Which Press to Start? - Page 3

TXGunNut · July 17, 2010, 10:25 AM

Good point, Crusty. I've never used a Lee press but with all the good feedback here I'd give it a hard look if I were looking today. Not everybody needs a Dillon. Lee products are generally cheaper (in price and materials used) than the competition but quite often they are the best product available at any price for my purposes. I've been disappointed with their dies a couple of times but that was 20 years ago. Every other Lee product I've bought has worked very well, suspect the press is worth a try. If it doesn't work out I could always use it for a dedicated deprimer.

Farmland · July 17, 2010, 01:35 PM

Lee products - cheap but some are very well made and very, very good.

Lee Classic Cast Single Stage Press. - Without a doubt one of the best inexpensive in the market place. Has nice features such as primer disposal through the ram into a tube. Multiple adjustable handle, and can put in Hornady type quick change for the dies.

Lee Breech Lock Single Stage Press - Will get the job done. Not even close to the best in the single stage class of presses. Not as much leverage on the ram. Light weight and I have bent a handle. Not the best for rifle reloading, I find the small size to be a problem and the press it just too light weight with a poor leverage system for the ram.

Lee Turrets or other presses - Never used one, I have seen mixed reviews on operation and part wear. These have been more common complaints than other presses. But I have not used one so from a personal statement I can not comment that they are good or bad.

Lee Powder Measure - It works and it works well. Weakness it is plastic and has a poor light metal stand. I have broke several by accident bumping into them.

Lee Hand Primer - Not the best looking or heavy duty one in the market. However it works great and I use mine a lot.

Lee Powder scale - Again plastic and very cheap looking. Not my favorite however it works and has never given a bad reading.

Lee Kits - I bought one (single stage) - worst combination of equipment for the money paid. I suspect that is why the kits are cheap. The only thing I have left from that kit is the hand primer. Everything else either broke, wore out or was sold.

Lee Dies - I only have the factory crimp die - lighter weight material or construction for this die. It works well.

Would I buy Lee again based on my use of Lee equipment? Yes however I would keep far away from the kit. Personal I would building around the Lee Classic cast using other manufacture equipment such as scales and powder measures.

Based on Lee experience would I consider their other presses such as the turret and progressive - I clearly don't know because I have never used them. However since my experience has not been that great for their kits I may consider looking at something from Lyman or RCBS for the turret. I would at least take the time to touch and feel other models prior to settling on Lee due to price.

Now if someone want to give me a Lee Turret or progressive I would be willing to give it a try but until then I will not give them a big positive or a big negative.

TXGunNut · July 17, 2010, 02:16 PM

Don't forget the Lee case trimming tools. For a low-volume but demanding rifle reloader like me they're perfect. I've been through a few Lee Auto Primes too. At their price point I either toss or repair them when they break, I keep a brand new spare on the shelf in addition to one each set up for large and small primers.
Powder scoops are great for load development when weighing just a few loads of each powder charge. I'll use the scoop closest to the target weight and trickle up to the desired weight (with an RCBS trickler).

Farmland · July 17, 2010, 02:35 PM

The case trimming equipment does the job. I hand trimmed 2,000 - 223's with it. I used a hand drill and did them while watching TV.

I still like the RCBS case trimmer with the easy lever chuck and a hand drill for power.

However both systems are fast,does a good job and Lee is much cheaper.

However Lee wins on being the most portable.

Brian Pfleuger · July 17, 2010, 02:37 PM

The only complaint that I've ever seen about the Lee turret is the auto-indexing gadget breaks, and they're like 5 for $10 and take 5 seconds to replace, and the auto-indexing gets out of alignment. I don't know how that would happen anyway, but all it takes is a wrench and some lock-tite to fix it.

TXGunNut · July 17, 2010, 03:36 PM

My RCBS trimmer is pre-easy lever and the collet won't grip 45-70 cases. May need to update. I've used the cordless drill but believe it or not I prefer pulling the string on their Zip-Trim. Only takes one pull for most ops.

July 17, 2010, 02:37 PM	#55
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	The only complaint that I've ever seen about the Lee turret is the auto-indexing gadget breaks, and they're like 5 for $10 and take 5 seconds to replace, and the auto-indexing gets out of alignment. I don't know how that would happen anyway, but all it takes is a wrench and some lock-tite to fix it. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

July 17, 2010, 03:36 PM	#56
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	My RCBS trimmer is pre-easy lever and the collet won't grip 45-70 cases. May need to update. I've used the cordless drill but believe it or not I prefer pulling the string on their Zip-Trim. Only takes one pull for most ops. Last edited by TXGunNut; July 17, 2010 at 03:47 PM.

July 17, 2010, 10:25 AM	#51
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Good point, Crusty. I've never used a Lee press but with all the good feedback here I'd give it a hard look if I were looking today. Not everybody needs a Dillon. Lee products are generally cheaper (in price and materials used) than the competition but quite often they are the best product available at any price for my purposes. I've been disappointed with their dies a couple of times but that was 20 years ago. Every other Lee product I've bought has worked very well, suspect the press is worth a try. If it doesn't work out I could always use it for a dedicated deprimer.

July 17, 2010, 01:35 PM	#52
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	Lee products - cheap but some are very well made and very, very good. Lee Classic Cast Single Stage Press. - Without a doubt one of the best inexpensive in the market place. Has nice features such as primer disposal through the ram into a tube. Multiple adjustable handle, and can put in Hornady type quick change for the dies. Lee Breech Lock Single Stage Press - Will get the job done. Not even close to the best in the single stage class of presses. Not as much leverage on the ram. Light weight and I have bent a handle. Not the best for rifle reloading, I find the small size to be a problem and the press it just too light weight with a poor leverage system for the ram. Lee Turrets or other presses - Never used one, I have seen mixed reviews on operation and part wear. These have been more common complaints than other presses. But I have not used one so from a personal statement I can not comment that they are good or bad. Lee Powder Measure - It works and it works well. Weakness it is plastic and has a poor light metal stand. I have broke several by accident bumping into them. Lee Hand Primer - Not the best looking or heavy duty one in the market. However it works great and I use mine a lot. Lee Powder scale - Again plastic and very cheap looking. Not my favorite however it works and has never given a bad reading. Lee Kits - I bought one (single stage) - worst combination of equipment for the money paid. I suspect that is why the kits are cheap. The only thing I have left from that kit is the hand primer. Everything else either broke, wore out or was sold. Lee Dies - I only have the factory crimp die - lighter weight material or construction for this die. It works well. Would I buy Lee again based on my use of Lee equipment? Yes however I would keep far away from the kit. Personal I would building around the Lee Classic cast using other manufacture equipment such as scales and powder measures. Based on Lee experience would I consider their other presses such as the turret and progressive - I clearly don't know because I have never used them. However since my experience has not been that great for their kits I may consider looking at something from Lyman or RCBS for the turret. I would at least take the time to touch and feel other models prior to settling on Lee due to price. Now if someone want to give me a Lee Turret or progressive I would be willing to give it a try but until then I will not give them a big positive or a big negative.

July 17, 2010, 02:16 PM	#53
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Don't forget the Lee case trimming tools. For a low-volume but demanding rifle reloader like me they're perfect. I've been through a few Lee Auto Primes too. At their price point I either toss or repair them when they break, I keep a brand new spare on the shelf in addition to one each set up for large and small primers. Powder scoops are great for load development when weighing just a few loads of each powder charge. I'll use the scoop closest to the target weight and trickle up to the desired weight (with an RCBS trickler).

July 17, 2010, 02:35 PM	#54
Farmland Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Posts: 869	The case trimming equipment does the job. I hand trimmed 2,000 - 223's with it. I used a hand drill and did them while watching TV. I still like the RCBS case trimmer with the easy lever chuck and a hand drill for power. However both systems are fast,does a good job and Lee is much cheaper. However Lee wins on being the most portable.