Which Starting kit Get ? My Dealer Said LEE is JUNK

volks_r_us

volks_r_us

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Well here I am getting ready to buy my first kit


I went to my Local gun dealer Asking a around what to get and how much to get started.

I was interested by Lee precision Equipement (cuz its cheap)
but was told you get what you paid for , Specially with LEE. You dont want to to get involve with LEE , you dont want to deal with them. I must say he seems very convincing. I was told I have to spend around $600 before I can reload my first bullet. Thats about 300 factory catridges.

They carry Hornady , RCBS , Lyman.
He told me to stay away from Turret with rifle bullet because they wont give enough precision for rifle cartridge. Turret are for pistols not rifles.

I must say he got me mix up a bit and I'm not sure reloading is for me
I had $300 (starting kit,powder,die,bullet)price range in mind and it seems possible with LEE and it was a turret also. I also realize that there is no LEE dealer in Montreal area well I think.

Can somebody would be kind enough to guide me a bit in where and what to buy for $300 if realistic ofcourse

Will be reloading 270WSM


Lyman Expert kit is $469 at lebaron
RCBS kit $469
LEE turret is like $150 on there US website
 
Your dealer is full of ####. Everything I use is Lee, except for some tools they don't make.

It makes great ammo and I've never had a problem with any of their gear. Part of the proposition of reloading is the economy of it; Lee helps you save money way sooner.

Soon the RCBS fanboys will be along to tell you otherwise.
 
Get a lee kit from someone else.
Do not get a turret, do get a single stage press.]

I have the lyman crusher press, a rockchucker, a dillon rl450b, a lee turret, a lee hand press, and a lee C press. I use them all from time to time. The lee challenger press is a good starter press.
Lee single stage press kits are a good start. The Lee manual is second only to the latest lyman manual.
Salesfolk that bad mouth Lee products probably don't make as much markup on them.
Buy a Lee starter kit. Learn how to reload, then purchase the products from the other companies that you think you may like better.
I use lee dies for most of my rifle and pistol reloading.
The lee case trimming tool is the fastest and best out there if you mount the cutter in a drill press (opposite of lee's directions).
Some of Lee's products are not as nice to use as the "top line" brands, but then again they work as advertised.
Lee dies and shellholders are a great deal and work well.
The lee scale works but isn't as slick as scales costing $40.00 more - buy a used Lyman, Ohaus, or RCBS scale off Ebay if you don't like the scale.
 
Go to another dealer and tell that one he is full of S**T.

Take a look at what Mysticplayer (member and now dealer here on CGN) used to load up ammo that make itty bitty groups at over the horizon distances.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek075.html

Yes, that's right, consistent ONE HOLE GROUPS AT 345 yards. And using a Lee Challenger press and Lee dies.

Oh, and BTW, the new RCBS presses are cast in China. :rolleyes:

Sure some companies will have better equipment, just depends on what your are doing and how much you want to pay for it. Want the best press out there? Get the Forster Co-Ax.
 
Silverado said:
Your dealer is full of s**t. Everything I use is Lee, except for some tools they don't make.

It makes great ammo and I've never had a problem with any of their gear. Part of the proposition of reloading is the economy of it; Lee helps you save money way sooner.

Soon the RCBS fanboys will be along to tell you otherwise.
Click to expand...

I have had some problems with LEE equipment due to their casting process and certain items having too much flex and such. I do prefer a few of their tools like their hand primer and their trickler. I will give them thumbs up on their customer service. If it broke or was too imprecise they replaced it.

RCBS is good, and I have had great customer service from them too (in fact the best I have ever had in any industry), but if you can get it I would go with Redding. Everything I have used of theirs has bee slick, precise and simple. I am in the process of replacing all of my dies with Redding.

One thing I don't recommend from LEE is the dipper set. Always use some sort of weight measurement to check those buggers. It is one thing to charge cases by volume measurement with a precise dropper, but those dippers.........
 
The Lee turret works great for me for reloading 38sp, 45acp, 6.5x55 rifle, 223 rifle, 308 rifle and 300WM rifle. I like the ability to leave the dies set up on a turret and simply swap them around. I don't think strength is an issue, just make sure cases are properly lubed and its clamped down to a sufficiently heavy table. There may be better presses than the Lee Turret, but it certainly works for rifle. 10x has tried them all, and says others are better. Fair enough, but the turret certainly works. I don't use the turreting movement for rifle, only for handgun to speed up the process.

I would buy a decent scale like a 5-0-5. You can use Lee scoups to speed up the process and a $15 trickler to precision trickle the last few grains of powder exactly on the scale.
 
OK, we can tell who the dealer is and I am totally surprised they said that about Lee. There is one guy and one guy only to speak to about reloading there. I think you spoke to the other guys. He won't steer you wrong and does recommend some Lee stuff (crimp dies etc) or if your budget can only afford Lee.

True, there are better out there but value-for-your-dollar, Lee is great to start out and keep them for backups and small jobs later when you do get a more expensive set up.

There is no dealer here but the people you are referring to can get Lee.

Drive 45 minute out of town and see Tom and Andrew at Higginson Powders.

As for rifles, I try do do as accurate as possible but I don't shoot good enough for the "precision crowd" yet. I use both my Turret and Loadmaster for rifle rounds. The turret you have to take out the indexing rod and turn the stations manually (like a single stage but dies are already set) because they will bind against the die bodies due to their length.

The Loadmaster, I use it as a Turret press (ie one round at a time) because there is just too much force needed with some brass and you get powder everywhere if trying to use it progressively (ie all five rounds at a time).

For the average shooter, the results shoot as good as doing it on a single stage (which I also have - Lee reloader "C" press and Classic Cast).

Follow the other guys advice on the dippers. Either chuck 'em or keep them if you get a Hand Press and want to do simple basic on-the-fly reloading out in the bush or on your tailgate.

Reloading is an addiction, like shooting. The more you do it, the more you buy, so savings isn't up to the $/round like some figure out to the exact penny. Start off with a simple set of whatever press you decide you can afford and upgrade as you go along. That's what most of us do.
 
10x said:
Buy a Lee starter kit. Learn how to reload, then purchase the products from the other companies that you think you may like better.
Click to expand...
Probably the best advice you will find on this post
(along with the rest of the quote)
I started with a Bonanza O frame (still have it)
I also have a Dillion and a Lee hand press now
I have Dies from several manufactures including Lee
Start with what you can afford and expand later
 
Grizzlypeg said:
/
I would buy a decent scale like a 5-0-5. You can use Lee scoups to speed up the process and a $15 trickler to precision trickle the last few grains of powder exactly on the scale.
Click to expand...

Bingo. That is an efficient way of using them. I just wouldn't trust their volume conversions as they state them, but that is from my experience and IMO.
 
i've been reloading since 1971 or so, and i've got mostly lee- had it for years- right now my line-up is 1 turret press , 3 1000s, a loadmaster, and a dillon 550b-that covers a great deal of the spectrum, both pistol and rifle- and i started with an rcbs jr , then upgraded to a turret- there's nothing wrong with those either- it saves all that screw/unscrew b/s -the first thing that impressed me with the single stage was how incredibly SLOW it was- first thing as soon as i could afford it was to put in a second single stage press with the powder measure in the centre so you could get a progression going- then i went to the turret with the auto- index and upped production by roughly 1/3- then i tripled production by going to the 1000 but only on the pistol calibers- now i have 3 1000s, 223, 9mm, and45acp- the dillon 550 b does 308 win, the loadmaste does 44mag( 4 dies) and the turret does 338 mag- only b/c i use only small batches in that one- you have to remove the auto- index to do it- in other words i have and and am really happy wth most of the higher end lee progressives -and i use the loadmaster as it was meant to be used- as a 5 station progressive- but maybe it's b/c i'm only using it in 44 mag -
 
volks_r_us said:
Thanks for the input guys. I would like to fin a local LEE Dealer at least in Quebec it would be easier for upgrade. Can I Use Redding Dies with everything else LEE ?
here is the vid that got me inspire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpN9iYOyE8
Click to expand...

Again, take an afternoon or Saturday morning and speak to Tom and Andrew. Even if you don't get Lee, they are a gold mine of information. They are just across the ON/QC border. And if you get to know them, they put your QC address on the invoice so only one tax. They also ship if you have no ride out there.

Lee presses use standard dies so RCBS, Lyman, Dillon, Redding etc all fit if they are 7/8" thread.
 
Sandroad, thanks for the kind words and Yes, I use ALOT of Lee products. I wished I could dope the winds as well as my rifles can shoot but bugholes at 300m don't come as often as I would like :)

The new breech lock starter kit is likely the best way to get into reloading AND make very accurate ammo. I am presently using this press and am thrilled with how well it works. Those inserts make die changing so quick and easy.

So with the Lee anniversary starter kit, the good stuff:

Press - get more inserts cause you will need them for all the dies you will pick up over the years. Dirt cheap for how well it works and it is now build like a SBH. Believe me when I say, I load ALOT of ammo and am hard on my gear.

Scale - I have been happily making 1/4 min ammo with my Lee scale. I have since upgraded to a more accurate digi scale but for most applications, the Lee will do great. Compared to some other beam scales, the Lee is actually more consistent (yes, I have used various green scales) and doesn't stick as often.

Hand primer - used by pretty much everyone as it does a superb job and that primer tray makes this job SOOOO much easier.

Shellholders - as good as any

Powder measure - adjusting it is ver
 
Ok Lee it will be ... I'm do like Medicstimpy Said, Ill go talk with Tom and Andrew
it's a 1h15 drive from Downtown were I am , but It's probly well worth the Drive

Thanks guys Ill let you what I got
 
i bought the lee anniversary kit about 20 years ago It was the best 142 dollars i ever spent in my life. You do not need to spend 600 dollars to get set up in reloading. You may spend more over time as you upgrade and tweak stuff to your individual preferences, but the Lee equipment will load ammo every bit as good as the competition.
Kim
 
I started with a second hand Lee Hand press kit...IIRC I paid something like $40 for it a few years ago.

And it has been a strong and faith full workhorse through several caliber types.

.303, 30/30, 6.5x55, 7.62x39.

hpk.jpg


I have even taken it to the range with me to make new loads on the spot for testing.
 
I would also recommend the lee hand press if you don't have space or like something a bit more portable.

I usually get around 15-20 rounds an hour, not the fastest but at least i know im doing it right.
 
volks_r_us said:
Thanks for the input guys. I would like to fin a local LEE Dealer at least in Quebec it would be easier for upgrade. Can I Use Redding Dies with everything else LEE ?
here is the vid that got me inspire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpN9iYOyE8
Click to expand...

I load for 13 different calibers. Have loaded 10's of thousands of rounds on "crappy LEE equipment" and it is still pumping out ammo!

For rifle calibers a single stage is best.
For pistol, go with a progressive press.

Higginsons is 1 hour from Montreal in Hawksbury and carrys the complete LEE line. Also has more extensive variety of reloading components, much more than CRAFM, Dante, LeBaron, CTVSP... If you don't have a car, Higginsons will ship.

Whatever you decide, do NOT take any advice from LeBaron as they don't know their ass from a hole in the ground!
 
volks_r_us said:
Well here I am getting ready to buy my first kit


I went to my Local gun dealer Asking a around what to get and how much to get started.

I was interested by Lee precision Equipement (cuz its cheap)
but was told you get what you paid for , Specially with LEE. You dont want to to get involve with LEE , you dont want to deal with them. I must say he seems very convincing. I was told I have to spend around $600 before I can reload my first bullet. Thats about 300 factory catridges.

They carry Hornady , RCBS , Lyman.
He told me to stay away from Turret with rifle bullet because they wont give enough precision for rifle cartridge. Turret are for pistols not rifles.

I must say he got me mix up a bit and I'm not sure reloading is for me
I had $300 (starting kit,powder,die,bullet)price range in mind and it seems possible with LEE and it was a turret also. I also realize that there is no LEE dealer in Montreal area well I think.

Can somebody would be kind enough to guide me a bit in where and what to buy for $300 if realistic ofcourse

Will be reloading 270WSM


Lyman Expert kit is $469 at lebaron
RCBS kit $469
LEE turret is like $150 on there US website
Click to expand...


In My Humble Opinion after fifty years of reloading;

Anything I have tried from Lee I have not been happy with, especially bullet moulds. The price is attractive but is worth next to nothing when you try to sell it.

My Dillon 1050 and 550 and Hornady are worth more now than when I bought them 25 years ago. The same with my Hensley and Gibbs, Lyman, and Saeco bullet moulds.

I use the above Dillons, a Hornady Pro-Jector, Lyman All American turret, Comet and Spartan presses and love them all.

I have also owned PW P200 metallic, MEC shotshell loaders and they were excellent too.

You will never be sorry buying quality.

Go for the RCBS or Lyman kit; it will increase in value, the Lee will not.

IMHO Lee is toy junk , but you know what they say about opinions.

:wave:
 
Well, I've only been loading for 48 years, so I guess I still have something to learn. Started with a Lee, still have it, it still works.
I have tools and tooling of all makes. The results obtained with my Lee equipment are as good as with the others.
But I'm glad my RCBS and Lyman gear is appreciating in value, even though it is used.
 
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