lee reloading press

[porthos]

why do some think that a lee (non progressive) reloading press is better. price is not a issue; i'm a believer that you get what you pay for in tools. comments?

[JM7.7x58]

Are you a Smurf? Smurfs don’t like anything that’s red. :kidding::kidding:

JM

[Der Gebirgsjager]

There's a couple of ways of looking at it, I guess. One would be "what does the job?" A single stage press is a single stage press is a single stage press, and they'll all do the same job. So, I guess the other way to look at it would be "what does it cost?" If a less expensive press will do the same job as one that costs more, there are those to whom cost matters.

I do not own a Lee single stage press. I started with a Lyman Spartan (cast iron), and just this year for my winter reloading projects I purchased a Lyman Brass Smith. Not much difference between it and the Spartan except a different linkage design. Since it gets really snowy and cold where I live I thought I'd move my operation into my office, and the Lyman was just right to C-clamp onto my desk (coincidentally right in front of the computer screen!). I think you'll get more durability over the long haul from cast iron as opposed to cast aluminum.

But, let me say that if you move past the single stage press, your next step should be the Lee Turret Press, especially for pistol ammunition. I bought one when the were "3 holers" and converted it to a "4 holer" when that improvement was made. I've reloaded thousands and thousands of .38 Spec. and .45 ACP on the Turret Press, and it's never missed a beat. Some things are real masterpieces, and the Lee Turret press may be matched, but is not surpassed by other brands, even though they are more expensive.

[Jniedbalski]

I don’t know about better but it’s cheeper than any brand out there. I have had my classic for 30 years and still going strong. If there where junk or cheaply made I would of found out about it long ago. I load 5000 to 8000 thousands rounds a year so far it still just works never a broken part. It should work another 30 years no problem.

[onelight]

why do some think that a lee (non progressive) reloading press is better. price is not a issue; i'm a believer that you get what you pay for in tools. comments?

Price is always an issue at least for most of us , I saw a review on a single stage German press that was over $1000.00
I don't know any one that has one and that is probably because of price , for most of us our Lee or Lyman or Rcbs will do exactly the same thing on our bench for as long as we want to use it why pay 4 to 10 times as much to get the same result. Unless you just gotta have one.:bigsmyl2:

[2A-Jay]

The Lee Single Stage press is a good deal for a beginner (someone who doesn't yet know that they will stick with reloading) I started with Lee and passed it onto a friend for his first press.

[Three44s]

“The worst day fishing beats the best day at work!”

The poorest press beats no press at all. But Lee does not build poor presses! They build less expensive presses.

Moreover, the Classic Cast series are very good.

As single stage presses go if I was just starting out and could afford nor more expensive tool than a Lee Challenger, I would buy a Challenger!

I began hand loading on a RCBS Jr. and still have it 45 years later. It is not my number one now (a Redding Boss is my #1) but it is not going anywhere.

Three44s

[1hole]

"The Lee Single Stage?" Last I looked (and best I remember) Lee has four or five single stage presses.

I have two of their little "Reloader" presses on my bench now; great little tools. They surprised me when they handled my .30-06 and .300 WM chores fully as well as my much bigger and more costly Rock Chucker. I really can't imagine what 90% of reloaders would need more of than what that little Lee press can do.

At the other size end, Lee's massive Classic Cast is all iron and steel, strong enough and big enough to handle .50 BMG; don't think I'd want to do much of that with my old RC II. And the CC lever is fully adjustable for the operator's desires, the press doesn't scatter spent primers and grit all around and I hear some folk even use it to swage bullets.

I'm not a brand snob, I want tools that work. IMHO, Lee's CC is simply the current best press of its type on the market.

[Pete44mag]

I started out with a RCBS single stage to see if I was into reloading. It was loaned to me. You can never go wrong with a single stage. I have moved on to a Dillion 550 and the single stage RCBS is still mounted to my bench and gets used all the time. I would be lost with out it. By the way the person who loaned me the RCBS bought it at a yard sale for $10.00 and said I could keep it. What a good friend!

[sghart3578]

That line about you get what you pay for may have been true "back in the day" but the older I get the more I see quality slipping away all across the spectrum from cars to guns to electronics.

I've also found that a lot of guys who slam Lee quality fall into the "poor workman blame their tools" camp. I don't know if that describes you, I don't know you. You may be earnestly seeking knowledge. And my words may come across as harsh but they are not meant to be. I just want to speak plainly.

Lee equipment is value priced. For some reason that puts some people off.

I started reloading when I was on active duty making less than $500 a month. I stuck with Lee all through raising my kids (youngest is now 31) because Lee stuck with me.

Now that I can afford any press that I want I do have a Dillon 450, dedicated to 5.56. I also bought a RCBS turret press that had a worse priming system than anything Lee ever put out. I sold it and in it's place I mounted a new Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro currently dedicated to 9mm.

I have a Lee Classic Cast single stage, a Lee hand press and an old Pacific press in my shed some where.

I load the majority of my stuff on a Lee Classic Turret. Currently have turret heads set up for at least 12 calibers from 9mm to 45 Colt to 30-06.

Spend your money how you want. Most guys on here don't care. I use what works.

Best of luck,

Steve in N CA

[megasupermagnum]

Better than what? My main single stage is still the original RCBS rockchucker I got many years ago. It works fine. If I were to start all over again tomorrow, you know what I would buy? A Lee classic cast. I've NEVER seen a press that had what I consider a good priming design, the classic cast is no exception, although it's better than the tube system of the RCBS. That's fine, as off press priming is the best way to go, and always has been. Progressive press priming is another matter. The big issue, that might seem small, is that the Lee engineers actually thought about depriming. Instead of RCBS, which will throw a primer in any direction, Lee dumps theirs out the side into a cup. I mean really, whoever at RCBS did that how many years ago should have been fired. You can load just about anything, including 50 BMG on the Lee. You can't on most presses, even though they offer the larger thread size threads.

Outside of priming, I can't think of one problem with the Lee classic cast. Some might prefer the Forester Co-Ax, but that's a personal preference. It's no more of an accurate press, and certainly not stronger.

[tazman]

Far be it from me to tell you how to spend your money. You can look down your nose at my cheap Lee press all you want to. I have loaded thousands of rounds on my press ans will continue to do so. The money I saved on the cost of the press went into components that don't just sit on the bench and look pretty.

[izzyjoe]

I started with the Lee brechlock challenger kit, back in '08. It's a good press, but for forming brass I bought the RCBS Rock chucker 4. Now that is an awesome press, the only thing I don't like is the primer catcher, but that seem to be a common complaint on them, not big deal, just annoying at times. I have loaded a countless amount of rounds on the Lee, and it's still a good press, but now I have moved it, and use it for pistol ammo, cause to me it lacks the leverage! I will get the Lyman brass smith turret in the future, cause I don't like progressive presses. I like tools that work, not the most expensive, ones that work good for the dollar! Lee makes some good products, not all of them are home runs, but neither is anyone else's! This is just a hobby for me, so I buy what I can afford, but to each his own!

[MT Chambers]

I go along with the Forster Co-ax recommendation, all steel, no pot metal, no plastic.

[Walks]

I bought a Lyman Spartan 45yrs ago, before I even got out of the Service and started my own Reloading setup. It got sorta replaced by the RockChucker I got from a Girlfriend the next year. Can't remember the GF's name, but the RC is still on the bench.
And that old Spartan, it's bolted to the other Reloading bench.

And I got a Lee Single Stage sitting under the bench. It was free. Just waiting to be given to the first kid I meet at the Indoor Pistol Range, who expresses an interest in reloading.

[Shawlerbrook]

Instead of knocking one brand vs. another, I am just happy that people are reloading. I prefer RCBS, but I will not disparage anybody’s choices. Reminds me of bow hunters fighting amongst each other on what bow they hunt with or archery deer hunters and gun hunters fighting. Our shooting sports have enough outside enemies, we don’t need a circular firing squad with our brothers and sisters.

[dverna]

Never used the Lee SS but all I hear is good reviews of them. I would not be hesitant to purchase one. If I needed another SS, I would likely buy one.

I hate the way my RC spits primers and dirt everywhere so I stopped using it for depriming but love the way it handles sizing of machine gun brass. Most presses have pluses and minuses so you need to figure out what works for you. For my needs, the RC and Co-Ax get the job done.

BTW, most people get used to what they have and if it addresses their needs, it is a "good" press. Not too many of us will have experience with a dozen different SS presses so we only know what we know. Maybe someone bought a Lee and sold their RC and that would be an interesting review. I have read of at least one person who hated his Co-Ax sand sold it, so one size does not fit all.

[1hole]

I go along with the Forster Co-ax recommendation, all steel, no pot metal, no plastic.

MT, I don't get what you're saying.

I have three Lee presses, all are made of aircraft grade aluminum alloy and steel. There's no pot metal (zinc) or plastic in them at all; what am I missing????

[izzyjoe]

I forgot, I also have the Lee hand press, and it's great for cold rainy days cooped up in the house! Actually it does about 50% of my pistol ammo reloading! I really like it.

[Rcmaveric]

You get what you pay for.... sure but there is a point where a tool is a tool and the extra cost is merely just the name on the side of the tool.

I havent used anything but Lee, merely because price is an issue. I have the Lee hand press, Breach Lock Chalenger, Classic Cast Turret, and a Load Master. These are great useful tools. They are inexpensive and durable. I have abused the Hand Press and Challenger and they are still smooth and going strong.

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[DxieLandMan]

For what I reload for, Lee has always done what I needed it to do. I've never had to replace anything on them. Getting into reloading for me, price was an issue (it still is) and as long as my red press does what I need/want it to do, I will keep using Lee. Disclosure: I have not used any other brand of presses.

[sghart3578]

I'll add this to my previous comments.

My primary deer rifle for years was a pre-64 M70 Featherweight in 30-06. Nice Leupold scope. With the cheapest Federal ammo I could find it would routinely shoot 1 to 1.5 MOA all day long. And I'm not even a good shot.

When I tried my Lee Classic Cast single stage I used a bunch off used brass, Federal primers, some Sierra 150 gr "blems" and the first recommended load for H4895 (the only powder that I had at the time).

The result? The same 1 to 1.5 MOA I had been getting with factory ammo.

I can understand premium reloading equipment for competitors or guys that like 1000 yard matches, etc. But for what I do Lee stuff works great.

[porthos]

thanks guys for all of the comments. i originally stated that $ was not a issue. yet, most of the responses mentioned the price. nobody addressed what if anything was better. but in a way that did answer my question.

[robg]

i started with a wamadet press that i still use but have a lee press now .if i was starting again i would use lee kits every time. only lee tool i dislike is their beam scale with the ball adjusters,too fiddlely .

[mdi]

Lee id a very innovative manufacturer. They often come up with new and different tools that other manufacturers often copy. Lee used modern manufacturing methods and modern materials (I have never seen any "pot metal" on any Lee product).

Their single stage presses are basic and made for use, not for bragging rights. My first single stage press was a Lee Challenger aluminum (OMG!) press. (this was pre web so I didn't know Lee equipment was terrible :confused:) and I used that press for mebbe 8 years until I had to sell all my reloading equipment due to a messy divorce. My Challenger did everything I expected of it and never had one problem. Being a lifelong machinist/mechanic I could see the press was well made, and finely fitted where it was needed. The aluminum frame didn't scare me and there was no galling or excessive wear on the steel to aluminum surfaces.

Arrogance and ignorance are the biggest foes of Lee products. For over 35 years I have used Lee dies, presses and assorted reloading tools and I cannot say all problems were the fault of the equipment. I also had some other tools/presses and none made better ammo, nor lasted longer than my Lee tools (Redding Boss, Redding dies, Herters, Pacific, and C-H presses and assorted tools from most manufacturers)...

[jimkim]

If money was no object, and I didn't lust after the Bonanza/Forster CoAx, Redding 700 UltraMag, CH4D Champion, and the big Bair/Pacific Super-O presses, I'd get a Lee Classic Cast over the other O-frames, but that's ONLY because I like the adjustable lever. IMO, it is neither better nor worse than the RC, Crusher, or Boss. Out of the box it isn't as smooth as the Redding presses, but then again, neither is the Lyman, or RCBS. I now own eight presses, and the ones I use the most are a Lee Classic Turret, Lee Challenger(it was free), and an RCBS RS, which I bought from a member of CB. I own more presses now, than I need, but not so many that I would sell one.

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[Conditor22]

I've put a 3 ft cheater bar on a Lee Breech Lock Reloader Single Stage Press and it still works just fine. -------

[jaguarxk120]

Lets see you spend over $2000.00 on a exotic rifle and $2500.00 on a imported scope sight.

Then spend $50 on a press and even less on dies! Something doesn't compute here??????

[Rcmaveric]

If money were no issue then Forster, Dillion and Hornady would decorate my Reloading Laboratory. I would also be running windows 10 on a new laptop with Oleher chrono and Chamber Pressure gauges with Bulseye target camer. Alas, money is an option so I dont have a Laboratory or any of the above name brands.

Red is my favorite color so if I had all the money maybe I would exclusive use Hornady, I have always loved their products and trust the brand.

Is the quality and function really worth 4 times the price of Lee. When it comes to Lee my personal opinion is a little attention to detail and finishing work from the user makes the their products very reasonable and reliable. But all the other products aren't worth their price.

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[jaguarxk120]

You get what you pay for!!

[elmacgyver0]

You get what you pay for!!

And sometimes you don't.

[mdi]

You get what you pay for!!

And that's true with Lee tools. You pay for innovative, modern tools that work and last. Yep, that's what you pay for. But if you want to buy a name or specific color, they go ahead and spend more for that...

[lawdog941]

To each their own. I have and use a Classic Cast. It's predominantly the dies that are making ammo. Those are the variables that you can control.

[HeavyMetal]

I have several brands of press's now and have had several others that I had for one reason or another, strangely they all did the same thing: they made good ammo!

Lee has been moving forward in press technology, the Lee Classic cast and Lee Classic cast Turret press's are very much the best bang for your buck buy and more than equal to any task you'll ask then to handle in the course of "normal" reloading.

HM

[Bazoo]

I don't have a lot of experience with different presses and none with the lee other than the hand press. Rcmaveric mentioned the user doing some tweaking to lee products. That might throw some people off, but if a little tweaking is not acceptable then reloading isn't for you. I tweak just about everything regardless of brand.

Right now I'm using a lee hand press and a Lyman Spartan but my heart wants a Crusher II. Fact is price is not only a factor for me, but the driving factor most of the time. That's why I buy used if I can.

[mdi]

A sloppy reloader cannot make good ammo even on the most expensive press, but a conscientious reloaded can make good ammo on a cheap press...

[Cast_outlaw]

255421

I use this old lee (not sure of the model if someone can enlighten me “that’d be great”) my dad bought it in 95 96, and I got it in 2016 still works great,an has great functionality. The handle is a little buggered up and moves about, but managed to fix it with a little hockey tape (my Canadianness is really showing) it’s the only rifle/handgun press I have but I do have a progressive shotgun press I love it’s a mec 9000gn

[Ozark Howler]

From my experience I've found that most people that have a negative opinion of Lee single stage presses have never owned one. I've used the Lee CC and found it to be as good as any, and better designed than most, BTW, I've owned a Coax and found it to be awkward to use and found no advantages ("sold it"). The RCBS Summit, IMO is an marketing failure, I'm still not sure what they were trying to accomplish with that outdate design (had one also...sold it). I mostly use my RCBS A2 and have for almost 52 years, of all the presses I've owned (and there's been quite a few) I would say the Lee is as good as any being made today...one would be advised to look at the tool, not the price (IMO)

[kmw1954]

Single stage press? Just go onto ebay any time and search reloading presses and then pay attention to how many 70 year old "C" type presses that keep getting listed and sold. That in and of itself has to say something about the design!

[jimkim]

255421

I use this old lee (not sure of the model if someone can enlighten me “that’d be great”) my dad bought it in 95 96, and I got it in 2016 still works great,an has great functionality. The handle is a little buggered up and moves about, but managed to fix it with a little hockey tape (my Canadianness is really showing) it’s the only rifle/handgun press I have but I do have a progressive shotgun press I love it’s a mec 9000gnIt's a Lee Challenger press. If you ever break a toggle, or you just want to upgrade, you can swap the old diecast ones for the new steel ones for less than $20.00.

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[ulav8r]

Single stage press? Just go onto ebay any time and search reloading presses and then pay attention to how many 70 year old "C" type presses that keep getting listed and sold. That in and of itself has to say something about the design!

Because that is what over 90% of the presses on the market were back then.

My first press in '73 or '74 was a Rock Chucker because I thought it was the best that I could just barely afford. 8-10 years later I inherited a Texan C frame press (aluminum) that I had helped my brother select. Then about 15 years ago I acquired a Reloader Special at a yard sale. All three are good presses, but if I could afford them I would add a Lee press or three.

First choice would be a Loadmaster for pistol loading. A Breech Lock Pro might be a near ideal depriming station if equipped with a case loader and a case kicker. If I needed another heavy duty press then I would select a Classic Turret.

[kmw1954]

Because that is what over 90% of the presses on the market were back then..

And they are still going strong.
Not sure but I think you missed my point. The real point being that when it comes to single stage presses there isn't much difference and that presses from 1950 are still in use and still have value. People are still searching them out and buying them. Heck, even that 46 year old press that you reference is still holding value and still has plenty of life left in it.

When I see topics with newbies asking which press they should buy I always tell them, A used one! Unless it was horribly abused or neglected most likely it will still be usable for a very long time. 3 of the 4 presses I own today were purchased used.

[Bagdadjoe]

Lets see you spend over $2000.00 on a exotic rifle and $2500.00 on a imported scope sight.

Then spend $50 on a press and even less on dies! Something doesn't compute here??????

Let's see...spend $1000 per tooth for crowns or implants...and then eat the dollar menu at McDonald's...something doesn't compute here????
Um...who spends that kind of money on a rifle or scope? Out of my league...

[tazman]

My most expensive "exotic" rifle cost $650. My most expensive scope cost $450.
My inexpensive Lee press makes ammunition that groups under MOA in my rifles.
Why would I spend big bucks on any of those things when they will not do any better than what I already have?
I would much rather spend the money on components to build ammunition I can shoot.

[onelight]

My most expensive "exotic" rifle cost $650. My most expensive scope cost $450.
My inexpensive Lee press makes ammunition that groups under MOA in my rifles.
Why would I spend big bucks on any of those things when they will not do any better than what I already have?
I would much rather spend the money on components to build ammunition I can shoot.
Me to

[dragon813gt]

These threads always crack me up for many reasons. For one most people haven't used a bunch of different presses. So they have no direct knowledge of what they're bashing. Second is people's insistence on "brand loyalty". The only thing this gets you is tools w/ the same name on them. It does not mean you get the best tool for the job. And third is the "you get what you pay for" mentality. This is not the case w/ most things anymore. In most cases you overpay for what you get. This is partially due to accountants running companies and pushing products out the door based solely on profit margin.

I started collecting a lot of presses over the past few years. Chances are if it's a press everyone knows about I have it. And I've slowly added to my "collector" press collection. I don't think the older presses are any better than modern presses. In the case of primer handling the modern presses are usually superior. This is certainly design but a press w/ a non hollow ram makes little sense to me. Another area where they are superior is leverage. This has more to do w/ design than age. But simple linkage presses aren't really being made anymore. Older presses didn't give you the option to mount the handle on either side. I won't really debate quality of materials when it comes to vintage versus modern. But modern testing techniques have allowed for proper materials to be used. Using steel throughout isn't really necessary.

This thread is specifically about Lee. Haters are always going to hate. I don't know why it's this way when it comes to Lee. As I said I have a lot of presses from a lot of manufacturers. There are three presses I will never part w/. A Lee Classic Turret, a Lee Classic Cast and Dillon 550B. The LCT is by far the most versatile. It's as easy to churn out a few rounds for testing as it is to crank out a couple hundred. Downside is the four handle pulls for a completed round. I can use the 550B for load development but it's not as convenient as the LCT. I've tested run out w/ the LCC and there's no difference between it and a vast number of other brand/models. So why pay more? If I wanted another color I would just paint it.

I've found very few reasons to buy other brands of dies as well. Main reason I do is when Lee doesn't make that type of die. I don't shoot for a score or bragging rights. I shoot to put meat on the table and defend myself. Lee dies have been able to deliver better accuracy and consistency then factory ammo. There have been some cases where the Lee dies did fail me. But I simply bought another brand and moved on. I own a lot more Lee dies than all other brands combined. Cost isn't a factor for me in the normal sense of "can I afford it". I debate cost in the sense of why pay more when "x" does the job I need it to do.

Buy what you can afford and go from there. If you don't like it then buy another model or brand. We all have different needs. Telling everyone they need a RCBS A2 press because it's a tank does nothing. Fact is it's completely overbuilt for all reloading duties. And it's under built, relative, for bullet swaging. Modern designs are better and more affordable. I personally think some Lee designs epitomize "better and more affordable". Why spend $300 when $100 will get the job done?

[ulav8r]

And they are still going strong.
Not sure but I think you missed my point. The real point being that when it comes to single stage presses there isn't much difference and that presses from 1950 are still in use and still have value. People are still searching them out and buying them. Heck, even that 46 year old press that you reference is still holding value and still has plenty of life left in it.

When I see topics with newbies asking which press they should buy I always tell them, A used one! Unless it was horribly abused or neglected most likely it will still be usable for a very long time. 3 of the 4 presses I own today were purchased used.

I did miss your point. Agree that a good buy on a used press is the best way to go. I don't mind too bad when a snob overpays to have the "best", except that I realize that it serves to raise the cost on most things I buy because as long as some people are willing to overpay for some item then similar items will tend to also be overpriced.

[gundownunder]

I'm not a huge fan of some of Lee's "precision" products, and have been known to knock them on this forum several times, but I will vouch for their presses.
15 years ago when I started reloading I could only afford a basic kit to start with, so I bought a Challenger press kit.
I reload for 357 and 32-20, and used to reload for 222, and have lost count of how many thousands of rounds I have made on that press, but it's still going. It's starting to wear, but I've had my moneys worth, and then some.
I'm sure that their old classic cast press would last more than one lifetime.
If you lined up a few of the best selling brands of presses, and made a batch of 5 - 10 rounds on each, then benchrest tested them, I bet only the best of benchrest shooters with their top notch target rifles would be able to show a difference.

[Ozark Howler]

I'm not a huge fan of some of Lee's "precision" products, and have been known to knock them on this forum several times, but I will vouch for their presses.
15 years ago when I started reloading I could only afford a basic kit to start with, so I bought a Challenger press kit.
I reload for 357 and 32-20, and used to reload for 222, and have lost count of how many thousands of rounds I have made on that press, but it's still going. It's starting to wear, but I've had my moneys worth, and then some.
I'm sure that their old classic cast press would last more than one lifetime.
If you lined up a few of the best selling brands of presses, and made a batch of 5 - 10 rounds on each, then benchrest tested them, I bet only the best of benchrest shooters with their top notch target rifles would be able to show a difference.

Amen.....

[1hole]

"You get what you pay for" is largely a joke. We can't get a Cadillac for the price of a Chevy but the ratio of utility to cost is WAY out of reason.

A LOT of things are overpriced and the only way the makers can get away with it is a certain percentage of folk fool themselves and equate cost with value; there are plenty of people ready to take their money. Fact is, people who first want to impress others with brand names get Rolex watches; those who want to know what time it is gets a Timex.

Those of us who want to reload quality ammo don't automatically sneer at Lee's stuff. Some of it's as good as can be bought at any price and a lot of it can't be bought anywhere else. Anyone thinking he will get better accuracy by junking his Lee press and replacing it with one of the much more expensive presses is going to be disappointed.

[44magLeo]

As I see is if Lee is such junk. Why do so many other manufactures copy Lee tools?
Leo

[dverna]

As I see is if Lee is such junk. Why do so many other manufactures copy Lee tools?
Leo

No one will copy a Lee 1000

I have Lee stuff. I am a tool snob and have “better” stuff too. Most Lee stuff is good. Some is not

Anyone starting out and looking for a SS or turret press will be fine with Lee. Great value IMHO

[kmw1954]

No one will copy a Lee 1000

Apparently no one want to copy the Lee Turret press either!

[gloob]

Easy
1. The length of the Lee press handle is adjustable. On a single stage press, you are doing a lot of different operations, and some of them require 1/50th of the force/leverage than sizing rifle brass, or push thru sizing. You can shorten the lever for priming, expanding, seating, and for sizing pistol brass. Lengthen it for sizing rifle brass.

This is one of the reasons I started spray/shake lubing my 9mm brass, so I could comfortably do it with a shorter lever length which is ideal for the priming. That thick and slightly tapered 9mm case makes it the outlier among the pistol cases.

2. Priming. Lee SS presses have the best priming method, IMO. It is way more reliable and controllable than hand primers to me. I feed each one by hand, but I also size/decap in the same operation and don't deal with jams or primers not seated properly. When priming mixed brass, there is no substitute for feel, if you want 100% reliability. The Lee SS presses allow you to seat the primer to the depth where it is done. Not to a depth stop.
3. Breechlock. This is a great feature. I haven't adjusted a die in years.

[44magLeo]

gloob,
On #1 not all Lee SS presses have adjustable handles. The Handpress and Reloader press do not. These are Lee's two least expensive presses. making them to do so would increase the price. This would defeat their purpose.
On #2 I haven't tried either of Lee's press mounted priming tools so I can't agree they are better or worse than their hand or bench mounted primers. I have had a Lee round tray priming tools since 1980 or so when I gave up on press priming with my Rockchucker press I started loading on in 1978.
Never liked loading primers in a tube.
After Lee came out with the Ergo prime I got one. The lever being under your fingers instead of your thumb was better.
Priming still bothered me because I broke both my thumbs in two different motorcycle crashes. My thumbs would ache for days after a priming session.
When Lee came out with their bench prime I got one of them. It is much easier on my thumbs. It did have a learning curve to find how it operates the best.
I can now prime all I want.
On #3 I agree totally. the breech lock works. Their o-ring lock nut is the best thing since sliced bread.
I have thought about getting Lee's roller handle kit to see if it will work on my challenger press. I think I might like it. I may just try building one.
Leo

[1hole]

Apparently no one want to copy the Lee Turret press either!

They probably want to but it's patiented bro!

On the other hand, no one wants to copy RCBS' Green Machine and it's patient has expired. (I suspect their Summit is doomed to market oblivion as well.)

:)

[lawdog941]

No one will copy a Lee 1000

Amen! I've had a Lee 1000 for years. Tried the LM, but all it gave was headaches. I don't load enough yearly to take the big plunge, so the 1000 gets me by, albeit brain exhaustion from looking at all 3 stages to make sure it's working. A hundred rounds is about all the stimulation I care for in a sitting. Back to the OP, the Classic Cast is a superior SS for me. It's solid and dependable.

Mike

[BamaNapper]

I'm pretty sure SS presses are like any other tool or appliance. It doesn't cost much for basic operation, but the cost rises exponentially as you try for greater and greater precision or function. Like a laptop, where an couple hundred gets you capable of doing 95%, but a couple thousand more to get the other 5%. The same goes for cars, smart phones, and toasters.

I've never had Lee press, but the number of old ones out there still in use tells me I wouldn't be afraid to own one.

[gloob]

I haven't tried either of Lee's press mounted priming tools so I can't agree they are better or worse than their hand or bench mounted primers. I have had a Lee round tray priming tools since 1980 or so when I gave up on press priming with my Rockchucker press I started loading on in 1978.
Never liked loading primers in a tube.
44magLeo, yeah, the Rockchucker spills those decapped primers everywhere, too. I seen where a guy build a little box to catch them. Also seen where a priming mishap with a tube results in a chain reaction and a primer tube launching into the ceiling. The other problem with the RockChucker for my own taste/ergos is that there is no space behind the ram, so you have to put the case in from the front, only.

I haven't tried the new Ergo Prime, but I threw away my old school Lee hand prime. Jams. And it requires too much force to get the primer in, so I lose feeling/feedback, personally. End up with some primers not seated completely. Even 1 misfire out of 1000 bothers me, and I have to figure out the reason until I get it right. (and/or stop buying Tula small pistol primers.)



After Lee came out with the Ergo prime I got one. The lever being under your fingers instead of your thumb was better.
Priming still bothered me because I broke both my thumbs in two different motorcycle crashes. My thumbs would ache for days after a priming session.
When Lee came out with their bench prime I got one of them. It is much easier on my thumbs. It did have a learning curve to find how it operates the best.
I can now prime all I want.

The Lee bench prime is a bit different from how the Lee SS presses prime. On the LEE presses, you prime on the downstroke of the ram. (Handle going up). What I do it set the lever short and I squeeze the primer in with my fingers around the front of the O-frame and the lever ball in my palm. Lots of feel and just the right leverage to make it easy and sure! Thumb vs fingers? I use my hole hand/grip for this.


I have thought about getting Lee's roller handle kit to see if it will work on my challenger press. I think I might like it. I may just try building one.
Leo
"Challenger" sounds familiar. I think that's the press I have, LOL. It's hard to remember. It just says LEE on it, and I haven't thought about it in several years, now.
If you load any straight wall pistol, you might wanna give it a try at priming the way I do it. Unlike the bench prime, you can combine it with size/decap to save time. If the short throw is too hard for you, spritz and shake with the spray lube, first! I only need to do that with 9mm. Well, "need" is subjective. I loaded 9mm without the lube for a few years before figuring out how much elbow grease I could save with the lube when using this short throw. :)

Even if you load on a progressive, using presized cases will make the rest easy and you might get more feel if there's a problem in one of the other dies/stages.

[44magLeo]

The Challenger has an aluminum frame. Early models had just the threads for a die. The later models had the breech lock.
The Classic cast has a cast iron frame. Not that it needs a cast iron frame, just customers wanted one.
On the Rock Chucker I saw a few pics were a guy drilled a hole down through the ram to meet a hole he drilled in from the rear. This lets the spent primers fall down through the ram and out the back into a catch container. I thought that should be something RCBS should do to it before it comes out the door.
Leo

[1hole]

.... "Challenger" sounds familiar. I think that's the press I have, LOL. It's hard to remember. It just says LEE on it, ....

The "Challenger" press is almost certainly what you have. It was Lee's original press (IIRC) and was so for years, that's probably what so many folk mean when they say "the" Lee press or incorrectly call it Lee's "classic" press.

I believe the "Challenger" label was referring to it being Dick Lee's challenge to the various "big iron" competitors. It's precisely made of die cast aluminum alloy, pound for pound stronger than steel, not "POT METAL" as some silly detractors still proclaim. (Pot metal is a real metal but it's mostly zinc and does not contain alloyed industrial grade aluminum.)

The Challenger was/is an excellent press for probably 80-90% of the reloading market. Lee wanted to offer something others didn't so he made its lever and toggle block in two pieces that could be moved around in several notched steps. It worked good too but it demanded the user properly tighten the steel bolt that tied the block halves together. Quite a few guys didn't get that message so they allowed the bolt to loosen, that changed the lever pressure angles enough so the aluminum toggle block could split under max pressure (sizing). It was entirely "pilot error" but the press (unfairly) got the heat - and often still does. Lee changed those blocks to steel to make them fool proof and it appears to have worked.

Lee's current big presses, the Classic Cast and Classic Turret, are cast steel and, in my opinion, they are the best designed presses of their types available today at any price.

[44magLeo]

I agree, the Lee Classic cast is a fine press. I like the left or right hand operation of the press. It's spent primer handling is great. It has a great price too.
I might say it's the best out there. If you like a cast iron press. I like the rigidity of the aluminum Challenger. No flex in the frame, Cast does flex.
Leo