New Lee Dies Have New Lock Rings

[jonp]

Just got a set of 357 Mag Lee Carbide and noticed the new lock rings. When did they change the design?

[daengmei]

Early 2020, this link...https://ultimatereloader.com/2020/03...lee-precision/

[jonp]

Thanks. I watch Gavin and he is one of my follows. Must have missed that one

[onelight]

I like the new rings very convenient on a turret or progressive press.

[Garyshome]

Lee seems to be the industry innovators. There doesn't seem to be anyone with a lineup like Lee.

[Steve Steven]

I like the new rings, just wish I could get the wrench without having to get 3 more rings.

Steve

[William Yanda]

Its from Lee, it MUST be HORRID!!!

[Shepherd2]

I like the new rings, just wish I could get the wrench without having to get 3 more rings.

Steve

I ordered the wrench separately from Midway.

[bedbugbilly]

I use a lot of Lee stuff so I'm not knocking them at all - but personally, I don't like the new lockings - probably because fo the way I load. I use their 4 hole classic turret press - love it and have different turret plates set up for different cartridges (mostly Lee dies) so once the dies are set up on the plate, they stay set up. Here in AZ, I use a single stage press. I bought probably four different Lee die sets in the past few months - all have the new rings. The first thing I do is take 'em off and put on a lock ring so that once the die is set up in the single stage - it's no trick to switch dies out for different operations and when a die is switched out, it is already in adjustment with a lock ring.

new design of lock rings + sales of new wrenches to fit them - so Lee is thinking ahead

I wonder if others will redesign their's at some point - just how many times can you redesign the wheel though

[jaguarxk120]

Look's like they will work great with Chan-el-locks just great.
Or better still Vice-Grips!

[1bluehorse]

I use a lot of Lee stuff so I'm not knocking them at all - but personally, I don't like the new lockings - probably because fo the way I load. I use their 4 hole classic turret press - love it and have different turret plates set up for different cartridges (mostly Lee dies) so once the dies are set up on the plate, they stay set up. Here in AZ, I use a single stage press. I bought probably four different Lee die sets in the past few months - all have the new rings. The first thing I do is take 'em off and put on a lock ring so that once the die is set up in the single stage - it's no trick to switch dies out for different operations and when a die is switched out, it is already in adjustment with a lock ring.

new design of lock rings + sales of new wrenches to fit them - so Lee is thinking ahead

I wonder if others will redesign their's at some point - just how many times can you redesign the wheel though

The new Lee lock rings I have are a locking type. They are split ring with a screw. Work just like any other brand of split lock ring. The ones I don't care for are RCBS that run the lock screw into the threads.

[jonp]

I must do it different from those here but I have found that I can hand tighten the rings with the O-ring and they don't move.

[1hole]

Ditto.

[jetinteriorguy]

The new Lee lock rings I have are a locking type. They are split ring with a screw. Work just like any other brand of split lock ring. The ones I don't care for are RCBS that run the lock screw into the threads.

The trick here is to put a couple #8 shot BB’s between the set screw and the threads of the die. This way the threads aren’t deformed by the set screw, and you can safely replace the brass set screw with a steel one so it won’t strip out.

[Prairie Cowboy]

Lock rings with a lock screw? This is revolutionary!

Trust Lee to innovate.

When will the other makers follow suit?

[The Dar]

I like the new rings, just wish I could get the wrench without having to get 3 more rings.

Steve

Natches had the wrench available separately. Not sure if they still offer it by itself. I ordered 4 sets of rings and two wrenches. Set up some RCBS 44-40 dies on a classic turret this weekend using the new lock rings. The bees knees.

[rondog]

I need one of these wrenches.....

Oh wait, I have the plastic piece o' crap, I need a REAL wrench, made of metal.

[jetinteriorguy]

Lock rings with a lock screw? This is revolutionary!

Trust Lee to innovate.

When will the other makers follow suit?

The dies don’t come with the split lock ring, you can purchase them separately. They come with the same O-ring set up but are no longer a hex shape for a wrench, they are a spline design making hand tightening much easier.

[farmbif]

does this mean all my old lee die sets are useless antiques that have to be replaced?

[smithnframe]

I don’t like the new ones or the old ones........... I replace them with lock rings from Fastenal.