I love my lee classic press, I load 50BMG and have never had a problem. I got mine from lee factory sales (Which i would recommend) for $189 with 50 cal dies, bushing for 7/8 dies, lube, primer seaters for large, small and 50 cal. Excellent deal. I highly recommend it. As lee catalog says "less than other charge for dies alone". What is wrong with that.
Lee clasic cast press
- Thread starter lorne19
- Start date
Oh well, another semi-civil discussion all shot to hell. Looks like an ultimate strength test is in order. What do you think a good strength test would be? Lets see, how about crushing a lead cylinder till it get pancaked or the press breaks? Anybody with a co-ax up to the challenge? How 'bout a rockchucker? Seriously how strong does a press have to be? I bet they would all lose to those old herters presses, somebody once described them as being able to crush a toyota into a bullet.
Actually i was referring to the "stubborn old man" comment, and I'm not that old! As far as bullets go, I reserve the right to not sell bullets if i believe that they will not be used with the care that was used in their manufacture. I can not be held responsible if the bullets are not seated properly in the case, due to faulty equipment, sorry!!!
I don't think this thread is "shot to hell". People have different needs and you should know thyself well enough when getting advice about such purchases.
I failed to do that when I purchased my Challenger kit. Yes, I know it's not a Classic Cast. But, the whole kit screams "how can we make something functional out of the flimsiest, cheapest, material we can find?" The Safety Scale was the first thing in the bin. Next was the case length gauge/trimmer tool. Since trying a Redding die, I won't own another Lee. The "on-press" priming mechanism is all plastic. Besides, I clean/size my primer pockets so on-press priming makes no sense for me. In terms of cost, an extra $150 amortized over the life of the press ain't much and I wish I would have ponied up for the Co-Ax or Big Boss.
However, the Lee stuff definitely works and many people produce very high quality ammunition and are completely satisfied with it. I take nothing away from them. Whatever floats yer boat.
I failed to do that when I purchased my Challenger kit. Yes, I know it's not a Classic Cast. But, the whole kit screams "how can we make something functional out of the flimsiest, cheapest, material we can find?" The Safety Scale was the first thing in the bin. Next was the case length gauge/trimmer tool. Since trying a Redding die, I won't own another Lee. The "on-press" priming mechanism is all plastic. Besides, I clean/size my primer pockets so on-press priming makes no sense for me. In terms of cost, an extra $150 amortized over the life of the press ain't much and I wish I would have ponied up for the Co-Ax or Big Boss.
However, the Lee stuff definitely works and many people produce very high quality ammunition and are completely satisfied with it. I take nothing away from them. Whatever floats yer boat.
The classic cast will eat your Co ass...I mean co-ax for breakfast.
Hunchak can your Co-Ax handle a 50 bmg ??? I dont think you're going to answer this one but Id though Id throw it out there.
Cheers!!
My Lee turret press loads various calibres that put venison on the table every year. Everyone I hunt with knows if they hear 1 shot from my neck of the woods there is a dead deer. And my Lee shotshell press never fails to give me ammo that performs equal to store bought.
I just picked up a Classic Cast last month.
Skookum kit, that!
Given the comments about flimsy junk that are being chucked around, I'm gonna bet a buck that the guy sayin' it, has not so much as looked at one close, let alone tried one out. Inexpensive, yes, cheap pot metal, not so much.
Given that the RCBS Chucker has gone offshore for manufacture, that made it an even easier choice.
I'd maybe rather find a couple $35 Rock Chuckers at a garage sale, but in the meantime, this is the best value for what I want it to do, in the entire marketplace, IMO. Worth looking at, if you are considering a single stage press for reloading or light duty swaging.
Apparently a fella by the name of Jerry Teo makes some pretty good ammo on 'cheap pot metal', so I'd figure that counts as evidence in favor of operator rather than equipment choices, as being a larger factor.
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek075.html
Cheers
Trev
Skookum kit, that!
Given the comments about flimsy junk that are being chucked around, I'm gonna bet a buck that the guy sayin' it, has not so much as looked at one close, let alone tried one out. Inexpensive, yes, cheap pot metal, not so much.
Given that the RCBS Chucker has gone offshore for manufacture, that made it an even easier choice.
I'd maybe rather find a couple $35 Rock Chuckers at a garage sale, but in the meantime, this is the best value for what I want it to do, in the entire marketplace, IMO. Worth looking at, if you are considering a single stage press for reloading or light duty swaging.
Apparently a fella by the name of Jerry Teo makes some pretty good ammo on 'cheap pot metal', so I'd figure that counts as evidence in favor of operator rather than equipment choices, as being a larger factor.
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek075.html
Cheers
Trev
I bought a classic cast when they came out, had and still have an RCBS 5? or s? junior thing. Both work well, Lee doesn't require as much hand force due to the longer lever. Lee is bolted to my bench RCBS is in my range kit. The press uses steel bits to bend brass bits, it aint friggin' magic.
Comparing a Challenger press to a Classic Cast press is like comparing a VW bug to a Porsche 911, and then saying you'll never own a Porsche because the VW feels cheap. The CC is a good press, never mind what colour it is. The co-ax Ben talks of is a great press too, better in some ways, not as useful in others. Like all tools, it depends on the needs of the user. Hard to pound nails with a saw. - dan- dan
Perhaps, but forget the press for a second. Everything that I own that is made by Lee leaves me dissatisfied in terms of performance and quality. In terms of the needs of this user, Lee no longer plays a role.
And I'm ok with that. I just found the comparative statement misleading. You don't want to use Lee, don't use Lee. I have six presses from four makers in my loading room, and I'm looking at one of Ben's favorites, the co-ax, simply because it is a joy to use. They all play a part. - dan
- Location
- Eastern Ont.
I have the classic cast .
I went out and bought the Hornady Lock and load system for all my dies,
and the press converter insert.
This is the fastest and slickest way.
super fast to change dies, and in a solid no flex press.
You should let all your customers know you won't sell to them if they reload with lee equipment.
I have the less classic cast, and the lee turret, they have replaced alot more expensive equipment and done a better job for longer. Soooooo for my needs they are great. I love that people don't like em though, makes me feel good inside when I beat em in a shoot-off and spent 1/4 as much on reloading gear!
- Location
- Federal Riding of Wascana
Just bought the Lee cast, was $140 from Cabelas, super heavy, does everything I want it to, but the Lee classic powder measure is about the worst measure out there, leaks from the side disc like crazy, so will go back to my rcbs for now.
Wouldn't mind a Dillon but that's the price of another firearm
Wouldn't mind a Dillon but that's the price of another firearm
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
Just bought brand new in box Lee clasic cast for $60 at flea market and sorry Rockchucker fans I sold my old RCBS buddy b/c the former is so much better; way tighter, it has somehow more leverage, the ram's dia is 1.125" (!), has ingenious priming system with instant used primer disposal into the plastic tube and no more fumbling and squeezing the bullets into my 300H&H seating die! This is the deal of a the year....and then some.
Last edited:
It just depends on how much reloading you plan on doing. On a good day, I can do about 200 rounds per hour of pistol ammo on a Lee Classic Turret. I can easily do 1000 to 1200 rounds per hour on my Dillion XL650 (I also have the case feeder). Since I'm loading for both the wife and myself and we shoot about 1200 rounds each week between the two of us, it's the difference between reloading being like a part-time job without pay, or just 5 hours a month of cranking a handle. With my wife and I both involved in IPSC, there is no way I could feasibly use a non-progressive setup.
That being said, I still have my Lee Classic also on my bench, and I'm not selling it. It takes longer on a Dillon to change calibers than it takes to make a few thousand rounds of ammo! Hence why the rich folk here (you know who you are) have a complete Dillon press setup for every caliber they load! So I use my Lee Classic for all other calibers that I don't shoot as much, and also use it for sizing my cast boolits.
its all about what you need
yeah... 1200 rounds in IPSC needs a high volume progressive. For me, its 200-400 rounds a month, so I don't need all the machinery.
So, after heaps of research, the price of a Lee Turret press kit was too good to pass up - just couldn't see paying 2,3 or 4 times more for equipment that in quite a few cases is just a BIT better. Glad I did. As a newbie, I started using it like a single stage (removed the auto index rod) until I had plenty of practice, and then progressed. Since then, I've been cranking out .38sp swc rounds in the volumes I need am ready to invest a whopping ten bucks for another turret head to go with my 9mm dies. Lee's not the fanciest or shiniest, but it gets the job done.
Only thing I don't like is that it didn't come with the primer feed (have been sticking the wee things in the cup by hand... gonna pick one up next time over the border).
yeah... 1200 rounds in IPSC needs a high volume progressive. For me, its 200-400 rounds a month, so I don't need all the machinery.
So, after heaps of research, the price of a Lee Turret press kit was too good to pass up - just couldn't see paying 2,3 or 4 times more for equipment that in quite a few cases is just a BIT better. Glad I did. As a newbie, I started using it like a single stage (removed the auto index rod) until I had plenty of practice, and then progressed. Since then, I've been cranking out .38sp swc rounds in the volumes I need am ready to invest a whopping ten bucks for another turret head to go with my 9mm dies. Lee's not the fanciest or shiniest, but it gets the job done.
Only thing I don't like is that it didn't come with the primer feed (have been sticking the wee things in the cup by hand... gonna pick one up next time over the border).
