ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Lee 50th Anniversary Reloader Kit
- Thread starter Agent666
- Start date
Once upon a time there was a cranky old guy that got himself banned for "trolling" LEE fight's...
Armored Metal
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The People's Republik of Kébekistan
I got one of those at christmas and I find that the weight varies a lot with it. From +0.2gr to -0.2gr for the same charge at times. I find myself always double checking with my Pacific beam scale.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Mine is pretty good. Remember, powder is usually in flakes. A static charge will hold flakes some inside the tube causing minute variations. Good to have another scale as a counter-measure. Also, keep the calibration weight, fresh battery and calibrate before every use.
Stay safe!
Stay safe!
TargetAcquired
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
I had this problem with Unique something fierce, but I took the dispenser and wiped the inside of it with a bounce sheet and the problem stopped.
TargetAcquired
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
Strange - this weekend I will load my 1500th .303b, and if time, somewhere around the 2300th 30-30 with Lee dies, never once had a problem. Both are bottleneck cases and can be tough at time, especially during FL sizing.
If you prefer a differend brand, fair enough, but calling the Lee does 'junk' doesn't lend you a lot of credibility. What made them so bad that you threw them in the garbage? Sounds like you propbably throw away a lot fo $50 bills because they have creases.
I had one and it failed the second time I used it, it refuses to take a measurement now. Never did send it for warranty...
I just picked up this kit, I love it!! This is my first go at reloading so I don’t have anything else to compare it to, but from a new guy at reloading the kit was relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble and works fantastic! I’ve pumped out my first 100 7.62x39 rounds (LEE die) with a mentor. I can’t say enough good things about the kit and the brand!
NorthernCX
CGN Regular
- Location
- In My House
You will not go wrong with the LEE setup. Yes, there is fancier stuff, yes, there is more expensive stuff. DeLorean's were expensive, too, remember? Doesn't always mean better. I started with the Anniversary Kit (the one that came with the Modern Reloading Manual- which everyone should have and read!), and a Challenger press to cut down on swapping dies. Never a problem. I did get a small digital scale to check weights, and if you want to simplify things, get the set of LEE Powder Dippers- some ammo, once you have a recipe, you can load faster by volume with dippers than by throwing charges. Just another option. As funds and your reloading practices allow, you can always add/upgrade as needed and still have all the basics.
The biggest mark against LEE has been the media. Long ago, they refused to send free stuff to the magazines, and so they don't often get mentioned, and they don't get advertised in every reloading article like the others do. Occasionally, an honest writer will mention their stuff, and it's never been negative- they just have to be careful not to step on the toes of their 'sponsors'. Good on them for that- they still outsell everyone!
That being said, now that I'm using semi-autos and pistols, I would love to upgrade to a Dillon, at least for the pistol calibers- I can eat a lot of .45 ACP or even .223 in a range session!
The biggest mark against LEE has been the media. Long ago, they refused to send free stuff to the magazines, and so they don't often get mentioned, and they don't get advertised in every reloading article like the others do. Occasionally, an honest writer will mention their stuff, and it's never been negative- they just have to be careful not to step on the toes of their 'sponsors'. Good on them for that- they still outsell everyone!
That being said, now that I'm using semi-autos and pistols, I would love to upgrade to a Dillon, at least for the pistol calibers- I can eat a lot of .45 ACP or even .223 in a range session!
My LEE story.
Started with 50th kit. Loved it. (scale is a pain buy a digital pocket scale, they're cheap, and makes your life happier)
Figured I'd 'upgrade' to a turret press. Hated it!
Sold my 50th kit to a buddy for cheap. He loves it.
Still unhappy with my turret press... So I bought a cast challenger.
Love it!
Knowing what I know now, I'd have saved a lot of money sticking with the 50th kit and a new digital scale...
Started with 50th kit. Loved it. (scale is a pain buy a digital pocket scale, they're cheap, and makes your life happier)
Figured I'd 'upgrade' to a turret press. Hated it!
Sold my 50th kit to a buddy for cheap. He loves it.
Still unhappy with my turret press... So I bought a cast challenger.
Love it!
Knowing what I know now, I'd have saved a lot of money sticking with the 50th kit and a new digital scale...
Armored Metal
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The People's Republik of Kébekistan
You just reminded me of the bounce trick. Thanks, I'll give it a try.
P.S: I'm still a noob with less than a year experience.
Armored Metal
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The People's Republik of Kébekistan
Congratulations! And as others have said to me when I started:
Welcome to the Addiction!!
Well, it seems that there is always plenty of people willing to trash Lee products although I don't know why. I have lots of colours on my bench. But only stuff I used to replace Lee stuff. Nothing wrong with the scale that a hammer won't fix...no really, I have a friend who loves his. Accurate as all get out if you have the patience...I don't. I like my Lyman 500. Powder thrower...again, I HATED IT, since it spilled ball powder all over the floor no matter how tight I tightened it up...again, many here find that they are great but I have a large Pacific thrower and a Lyman 55 both second hand. Nothing else from Lee Precision has disappointed me. I especially like the Modern Reloading book and it is my go to for basic recipes and the first book I recommend to new loaders, followed by a Dean Grennell edition of ABCs of Reloading (that'd be 1-4).
I have Lee, RCBS, and Hornady dies. Many are same cartridge. I cannot tell any difference in reloads if I use the same two dies. However, using the Lee Collet dies AND the FCD, I CAN tell the difference between the three. Lee wins. I have a RockChucker press...it ABSOLUTELY CANNOT COMPARE TO A LEE CLASSIC CAST YET COSTS TWICE AS MUCH and as far as I am concerned didn't do the job 4 times better than the Challenger to justify 4times the price. Yet so many people here seem to find a difference. More power to them.
I have Lee, RCBS, and Hornady dies. Many are same cartridge. I cannot tell any difference in reloads if I use the same two dies. However, using the Lee Collet dies AND the FCD, I CAN tell the difference between the three. Lee wins. I have a RockChucker press...it ABSOLUTELY CANNOT COMPARE TO A LEE CLASSIC CAST YET COSTS TWICE AS MUCH and as far as I am concerned didn't do the job 4 times better than the Challenger to justify 4times the price. Yet so many people here seem to find a difference. More power to them.
Hornychief
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Great kit for under two hundred bucks! Will not find a better one!
I am new to reloading and bought this kit from Cabelas with it I purchased bullet remover, dies and shell length trimmer. Its time consuming because you have to change over dies once you are done with different steps. I think you are meant to get three bushings for the press in the kit but I only got one.
I found the scale to be very frustrating at first but then figured it out and was able to set the quick powder measure to it and now only measure every fifth powder load to make sure it hasnt gone off or anything.
I definately recommend!
I am new to reloading and bought this kit from Cabelas with it I purchased bullet remover, dies and shell length trimmer. Its time consuming because you have to change over dies once you are done with different steps. I think you are meant to get three bushings for the press in the kit but I only got one.
I found the scale to be very frustrating at first but then figured it out and was able to set the quick powder measure to it and now only measure every fifth powder load to make sure it hasnt gone off or anything.
I definately recommend!
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Also, put a ground wire to the nearest copper pipe and the other end connected to your press. This will minimize static build-up. If you can get a ground strap similar to the ones used in assembling electronic equipment, it might also work. No guarantee though, just a precautionary measure in avoiding static. I use Bullseye, W231 and Titegroup. My mentor warned me against static behavior using Titegroup. So far, only very minimal with occasional variations as to your measurements.
Welcome to reloading. Order more bushings from Brownells for just $8. They sell 'em in Canada for $13.! Makes switching dies uber quick.
TargetAcquired
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
Same here: I've seen pictures and videos of this kit with 3 bushings in it (i.e. Iraqvet888 video on this kit). I called Lee, they said I was only supposed to get one, and that the 3 bushings is either US only or discontinued. Nice guy, but didn't really know. He did let me buy a single bushing and he sent 2. Can't say that would happen for everyone, but I felt it was fairly accommodating. Since then I have also bought a few handfuls of the ring-lock bushings, and every die set I have is locked into it's own bushing now, which basically makes it a hybrid of single stage and progressive: I still have to swap out dies, but there's no setting them up. 2 seconds and I'm onto the next stage in the process.
I'm also very glad that I grabbed a few universal reloading trays from Budget in my last order. Having 2 of them in use while doing 50 rounds eliminates the need to a lot of memory, leaves less to possible error.
I'm also very glad that I grabbed a few universal reloading trays from Budget in my last order. Having 2 of them in use while doing 50 rounds eliminates the need to a lot of memory, leaves less to possible error.
CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
Thank you for pointing that out. It's what I've been saying. The Classic Cast Lee press is currently the best single stage out there, and if you can spend a few dollars more, get that. You'll never need to replace it. There are 2. Get the taller one if you do. Same price.
