The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Reloading Me and Lee seperateGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Ah yes, I was trying a .223 also. What no one has clubbed me with yet is that we know a little difference with our reloads can make a big difference to the result. IF Lee's F/crimp worked on a particular load, good, but perhaps a minor adjustment in powder would do the same. As for neck tension being good, well I certainly needed it after the weak tension from the collet. And yes, I read where Lee would give me a smaller "pin".
Apart from trimming too much for my liking, I thought it was a dicky little gadget, and easy to connect to a drill. I measured another one my mate had and it was spot on at 1.750 (if you like trimming the hell out of them. But it's so quick with a drill it doesn't matter much. Say, I'll bet I could do a post on all the good things Lee makes, even if cheap. Did I mention I like the "bolt cutter" style hand press?  | |||
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I find the idea of 'upgrading' from Lee to RCBS to be ludicrous. I've found Lee to be consistently superior to RCBS in almost every way. I use a RockChucker press and one of the old RCBS hand primer seaters, otherwise no RCBS for me. Redding, Lyman, Forster, Bonanza, etc are much better than RCBS in my experience and I've been reloading since 1960. Regards, Joe __________________________ You can lead a human to logic but you can't make him think. NRA Life since 1976. God bless America! | |||
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What Lee does, they do very well. They serve their portion of the market with inexpensive, often ingenious tools for the entry level, the ocassional, and the cost consious reloader. And sometimes, to the chagrin of the high dollar providers, they do an excellent job of it. Anyone with half a wit, would understand that in order to stay in business, Lee is shaving points somewhere. In fit and finish, in overall appearance perhaps, but in basic performance, they get the job done. The fact remains, if a Lee die costs $25.00 and brand XXX cost $100.00, is brand XXX four times better than the Lee? Or even twice? Or does it merely give you a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that you paid $100.00 for a die? In all probability, it ain't gonna make ammo that's any better. And if you're a reloader that cobbles together two boxes of 30-06 ammo a year for you and your BIL, that'd be a pretty expensive die. Aim for the exit hole | |||
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I love my Lee Classic Turret Press, and Lee Factory Crimp Dies. I buy my regular dies from Redding and RCBS. Chuck Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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Or ME!!!
The most accurate loads I have ever loaded were for the .458 W M with a Lee Classic Turret press, using Lee Dies, with a Lee Factory Crimp, and in cases trimmed with Lee trimmer. Shot several 1-hole 3-shot groups at a 100 yds. And I mean true 1-hole groups! I can't tell much difference in accuracy form loads rolled with different dies...worse or better. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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JAL --
And that's exactly what I and others here have offered, an exchange of opinions. So take it ... or not. Seems some of us can use and reload well with most anything reasonable, others have more difficulty. Always wondered why that is. ?? But my opinion remains, I doubt the world is sitting on the edge of its collective seats waiting for me to tell what I like or don't like and won't use again. Actually, I'm amused by all this. It's very cold out so this is the first I've taken time to skim back over some old threads. Forgive my delayed return!  (Where is "Global Warming" when we NEED IT? !!) | |||
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Specifically regarding the LEE Classic Cast Press for 50 BMG based cases, does it make sense to spend so much more for the RCBS AmmoMaster or the Redding UltraMag or the Corbin? Thank you. Jack OH GOD! {Seriously, we need the help.} | |||
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You make a good point, Lee does serve the bottom end of the reloading tools market reasonably well. But I think that the 4x price difference is a bit much. I looked on Midway to compare basic die sets between the different companies: Lee 3 die deluxe $28.99 Lee 2 die RGB $14.49 RCBS 2 die $25.99 Lyman 2 die $28.99 Hornady 2 die $29.99 Redding 2 die $32.99 There really isn't a big difference between them unless you go with the stripped down Lee 2 die set. RCBS used to make a discount line that was cheaper than the normal ones listed here but I didn't see them listed. I can see a use for the cheapie $15 set in calibers that I didn't plan to load much and just wanted to try out. In a caliber that I plan to shoot for a while spending an extra $10-$15 for better dies is the way I'd go. The last time I tried the Lee dies, I went the cheapie rout and the lee dies were Incapable of loading a properly dimensioned round in the caliber I bought without ordering an extra part for more money. Lee's standard set is the $28.99 deluxe set which is actually about the same or more expensive than the nicer die sets. So I'll not say that there isn't a place for Lee tools in my shop but they are definately at the bottom of my list. BigFiveJack, I've loaded 50BMG on a RCBS Ammomaster and it worked quite well. I haven't tried 50 BMG on my UltraMag and tend to think that the wider opening on the AmmoMaster would make it prefered for 50BMG. For smaller stuff the quality and smoothness of the UltraMag makes it preferable, I've loaded up to 505 Gibbs on an Ultramag. Don't know about the Corbin, some of their stuff looks great but is quite expensive ($995 for a press!). The Lee is well, still Lee. I've read a lot of guys liking the Lee Classic Cast press so based on those reports I'd think it's a pretty good tool. In the end do you want to buy the Highest end tool from a company that specializes in low end equipment (Lee). Or do you want to buy a High-end press (UltraMag) from a company that specializes in High-End equipment (Redding). I have an UltraMag bolted to my bench along with a couple Co-Ax's and a Redding T-7 for the smaller stuff............................DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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I've tried to stay out of Lee threads because there's no winners.....some swear by them and some swear at them..... For me it merely boils down to this.....buy what you want...if you're not satisfied with it consult the manufacturer.....not the internet. I have posted both pro and con on Lee but believe it was an error to do so. These days I like to read only "pro" stories. If you like something then tell us about it....if you don't like something merely tell the manufacturer.....after all we're not talking about major league dollars here..... I'm a fan of RCBS but have a few sets of Lee dies and have no complaints with the ones I have. I have redding and Lyman and Hornady products as well....darn satisfied with all of them.....however I do want dies with a threaded spindle because I prefer that style. Here's the good news.....they are all still made in the USA.....let me find some wood to knock on now! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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DJ: "There really isn't a big difference between them unless you go with the stripped down Lee 2 die set." Actually, Lee's basic two die RGB set is exactly what other brands give, a FL sizer and seater. ?? "I can see a use for the cheapie $15 set in calibers that I didn't plan to load much and just wanted to try out. In a caliber that I plan to shoot for a while spending an extra $10-$15 for better dies is the way I'd go." Okay, Lee aren't my favortite dies but in what way are others "better?" All I can see are extrnal differences of polish and knurling. "The last time I tried the Lee dies, I went the cheapie (RGB?)rout and the lee dies were Incapable of loading a properly dimensioned round in the caliber" I've NEVER had such a problem with any die set by any maker, including Lee. Wonder, in which dimension did they not work correctly? "Lee's standard set is the $28.99 deluxe set which is actually about the same or more expensive than the nicer die sets." That's really not true; Lee's RGB is their "standard set." The extra cost Delux set includes a neck sizer die as well as a proper shell holder. I know of no other die maker that includes a neck sizer OR shell holder in a "nicer" set, nor any other set they may sell. I have no objection to anyone not liking anything but it would be nice if there were some actual valid reasons given for it, or even saying it's a matter of taste. But flat statements about the effectiveness of anything should have absolute reasons to support them. I have NEVER seen any such from those who speak against Lee. Well, okay, sometimes there are examples of things that got out of their door that should not but Lee has made good on all of them I know about. And, I don't think such examples of bad stuff getting out is limited to Lee at all! If that were true who would know if the warantees of other makers were good or poor? | |||
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I though the "Pacesetter" was Lees std set. Redding offers three die sets with a neck sizer but, it doesn`t contain a shellholder too. ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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Oh my  Aim for the exit hole | |||
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BTW the last set of Hornady dies I bought were also incapable of loading a round. They made a run of bad 458 Lott dies that had the wrong expander in them. Usually Lee (and Hornady) dies work fine. Simply put I prefer to spend a few dollars more for nicer ones.................................DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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Agree, mostly, but I have no trouble adjusting them. But those are individual trivia-personal taste things, NOT a valid reflection of the actual quality of the dies. And that personal taste thing is what I'm uncomfortable with people automatically slamming Lee's dies as lesser beings - many disagree, and that doesn't make them dummies! I just don't feel that what I LIKE or DISLIKE is really the proper criteria when speaking to the utility of anything ?? IF I don't LIKE something, I'll say it but I won't slam the items themselves. And, as you now state, Lee is NOT unique in not providing expanders for cartridges of indefinate bore diameter, nor any other manufactoring defect! Thing is, they all will correct it if they do, Lee included. So...why blast Lee as if they alone make mistakes?? | |||
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....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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