Which Starting kit Get ? My Dealer Said LEE is JUNK
- Thread starter volks_r_us
- Start date
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I use a mix of stuff, like most reloaders. I can't complain about my LEE stuff at all. I really like that LEE has three piece rifle die sets for a very reasonable price. Kudos to them. I'd have to say in all honesty that they aren't quite up there with RCBS dies, but at basically half the price - plus a crimp die included, I buy RCBS for my high volume reloading and LEE for everything else.
- Location
- Central Alberta
Another bit of positive feedback for Lee. Good value for the money, and a damn good place to start out.YOu probably will end up upgrading later, but still there are many Lee tools you may continue to find very preferable to some of the competition's tools and prices.
I have.
I have.
I would buy the lee anniversary kit but with the classic cast upgrade. The challenger press linkage is aluminum and will break every 4000 or so rounds. Or it did for me twice.
The lingage on the classic cast is steel and will not break. I use lee for everything including thier molds.
The lingage on the classic cast is steel and will not break. I use lee for everything including thier molds.
Lee is OK
I picked up a Lee Classic Turret and have been very happy with the press. I use Lee delux pistol dies and deprime/prime off the press. I use an RCBS digital scale and check the charge that falls thru the Lee adjustable powder gate every five to ten rounds. Works great.
I picked up a Lee Classic Turret and have been very happy with the press. I use Lee delux pistol dies and deprime/prime off the press. I use an RCBS digital scale and check the charge that falls thru the Lee adjustable powder gate every five to ten rounds. Works great.
I started with a Lee 50th Anniversary kit and was pleased as punch with it. I have since upgraded my press and scales but still keep the Lee press as a backup and even use it now and again to do some loading at my computer desk in the winter.
I started reloading back in 1979 when I was 16 for a sproted .303 with a basic Lee Loader, a plastic hammer, and my kitchen table. I bought it at a flea market for $5. I loaded hundreds of satisfactory loads with it (still have it and use it occasionally). (I only load to put meat on the table so I am not interested in squeezing out every 1/10 MOA). I have since bought redding, RCBS, Pacific, Hornady, Lyman, MEC, and more Lee gear. However, most of what I have now is Lee.
I use the Lee 90% of the time. I have never shot at anything that I had to chase more than 200 yds. I have more than a dozen rifles that I load for and each year, I sight them all in and do some fun family shoots. My son has a rifle he hunts with and so does my wife. We load for them as well. I have always been able to hit an 8" paper plate at whatever range I built the rifle/round combo for. That's all I need. I even used the Lee presses ( I have a turret, 2 challengers, a hand press, the Lee Loader, 2 Load Alls (that's for sheet and trap as well as hunting), 20 dies sets, various tools. The only things I didnt like was the powder measure and the scale. However, I was told that I shold try another one, so I did and i like them. When I let Lee know that I was having trouble and how I solved it, they generously credited me for the the cost of a new measure and scale. I ordered another set of dies.
I am happy with Lee products, and even though I only fire about 2000 rounds a year, it is good enough for me.
Me, I am not much of a looker, but I get the job done and I am pretty secure in who I am so I don't have to compensate. I look for the same in my cars, guns, cartridges, etc. It doesn't have to look good, it just has to get me there. And Lee does this quite easily. I have a wife for the rest, and if she can accept me, than I'm gooood.
Take the Lee gear, you won't be sorry. And they'll work with you to make it good. Good luck and happy reloading.
I use the Lee 90% of the time. I have never shot at anything that I had to chase more than 200 yds. I have more than a dozen rifles that I load for and each year, I sight them all in and do some fun family shoots. My son has a rifle he hunts with and so does my wife. We load for them as well. I have always been able to hit an 8" paper plate at whatever range I built the rifle/round combo for. That's all I need. I even used the Lee presses ( I have a turret, 2 challengers, a hand press, the Lee Loader, 2 Load Alls (that's for sheet and trap as well as hunting), 20 dies sets, various tools. The only things I didnt like was the powder measure and the scale. However, I was told that I shold try another one, so I did and i like them. When I let Lee know that I was having trouble and how I solved it, they generously credited me for the the cost of a new measure and scale. I ordered another set of dies.
I am happy with Lee products, and even though I only fire about 2000 rounds a year, it is good enough for me.
Me, I am not much of a looker, but I get the job done and I am pretty secure in who I am so I don't have to compensate. I look for the same in my cars, guns, cartridges, etc. It doesn't have to look good, it just has to get me there. And Lee does this quite easily. I have a wife for the rest, and if she can accept me, than I'm gooood.
Take the Lee gear, you won't be sorry. And they'll work with you to make it good. Good luck and happy reloading.
Ok I might not be able to go at Higginson Powders for next couple of weeks so Im gonna try to have it ship.
I want you guys to check my gear to make sure I get the right things
I got the point about to the turret for rifle so im gonna get a C press
Do I pick
-Breech lock challenger kit $173
or
-50th anniversary kit $154
I need a poweder mesure I think
-Pro auto disc pder mesure $60
for the priming tool I dont what I need
Auto prime II $24 with the shell holder set $40 ?
DO I buy at the same time the Lee case trim Or Im better off wait a little until I really need one and buy a $100 Lyman or RCBS ( think i can mod these with a power drill) ?
Lee Zip trim cost $28.50
I also need Dies , im confuse dunno which one to get there whole section of dies in there price list.
Lee deluxe collet set for 270WSM $49.50
I can also get other dies here at Dante in Montreal RCBS LYMAN REDDING ... dunno price dunno if they will fit Lee press.
As for the powder and Bullet ... no ideal what to work out there.
I did some math with a formula that I found online and got this: .277 bullet with a lenght between 1.097 to 1.211 inch. Apperently this would be the best for my Ruger M77 Mk2 22inch barel 1:10 twist.
I also want powder and bullet for my Marlin 30-30 150 or 170Gr.
I found the formula Online www.hodgdon.com a bit confusing.
if they use a 150gr Sierra RN bullet with "X" powder can I use another bran 150gr RN bullet and use the same recepie ? or the bullet bran make the recepies change even if it the same weight.
Thanks for help guys
get the anniversary kit.it comes with everything you need except the actual pin to trim your specific caliber.
it comes with a "perfect powder measure"--not perfect for pistol and a bit hard to set up the dial adjuster.
the dies you need to buy for each caliber.lee dies come with the shell holder.
a"collet die" only sizes the neck.a "full length die" sizes the entire case.
if your "brass" was shot from the same gun you intend to load for then you can neck size but if it's new or someone's else's brass then you full length resize.
the hand prime comes with the kit and has all the shell holders you will need.
(they are NOT the same shell holders as the press shell holders.
get a digital caliper (micrometer) from canadian tire to measure the length of your brass to see if it needs to be trimmed.
you need to buy a reloading book.it will have all the recipes you need to reload.hornady is good--i have about 4 different books--lee,lyman,speer.
primers (large rifle i assume) bullets and brass (i hope you saved all your fired brass) is needed.as for the question about bullets--150 grain bullets can be used from one brand to another AS LONG AS copper jacket bullets are NOT confused with lead bullets.(make sure over-all-length{oal} is correct)
as for powder i'm not sure but varget or h4895 may work for both--i didn't look in my books so don't take my word for the powder selection...
Volks...
Your list sounds complete. I would not bother getting the Zip-Trim. You can use your trimmer in a cordless drill or screwdriver.
To start, get the Lee Pace-Setter rifle dies. You get the shell holder and the Factory Crimp die included for the same price as an RCBS without. If you want better later on, get the RCBS and you still have the crimp die and shell holder from the Lee set. Then you can size and deprime with your Lee sizer before tumbling, too.
Your list sounds complete. I would not bother getting the Zip-Trim. You can use your trimmer in a cordless drill or screwdriver.
To start, get the Lee Pace-Setter rifle dies. You get the shell holder and the Factory Crimp die included for the same price as an RCBS without. If you want better later on, get the RCBS and you still have the crimp die and shell holder from the Lee set. Then you can size and deprime with your Lee sizer before tumbling, too.
Calum, I'm a bit late into this thread. But when looking back to your reply, I had to chuckle a bit.
I bought that same kit about 10 years ago. I had all of the latest RCBS stuff but I needed something to take to the Hunter Bench Rest shoots. The reloading kit I had ordered from Sinclairs was on back order and it would be a couple of months before it would arrive. It was the standard, neck size only with change out neck diameters from Wilson.
I saw the Lee lever press and neck sizing collet dies and thought "why not?".
There was a lot of laughter and even my mentor at the time was dubious to say the least.
To say the least, the system worked so well that I bought another set a few months later.
The first set loaded cartridges with so little run out that I continued to use it, even after the Wilson system arrived. It was every bit as good and a lot quicker to use. After the first learning curve season, no one laughed anymore. Perhaps they just got used to it. I held my own during those matches and learned a lot from the various competitors. They're a great bunch of guys and eager to impart their knowledge with anyone that asks.
The second lever kit I picked up was every bit as good as the first. I bought it to take on gopher hunting excursions. It takes up so little space that everything fits into a small tackle box, including powder, primers, bullets, lube, powder measure and dies.
I gave the second set to a young rancher a few years back as he only hand loaded for one rifle. We made up a powder measure from one of his empty cases so he wouldn't need a scale or measure. Needless to say, he loves it. That lever press is still loading hundreds of rounds per year that are straight and consistent.
I would recommend that kit to anyone, newbie, with very little space in an apartment or an old time, experienced loader.
I agree, Lee products aren't the prettiest and they do look a little flimsy, but they work extremely well. Well enough that factory loaded ammunition, premium and otherwise are usually done on Lee products.
I bought that same kit about 10 years ago. I had all of the latest RCBS stuff but I needed something to take to the Hunter Bench Rest shoots. The reloading kit I had ordered from Sinclairs was on back order and it would be a couple of months before it would arrive. It was the standard, neck size only with change out neck diameters from Wilson.
I saw the Lee lever press and neck sizing collet dies and thought "why not?".
There was a lot of laughter and even my mentor at the time was dubious to say the least.
To say the least, the system worked so well that I bought another set a few months later.
The first set loaded cartridges with so little run out that I continued to use it, even after the Wilson system arrived. It was every bit as good and a lot quicker to use. After the first learning curve season, no one laughed anymore. Perhaps they just got used to it. I held my own during those matches and learned a lot from the various competitors. They're a great bunch of guys and eager to impart their knowledge with anyone that asks.
The second lever kit I picked up was every bit as good as the first. I bought it to take on gopher hunting excursions. It takes up so little space that everything fits into a small tackle box, including powder, primers, bullets, lube, powder measure and dies.
I gave the second set to a young rancher a few years back as he only hand loaded for one rifle. We made up a powder measure from one of his empty cases so he wouldn't need a scale or measure. Needless to say, he loves it. That lever press is still loading hundreds of rounds per year that are straight and consistent.
I would recommend that kit to anyone, newbie, with very little space in an apartment or an old time, experienced loader.
I agree, Lee products aren't the prettiest and they do look a little flimsy, but they work extremely well. Well enough that factory loaded ammunition, premium and otherwise are usually done on Lee products.
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
Started with Lee anniversary kit, works well, just a little slow. If go that route need to add bullet puller, calipers, manual (ABC of reloading). You may want to contact smacdonald, dealer on this site, for Lee parts.
I later picked up a ChargeMaster Combo, world of difference - kept scale & dispenser as back up, now with a friend. Later picked RCBS primer pocket cleaner, deburrer, & case trimmer - not really better than Lee, perhaps just a little nicer to work with. Also picked up a Lee hand primer. Only Lee pisser is hand primer and press use different shell holder and again a different shell holder of for the trimmer.
It is quite an investment to start with, also have to add cost of your components inventory (i.e. box of 150, 165, 175, 180, powder, primer, brass and its another $300 or so). Likely will end up shooting more than would otherwise so no real savings. Really is another hobby onto itself - highly recommend.
I later picked up a ChargeMaster Combo, world of difference - kept scale & dispenser as back up, now with a friend. Later picked RCBS primer pocket cleaner, deburrer, & case trimmer - not really better than Lee, perhaps just a little nicer to work with. Also picked up a Lee hand primer. Only Lee pisser is hand primer and press use different shell holder and again a different shell holder of for the trimmer.
It is quite an investment to start with, also have to add cost of your components inventory (i.e. box of 150, 165, 175, 180, powder, primer, brass and its another $300 or so). Likely will end up shooting more than would otherwise so no real savings. Really is another hobby onto itself - highly recommend.
The Lee basic case trimmer in a drill press (with the cutter and pilot mounted in the press rather than the shell holder) is the best system there is.
One guy mounted the cutter and pilot in an electric drill then put the electric drill in a vise. Worked well till one day he cranked the vise just a little too tight.
He got a new drill and used a large hose clamp to mount it to his bench.
I've got the Lee trimmer, but found that sometimes the case would be "off-centre", and no amount of fiddling with it would eliminate it. I've since switched to a hand-crank Forster trimmer that seems to work well. I also use the Lee powder scoops, and then trickle up to my desired load.
Lee gets an undeservedly bad rap, imo.
Lee gets an undeservedly bad rap, imo.
Yup, 10x, I have to agree that way works real good, too. But for some rifle rounds, you need a floor mounted drill press to get the cutter/gauge to clear the vise mounted holder and brass. I did my 8mm Mauser from 30-06 that way as it was too hard on the hands to hold the cutter while spinning over 100 cases in a drill.
BEST THING about the Lee trim tools is if they break, they are cheap to replace. Or free plus shipping if you want to bother making a warranty claim in the first two years, but it's just easier and cheaper to buy another one from Higgy's.
I'd love to get a used powered RCBS trimmer but the Lee system works great until I can afford to splurge on a beast like that. More dies, presses, bullet molds, bullets and powders take priority over fancy accessories.
BEST THING about the Lee trim tools is if they break, they are cheap to replace. Or free plus shipping if you want to bother making a warranty claim in the first two years, but it's just easier and cheaper to buy another one from Higgy's.
I'd love to get a used powered RCBS trimmer but the Lee system works great until I can afford to splurge on a beast like that. More dies, presses, bullet molds, bullets and powders take priority over fancy accessories.
Lee stuff can't possibly be any good.... There only a few thousand uninformed reloaders using the equipment and, after all, what would they know. I started back in the late 60's with a good old second-hand Lee Loader and a plastic headed hammer, with a can of 3031. I have a boatload of Lee stuff now, presses, moulds, trimmers, lead melting furnaces. I've struggled along all this time, believing I was having fun!!
Sarcasm aside, Lee, like every other manufacturer on this planet have some good stuff, and the odd thing that maybe doesn't measure up. We all have our favorite "cop", "rifle", "gun shop", "lemon" stories. I have loaded more than a few rifle rounds using the Lee scoops. I do have a trickler, somewhere, but as H4831 says, a rifle casing will "trickle" too.
I will always remember a fellow who came to a range at Maple Ridge or Mission (it was 30 yrs ago!), unloaded his rifle, spotting scope, shooting rest, a couple of other things, took a plastic baggie out of a box, very carefully loaded and fired three rounds, checked his target, packed everything back up, and left. He was friendly, showed us his rifle, looked at our stuff, talked guns. Whatever rings your bell. I'm happy if I can get through a whole day without getting run down by a truck, let alone doing any precision shooting, but I can appreciate the other fellow's different interests, too.
Sarcasm aside, Lee, like every other manufacturer on this planet have some good stuff, and the odd thing that maybe doesn't measure up. We all have our favorite "cop", "rifle", "gun shop", "lemon" stories. I have loaded more than a few rifle rounds using the Lee scoops. I do have a trickler, somewhere, but as H4831 says, a rifle casing will "trickle" too.
I will always remember a fellow who came to a range at Maple Ridge or Mission (it was 30 yrs ago!), unloaded his rifle, spotting scope, shooting rest, a couple of other things, took a plastic baggie out of a box, very carefully loaded and fired three rounds, checked his target, packed everything back up, and left. He was friendly, showed us his rifle, looked at our stuff, talked guns. Whatever rings your bell. I'm happy if I can get through a whole day without getting run down by a truck, let alone doing any precision shooting, but I can appreciate the other fellow's different interests, too.
First I want to thanks all of you, who gave me solid advice and real good tips how to really get started.
with this picture I am now closing this thread.
Today I fired my first Homemaid load and become a member of the the reloaders Familly. I have still alot to learn but, I really enjoyed what I did and it does give a unexplainable satisfaction to "DO IT ALL"
This is only the beggining... to be contined in another Thread
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=374720
with this picture I am now closing this thread.
Today I fired my first Homemaid load and become a member of the the reloaders Familly. I have still alot to learn but, I really enjoyed what I did and it does give a unexplainable satisfaction to "DO IT ALL"
This is only the beggining... to be contined in another Thread
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=374720
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