I asked this on the Double Rifles forum too.

Is there a GOOD reason to AVOID the LEE Classic

Turret press, and or the LEE Classic Cast press

http://www.factorysales.com/ht...catalog/classic.html

for reloading my 450/400 3&1/4 Nitro Express

ammo, and in the future rounds that are 4.5"

OAL and even as long as the longest 50 BMG

loads? These two presses just seem, [to my

totally inexperienced eyes] to offer GREAT VALUE

for the price. I accept that LEE does not do

"everything" as well as all of their competitors do,

but for these two presses I DON'T know, what you

might well KNOW to be "bad" about them.

What are the thread diameters on the dies for the cases you have cited? The turret version only accepts 3/4", and the turret head's diameter is too small for the bore to be enlarged.

Don't expect perfection from a Lee product. They're cost compromised. They're guaranteed (2 yrs), though, if you do get a dud, and you probably won't wear it out loading your big cartridges. Use a good case lube; the handle is tubular. The handle may protect the lower platform from stripping, although that's said to not be an issue if you keep the bolts tightened. Those who have broken the lower platform (mostly on the aluminum version) report that the replacement parts are priced reasonably.

Now, if you want to take a look at a really good big press, CH4D's Rock Crusher is a beaut. Made to your order for only $1200.

I have a LEE Classic press that I have used for over 28 years. It makes some of the most accurate ammo that I have ever shot. I decided to 'upgrade' a few years ago and purchased a RCBS Rockchucker. It is a great press, but the LEE will still do everything that I need it to do. The RCBS does come in handy when necking down some wildcat rounds.

i have a lee press - i use it to pull bullets, any other tasks go to much better presses like the co-ax

you are asking if a 29 dollar reloader is good enough, to make 5.00 bullets for a 10g rifle right??
reloading saves you money,but if you want to sacrafice quality just use a vice.

quote:

Originally posted by Lamar:
you are asking if a 29 dollar reloader is good enough, to make 5.00 bullets for a 10g rifle right??
reloading saves you money,but if you want to sacrafice quality just use a vice.

LOL,

The Lee Might work, a Redding Ultramag WILL...............DJ

I really appreciate the honest answers guys, thanks. Where

"my head is at" with the question about using these less

costly presses is this; it's sort of like determing how much

bullet penetration you need to reach an elephant's brain. So,

if the LEE presses can reliably result in a minimum of 40 inches

of penetration into a bull elephant's skull, which is at least

50% more than is needed I'll guess, and all the other more cost-

ly presses can reliably result in a minimum of 60 inches of pen-

etration into a bull elephant's skull, why spend the extra on the

totally unneeded ability to penetrate? Aaaahh, but the above is

NOT accurate. I have learned here and elsewhere that there ARE

identified issues with these LEE presses that I've asked about.

Given that, I'll now take them off the list of possibles, and weigh

the others against one another. hubel 458 uses a certain press

and surely that man has lot's of experience doing things with

ammo and rifles that I have only dreamed of so far. I'll let you
all know where I wind up. Thanks again men.

I have a Lee classic cast press. I have owned more than a couple presses through the years. To me it is a very stable press that I enjoy useing. A great value.

I had a Lee Challenger in the mid-1980s. Got rid of it to go into photography. Got back into guns in mid-90s. Bought the little Reloader press, then moved up to the O-Frame model. Used the O for quite a few years, then went Rockcrusher because I wanted a strong, heavy, cast-iron press. The O-frame loaded good ammo, no doubt about it. Lee stuff is good stuff, in my opinion. I use a few of their tools here and there in my reloading scheme. It all comes down to what you like and if it does the job to your satisfaction...

quote:

Originally posted by homebrewer:
...then went Rockcrusher because I wanted a strong, heavy, cast-iron press.

Did you get your Rock Crusher from Old Western Scrounger or CH4D?