sks30 said:pupzit said:Calum said:Once you use a collet die (no lube needed) you'll probably never want to use anything else. I've only had mine a short time NOT lubing is a great experience
Can you deprime without using lube with the collet die. I am not familiar with this.
Steve.
no lube needed for the collet dies.
Why do people dislike LEE products?
- Thread starter SuperCub
- Start date
Semis need the shoulder pushed back a bit. The strong camming action of a bolt gun will close on a neck-sized-only case, but the camming action on a semi is a lot weaker. You can slam away at an AR forward assist (or equivalent on other guns) without getting it locked up properly.
Even in a bolt gun, once the case is fired it fits that chamber. On a different gun, the bolt may not close.
So, for ammo you'll use always in the same bolt gun, neck sizing is the way to go (better brass life etc.). Depending on the ammo an gun, you might also need to crimp, which is why Lee does not recommend the collet die for hunting loads. Although people do use them for that.
Yes it is. Nothing wrong with that, since it is the general case. Every reloading source will tell you to full-length for semi's - if a given semi will work neck-sized, great, but a new reloader should not buy neck-sizing gear with the expectation that it will work in a semi. Which was the point I was making.
Lee shellholders are an invitation to make a mistake. They have a number like "1" or "2" on them but don't say Lee on them. After a few years go by you may not know what it is anymore. At least the RCBS holders have "RCBS" and a number on them so you can look on a chart to see what they are for. You can vibro-etch or air pencil the word "Lee" on them but why didn't Lee do this for us at the factory? This is taking cost saving a little too far! Also the lock rings on Lee dies suck big time. They are much more likely to slip than the set screw types used by most other manufacturers.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I just brought into reloading with a lee hand press kit, RGB and Collet dies along with the crimper and have so far reloaded around 400 rounds of .303 British with no problems and to me superior results.
I'm currently using the lee dippers which seem to be working out well enough i don't know whether i'll bother with a scale for now.
My 2c anyway
I'm currently using the lee dippers which seem to be working out well enough i don't know whether i'll bother with a scale for now.
My 2c anyway
Heretic Dave said:I just brought into reloading with a lee hand press kit, RGB and Collet dies along with the crimper and have so far reloaded around 400 rounds of .303 British with no problems and to me superior results.
I'm currently using the lee dippers which seem to be working out well enough i don't know whether i'll bother with a scale for now.
My 2c anyway
If you start loading closer to 'hotter loads' I'd get a Lee scale.
I have done a volume test between types of powders, and some do take up less volume then others...so in theroy one could make a load that is many grains above the safety margin.
So the experts tell me. 8)
Heretic Dave said:I just brought into reloading with a lee hand press kit, RGB and Collet dies along with the crimper and have so far reloaded around 400 rounds of .303 British with no problems and to me superior results.
I'm currently using the lee dippers which seem to be working out well enough i don't know whether i'll bother with a scale for now.
My 2c anyway
I definately recomend a scale. Most "stick" rifle powders don't measure accurately enough specially when you are close to max, One or two grains make a lot of difference. A lee scale is only about $30.00 and they work real well. You'll probably add a little to accuracy and I know I need all the help I can get there :lol: :lol:
back to original topic
I've been reloading for 20+ years (45+ calibers) and owned/used about every brand of equiptment out there today. The only problem I've ever had with any Lee product was a shattered shell holder. Most of the blame was my own, I was being cheap and making 6.5 Jap rounds from .220 Swift brass and this job puts a lot of stress on the tooling. I wrote Lee and mailed in the shell holder, and in a couple of days got a new one in the mail- NO CHARGE PARTS ALL GAURENTEED(sp) In other brand dies- I have had numerous stuck cases, broken depriming pins, bent decapping rods, stripped adjustment threads, DIES SIEZED IN PRESSES, and even had expander balls ripped from the decapping rods. Most of the time the tool maker will not cover the parts, they say their equiptment is designed and sold to be used in IDEAL conditions and they cannot conceive that THIER tooling failed under normal use! Lee dies can be adjusted with a wrench- not knurled knobs that need pliers. If I want to use pliers to work on something, I'll go to my garage and work on my Harley! Their presses are on the light side, which is why I use RCBS and Dillon, but as stated earlier in the thread: Their price has allowed a lot of people to start reloading! without having to take out a 2nd mortgage on their homes. They garauntee(sp) EVERY product they make and make it affordable. Nuff' Said! MTW :wink: :twisted:
I've been reloading for 20+ years (45+ calibers) and owned/used about every brand of equiptment out there today. The only problem I've ever had with any Lee product was a shattered shell holder. Most of the blame was my own, I was being cheap and making 6.5 Jap rounds from .220 Swift brass and this job puts a lot of stress on the tooling. I wrote Lee and mailed in the shell holder, and in a couple of days got a new one in the mail- NO CHARGE PARTS ALL GAURENTEED(sp) In other brand dies- I have had numerous stuck cases, broken depriming pins, bent decapping rods, stripped adjustment threads, DIES SIEZED IN PRESSES, and even had expander balls ripped from the decapping rods. Most of the time the tool maker will not cover the parts, they say their equiptment is designed and sold to be used in IDEAL conditions and they cannot conceive that THIER tooling failed under normal use! Lee dies can be adjusted with a wrench- not knurled knobs that need pliers. If I want to use pliers to work on something, I'll go to my garage and work on my Harley! Their presses are on the light side, which is why I use RCBS and Dillon, but as stated earlier in the thread: Their price has allowed a lot of people to start reloading! without having to take out a 2nd mortgage on their homes. They garauntee(sp) EVERY product they make and make it affordable. Nuff' Said! MTW :wink: :twisted:
People dislike Fee products? :?
I decided to get into reloading after I ordered my .44 mag (had no choice there....)
I looked around, some presses cost hundreds of dollars.... :shock:
I ordered a Lee Challenger press/ kit for $70 (inl dies) + another set of dyes for $30. I might get a Reloader press as well for only $25 to speed up the process. For me that’s what the reloading ids all about; SAVING MONEY. :wink:
:?I decided to get into reloading after I ordered my .44 mag (had no choice there....)
I looked around, some presses cost hundreds of dollars.... :shock:
I ordered a Lee Challenger press/ kit for $70 (inl dies) + another set of dyes for $30. I might get a Reloader press as well for only $25 to speed up the process. For me that’s what the reloading ids all about; SAVING MONEY. :wink:
I have a Lee challenger press and have no complaints w/ it. I also have a set of .270 dies I paid $15.00 and they work great. I didnt really care for the scale or powder measure but the rest of the products were great.
I agree w/ the other post that guys get upset because they pay big bucks for these fancy dies and Lee can give you the same results for a fraction of the price.
I used to think that Lee was mostly junk but after a few years of trying RCBS, Lyman, Redding I think they are just as good. Lyman dies are junk in my opinion.
Cheers!!
I agree w/ the other post that guys get upset because they pay big bucks for these fancy dies and Lee can give you the same results for a fraction of the price.
I used to think that Lee was mostly junk but after a few years of trying RCBS, Lyman, Redding I think they are just as good. Lyman dies are junk in my opinion.
Cheers!!
