with my Lee Classic Cast Turret press and it works OK. There are times, depends on the primer I use, that a little "tap" seems to be needed to get the last few out. I don't see that as a problem, some might. The reason is, if I am doing things on the Lee press, I am going slower anyway. Either building a few rifle rounds for accuracy or load development.
I think the Lee 4 hole turret is a great tool for doing this kind of work. Faster than a single stage, more "controllable" during production. Just me though. YMMV
All in all, for the beginner, Lee stuff will work, period. If they are unsure if this is a hobby that they want to continue, purchasing Lee is the way to go. You will be able to get almost what you paid for it when/if you want to sell it later on.
Same can be said of Dillon though. Much more outlay up front. Most starters are reluctant to spend a bunch on something they don't know they will like. Now, for me, I was hooked at first round produced and have been steadily accumulating equipment.
Thanks for the info! The site looks lots cooler now!
As for the on press priming tool, I have the one that came with my Lee Classic Cast Turret press and it works OK. There are times, depends on the primer I use, that a little "tap" seems to be needed to get the last few out. I don't see that as a problem, some might. The reason is, if I am doing things on the Lee press, I am going slower anyway. Either building a few rifle rounds for accuracy or load development.
I think the Lee 4 hole turret is a great tool for doing this kind of work. Faster than a single stage, more "controllable" during production. Just me though. YMMV
All in all, for the beginner, Lee stuff will work, period. If they are unsure if this is a hobby that they want to continue, purchasing Lee is the way to go. You will be able to get almost what you paid for it when/if you want to sell it later on.
Same can be said of Dillon though. Much more outlay up front. Most starters are reluctant to spend a bunch on something they don't know they will like. Now, for me, I was hooked at first round produced and have been steadily accumulating equipment.
Hi Skip, I learned with the AP II that when I was near the end of my load block to start wacthing the primer tube, but that wasn't the only time it happened. I think they changed the primer trays later but mine would jam up and have to be shaken every once in awhile, (which would sometimes throw primers all over the place), to get the primers to drop in the tube. If you weren't watching this you would end up with a smashed primer even if the primer tray was full.
The old Pro 1000 I had used the same type of primer set-up and, along with the disk powder measure that wouldn't always drop it's powder, it sure took the "progress" out of "progressive".
Talk about accumulating equipment, I was looking last night and found I have five sets of .223 dies, and three sets of .221 Fireball dies. It's too bad that store closed down, they'd sell used RCBS dies and presses for less than new Lee products. Not to mention the box full of used HKS speedloaders I have stuffed in my closet.
The old Pro 1000 I had used the same type of primer set-up and, along with the disk powder measure that wouldn't always drop it's powder, it sure took the "progress" out of "progressive".
Talk about accumulating equipment, I was looking last night and found I have five sets of .223 dies, and three sets of .221 Fireball dies. It's too bad that store closed down, they'd sell used RCBS dies and presses for less than new Lee products. Not to mention the box full of used HKS speedloaders I have stuffed in my closet.
Jc85
Member
To jump back into this thread before it becomes +10 pages =)
The lee safety scale leaves something to be desired for handling use. I feel the grain window is semi hard to read and its impossible to operate one handed. You have to hold the bar with one hand and slide the grain window with the next. Of course you could unlock it but then accuracy goes out the window for zeroing it.
You can however, purchase the dippers and load by volume, then throw it on the scale for good measure. No bad comments about those, but I've only used them at a friends house and do not own a set of my own.
The Lee safety scale Works and for the price of $20 its a steal.
The lee safety scale leaves something to be desired for handling use. I feel the grain window is semi hard to read and its impossible to operate one handed. You have to hold the bar with one hand and slide the grain window with the next. Of course you could unlock it but then accuracy goes out the window for zeroing it.
You can however, purchase the dippers and load by volume, then throw it on the scale for good measure. No bad comments about those, but I've only used them at a friends house and do not own a set of my own.
The Lee safety scale Works and for the price of $20 its a steal.
m1gunner
US Veteran
Oh yes, I have crushed one on occasion. I keep a allen wrench next to the press as my "paper clip", and keep an eye on the feed slot.
I am not going for speed, and this works faster than the single load toggle bar that came with one of the presses (probably the turret, don't remember).
I got most my reloading stuff in the mid 80's, and all in all am very happy with the Lee tools I have.
I do like my Lyman powder measure, though.
Do you find it consistently accurate? Ran across an old orange one and was curious before I bought.
