Richard Lee Has Passed
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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.
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.
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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 use and value LEE products and Salute the innovations that have come from his Company over the decades
Requiescat in Pace Richard
Ivan the Butcher
Member
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
RIP Mr. Lee
Ivan
Mr. Lee was probably the most influential person in the reloading world since Elmer Keith...
BLACKHAWKNJ
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My first reloads-38 WCs with a Lee Loader on the kitchen table.
Ingenious.....
That's a good word to describe the man.
That's a good word to describe the man.
HorizontalMike
US Veteran
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.
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.
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
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
p8riot
US Veteran
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
Long live Lee Precision
viney266
Member
I have quite a bit of reloading equipment, but it was Mr. Lee that got me started. Thank you, R.I.P.
jimbo728
Member
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
Rest in Peace Mr Lee.
Jim
GyMac
US Veteran
I have enjoyed reloading and shooting many thousands of rounds thanks to his tools. May he Rest In Peace..
daboone
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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........
