I am just wondering if any of you have any positive or negative feedback on lee dies. I have never used them and my buddy ordered a set because they were out of the rcbs dies.

thank you

I have used Lee dies in the past but have put them behind me and haven't looked back. Don't get me wrong, Lee dies have loaded some accurate ammunition but they are made from inferior materials compared to Redding, RCBS, and Hornady. Also the rubber band for a ring lock is more of their sub-standard fare. I am donning my fire resistant suit, so let the flaming begin

I used them and initially was quite satisfied with them.....and then it happened.....the "slip through" stem slipped and I was forced to find a couple wrenches and tighten it up.

That's not so bad but fixing it when the expander nipple is already inside the case mouth is a real pain.....the same with Hornady....unless they have changed the design.....skroo-em....I'm a fan of RCBS!.....Have been and am again!

They work.

Do they work as well as a Honrady, RCBS, or Lyman die? Well, no. But they do work.

I have several dies that are Lee's, and when I started that is all I had. They work, and for most hunting/shooting they do just fine.

The Lee Collet Neck Sizer and the Lee Factory Crimp Die are exceptional because of their design and the way they function, not because of the finish, quality of manufacture or quality of materials. All the rest of their dies are only acceptable at best.

Oh and the price is right.

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:
They work.

Do they work as well as a Honrady, RCBS, or Lyman die? Well, no. But they do work.

I have several dies that are Lee's, and when I started that is all I had. They work, and for most hunting/shooting they do just fine.

I made a comparison once. Loaded a "pet" load in 222 Rem with Redding dies and the same load with Lee Dies. Guess what? There was no appreciable difference in accuracy. I've found that Lee dies work just as well any of the others.

I think Lee full length sizing dies are fine.

For crimping, I don't think anything beats Lee Factory Crimp Dies.

I'm not really a fan of Lee Collet Dies. There are a couple of cartridges I load for in which cases sized with Lee Collet Dies gave loads with quite a bit worse accuracy than loads in which cases were sized with Redding or RCBS dies.

Then there is the loose bullet problem with Lee Collet Dies. Yes, I know I can turn down the mandrel but I don't feel like it.

Lee is not for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
I think Lee full length sizing dies are fine.

For crimping, I don't think anything beats Lee Factory Crimp Dies.

I'm not really a fan of Lee Collet Dies. There are a couple of cartridges I load for in which cases sized with Lee Collet Dies gave loads with quite a bit worse accuracy than loads in which cases were sized with Redding or RCBS dies.

Then there is the loose bullet problem with Lee Collet Dies. Yes, I know I can turn down the mandrel but I don't feel like it.

I had trouble with the LEE Collet Dies too until I figured out that if you do not seat bullets out to where they touch the lands, you get very erratic start-up pressures which result in poor shot to shot consistency. When I paired the Collet Die with the Factory Crimp Die I got immediate accuracy results. The problem is that usually, the Collet Die by itself doesn't allow the case to grip the bullet tight enough. Sometimes cases won't even fire-form properly. You can turn down the mandrel and make it tighter, but I prefer the FCD.

quote:

Originally posted by midminnesota:
I am just wondering if any of you have any positive or negative feedback on lee dies. I have never used them and my buddy ordered a set because they were out of the rcbs dies.

I use quite a few of Lee's collet and factory crimp dies. They work as advertised. I also have a few die sets in hunting calibers I don't load much ammo for, such as the 416 Rem mag. They certainly make serviceable ammo.

I also have their 7.62x25 Tokarev pistol die set. It doesn't have a carbide sizer, but with a spritz of spray lube makes fine plinking ammo. It was either spend $142 for the RCBS die set or $26 for the Lee. No problems have cropped up in loading several thousand rounds so far.

Lee would not be my first choice, however, in a full length die set for an ultra accurate varmint caliber. My choices would be Forster, Redding, RCBS, Hornady then Lee. But that's just me.

Lee dies are typically made of slightly softer material than many of the more expensive dies. But they are also usually machined fairly accurately (moreso than "R**S" brand in my experience). I suspect that a Lee sizer might "wear out" more quickly under very high volumen loading, but since few hunting-type rifles ever see more than a few hundred rounds in the lifetime of an owner, the Lee dies are a good match for loading for hunting rifles.

The Lee Collet die, for those who understand how to use it, is the best designed sizer ever conceived. If I can get a Collet die for it, that's what I use exclusively. If they don't make a Collet die for a particular caliber, I modify an existing caliber to work with it. For example, I've loaded umpteen rounds of high-volume prairie dog ammunition for .222 Magnum, .221 Firball, and .22 K-Hornet with adapeted Lee Collet dies.

I don't think much of the Lee seater, but then I don't think much of anyone's conventional seater, either. The Lyman PA or Vickerman-style seaters with floating chambers are far superior.

Different strokes for different folks. Some people like them, and some people don't like them.

The good thing is they aren't that much money, so if you (or your bud) are the kind of person that likes really nice finish you might decide to upgrade at a later time, but the fact is that Lee dies load just as good ammo as more expensive ones. The only thing I do find annoying with them is their lock rings. If you are careless you can move them easily when removing the dies but again, nothing that a bit of extra attention on the part of the reloader can't prevent. I solved it for me by replacing them with Hornady rings, but a dab of fingernail polish also works.

Anyway, I suspect your bud will find them suitable for reloading.

I have some Lee pistol dies and some RCBS pistol dies and some Redding pistol dies. when set up properly on a "C" "O" or turret press, the Lee dies with their "rubber bands" are the ones that do not back out of the threads during use. They are, however, the ones that will rust from finger acid quite quickly if they are not cleaned after each use. Any advantage from closer tolerances in competition pistol dies is lost on me since I am not great handgunner, so I cannot see any reason to waste money on them. Still, I do like Redding's "profile" crimp die best for revolver cartridges. I feel like it is a more predictable and controllable crimper.

When I was hunting, I did like the Lee factory crimper for cannelured bullets, and in fact got all the accuracy needed to hit within 6" at 200 yards with Lee .30-30 and .30-06 die sets.

These days, I only poke paper and try to shoot through the same hole if I can, so almost all the above dies are out, except some Redding dies.

If I were buying dies for a relative just starting out who was going to be mostly plinking with standard calibers and a little hunting in season I would not hesitate to buy Lee dies and 3 or 4 silicone cloths...

quote:

For crimping, I don't think anything beats Lee Factory Crimp Dies.

What he said. +1.

The thing I like about them is I use the collet dies to neck size my improved cases. That saves me alot of money not having to but special dies

I haven't had any complaints. I load most of my pistol ammo with them. I load my rifle ammo in Redding. I've used RCBS for rifle and pistol and Hornady for pistol.

I have three sets of their pistol dies. They work great in my Lee classic turret press.

I also like their factory crimp die for my 375 and 450/400, which I use in my Lee classic cast single stage press.

I like what I have of their equipment but one should carefully compare features before you buy!

quote:

Originally posted by 243winxb:
Lee is not for me.

Why not?

That's hardly an enlightening post.

You aren't related to Hot Core perchance?

I've used Lee, Hornady & RCBS dies in various calibers with no discernible difference but a mate DID have a very dud Lee FL .308 resizing die where the final finishing steps were missed - rough as a badger's bum inside.
Lee replaced it without question or requiring the duff die to be returned.

I have dies from most of the die manufactures 50 plus sets I now buy lee dies first now when I can. I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds with lee dies no trouble with them.

The Lee collet neck sizer die put creases in the necks of my Norma cases (300 wsm). I have heard of others with the same complaint.

Depends on what your're loading. Been using Lee 44Mag/45Lc/45ACP/ dies since 1987. Ain't had a single problem. They load great from 240grn SPL @ 8.0 GRN Unique to 300 WNFGC Castcore @ 19.5 grn H110. ain't had no issues. They look like factory loads and shoot great. Killed alot of critters loading w/ them.

Until this last year I've never used Lee dies. I was needing a set of Ackley improved dies for a rifle I have. Doing some checking I found out that Lee says on their web site that you can use their collet dies for the AI version on most calibers. Example: if you are loading standard 30-06, you can also load 30-06 AI as well in their collet dies. So I bought a set and loaded some ammo and it worked out pretty good. NOW the lock rings, IMHO are trash, I replaced them with the Forester type split/lock rings, and have had no problems. Note: if you use the RCBS type lock rings be sure to use, or not loose the piece of lead shot that goes under the set screw so not to damage the threads on the die body.

My reply is to Lee product in general, as i have used many. From there hammer loader, target model hammer loaded, dies, molds, shotgun loader. Plus the chamfering tools, trimmers,hand priming tool. Presses can spring Were made cheap alloys, not steel.

quote:

Originally posted by Oddbod:

quote:

Originally posted by 243winxb:
Lee is not for me.

Why not?

That's hardly an enlightening post.

You aren't related to Hot Core perchance?

I've used Lee, Hornady & RCBS dies in various calibers with no discernible difference but a mate DID have a very dud Lee FL .308 resizing die where the final finishing steps were missed - rough as a badger's bum inside.
Lee replaced it without question or requiring the duff die to be returned.

I have over 50 sets of dies, in 32 calibers and from about 10 makers, including a half-dozen sets of Lees. They all work fine. Those who have problems with mechanical stuff and wrenches would probably do better with other brands tho.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C. <><:
I have over 50 sets of dies, in 32 calibers and from about 10 makers, including a half-dozen sets of Lees. They all work fine. Those who have problems with mechanical stuff and wrenches would probably do better with other brands tho.

+1

If Lee would just thread the stem for their sizer button I would use more of them. Having that sucker slip off into the resized case when you try to lower the case out of the die is aggravating and a waste of my time. Otherwise they work fine. Until they address that issue I will stick with RCBS or Hornady.

So is breaking decaping pins of the other die makers. I can't tell you how many lyman rcbs pins I have broken over the years.

I'll take the lee set up any day

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
If Lee would just thread the stem for their sizer button I would use more of them. Having that sucker slip off into the resized case when you try to lower the case out of the die is aggravating and a waste of my time. Otherwise they work fine. Until they address that issue I will stick with RCBS or Hornady.

Maybe Hornady has since changed their design, but the couple of sets of Hornady dies I have use the same type of compression-locked decapper/expander stem as Lee. And yes, they move around too easily and you have to lock them too tightly to get them to stay still.

Perfection is a bolt gun, a Lee Collet die for resizing, and an old Herter's (yes, I said "Herter's") Mark III/IV seater die with the floating Vickerman-type seating guide and the little window you can watch through as it happens .

I have a set of 375 H&H dies which loaded very accurate ammunition. Its true that the finish on the inside of the dies is not as good as RCBS or Redding for exemple, but lets not forget they are half the price of RCBS dies in general... I do not like the Lee lock rings, but I don't like the RCBS lock rings either. I use Hornady lock rings on all my dies when I can, Foster's as a last resort. The Lee factory crimp die is a marvel of engineering, it just plain works. I like the Lee hand priming tool, another great product. I hate their powder scale, I use an old Pacific scale. Oh, and I love their Classic Cast press. The best of both worlds if you ask me. Hope this helps.

Maurice

Lee dies helped me do this-

10 rounds 100 yards off sand bags.


And after the 4 sighters upper left, these 7 rounds my first time at 300 yards with a gusting 5 O'clock wind.


Yes I use Lee dies, a Lee Classic press and when I need one a Lee Factory Crimp die.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

Maybe Hornady has since changed their design, but the couple of sets of Hornady dies I have use the same type of compression-locked decapper/expander stem as Lee. And yes, they move around too easily and you have to lock them too tightly to get them to stay still.

Hornady has actually improved their design for the decapping stem - somewhat. It is still not threaded into the die as it is on RCBS, Redding, Forster etc. dies. But at least Honady has now added little "ridges" (or is that an extremely shallow and very open thread?) to their decapping stem. This makes the issue of the sliding stem less acute.

- mike

Perhaps the issue with the decapper/expander slipping in the collet is the result of inadequate lube, and not a design flaw.

I have been using Lee dies for a very long time, and have not had the problems reported here.

Lee dies are responsible for me shooting some very accurate reloads.

I have 32 die sets 3 are Lee, 3 are Redding, 7 are Hornady and 19 are RCBS. I have the Lee Classic Cast Press which I use with my RCBS Piggy Back II. I still have a RC in the closet along with one of the smaller RCBS presses. I use the Lee Auto Prime to prime all my cases not run through the Piggy Back. Lee makes a good product and if that is what someone likes or can afford that is fine, just reload and get out there and shoot and introduce someone new to reloading and shooting.

Steve E..........

I have Lee, RCBS, Forster, Redding and Lyman.

I have had good results with all of them.

I admit to mixed results with Lee. I've had dies with the bases cut at a visible angle. I've also had some set up so that I could not seat bullets properly because the die body was the wrong length. In general though I quite like them. THe question is whether the problems makes up for the good ones.

The Collet dies are a great concept, sometimes poorly executed and 2 of the 4 I use required turing down the mandrel.

The expander which fully supports the case is another of Lee's great ideas. I wish they'd bring out a premium range and watch the quality control a bit more.

I think their pay-off line would be:

"Great ideas,iffy execution..."

But I'm not bashing them, I still use them, but only for specific things that I want; mainly Collet sizers.

The handgun dies have all been just fine.

I would say my least favourite is the Redding "regular" die set, mainly because the sizer die cannot be set up as I prefer to, to expand the neck whilst it is supported in the die body. You can do that with an RCBS, my favourite "regular" priced dies.

My favourite for rifles is the Forster full length and BR Seater.

No thanks. I'll stick to RCBS or Redding. I didn't care for the friction adjustable stem/decapper or lock nut.

Have used 'em all, currently have & use dies from all the major makers and some minor ones now defunct such as Vickerman, C-H etc. Been reloading since '61 and have formed some definite opinions over the years based not on the dies' appearance(significant grin) but rather on their performance.

When I need new dies, Lee is ALWAYS my first choice. Especially their collet sizers.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:
Have used 'em all, currently have & use dies from all the major makers and some minor ones now defunct such as Vickerman, C-H etc.

C-H was probably the leading manufacturer of reloading equipment when I started back in the mid-sixties (I'm not actually that old -- I began reloading while still in the womb.) Their dies were copied part-for-part by Herter's for Herter's base line of dies and even the parts from one would exchange with the other.

C-H Roddy has been superceded by C-H 4-D. I'm not sure of the relationship of the older company with the newer, but C-H dies were still being produced for the market last I looked. But some other great names like Lachmiller, Texan, and yes, even Herter's, have disappeared from the scene. At least Pacific is still around in the guise of Hornady.

This should be in it's own new thread, but I'll put it here. Call this the "you haven't seen nuthin yet" category!

new lee loading tools

Case trimmer that mounts in a press die hole, trims to an ADJUSTABLE length while doing bothe chamfers.

Bullet puller that aoutomatically pulls bullets, then keeps them in a round die box.

Factory crimp die that now also seats bullets!

As for the press mount, that's already available. I have one, BUT it required some additional engineering to make it work. I had my classic turret mounted in it, damn near dropped the press when it came loose after putting a bit more pressure to seat a primer. Fix was to put some emory boards under the wood block to add to the grip of the metal hold-downs.

quote:

Originally posted by midminnesota:
I am just wondering if any of you have any positive or negative feedback on lee dies. I have never used them and my buddy ordered a set because they were out of the rcbs dies.

thank you

I love their Crimp Dies...

Other than that

RCBS, Horn, Forster is all I have ever wanted to use... and not in that order.

That said, I love their Crimp dies

quote:

I didn't care for the friction adjustable stem/decapper

Lee's excellant rifle decap/expander rod and it's self-centering collet type tapered jam nut is much misunderstood. It's designed to let the rod slip if the case has a rock inside, if the flash hole is missed, etc. The rod will slide UP from such events and will rarely break the decap pin as others do. Anyone having the rod slide DOWN simply doesn't have the collet tight enough and/or has lube on the rod.

Lee's long cylindrical expander portion is by far the best expander design for making straight necks and reducing bullet runout.

Hornady thought the self protecting slipping decap rod idea was so good they copied it but eventually gave up and added some shallow theads that would accept a nut so it can still slip UP but won't pull DOWN and out. Guess that makes it easier for guys who don't have the proper wrenches but.... ??