Started out on Lee equipment ? When ?

[parson48]

Anniversary kit in mid 1980s. Still use most of what was included. It continues to serve me well.

[farmerjim]

I started loading in the early 60's. The only thing LEE that I got back then was the 12 ga 3 in magnum lee loader. (I still have it, but haven't used it in over 55 years. My beginning reloading equipment came from Herters, Globe discount city, and Norckauer associates. I have a 4 cavity lyman mold that I got from them that has a $13.95 tag on the box.
I now have well over $2,000 in Lee Loading equipment .

[8mmFan]

1997 or '98 - Lee Anniversary Kit. For the .270, and then quickly after for 9mm and 45 acp.

Still almost exclusively a LEE product reloader.

8mmFan

[Mopar 512]

Lee Loadall 12 ga early 1970s. Still have one today in 12ga and 16ga.
Lee 3 hole turret press early 1980s. Still use it today.
Lee cast bullet molds 1990s up to now. Also lots rcbs and lyman cast bullet stuff.
Also have three contender frames and shoot at least a dozen calibers in those.

Roger

[Otony]

I admire your tastes. IMHO, Redding's Ultramag is THE "strongest" reloading press currently available. Lee's Classic Cast is second. Both are stronger/stiffer than my old green RC2.

Iron C presses are MUCH stronger than most people seem to believe.

Thank you. I used an RCBS as my first “real” press for a few years, then somehow convinced myself that a Pacific/Hornady 07 was a better route. Sold the RCBS and soon realized that that while I really, really liked Pacific Durachrome dies, that didn’t transfer to the Pacific press as a desirable upgrade. It showed wear and tear after some few years, much to my surprise, something I could never have said about my RCBS.

I also used one of the cheap Lee presses, the bottom of the line open or C press. It was really only used as a decapping tool, but showed wear at an even faster rate than the 07. I took that to mean that aluminum was good for many applications, but reloading presses were not one of them.

That being the case, I was determined to buy the best, and the Ultramag had everything I was looking for. It was spendy, but I have never regretted the outlay. When a NIB, earlier style Redding C-press crossed my path, it was snatched up to take the place of the Lee. Zero regrets!

There is a like new Lee Classic Cast on consignment in our shop for 80 bucks. Why I haven’t snatched it up is beyond me but if it is still there on my next shift color it gone.

[15meter]

1975 Lee Deluxe whack-a-mole in 12 gauge. Several buddies and I would line up at the college apartment dining room table and reload trap loads for the next trip back to the farm. That lasted for about 3 years until we graduated and got spread out because of work and spouses.

Bought a new Mec 650 in 12 gauge ~ 1986 after marriage, house and workshop showed up. Still have the Mec but it's now a 16 gauge.

Mec says you can't convert a 650 to a different gauge. Yes it can, it works quite well.

Horse traded in and out of probably 30+ different shotgun presses over the years, down to 5--all Mec, 12, 16, 20, 28 and 410. All progressives of one stripe or another.

Best deal was 12 in one lot for $100. Guys grandpa's stuff and he just wanted it gone. Took some time and ordering parts to get them all fully functional again but that little adventure full financed two 650's, a 20 and a 28 gauge.

First rifle was the whack-a-mole in 308 for a $69 "hand select" mauser rechambered into 308. That was about 1987.

Next was $12 Lee C press to use with RCBS 50-70 dies for an 1870 Trapdoor.

That didn't last long, Lyman T-Mag replaced the $12 press. Probably upwards of 2 dozen different rifle presses since then. Still have a '74 Rockchucker, an A3, the T-Mag, RCBS Jr., Pacific "C" press, RL550 and a SDB with enough tooling to load ~65 of the 70+ rifle/pistol/shotgun cartridges/gauges I have loaded over the years.

Never had a Lee powder measure of any type other than the scoops. Still have a set and use them occasionally. Don't remember who I sold the Lee powder scale to, I just hope it was either someone I didn't know or didn't like. Hate to think I hung a buddy with that thing.

[Pereira]

Started out with a 4 hole turret press, sorry I don't remember when I started.
Sometime in the early 2000's, in '18 I bought a Lee single stage,
I use it mainly with a universal depriming die.
Also use it with Lee push through sizing dies.

RP

[Alan in Vermont]

243 Whack-a-mole in 1968, that provided the instruments of death for uncounted Woodchucks & Crows via an amazingly accurate post 64 model 70. Moved up to an RCBS Jr. in 1970, then to a Rockchucker in '73,I still have that one, lost most of the parts for the Whack-a-mole in a move in the late 70s.

[gc45]

Bought 2 lee presses in the 80's, basic units holding three dies and for hand gun loading. While they worked just ok was never impressed but both were very low cost at the time and what I could afford with 6 kids to feed. Still have those presses but not being used for maybe 35 years preferring the old style Rock Chuckers (3) found at gun shows. Have owned a Dillion, Bonanza and Hornady press but sold those keeping the RC Presses for everything..The Lee hand prime was their best tool for me, wish it was still being made as all mine are wore out. had I known lee was dropping them, I would have bought enough to last 10-15 yrs. I do have several old Lee molds and still like using those.

[Stacts]

Lee Breech Lock Challenger bought in 2022 (still wet behind the ears...). Have two Lee Die sets and one RCBS. They do what I need so far (convert money into bangs).

[omgb]

1977 with a 41 mag whacker set followed by a 12 ga Lee Load-All. Still have the Load-All. Most Lee stuff is ok. I like their dies and many of their molds. I dumped the several Lee presses I've owned. They were OK, but in the case of the progressive, way too fiddly for my liking.

[Rick Hodges]

Started with Lee "Whack a Mole" in .308W in 1970. Purchased along with a Herter's Model Perfect magnetic dampened powder scale. (Both still with me and both still work, although I haven't used either for a number of years.)

[MaLar]

Mid 70's Whack a Mole in 303. Not a good combo.

[DougGuy]

I started in late 80s with 45 Colt and 45 ACP in a classic 3 hole turret press with those mickey mouse little plastic ratchets that would fail if you sneeze at them.

First thing I learned was that the powder measures were VERY staticky b/c they were plastic and you had to use them for about a year before they would behave. Back then Arthur W. Brown Co. made a cast aluminum sliding adjustable charge bar much like a Dillon and once I got a couple of those, the Lee powder measures worked GREAT. Unfortunately they aren't made any more, I think Dillon paid lee to use the patent and developed their own based off Lee's design and they made Brown stop selling his.

Mostly what I learned was that Lee stuff leaves a lot to be desired in the as issued condition, but you can tweak it, smooth the burrs, refine the idea and make the stuff work pretty good.

I still use Lee stuff, but I have to be honest, I have tried EVERY auto priming tool or method Lee devises, and EVERY SINGLE ONE sucks! Flipped primers, skipped primers, the tool itself was ****, etc. I use a hand primer 100% and never a questionable primer.

[deces]

I started with a hornady LnL (trash) in 08 and gravitated towards Lee shortly afterwards because of the customer service I got from a cornady rep. I even received a letter from a head honcho there telling me it's okay for them to berate their customers over a stuck case. With over 2k in Lee, they have been great overall, their presses do not have bare steel everywhere that will rust up and I am happy about that.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I started with a Lee Loader in .243 in 1971, a week later I bought the Lee Priming tool, a week later I bought a small Redding #1 scale. a few years later I bought another Lee Loader in .44 Magnum but found it wouldn't choke down to Special Length. Took it back and got one for .44 Special that would open up to do Magnums, then I got a small RCBS Lead Pot, and Dipper, and a Lee .44 cal. bullet mould and started casting over my kitchen stove. then bought a small Lee Lead Pot. I still have everything except the .44 Loader. I loaned that to a friend and he gave it away with his gun.

I ALWAYS Recommend Lee Loaders to newbies so that they can learn how to reload ammo first. Then if they want to keep going they can buy other stuff.

The Lee Classic Loader has started more people reloading ammo than all other tools combined! Excellent tools!

Randy

[TNsailorman]

Back over the years I have started a few people reloading their own ammo. I always taught them with the Lee Loader and was heavy on safety while doing so. I am getting too old to do a lot of shooting but I still enjoy the time I spend on the Lee's. It is fun and gives me something to do. At least for this ol dinosauer. james

[Kausit]

I bought a lee 1000 progressive reloading press new around 1992 to reload for my 357 and was also casting the bullet. Used a sizer luber for that wad cutter.
Now I am reloading more then ever and still using that same press. 223, 300aac, 45clot, 357,and 9mm.
I have made several modifications to the press and it no longer has any issues to speak of.
I like lee stuff but i do have to admit there quality control is lacking a lot.
1. Sizer not machined correctly and produced out of round bullets
2. Bullet mold offset and would not release bullet form one side. .125 one side and other was .155
3. 3 hole turret threads were not correct and cause one die to not line up.
4. Bullet mold had several issues, burrs, mold to handle tight, bolt loose on spru plate.
Happy reloading

[racepres]

1978; 44 mag and 357 mag Whack-a Mole
still got 'em.. 20 ga added later...then 35 remington..
Then Pacific...then ... one of them little LEE single stage presses that I will Never be without!!!
Oh.. So Glad I found the case trimmer setup!!! as well as Boolit casting "stuff"

[Captain Skip]

1972 Lee Loader for .357 magnum. Currently running a Lee Classic Turret press for .45GAP, 9mm, .38/.357, 30-30 and .308.