Started out on Lee equipment ? When ?

[technojock]

I bought an original Lee loader for 7.7x58 Arisaka back in 1976. I learnt very quickly not to get too aggressive while seating primers and I was very glad I hadn't yet opened the can of powder. Other than the one time setting off a primer, it worked well enough and I loaded enough rounds to keep me hunting with my first center fire rifle...

Tony

[B1GB1RD]

1983 - lee hand loader in 30-30

[DonPepe]

Hi - new to the forum and relatively new to reloading. Lee hand press, November of last year loading 38 special.

[ioon44]

1972 with a Lee wack a mole in .44 Mag.

[jetinteriorguy]

1970 with a 16ga. whacker. It made ammo for me and I was happy.

Same for me, except I never did actually use it. Heck, I’m not even sure what even happened to it.

[M-Tecs]

Started with Lee in about 1970 with a Lee Load-All in 12 gauge. Like most Lee products I have used it didn't stay around long.

[onelight]

My first was a Lee loader in 45 Colt cost less than $10.00 I think I bought it in 1969 my only loader for about 3 years.

[1eyedjack]

1978 lee 10lb pot and couple of single cavity molds still have the lead pot and 158 gn swc mold both still work?

[downzero]

I use a lot of Lee equipment, but my first press was a Dillon. My first molds were Lee though, and I still have almost all Lee molds.

[Gunslinger1911]

1973, First centerfire was a Ruger Blackhawk in .357, OMG ammo was $5/50 !!!
How am I gunna shoot much ?
First press was a Pacific. But the dies were Lee !! .357
Reloaded with jacketed for a while, then discovered cast at a new gun shop (owner cast and sold em.)
Conned him into explaining how it worked.
Lee pot and mold, NOW I'm in bizness !!
Pot and mould very reasonable price - damn lubresizer cost a fortune !!!
Progressed through a 3 hole turret, a LoadMaster (LoadDisaster !)
Now mostly run a Dillon 550; but still use the Pacific and Lee turret for specific things.
Things I don't load enough of to justify the 550 conversion cost.
All Lee dies.
Got an APP last year, runs great for sizing powder coat.

[35 Rem]

I started casting with the Lee 10lb pot and two Lee molds. Still use nothing but Lee pot but mostly use a 20lb version now. Prefer the valve on the 10 lb but like the thermal stability of the larger capacity. Even now when I'm looking for a new bullet, I always look to see what Lee offers 1st.

[Crash_Corrigan]

Wife alloted $1000 for me to start reloading for my Smith 586. Went whole hog and got a Lee Loadmaster. It was a disaster as the primer device was trash. In '95 I upgraded to a Dillon 550B. Then over the years to a xl 650 and 3 square deals. Along the way picked up a Rockchucker, Lyman Square T, Lee Turret and a Lee hand press. A Star luber and a RCBS Pro Furnace along with about 50 different Lee molds amongst others have all given me many hours of enjoyment and a way to keep me grounded and away from bars and women. When I started to cast with a Lee 6 banger it had no handles (see classics way on top) but I persisted for two years to mold 38's and 45's wearing two pair of gloves until one day I saw a lee mold with handles at a gun show. I got another Dillon Square Deal for 9 mm's. Will it ever stop?

[Gunslinger1911]

Crash Corrigan : "Will it ever stop?"

No

[upr45]

1985 Lee challenger

[Wooserco]

Lee "Whack a Mole" in 1972. Over the years I've had a number of their moulds, powder measures and other sundry items. I've never come to grips with their powder scale. I have two, new in the box. If anybody wants them, they are yours free for the cost of shipping. Otherwise, in May the are going into the dumpster, as is anything that I haven't used in the last 20 years.

[Wooserco]

Interesting... I purchased a Lee Loadmaster in the early nineties. It took some tweaking, as all processes do. Result: I was producing 500 round of ammo a week to feed my kids' shooting habit. One pull on the handle, one round in the box. Result? I'm now feeding my grand daughter's shooting habit from 5 hours away. She's only 12, so I have a few years to go. Her Momma feeds her own shooting habit now. It's on her husband's dime.

[NWPilgrim]

About 1988, Lee Challenger to initially load .44 magnum. Gradually added .45, .40, .30-06, .357/.38. Upgrade to the Classic Turret when it came out. Loaded everything on it either in single stage mode or auto index. Added 9mm, .308, 9x18 Mak, 6.5x55Swede.

This year after our big move I decided to change up my reloading. Going progressive for handgun cartridges on a Lee Auto Breechlock Pro and rifle on a Rockchucker with Hornady bushing conversion. Going to try a Hornady powder measure on the ABLP, and got a ChargeMaster Link for rifle (very impressed with initial tests ). I’ll see how on the press priming goes but leaning toward just doing all priming with a Lee Auto Bench Primer or something independent.

[gnappi]

Sometime in the late 70's or early 80's? with the original Turret press, and once I tried a friend's Dillon I gave the Lee stuff to a friend and never looked back, and I have 5 Dillon presses now.

[barnabus]

always heard lee was junk by the folks who started with it and moved on to other brands.never owned anything lee.

[one-eyed fat man]

1962, a second hand Lee Loader in .30-30. A single cavity Lee C308-170 mould came with the deal. The local gun shop sold me IMR-4895 weighed out into a small paper bag.