Problem with Lee Resizing Dies

[Kevan]

Very relevant actually, 45 years of reloading and shooting DAILY has taught me what equipment works and what doesn't and for heavy reloading and/or precision Lee doesn't cut it. People buy it because it is cheap, period, but with reloading equipment it is a false saving in the end.

I respect your knowledge and opinion and I am not a lover of Lee products.
However as of next year I will have 50 years of loading behind me and I do not believe in bad-mouthing or bashing any product in a general fashion since it serves no useful purpose aside from increasing ones post count and belittling the original poster.
As I have stated before there are now somewhere around 80 different sets of loading dies on my bench, RCBS, Redding, C-H, Hornady, some unknown foreign, and yes a few Lee sets.
I play no favors, can't afford to being a pensioner and by virtue of my set of concentricity tools one can easily decifer which sets of dies produce a good handload.
Having said that, I grudgingly admit to having a few sets of Lee dies that produce a better round than a high end die from a competitor.
Furthermore, my dies regardless of brand see a lot of use and to date I have had less issues with Lee than certain other makes.

If you hate the brand fine, thats your privelege, but to continually bad-mouth something because of its brand name isn't really practical.

Just my 2 cents worth, no offence meant....

 

[easyrider604]

Very relevant actually, 45 years of reloading and shooting DAILY has taught me what equipment works and what doesn't and for heavy reloading and/or precision Lee doesn't cut it. People buy it because it is cheap, period, but with reloading equipment it is a false saving in the end.

Read the OP's first post. He is just getting into reloading. He needed a simple answer to a simple question.

He didn't deserve a wisecrack, specially from an experienced reloading veteran. Most everyone who replied to the post gave a sincere honest answer.

Most people want or need a piece of equipment that can be bought for less than half or a third the price, and which for all practical purposes will work just as well as the expensive high end piece.

Not everyone wants to spend more than necessary because of budget constraints or because like me, he could just be a frugal and practical person.

I have used or still use Hornady, Dillon and Lee equipment. For my purposes, they all work or worked fine, and they will work well for most persons if used properly.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I hope Lee products aren't junk as I just paid for a 4 hole turret press and a set of dies for .45 Colt,the primer thing is back ordered so as soon as it shows up I will pick the equipment up.
I haven't seen the dies yet but will remember this thread to try and avoid any problems.

 

[easyrider604]

A smart man believes only half of what he hears....a wise man knows which half.

No worries with your Lee Turret (I hope you got the Classic) and dies. I got two Classic Turrets and they work great. Two of my buddies have them as well. All good.

BTW, you will find my Lee dies and presses on my table, not in the trash as
recommended by a self-proclaimed expert in this forum.

 

[kjohn]

Being a relative "newbie" to reloading, only 40 years or so, I offer my humble opinion: Buy whatever rings your bell. My first setup was a second hand Lee Loader for 30-30. I have purchased lots of Lee reloading equipment since, and used it.

Take what you read here with a grain of salt. Enjoy your hobby, and share any positive info you may have learned.

Also, don't be shy to ask questions. You will be shot down for not searching the forum first, but ask anyway. I enjoy reading the answers, particularly the positive, helpful ones. I'm sure other reloaders are willing to help.

 

[Al-Sway]

The Lee instructions very clearly state that you need to lubricate the inside of the necks before using their sizing dies.
I use a nylon brush with a small bit of their case lube, and it is good for 20-30 cases. Not much is needed.

 

[senior]

I hope Lee products aren't junk as I just paid for a 4 hole turret press and a set of dies for .45 Colt,the primer thing is back ordered so as soon as it shows up I will pick the equipment up.
I haven't seen the dies yet but will remember this thread to try and avoid any problems.

If you'll take the word of a newbie reloader (25yrs exp), I have been useing a 3 hole Lee turret as my main press for 20yrs, I love it & wouldn't change it for anything except maybe a Lee 4 hole! I just recommended that exact one to friend starting up!
By the way your press should come with a rod to allow you to prime the cases with the press. It's slow but at least your not at a standstill.

As a side note, the only dies I've ever had a problem with was Lyman.
They replaced the dies immediately, but refused to tell me what was wrong with the 1st set I purchased

 

[senior]

Very relevant actually, 45 years of reloading and shooting DAILY has taught me what equipment works and what doesn't and for heavy reloading and/or precision Lee doesn't cut it. People buy it because it is cheap, period, but with reloading equipment it is a false saving in the end.

OK what exactly is "heavy reloading"
actually never mind I really don't want your unfounded bias opinion

 

[rookie wildcat]

Very relevant actually, 45 years of reloading and shooting DAILY has taught me what equipment works and what doesn't and for heavy reloading and/or precision Lee doesn't cut it. People buy it because it is cheap, period, but with reloading equipment it is a false saving in the end.

Well, Ben, I started this 31yrs ago with a second hand Lee Loader for .303Br. I started because I could make rounds cheaper. No doubt about it. I come from a very humble family who worked hard but didn't get many breaks. $10 for a box of bullets meant that you did not go to the range and blow them away everyday. So, in order to be a better shot, I started making them. The initial investment ate deeply into my meager resources. I still have the original receipt in the Lee Loader box. $11 for a box of 150gn Hornady bullets, $9 for a pound of IMR 4064, $.75 for primers. Cost me $8 for the Lee Loader at a Flea Market. That would make 100 rounds for under $30!! That would allow me to shoot more and be a better hunter.

Not amny things changed over the next 30yrs. Still a humble man with a small budget, however, over the years, I have accumulated quite a bit of "colour" on my bench. Almost all of it second-hand, except for dies. I have 3 sets of RCBS dies and 7 sets of Lee dies. My Weapons are again, NOT high end. For most of my shooting life I was constrained to milsurp and Tasco/Simmons scopes. I can guarantee that rounds made with my RockChucker and RCBS dies shoot no better than those made on a Lee Challenger Press with Lee Dies in ANY of my milsurp rifles. 2" groups is the best I can get.
Through a fortuitous turn of events, my children grew up, stopped requiring child support, began to earn their own monies, and I began to have a little more money. I bought "NEW" rifles, albeit still within my price range and I STILL cannot tell any difference with dies, just that the Lee ones are more user friendly and therefore easier to use.
I only shoot a few thousand CF rifle rounds (and several hundred shotgun rounds) a year and have no need of more than sub MOA at 100yds, which I get using bulk bullets (NON-premium) from Hornady and Sierra, Lee dies, Lee presses, 2 Mossberg 100ATRs, a Remington 799, and a Savage 111.
If spending 3 times as much on equipment gets me tha same results, I am not sure I need it. Should my shooting needs change in my later years when I am ROLLING in money, perhaps, my equipment will need to evolve as well.
Perhaps, in custom rifles, costing many thousands of dollars to build, scope, and maintaini, that is needed. For my needs, I only have to bring home meat which I have successfully achieved for the past 32yrs.

 

[zuke]

Well, Ben, I started this 31yrs ago with a second hand Lee Loader for .303Br. I started because I could make rounds cheaper. No doubt about it. I come from a very humble family who worked hard but didn't get many breaks. $10 for a box of bullets meant that you did not go to the range and blow them away everyday. So, in order to be a better shot, I started making them. The initial investment ate deeply into my meager resources. I still have the original receipt in the Lee Loader box. $11 for a box of 150gn Hornady bullets, $9 for a pound of IMR 4064, $.75 for primers. Cost me $8 for the Lee Loader at a Flea Market. That would make 100 rounds for under $30!! That would allow me to shoot more and be a better hunter.

Not amny things changed over the next 30yrs. Still a humble man with a small budget, however, over the years, I have accumulated quite a bit of "colour" on my bench. Almost all of it second-hand, except for dies. I have 3 sets of RCBS dies and 7 sets of Lee dies. My Weapons are again, NOT high end. For most of my shooting life I was constrained to milsurp and Tasco/Simmons scopes. I can guarantee that rounds made with my RockChucker and RCBS dies shoot no better than those made on a Lee Challenger Press with Lee Dies in ANY of my milsurp rifles. 2" groups is the best I can get.
Through a fortuitous turn of events, my children grew up, stopped requiring child support, began to earn their own monies, and I began to have a little more money. I bought "NEW" rifles, albeit still within my price range and I STILL cannot tell any difference with dies, just that the Lee ones are more user friendly and therefore easier to use.
I only shoot a few thousand CF rifle rounds (and several hundred shotgun rounds) a year and have no need of more than sub MOA at 100yds, which I get using bulk bullets (NON-premium) from Hornady and Sierra, Lee dies, Lee presses, 2 Mossberg 100ATRs, a Remington 799, and a Savage 111.
If spending 3 times as much on equipment gets me tha same results, I am not sure I need it. Should my shooting needs change in my later years when I am ROLLING in money, perhaps, my equipment will need to evolve as well.
Perhaps, in custom rifles, costing many thousands of dollars to build, scope, and maintaini, that is needed. For my needs, I only have to bring home meat which I have successfully achieved for the past 32yrs.

Well said!!

 

[ben hunchak]

I expressed my opinion based on failings of Lee equip. both for reloading and casting bullets, based on problems with said equipment, I no longer use Lee products. This is my opinion and for folks that are interested in quality equipment, I will continue to try to help, esp. newcomers and I will continue to voice my opinion on both good equipment and poor equipment. Many new shooters are not aware of the history of poor/inexpensive products from this maker and are not aware of the very good equipment available from other makers. This site may be the only place that beginners get info from and believe that they should get the full story on something as important as reloading safely and accurately.

 

[easyrider604]

You are one of the few who have had apparently insurmountable problems with Lee products.

I don't understand why many, as well as I, don't have any problems with Lee products, but you do and think they are trash. My problem with your Lee bashing is that novices can and will get the wrong impression and may get turned off the reloading aspect of our sport....now that is what I want to avoid.

My wish is for many more shooters to reload and enjoy the sport more. That is the only way for our hobby to survive. Not everyone is made of money so they can afford to buy premium equipment that works just as well as Lee.

You have to be fair in your comments. If you read the posts, most are from happy and satisfied Lee customers. You seem to enjoy bashing Lee with little evidence to stand on. That is not fair to Lee and not fair to CGN members in general.

Makes me wonder who has the problem.

ben hunchak said:

This site may be the only place that beginners get info from and believe that they should get the full story on something as important as reloading safely and accurately.

You said it. Now walk the talk.

 

[thump_rrr]

For best results with Lee dies: a) Remove from press
b) Insert into waste basket
c) order proper dies from Redding or Forster, or RCBS

You're right Lee dies are crap.
I want my $37.90 back.

(3) 5 shot groups plus my last 2 rounds.
Loaded using the Lee 50th anniversary kit.

Seriously now. where else can you get such value for your money.
If you follow the manufacturers instructions and disassemble and clean the dies properly you shouldn't have any problems.
I have had more problems with other manufacturers decapping dies than I've had with Lee.

 

[zuke]

I expressed my opinion based on failings of Lee equip. both for reloading and casting bullets, based on problems with said equipment, I no longer use Lee products. This is my opinion and for folks that are interested in quality equipment, I will continue to try to help, esp. newcomers and I will continue to voice my opinion on both good equipment and poor equipment. Many new shooters are not aware of the history of poor/inexpensive products from this maker and are not aware of the very good equipment available from other makers. This site may be the only place that beginners get info from and believe that they should get the full story on something as important as reloading safely and accurately.

Make sure you tell them about some RCBS stuff is made in China.
LEE is made in the USA.
Don't want you to be too one sided.

 

[ben hunchak]

I have read on another site(U.S.), that RCBS guarantees that none of their products are made in China. I have no knowledge either way, my RCBS products have been very good to me and am still using dies and presses, lubesizers, bought in the mid 60s. Lyman products have been good, and inexpensive and I have a lubesizer that I like to use that was made in the 1940s. I swear by my Forster, Redding, Gemmil(Vickerman),CH4D, Star and other equipment and it gets used ALOT, any Lee equip. has long since gone in the trash, which is what I suggested to the original poster.
I realize that some on here may sell Lee equipment or know someone that does, and it was not my intent to slag them or their product as I do believe that they can also access better equipment for reloaders. Folks on here need to get their heads out of their(the sand) and provide more balanced equipment recommendations esp. for new reloaders who may be instructed to use scoops, spoons, dangerous scales, charts, dangerous priming equip. etc.

 

[zuke]

I know the new little press they(RCBS) came up with has "made in china" cast into the side of it.
And I'm pretty sure their electronic scale's are also made in china.
If a new guy decide's to get into loading with LEE I don't see a problem with that.
Why spend $1000 on something your not sure about when a LEE $120-140 kit will do the same job and leave the poor bastard a couple buck's to but more then 1lb of powder,1 box of bullet's and find out he doesn't like it? or is getting poor accuracy/leading?
We don't need to drive big'ole pick up's when all you have to do is get to the office.

 

[easyrider604]

"To those who want to believe, no explanation is necessary.

To those who don't want to believe, no amount of explanation will suffice."

This saying applies to faith, and the humble endeavor known as reloading.

In both cases, we know who is right, and that is all that is necessary.

 

[ben hunchak]

We're not talking about pick-up trucks here, going from point A to point B is not the same as reloading quality, safe, accurate, ammo. esp. for newcomers.

 

[rookie wildcat]

I was a newcomer a few years ago.
When I was in my mid-twenties, I finally had enough money I could join the local gun club. They had a nice range and, more importantly, an upper room of a shop set up for reloading. Now these guys loaded LOTS. There was every press, die, sizer, lead pot, mold, you name it!! The place was a rainbow of colours. Blue, green, orange, red. There was more stuff than I even knew existed. These guys shot competition everything and there was still Lee stuff there.
These reloaders knew what quality was. They knew what a young, broke person needed to get set up. And you know what they pawned off on me? Second hand Lee stuff (which I still have and is still working). I also had opportunities to purchase Lyman, RCBS, Pacific, and Hornady stuff as time went on which I did.
I have said this in numerous other posts, to be completely fair, I don't think the scoops produce accurate ammo (and I have them all) and I don't think that the scale Lee sells is worth anything (I know that some have had great luck with theirs, not me). I also don' think their powder measure is worth the powder to blow it to he!!.
All that being said, I like the ammo that Lee dies and presses produce for me. Would I jump up to higher grades of equipment? Only if you could prove that they would perform better in my rifle. I have a Lyman and a Pacific measure, a Lyman balance scale, an RCBS digital scale, and a Hornady case length trimmer (which sits in the box). I use the best I can afford to give me results I can accept, and that is Lee.

 

[Bearcat]

Boys Boys Boys, some of us drives Chev, Fords, or Dodges, some of us use LEE , Lyman, or RCBS, I have driven all 3 and some of us have reloaded with all 3, Some have their good points , some have their bad points, Use whatever you want that makes you happy or can afford !!! I have 3 or 4 brands of dies on my shelf ,and they all do the job for me !!!!