I still haven't purchased a press/kit as of yet. I took someone elses advice here in the forums and got the ABC's of reloading handbook. As opposed to the Lyman and Speer books I have which promote their own equipment of course. The ABC book likes Lee equipment which I had not looked at before. I went to Midway to view the kits and stuff they sell and the prices for the Lee stuff is so much lower than RCBS equipment I couldn't believe it. Midway has those rating systems for things people buy, but there are just as many good as bad things said about all products it seems. The Lee turret is about $60.00 compared to the RCBS Turret which is about $170.00. What makes the price so different? Is Lee not known for quality or is RCBS stuff just overpriced?

Thanks in advance
Wes

you'll find the price of oats is also lessened after it's been run through the horse once.
RCBS is worth the extra.

Lots of Lee stuff is very serviceable - I use several of their devices. Most of it, however, is built to be sold at very competitive prices (read: cheaply). It will forever be a argument between Lee lovers and users of other gear, whether "cheap" means the stuff is useable or not.

I would personally go for the RCBS press (actually, I would not go for a turret press, but that is another matter). I tend to believe that if you buy good (and expensive) tools, you suffer once and from then on enjoy the extra quality. If you buy cheap, your enjoyment is often limited to paying the price, and suffering the drawbacks lasts forever.

- mike

If you do decide to go with a turret press , the Redding is better yet than the RCBS , and the price is about the same........

The Lee stuff is OK for the money .

Lee makes good, inexpensive equipment. If you're really keen on a turret type press (I'm guessing for progressive work), then skip the others and go direct to Dillon. They do progressives better then anyone. - Dan

I think the Lee turret press is the shining star of Lee equipment. Lee collet dies come in second. (If they would reduce the mandrel out of the box for a little tighter neck tension, I would buy lee collet for my neck sizing dies and not look back).

Though Lee does make some questionable equipment, the Lee turret press is one damn good press. The only Lee equipment I have is that turret press. I think you limit yourself as a consumer if you generate bias against an entire brand of product.

Wes,

It's kind of like buying a set of tires for your pickup. I bought a set of expensive BF Goodwrich mud tires and when they wore out I replaced them w/ a set of Maxxis Mudders that were 200 dollars cheaper. That set of Maxxis tires lasted the same amount of miles and road smoother and quieter. You pay mostly for the NAME.

The top of the line Lee presses will load 1000s and 1000s of rounds just as accurately as any of the others. I like some of their dies much better than some of the very expensive brands. You cant hardly beat their sizing lube or their easy prime tool.

If you are just getting into this hobby, I see absolutely no problem w/ going Lee.

Good Luck!

Reloader

Bottom line is you get what you pay for..I would not own a Lee reloading press or anything else they make, its just not up to snuff IMO..

To start with you cannot load big rounds in the Lee presses and you cannot swage cases or bullets, the Lee has way too much spring...You can load 50 cal machine gun ammo in the RCBS A-2 single stage press and plenty of room for loading the big Nitro Express cartridges...

I have some Lee equip., their hand priming tool is good, their neck dies are also good. The key word is "servicable" equip. I think Redding makes top stuff, then RCBS. If you want true progressive, Dillon is the way to go IMO. You aren't just paying for a name. Lee uses alot of aluminum in their equip. It's soft & wears out. Ray is right here again, you will limit yourself buying a cheaper, smaller press. If you get top notch equip. you'll never buy anything else.