who says LEE is no good?

[Link23]

well this is what happens when you lose yourself to "just an hour of casting" and then by the time you know it its been 3 hours. This is what i did with a 2-Cavity LEE 228 Grain .452 they sure make perdy boolits, sorry for the fuzzy phone camera, for some reason this site wont let me upload from my good camera..

Enjoy the porn!!!

Link23

[plmitch]

Good looking stuff there! I'm very happy with the Lee molds I have.

[Harter66]

I'm fairly happy w/ mine too. I do have 1 that is line up glitchy and 1 that I wish I could tighten up closing ligament.

[Charlie Two Tracks]

On my 2 banger Lee mold, I found that if I close the mold when it is upside down, it closes perfect every time. Have fun Link23.

[frkelly74]

I always have to resize the photos from my camera to get them to download. We use the PMB program and it offers a " manipulate" option and in there is a resize function. 480X480 seems to work.

[MikeS]

In the past I had a few Lee 2 cavity moulds, and sometimes they cast good, other times not so good. I've since gotten rid of them, and now I find that the 6 cavity Lee moulds cast really great. I've had casting sessions where I've cast a couple hundred boolits without a single reject! Now that I preheat my moulds on a hotplate, I find that even the very first fill of the moulds comes out as keepers!

[357shooter]

Lee moulds work just fine. The most important factor I think is bullet design. This is the Lee TL-358-158-SWC, which is one of the best for 357 Magnum, 38 Special and Rossi M92 Lever Rifle.

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab341/prgallo/100_2053-resized-3.jpg

[Stampede]

I have quit a few Lee moulds and they produce nice and accurate bullets, without any doubt. I have only a 6-cav .45 / 230 Gr / RN mould from Lee that i not use any more. This is because my 1911 doesn't like lead bullets that much, it's not the mould that causes the problems. And the Lee prices are a big plus. I all so have RCBS/Lyman moulds and two of them are out of specs, so a high end mould is not all ways a premium mould.

[Hometek]

I enjoy casting with my lee molds. Got a TL401-175-SWC 2 & 6 cavity, TL356-124-2R 2 & 6 cavity, and a 452-228-2R and every one casts undersize using wheel weight alloy. I've got 2 .452, 1 .356, and 1 .402 sizer and every one of those are undersized. as much as .0015 under. Getting frustrated in throwing money at a company that can't seem to build what they advertise. Which is a shame because as far as production goes they have worked like a dream for me. Except for the first TL401-175-SWC 6 cavity mold which had the holes cut so far out of alignment from the center that the bullets had to be pried out with pliers. Midway made that one right.

[fredj338]

IF you get a good mold from Lee & IF it stays together, it can produce good bullets. It's the fact that their QC is so poor that you never know what you will get or how long it will last.

[HammerMTB]

There will always be haters....
Some hate Ruger- they've had some bad luck, from whatever source.
Some hate Lee- same story.
Rarely do you find someone hating on the boutique brands, tho now and then it might come up.
I have had excellent results overall with Lee products, and I have a 5 gallon bucket full of their molds. Some are outstanding- the 6-cavs come to mind.
Some are good, and some only average. The 2-cav come to mind. When you consider what the discount price is on one, it's easy to see you get good value from them.
I can say I have had my share of frustrations with a few Lee products from time to time. Once it was sorted out, more than 1/2 were my own making. I try to avoid beating on the mfr for my mistakes.

[Hometek]

Please don't take me for a hater. I love the 6 cavity molds. Just don't like to use foil tape to make the bullets drop the size they are advertised. And especially puzzled at the push sizers. 4 sizers and all at least .001 less than advertised.

[white eagle]

I don't know the Lee products I have including molds are and is first rate

[Char-Gar]

The debate about Lee vs. other make molds seems to take extreme positions. I certainly do hate them or say they are no good. What I will say is they are inferior to a quality mold in terms of longevity and trouble free service.

Lee molds are like Timex watches, they work just find until they don't and then it is time to get another. A high quality mold will last for generations if given decent and careful handling.

If a fellow want a Lee mold there is not reason he should not have one and it will product good quality bullets...for a time.

[treadhead1952]

I have all Lee molds in my collection and they work great. I have followed the directions on breaking them in for first use and kept them cleaned up and in good working order over the years.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/treadhead1952/EmCB_039.jpg

[geargnasher]

Please don't take me for a hater. I love the 6 cavity molds. Just don't like to use foil tape to make the bullets drop the size they are advertised. And especially puzzled at the push sizers. 4 sizers and all at least .001 less than advertised.

Boolits will come out of my Lee sizers anywhere from .001" under to .002" over depending on the alloy. Air-cooled wheel weights usually end up right on. If it's too small, hone it out or spend the money on a custom one made to your specs and your preferred alloy.

I've heard of some of the six-cavity moulds being machined undersized before, but if your boolits come out too small from both the mould and the sizer, it sounds like you're using a really soft alloy with little or no antimony.

Gear

[fatnhappy]

I'm not a hater but the track record of Lee custom group buys with which I've been involved has been checkered. Over 50% have been dimensionally challenged.

That's probably the single most important reason the majority of group buys have turned to NOE and Mihec. Turnaround time being the second.

In fairness I must say, a well dimensioned and leemented Lee 6 cavity represents a fantastic bargain. The light weight and high production rate are particularly noteworthy. I have a couple Lee moulds I'd be hard pressed to ever loan out.

[azrednek]

I've been spoiled by SAECO, RCBS and Miha molds but I'm completely satisfied with the apx 20 Lee molds I have. I've returned two molds to Lee for dropping undersized and they were promptly replaced no charge and now drop perfectly sized slugs. If I ever add another caliber to my gun collection Lee will be my first choice.

I certainly wish Lee still had the large selection they originally had when they introduced their molds. I'm sure it was a dollar and cents business decision to discontinue the slow selling molds and probably contributed to Lee keeping their current prices as good as they are.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Lee molds are like Timex watches, they work just find until they don't and then it is time to get another. A high quality mold will last for generations if given decent and careful handling.

If a fellow want a Lee mold there is not reason he should not have one and it will product good quality bullets...for a time.

I agree with your take on Lee.Larry Jennings who held about all cast bullet benchrest records for a time in the CBA told new shooters "buy a lee mold first because about the time you get the hang of making good bullets it will be worn out by your misuse or just plain fall apart by its self an you will only be out $15"

I have many lee molds but if they were the same price as Lyman or RCBS nobody would put up with them(2 cavity i am referring to)

George

[mongo]

All I own being a relative new caster are Lee molds. I think they are very good. I size all my boolits with the Lee sizing dies. The only thing I dont like is the handles come apart on the first time you use them. Usually when I have my casting rythm at top speed. JB weld works for the fix.

[bigjason6]

I dig my lee six banger in .401... Just wish they made a mold for a .223

[Ausglock]

well this is what happens when you lose yourself to "just an hour of casting" and then by the time you know it its been 3 hours. This is what i did with a 2-Cavity LEE 228 Grain .452 they sure make perdy boolits, sorry for the fuzzy phone camera, for some reason this site wont let me upload from my good camera..

Enjoy the porn!!!

Link23

G'day Link23. I have just started casting this boolit with a 2 cav. I'm waiting n a 6Cav from the US.
What OAL are you loading to? I have a Para GI Expert on order and want to get some rounds loaded before it arrives

Thanks.

[hornady]

I think it’s hard to deny Lee molds do drop nice bullets. Over the years I have owned several. And gotten rid of them just as fast as I have bought them. All were bought to test a new bullet profile or weight I was considering casting. In every case if I liked the bullet, I would buy a comparable steel mold and sell the Lee. I will admit I have never owned a Lee 6 cavity all have been 2 cavity. In 45 years of casting and reloading I have yet to come on a Lee product that was unusable but also did not need special attention that is not needed with a quality product.
I have read several posts that would have many believe Richard Lee can walk on water. The truth is he makes an economical product that will get the job done. If you do not mind the inconveniences that come with all things Lee.

[Recluse]

The debate about Lee vs. other make molds seems to take extreme positions. I certainly do hate them or say they are no good. What I will say is they are inferior to a quality mold in terms of longevity and trouble free service.

Lee molds are like Timex watches, they work just find until they don't and then it is time to get another. A high quality mold will last for generations if given decent and careful handling.

If a fellow want a Lee mold there is not reason he should not have one and it will product good quality bullets...for a time.

Pretty good summary.

I was given a Rolex Submariner as a bonus on a job a long time ago, and so far as I can tell, it doesn't tell time any more accurate than those $5 watches you can find at the dollar stores.

Thing is, I rarely wear that Rolex for fear of banging it up, scratching it, losing it, etc. The cheap watches I sometimes wear (being semi-retired, I hardly wear a watch at all anymore :)) let me know when I'm running late.

I'm not in love with Lee two-cavity molds so much as I am with the boolit designs that come out of those molds. I really, really like some of those boolits a lot! Several come to mind, with my top boolit ever and forever (to date) being that TL158SWC of all things. My number two boolit is their .452 200SWC, and I also like their .312 155 Grain EH Harris boolit and the 185 gr RN I load up for the Enfields.

That being said, whenever I get a Lee 2-banger in, I budget an hour to two hours doing some semi-significant tinkering with the mold--Lee-menting it and more.

Rarely have I ever had to do much more than clean the oils off a "premium" brand mold and start casting. That's one difference. Another is that the better molds will stand up to rougher treatment. . .

BUT, a Lee mold teaches you how to take care of your casting equipment because they will not stand up to abusive, rough treatment. So far as I'm concerned, this makes your premium brand molds last and perform all the better down the road. I've never understood people who could "tear up a crowbar." Guess I grew up with two few nickels in my pocket to abuse the stuff I have.

Reloading equipment is another discussion, but I do like their cast-iron presses a lot and their dies and hand-press primer tools. Their scales are accurate as can be but will send you to the looney bin.

:coffee:

[Iron Mike Golf]

In fairness I must say, a well dimensioned and leemented Lee 6 cavity represents a fantastic bargain.

That's like saying a car with it's suspension manfactured to advertised specification is a good deal, after you put it in the shop for an engine overhaul.

"Leementing" out to be a factory task and none should ship that drop undersize with their specified alloy. And their specified alloy ought to be one that lots of people use, not 10:1 lead to tin.

Not a hater, but buying a mold shouldn't be a **** shoot.

[Sonnypie]

I just ordered my second Lee mold last night.
So with very limited experiance (2000 boolits from my 1st mold), I can't complain.
If you want braggin rights, buy the more expensive brands.
I can buy alloy with the ducket$ I saved.

[Char-Gar]

Sonnypie... Lee molds are indeed cheap and you can invest the money saved into other things. But lay some of those savings to buy a new Lee mold when the other goes belly up, which it surely will do with enough use.

You can buy a Lee and save money now or buy a quality mold and 30 years from now have saved much more. It is a choice..save now and pay later..or..pay now and save later.

[Sonnypie]

But Chargar,
In 30 years I'll be 91! [smilie=p:

Just startin out, so I'm in my learnin curve.
Next year, I might be lookin at high(er) dollar stuff.

I agree, you get what you pay for. But I also need primers and a host of stuff right now. The others are going to help with the new stuff, as I will be reloadin for them as well.
S'all good. :wink:

[Char-Gar]

Groan...I was 30 in 1972, about 9 years before you were born. Best of luck with casting and shooting. When I was 30, I didn't have two dimes to rub together, today I have at least four. :-)

[mold maker]

I have around 30 LEE molds along with nearly that many from other brands. Yes there have been some hick ups, but they weren't all with LEEs. The amount of dollars I saved kept me casting through some lean years.
It's just the old Chevy versus Caddy argument. They'll both get you there, but the Caddy ride sure is nice.
No,,, it's not correct that, "You get what ya pay for", but you can depend on paying for what ya get.
If I needed a heart transplant or a replacement hip, I'd want the best money could buy. This isn't that important a purchase. Age puts lots of things in a different prospective, and I'll soon be 70.

[blaster]

Most lee stuff is great. Dies, single stage presses, sizers (for what they do), powder dippers, 6 cavity molds are all great. 2 cavity molds and safety scale are decent. Priming equipment, and powder measures are junk.

[Hometek]

Boolits will come out of my Lee sizers anywhere from .001" under to .002" over depending on the alloy. Air-cooled wheel weights usually end up right on. If it's too small, hone it out or spend the money on a custom one made to your specs and your preferred alloy.

I've heard of some of the six-cavity moulds being machined undersized before, but if your boolits come out too small from both the mould and the sizer, it sounds like you're using a really soft alloy with little or no antimony.

Gear

I'm using straight wheel weights. Sounds like I might need to water cool them to try to harden them.

[MikeS]

I've found that Lee's priming equipment is DIFFERENT, but the ones I have, a lee hand primer (the older one with the round primer tray), and the AutoPrime 2 (the one that mounts onto the press via a 7/8-14 base) work just fine. If the hand primer just used standard press shell holders instead of their own special ones, it would be even better.

[onondaga]

I really like everything Lee and 2 members here have accused me of working for Lee. I don't, but I'd like to.

Gary

[Shooter6br]

Jb is a good fix. Love the six banger molds. A little advice from members how to "improve" the Lees is right on the money

[colt 357]

I have 5 lee 2 bangers and they make great bullets for the price. after all that's lead Im mining at the berm not gold so Lee is all I can afford.

[geraldsd]

I have a lot of molds, Lyman, RCBS, Saeco, and Lee. I use the Lee by far the most. The one mold that I had some issues with I was able to tune using the info here. Lee doesn't have the specialty bullets, but has the bullets that I use the most.

[smokemjoe]

He is a good guy, He gave me a set of new dies that wasnt on the market yet to try and to keep, Joe

[MikeS]

"Leementing" out to be a factory task and none should ship that drop undersize with their specified alloy. And their specified alloy ought to be one that lots of people use, not 10:1 lead to tin.

Not a hater, but buying a mold shouldn't be a **** shoot.

You have to put things in perspective. When you buy a Lee 6 cavity mould, you can buy a BRAND NEW mould, with BRAND NEW handles all for under $50.00. The closest you can get in a 'premium' stock mould is a 4 cavity, and a Lyman 4 cavity mould with handles will cost around $120.00 or a SAECO 4 cavity mould with handles will run you about $190.00! There's just as good chance that you'll get an undersized mould from Lyman, and I've even heard folks complain of this with SAECO moulds!

So when you buy a Lee mould, it might need Leementing, and it might not. For the sake of argument, lets assume that you Leement any Lee mould that you buy. How much is your time worth? Is it worth $25.00 an hour? For the sake of argument, lets say it is. So you spend $50.00 buying your Lee 6 cavity mould, then you take 2 hours to Leement it. Now you have a mould that you have $100.00 invested in it, so it's still cheaper than any other high capacity mould, and that capacity is 50% more than the other brands of moulds!

Leementing a mould is NOT a necessity, but rather a luxury. You wouldn't buy a Dodge, and then complain that it's ride isn't the same as a Lincoln, would you? If you buy the Dodge, how much would it cost you to modify it so it rides like a Lincoln?

[geargnasher]

I'm using straight wheel weights. Sounds like I might need to water cool them to try to harden them.

I mentioned the antimony because it will make the boolit larger and springier the more is present. Hardness is secondary.

Sounds like you indeed have some bum equipment if straight wheel weights are giving you those results.

Gear

[geargnasher]

Pretty good summary.

I was given a Rolex Submariner as a bonus on a job a long time ago, and so far as I can tell, it doesn't tell time any more accurate than those $5 watches you can find at the dollar stores.

Thing is, I rarely wear that Rolex for fear of banging it up, scratching it, losing it, etc. The cheap watches I sometimes wear (being semi-retired, I hardly wear a watch at all anymore :)) let me know when I'm running late.

I'm not in love with Lee two-cavity molds so much as I am with the boolit designs that come out of those molds. I really, really like some of those boolits a lot! Several come to mind, with my top boolit ever and forever (to date) being that TL158SWC of all things. My number two boolit is their .452 200SWC, and I also like their .312 155 Grain EH Harris boolit and the 185 gr RN I load up for the Enfields.

That being said, whenever I get a Lee 2-banger in, I budget an hour to two hours doing some semi-significant tinkering with the mold--Lee-menting it and more.

Rarely have I ever had to do much more than clean the oils off a "premium" brand mold and start casting. That's one difference. Another is that the better molds will stand up to rougher treatment. . .

BUT, a Lee mold teaches you how to take care of your casting equipment because they will not stand up to abusive, rough treatment. So far as I'm concerned, this makes your premium brand molds last and perform all the better down the road. I've never understood people who could "tear up a crowbar." Guess I grew up with two few nickels in my pocket to abuse the stuff I have.

Reloading equipment is another discussion, but I do like their cast-iron presses a lot and their dies and hand-press primer tools. Their scales are accurate as can be but will send you to the looney bin.

:coffee:

Funny about the watch. I have a Bulova that's about as old as I am, and it has the Accutron movement that made Rolex famous. I had it redone by one of the last people on earth who actually has NOS parts for it. New crystal, all new water-proof seals, etc. Had it calibrated and everything, it keeps time to .5 second in six months compared to my atomic clock, not bad for pre-quartz technology! Problem is, I'm scared I'm going to scratch it or bang it on something, so it sits on my bookshelf and eats batteries about every 8 months. Batteries aren't easy to find for it, and require (for me, anyway) professional installation. So it's a $1,000 conversation piece.

In comparison, my $30 cell phone keeps perfect time, all the time, and if I run over it with a forklift I can get another one in 24 hours. Guess which one I wear? That doesn't mean I don't use the heck out of my $120 custom, brass moulds, but it does mean that cheap, functional stuff has its place. I love Lee moulds because I can afford to order three or four at a time, save shipping, do lots of experimenting, and if some of the designs don't work out, I'm only out $20. If they do work, I order a copy of it, or maybe a six-cavity version, and quit worrying because I will likely not shoot any one boolit more than a few thousand times, and with proper care, the Lee moulds will last many more than that.

Gear