Lee precision die problems

[schutzen-jager]

purchased set of Lee .38 S&W dies several years ago on sale - tried useing them for first time Thursday , sizing + depriming no problem - went to use powder thru expander die + expander would not reach case mouth - check the dies + they are marked 38-sp-87 - tried calling Lee but line always busy - did some research on their parts website - expander should be 1.486 oa. - mine measured 1.088 oa. - emailed Lee + was told they would send me one n/c but i would have to pay postage - attempted to order it + postage on a small $5.00 part is $9.34 , tried to order but they would not take order because they will not collect my state sales tax + to order from one of the distributers that they have listed , could only find one that had it in stock + the part + S+H were totally crazy - been using Lee products for years but not happy with them now ! -

[poppy42]

You need to Call them! Keep trying! They won’t sell to certain state directly, some tax issue. They have an eBay store. You call Lee tell them what you want, they listed on there eBay store. That’s to purchase new items. You have a defective part if you speak to a technician 9 times out of 10 they’ll send you the new part! At least that’s the way it’s always been for me. And I called them a couple of months ago. But you have to speak with a Service rep or technician. When you do stuff via email they pretty much send a generic quote out for whatever the item is and tack on the shipping. The most I’ve had to do is mail the old part back to them. When I had to do that it was a matter of sticking it in an envelope and mailing it the cheapest possible way I could. Good luck I hope it all works out for you.

[schutzen-jager]

i did speak to them on phone late yesterday + they told me to order one free of charge except postage which would be $9.34 - + thats when the frustration started - their ebay site + all except one of their distributers were out of stock except for the one with the high price + exorbitant shipping charge - part that size + weight can be mailed USPS in continental U.S. for less then $3.00

[Sam Sackett]

Titan Reloading is the main distributor for Lee. They have lots of Lee stuff in stock.

Sam Sackett

[imashooter2]

What did the nice customer sales representative say when you explained that charging you $9.34 for their mistake is unacceptable? What did that person’s manager say? I’d spend the rest of my life running it up the tree until they held a seance to get Richard Lee on the line.

[jules]

I send them emails and they always get back to me. Never paid shipping for their screw up on items.

[schutzen-jager]

tried them -

[jetinteriorguy]

I have a question, and please don’t be offended by it. You state the dies are for .38 S&W, you aren’t trying to load .38 SP with them? The reason I ask is because a friend of mines father made this same mistake.

[n.h.schmidt]

You could cut off some from the die bottom until it will work.I mean you got nothing now.What's to loose?

[mdi]

They were giving you a free replacement, yet you complain about the shipping cost of USPS? Not Lee's fault/problem. Complain to the shipper.

[super6]

Now that is funny, Years ago? and just now finding a problem? Pay the shipping and be done with it!

[schutzen-jager]

I have a question, and please don’t be offended by it. You state the dies are for .38 S&W, you aren’t trying to load .38 SP with them? The reason I ask is because a friend of mines father made this same mistake.

definitely .38 S&W + not special - expander plug will not reach S&W case but would crush the .38 special case because it is much longer -

[schutzen-jager]

You could cut off some from the die bottom until it will work.I mean you got nothing now.What's to loose?

carbide die + carbide insert extends flush with die bottom -

[schutzen-jager]

Now that is funny, Years ago? and just now finding a problem? Pay the shipping and be done with it!

bought set + did not open or attempt to use until i acquired several hundred cases - as stated in post #1 Lee would not accept the postage payment due to their inability to collect sales tax -

[schutzen-jager]

seems like others have had same type of problems -
https://www.bing.com/search?q=lee+expander+die+problems&qs=RI&pq=lee+die+problems+&sk=RI2&sc=6-17&cvid=B8616675F54B4172807BA10FE242A5E4&sp=3&ghc=1&first=11&FORM=PERE

[Bird]

schutzen-jager,
If the die is marked 38spl as you say, then this is never going to work for the 38sw. The 38spl case is 0.400'' longer than a 38sw case, so the 38sw will never go far enough into the die, plus the case diameter is larger for the 38sw than the 38spl.

[poppy42]

Several inconsistencies but I won’t even get into that. It seems several folks have offered solutions and you’ve got a reason against all of those. So at this point I guess you should throw out that set of Lee dies, and buy another Brand of dies!

[Bird]

schutzen-jager,
It seems you have a mix up in your dies.
The sizer die with the decapping pin, has the carbide insert at the bottom. From what you say, this works as it should.
The powder through the expanding die, has no carbide insert as it does not resize the case, but only expands the case mouth, therefore you can grind it back if need be, but I doubt that it needs that.
This is the die you need https://leeprecision.com/powder-thru-die-38sh-lng.html

[schutzen-jager]

from older thread on here
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?320931-Lee-38-S-amp-W-and-or-38-ACP-dies

[schutzen-jager]

schutzen-jager,
It seems you have a mix up in your dies.
The sizer die with the decapping pin, has the carbide insert at the bottom. From what you say, this works as it should.
The powder through the expanding die, has no carbide insert as it does not resize the case, but only expands the case mouth, therefore you can grind it back if need be, but I doubt that it needs that.
This is the die you need https://leeprecision.com/powder-thru-die-38sh-lng.html
the sizer die in .38S+W Lee set is marked .38sp .357 + sizes cases too muchafter checking them -

[bedbugbilly]

You bought a set of dies some time ago - now discover it has the wrong expander die in it? Just want to make sure I have the facts straight . .

Lee would send you the right die, but you would have to pay postage?

Did Lee ask you to send the wrong die back? I doubt it . . .

So sell the wrong die on here and recover most of the postage.

Then use the whole experience as a learning experience to remember that when you buy something, check it yto make sure it has the correct parts . . . . Lee made the first mistakee, but if I understand correctly - they offered to send the right die? Seems like it is a "draw" as far as "responsibility" . . . but then I'm old and "old school".

[schutzen-jager]

You bought a set of dies some time ago - now discover it has the wrong expander die in it? Just want to make sure I have the facts straight . .

Lee would send you the right die, but you would have to pay postage?

Did Lee ask you to send the wrong die back? I doubt it . . .

So sell the wrong die on here and recover most of the postage.

Then use the whole experience as a learning experience to remember that when you buy something, check it yto make sure it has the correct parts . . . . Lee made the first mistakee, but if I understand correctly - they offered to send the right die? Seems like it is a "draw" as far as "responsibility" . . . but then I'm old and "old school".

#1 Lee woild not accept payment for postage because they will not collect N.J. sales tax -

#2 they did not ask me to send die back -
#3 after checking the sizing die is incorrect also -
i sent them attachment of label , instructions from the newly opened package - numerous posts here + on other forums pertaining to mis labeled die sets + tolerance problems -

[beemer]

I recently purchased a .309 bullet sizer from Midway. It sized a bullet .309 on one side and .311 on the other. The tech said I had to send it back for evaluation with a couple sized bullets, cost almost $10 to ship back. It was returned by Lee.

I have called Lee several times, over incorrect parts. On time I got the owner. Chatted a bit and things happened fast with no charge, really nice guy.

[super6]

Moral of the story, Get a better die set. To many problems with Lee. I under stand their are a pot load of Lee fans here but heck with the problems. I do not want to waste my time calling Lee for problems.

[j4570]

A lot of people have had success using LEE 9mm Makarov Dies. See a great discussion for those with Webley or Enfield revolvers here that shoot the 38-200:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?241578-Fun-with-a-Webley-Mark-IV-38-200-AKA-38-S-amp-W-AKA-380-Rimmed&highlight=9mm+makarov+38+s%26amp%3Bw

I had a set of Lyman 38 S&W in the 1990's. They were not setup correct. Not the same problem, but it was either a 38 Special or 38 super sizer, a 358 expander (because Lyman told me that's what most people load), and maybe a 9mm crimper. I don't think a single die was "correct". Not good if you want to use .362 or .363 bullets.

I bought a set of the RCBS Cowboy dies (now discontinued) and they worked great. I also have a set of LEE 9mm Makarov dies and used one of them in the series when loading single stage. Now I've setup on a Dillon 550 with the RCBS Cowboy dies and using a 9mm Makarov expander (purchased from Dillon) in the Dillon Measure. Works well.

The reason people use the 9mm Mak dies is the bullet is larger than a regular 9mm.

Good Luck on your quest! If you don't want Lee, I'd try to find a set of RCBS Cowboy Dies.

Jason