I found a coupon for the LEE 40th anniversary special of the "Modern Reloading" (second edition) reloading manual for $29.95 and with it I got a free Lee reloader press. I received the box in the mail today and when I opened it up I found that the top of the press where the die screws in is not threaded. You can see where they started to cut the threads as there's a 1/4" of thread started but the rest of it is smooth red paint. At first I thought that the threads were just painted over but they're not, they were never cut.
Has anyone else used this special and gotten their stuff yet?

I admire Lee's engineering and initiative, and loathe their materials and quality control. They'll certainly make your press good, but such a mistake should never have left the shipping dock.

I've never used that special, but I do have, or rather did have that press. I loaded thousands of rounds of ammo with the press, and had no problems with it. I since upgraded to a Forster co-ax and an RCBS rockchucker, so I sold the press to a co-worker to get him started out.

Shame on Lee for shipping that press, but you should find that it's replacement will work fine.

I recently had an interesting situation with Lee. I bought a set of 22 Hornet dies; and when I set up to load some ammo, I found the seating die was for 22-250! I called Lee, and they said to send it back. Replacement die (in 22 Hornet)reached me within one week. I guess the comment about QC is accurate.
Pete

I have a dozen other presses so I really just got it for the new manual. I called Lee this morning and they said to send it back and they would refund me the shipping and replace it.