Is Lee equipment any good?

[Miggy]

And let's face it. If Lee was not a good buy, they would be out business by now.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[edr9x23super]

I started out with a Lee setup, then moved on to a Dillon when I started shooting IPSC; I have nothing against Lee at all, it is quality equipment the Richard Lee will absolutely stand behind; in fact, if American auto manufacturers built their cars the way Richard Lee and Mike Dillon build loading equipment, we would still rule the auto industry the way we did in the 1950s......

[Cupcake]

That is because we are nice and polite on this forum.

And my Mom and Dad never "argued"n(so they said) ...they only had "disagreements." Yeah. Disagreements that involved flying dishes.

[Sticks]

That is because we are nice and polite on this forum.

Tell me HotGuns, was that your only lie for the day?

[HotGuns]

I speak only the truth.

Lee stuff works.



Most of the time...

[Pitbull]

As a new reloader, I think it's very safe to say that I was comfortable making the leap ONLY because the Lee classic turret and two calibers worth of dies were well within my price range. If I had to pay Dillon prices it probably never would have happened. I have enough expensive hobbies - one more wasn't going to pass the wife test. The quality to cost ratio of Lee stuff is very good - my classic turret is built like a TANK.

[Jay6]

I'm surprised there aren't more lee-bashers speaking up. I wanted to argue that saying that you would only buy a dillon because "It's nicer" or "higher quality" is like saying that you'd only buy a Lexus and never a Ford Focus because it's better. That's fine, but my Focus has gotten me to work for over 100K miles now and cost just a fraction, although my seats aren't heated and it doesn't park itself.

Not sure if you have used a dillon but they are a lot better quality. That alone was not the reason for me using my Dillon presses more than my Lee though. Since I mostly load for competition shooting I mix up about 12-15K rounds a year and need them to be done as fast as possible and as close to identical as I can get. On my Lee this would have taken about twice as long to load and the ammo would not have been as predictable. Bottom line, if you do not load very often, Lee is a GREAT way to get into the hobby. If you plan to load and shoot a fair amount you might as well start off with a Dillon because you will end up there at some point anyway.

[pgrass101]

if American auto manufacturers built their cars the way Richard Lee and Mike Dillon build loading equipment, we would still rule the auto industry the way we did in the 1950s......

That is true for a lot of American manufacturing

[Cupcake]

Not sure if you have used a dillon but they are a lot better quality. That alone was not the reason for me using my Dillon presses more than my Lee though. Since I mostly load for competition shooting I mix up about 12-15K rounds a year and need them to be done as fast as possible and as close to identical as I can get.

I have tried one at a friend's house. They are great but would be money wasted around here. 12-15K/yr and I'd be looking for a dillon, but I crank out 1 or 2 hundred rounds from time to time. I'll stick with my economy car that gets me there..

[sgtD]

I use all Lee stuff. Have only been reloading for less than a year, but have had no problem with anything at all. I think I'm becoming a dedicated Lee fan. Just got my second set of "Pacesetter" rifle dies in .308 for Christmas from my sister, and shot a deer yesterday a reloads I made for my 30-30 the night before, using bullets I got from my wife and daughter for Christmas. Can't beat that at any price.

[atctimmy]

I've broken a Lee press during resizing. I started with a Lee kit and upgrade after I break something. Lee kits are a cheap way to get started. If you find out you really don't like reloading then you didn't throw away 400 bucks.

[tankdriver]

I use a Lee Loadmaster for 32, 380, 40, and 45 pistol rounds. also use it for 5.56 and 7.62 rifle rounds. The only problems I have with them is the instruction sheets. They badley need to be rewritten.

[ncffp163]

I use a Lee Loadmaster for 40 and 45 pistol rounds. The only problems I have with them is the instruction sheets. They badly need to be rewritten.

#1 tankdriver