All the Complaining That Goes On About Lee Precision

[troyboy]

Lots of parrots.

[Sonnypie]

...and a few carrots.

[Elkins45]

I assembled my first reload (357 magnum) with a Lee Loader hammer kit and RCBS scale in 1980. Who knows when I would have started if I had needed to wait until I could afford a press and dies too? When I finally got a real job some years later I bought an RCBS press because that what was sold in the LGS. Had there been Lee presses back then I might well have bought one.

I cast my first bullet with a Lee mould sometime in the late 80's, lubed it in a Lee aluminum pan and sized it with the Lee hammer thru sizer. Who knows if I ever would have started casting if I had needed to save up to buy a Lyman mould, handles and lubrisizer. I didn't buy my first non-Lee mould until 2010.

I can't imagine I'll ever need to buy a new press, but if I do I'll probably look a Lee first. My general pattern is to shop Lee first, RCBS next and then everybody else third. It seems to work for me.

[ADfields]

I love Lee dies, they are every bit as good as any and better than many. Love the Factory Crimp dies, got to have them! Some of their stuff is real “economy” stuff and I won’t bother with it, it works, does as designed and is cheap on the wallet starter equipment just not up to what I do on my bench. All in all I love Lee, they have cheap stuff that works, if you want better quality stuff they have that also, they cover any problems you might have promptly and very fairly . . . what’s not to like about Lee?

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

I started reloading with a Lyman tong tool. It worked, just took me about two minutes to load a round.

Today I have several SDB's and a couple 550's, along with an RCBS A4 and a Forster single stage. No red on my bench.

IMHO, Lee has figured out a way to make every single product they make look cheesy. Bullet moulds are so good RE Quality Control is such that we have stopped doing group buys with them and gone to a better quality NOE mould.

Corollary: a kid down the street has a GEO Metro convertible. I have a Jaguar XK-8 convertible. He does not compare his car to mine, even though they both perform the same job of transporting two people with the top down so passenger and driver can enjoy the sun on a nice day.

[jimkim]

Umm, Forster presses ARE RED!!!!
So what you are saying is Lee presses have better wiring and get better mileage than a Jaguar?

[MtGun44]

Hey gear, I LIKE their chamfering tool!

Bill

[Cowboy T]

Lots of parrots.

Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.


BRRAAAAACK! (whistle)

[jimkim]

Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.
Lots of parrots.


BRRAAAAACK! (whistle)

Sure are huh?

[Thecyberguy]

I guess I missed it. How does "Lots of parrots" have anything to this post?

[jimkim]

I guess I missed it. How does "Lots of parrots" have anything to this post?

To me it's the same old my RCBS RC is so much stronger than the Lee Reloader thing I've been hearing for 30yrs(?). If it's not 30yrs it sure seems like it. I even had my favorite cousin scold me for buying a used Lee turret press twenty years ago. He even enlisted his father, just to add on to the, what was at that moment a completely humiliating experience. I went home and stared at my little press that I had been so proud of. In a few years I still had it, and it still hadn't broken, and my pride was back. I kept it for twenty years, and finally gifted it back to the original owner. I have now realized when comparing apples to apples(cast iron to cast iron, or light weight aluminum to aluminum) the Lee presses are the better products, with the exception of the progressive presses. I'm not completely sold on the Loadmaster*. When you compare presses in the same price range the other companies don't even come close.
The Lee Classic Cast cost $73.00 at FS Reloading. The RCBS Partner pres cost $67.00 at Bud's Gun Shop. That's hardly a far comparison, but the Green Parrots have been doing it for years.

The reason I'm not sold on the Loadmaster is I think there is just too much stuff going on, and I like my Dillon RL-300. The fact that, although I sacrifice speed, it uses many manually operated things is a plus to me. I like less complicated machinery. If they would come out with a completely manual Pro-1000 with an old fashion primer system, I might get one. Better yet would be a progressive press based on the Lee Classic Turret using the same manual systems as an RL550.

[Thecyberguy]

To me it's the same old my RCBS RC is so much stronger than the Lee Reloader thing I've been hearing for 30yrs(?). If it's not 30yrs it sure seems like it. I even had my favorite cousin scold me for buying a used Lee turret press twenty years ago. He even enlisted his father, just to add on to the, what was at that moment a completely humiliating experience. I went home and stared at my little press that I had been so proud of. In a few years I still had it, and it still hadn't broken, and my pride was back. I kept it for twenty years, and finally gifted it back to the original owner. I have now realized when comparing apples to apples(cast iron to cast iron, or light weight aluminum to aluminum) the Lee presses are the better products, with the exception of the progressive presses. I'm not completely sold on the Loadmaster*. When you compare presses in the same price range the other companies don't even come close.
The Lee Classic Cast cost $73.00 at FS Reloading. The RCBS Partner pres cost $67.00 at Bud's Gun Shop. That's hardly a far comparison, but the Green Parrots have been doing it for years.

The reason I'm not sold on the Loadmaster is I think there is just too much stuff going on, and I like my Dillon RL-300. The fact that, although I sacrifice speed, it uses many manually operated things is a plus to me. I like less complicated machinery. If they would come out with a completely manual Pro-1000 with an old fashion primer system, I might get one. Better yet would be a progressive press based on the Lee Classic Turret using the same manual systems as an RL550.

I can show targets that have 3 shots touching each other from 100 measured yards loaded on my Lee cast turret. I believe that Lee makes many good products. I guess I could be called a red parrot.... lol

I guess I just don't see where calling someone a parrot helps lend any credibility to Lee or any other company.

In fact I didn't even know what you meant.

I agree that there is way too much Lee bashing that goes on for the reason of justifying paying more for a similar product.


I do wish those folks would simply say they prefer their choice over others. No need for calling names....I guess.

But that is covered under the "freedom of speech".

I like Lee and have a bunch. I have had excellent results with Lee. But, I am sure folks have had good luck with other products as well.

I was just wondering. Thank for the explanation.

[Reload3006]

I own a lot of lee gear. some if it cant be beat at any price. I personally dont believe there is a better universal decapping tool on the market. I do not like their presses. Personal preference. And I am entitled to it. I happen to like Hornady dies the best. But I own more RCBS than any. Lee makes fine tools. Most are entry level. and do a good job. Other tools have nicer features that I for one am willing to pay for. On other tools I am not. I Dont bash Lee products I just dont happen to care for a lot of them.

But what intrigues me the most is why people are so touchy about their Lee gear? I dont give a tinkers damn if anyone approves or likes what I use or not. I am not in the least offended by it. If a snob thinks he should only load with Dillon more power to him (I by the way am a Dillon owner as well as Lee and RCBS and Hornady and Redding and Forster and sinclair) Some are cadalliacs others aren't even good enough to be a Ford but they all serve a purpose for me. I love some and hate others. I would recommend some and not others. Take off your touchy shorts and roll with it. Do you own LEE precision? if not what does it matter to you? LMAO

[jimkim]

That was just my explanation. I'm sure others would have another. I use several different brands and so far I like all the stuff I've bought. Being a single father and raising two kids on my own, kinda limited my funding. I learned a long time ago, to appreciate value and learned to properly use and take care of my equipment.

[Thecyberguy]

I could care less what people think of my stuff.

The reason I am "touchy" is that many new folks come to these forums for advice and get put off Lee produces because of the bashing that Lee gets.

I have never bashed anyone's products. I try to give my honest appraisal of any equipment I give one for.

I think it is a dis-service to new folks in the casting and hand loading hobby to turn them away from equipment that could serve their purpose very well and for less money.

[jimkim]

My explanation of the "parrot" remarks are what they signify to me.

While I don't, now, hold any regard(low or otherwise) for what anyone, says about my equipment, I did at one time. People I respected spoke very harshly about it. It put me off for some time, and being cash strapped I felt I had wasted money I couldn't afford to part with.

I am touchy because I remember what it was like, and had I listened to them, I would have sold my equipment at a loss and probably never reloaded again. I believe these experts do way more damage than they are aware.

I enjoy picking back a little too. Especially if they are really bashing something. I can't really tell if they know what they are talking about. Sometimes I think they just "parrot" something they heard. It does grow rather tiresome.

[Pigslayer]

LEE makes good stuff. They all make good stuff. Splitting hairs is a fruitless venture. I've owned & still do own Redding, RCBS, Lyman & LEE. LEE performed every bit as good as the others at a lower cost. Go figure!

[garym1a2]

My hand press, my classic cast press and my classic cast turrent press are great. So are my 6up molds. The perfect powder measure is pretty good. I like their dies and have them in 9mm, 40, 45,acp, 38 and .223..

Using their boolit sizers and LLA I lead up too much so I use a RCBS LAM and a good lube.

The load master STINKS. I can run my Classic cast faster and not destroy a ton of primers.

[Thecyberguy]

The load master STINKS. I can run my Classic cast faster and not destroy a ton of primers.

garym1a2, I am very interested in the Loadmaster for 45ACP.

Why do you say it stinks?
I see the comment about the primers, but I understand there have been some changes recently.
Do you still have your LM?

I have the new cast turret and love it. I can load ammo quite quickly with it, but was thinking of the LM as a move up.

Please elaborate on you bad experience for me and the rest of the folks that will come along.

Hand loaders and few and far between in my area. There is nobody here that I can go to and ask about or watch a loadmaster in operation, so forums like this and folks like you become my "buddy next door" to ask these question of.
Thanks,

[aarolar]

What I hate to see is someone new wanting to get into reloading and a bunch of guys start telling him lee sucks and start telling him he needs 1500$ worth of Dillon products on top of all the components he is going to need. How many people do you think got turned away because its too expensive to get started? I started at age 15 with my dads lee loader I found in his guncabinet along with some old powder and primers after I played with that for awhile he suprised me one day with the lee single stage kit and now at age 26 I have a whole room in my house didicated to reloading with nothing but lee equipment.