LEE Reloading, A+

[dwalker]

So I have bought a fair number of Lee products over the years, and any time I have had an issue they have been great. In the past I have had them send me out consumable parts (plastic bits for the LCT) and replacement parts (a complete primer system for a loadmaster I bought USED, told them I bought used, and they still sent me the whole primer system) for free, and other parts, like replacement decap/sizer pins, at reduced cost.

Since I moved all the stuff in CA to TN and now have doubles and triples of pretty much everything, I have been paring some stuff down while setting up a press or two for specific calibers. It made sense to order up a couple of bulletfeeders for rifle and pistol, so I ordered what I needed last week. Included in the orders was a 9mm bulletfeeder for a Loadmaster, which arrived yesterday. Opened the box and WOW! Missing the instructions, about half its parts, and what was left was assembled. Looked like someone bought it, returned it minus a bunch of pieces, and the retailer just mixed it into stock and it was shipped to me. Aggravating, but its under $50 and I do not actually need it for the press to run.
Still, it needs to get fixed, so...
Sent an email to the retailer, but experience has taught that this was going to be a hassle.
Took a few minutes and called LEE to just order replacement parts to get the feeder going. As usual a nice lady answered the phone, listened while I explained my situation, and made an order for the missing bits. Fully expected to pay for the missing parts and deal with the retailer, but nope, sent it out for free, shipping and all. Went out this morning, should be here by Friday.


No idea why people bag on LEE so much. Every single thing they sell (that I have bought) is made in the USA, and sold at a fair price. In almost 30 years of using thier products they have never been rude or refused to take care of something.

[PatC415]

So I have bought a fair number of Lee products

No idea why people bag on LEE so much.

Because people who drink the "blue" coolaid, and have spent thousands of dollars on their setups, just can't help themselves.

LEE customer service has been outstanding over the years for me as well, and I have pockets full of cash left, to but more reloading supplies...

BTW, My GLOCKS love LEE.

[Divernhunter]

Actually I "bag" on lee because I have NEVER had a good experience with their service. Had a indestructible "lifetime warr" mil primer tool(use a hammer) and when it broke I contacted them. Have to send it back to be inspected and with the purchase receipt. 1st I do not keep receipts! 2nd it would cost as much(or more) than just buying another.
I have had the same (send the part and receipt) crap with a couple of other items.

PatC415--I have "blue" and just last week called about a sensor that the battery leaked in and ruined so since it is war only one year I just was going to order a new one. Told them this and they sent me what I needed free and they know my press is 10 years old due to my ordering history.
I also have had RCBS that was made before lee started making presses and such. NEVER have been asked for a receipt or to send back parts/tools. When I have called about a decap pin/stem and even told them I bought it used the not only sent a replacement they sent 5 or more extras.
I have Hornady and when I bought a used set of dies on ebay I found they had a broken resize die. Called and they sent the parts. Those did not fit. called again and they sent different ones. They did not fit. Called again and found out it was so old they do not have parts and the dies were redesigned. I thought I would just need to buy another set(or sizing die) and they said no trouble they would send me a new die free and just keep the parts they already sent.
That kind of service is something I have NEVER gotten with lee and I have 2 friends who have had to pay for parts to fix their stuff from lee. That would be stuff that has never broken with my RCBS/Hornady or Dillon. I have presses from RCBS made in the 1960's when I started reloading and the only item that has broke(?) was a c-clip which they sent me 2 of and another that was on a pin in the end of the handle. They sent me the 2 clips and a new pin. Free. RCBS also gave me a new cutter for my case trimmer(got used) that I had dulled from use for free.

Unlike you I pretty much have never had my "pockets full of cash" but I have a separate reloading room, a gun/reloading supplies room(unused bedrooms) and fully 1/3rd+ of my garage full of reloading supplies/equipment. I currently have 2 RCBS RC, one RCBS Jr(for seating bullets mostly) , one Hornady 50bmg set-up and a Dillon 650. I have worn out several lee had primers and the newer design just plain sucks. The next one I buy will be a different brand which is a shame because I have a bunch of the shellholders for them that are only good with the lee unit.

Yes my feeling about lee stuff are generally not great BUT their service over the years has caused it.

I also have redding/lyman/Wilson and other brands of stuff but not had much that I have needed to contact them about.

Lee is just cheaply made often and the service has been zero for me. So I feel I can give negative feedback on them and rightly so.

[PatC415]

Actually I "bag" on lee because I have NEVER had a good experience with their service. Had a indestructible "lifetime warr" mil primer tool(use a hammer) and when it broke I contacted them. Have to send it back to be inspected and with the purchase receipt. 1st I do not keep receipts! 2nd it would cost as much(or more) than just buying another.
I have had the same (send the part and receipt) crap with a couple of other items.

PatC415--I have "blue" and just last week called about a sensor that the battery leaked in and ruined so since it is war only one year I just was going to order a new one. Told them this and they sent me what I needed free and they know my press is 10 years old due to my ordering history.
I also have had RCBS that was made before lee started making presses and such. NEVER have been asked for a receipt or to send back parts/tools. When I have called about a decap pin/stem and even told them I bought it used the not only sent a replacement they sent 5 or more extras.
I have Hornady and when I bought a used set of dies on ebay I found they had a broken resize die. Called and they sent the parts. Those did not fit. called again and they sent different ones. They did not fit. Called again and found out it was so old they do not have parts and the dies were redesigned. I thought I would just need to buy another set(or sizing die) and they said no trouble they would send me a new die free and just keep the parts they already sent.
That kind of service is something I have NEVER gotten with lee and I have 2 friends who have had to pay for parts to fix their stuff from lee. That would be stuff that has never broken with my RCBS/Hornady or Dillon. I have presses from RCBS made in the 1960's when I started reloading and the only item that has broke(?) was a c-clip which they sent me 2 of and another that was on a pin in the end of the handle. They sent me the 2 clips and a new pin. Free. RCBS also gave me a new cutter for my case trimmer(got used) that I had dulled from use for free.

Unlike you I pretty much have never had my "pockets full of cash" but I have a separate reloading room, a gun/reloading supplies room(unused bedrooms) and fully 1/3rd+ of my garage full of reloading supplies/equipment. I currently have 2 RCBS RC, one RCBS Jr(for seating bullets mostly) , one Hornady 50bmg set-up and a Dillon 650. I have worn out several lee had primers and the newer design just plain sucks. The next one I buy will be a different brand which is a shame because I have a bunch of the shellholders for them that are only good with the lee unit.

Yes my feeling about lee stuff are generally not great BUT their service over the years has caused it.

I also have redding/lyman/Wilson and other brands of stuff but not had much that I have needed to contact them about.

Lee is just cheaply made often and the service has been zero for me. So I feel I can give negative feedback on them and rightly so.

I rest my case.

[nedro]

I'm not full of cash. But my house is a reloading factory.
Priceless, simply priceless.

[dwalker]

Well, after the second primer tube explosion and I realized I probably knew everyone at Dillon by name, I decided to rethink my addiction. Still have blue, might buy more in the future, but I no longer think of them as "the standard by which all others will be judged".

Yes, Dillon makes good stuff. So does everyone else. I do not know anyone at LEE, Hornady, or RCBS by name.
Yes, their stuff works. After you dink with it enough. Same with Lee, and everyone else. Interestingly enough, I have had less primer issues with the Loadmaster than any press ever, and it has has yet (only 20K rounds in though) to try and kill me with primers.

Also to be clear, I really liked Mike Dillon, and it was always great to shoot with his guys down in AZ. Everyone there I have ever talked to has been pretty good human beings. So have the people at LEE. I believe you had a bad experience with the gadget you broke, however we have completely different experiences. I have never been asked for documentation- I was not asked yesterday in fact,- and one of two things have happened when I have called for small things. Consumable parts- even those designed to wear out- have been sent out for free, although I think I have been asked to pay shipping once or twice. Parts that should never break, like decap pins for sizing dies, have been sent out for a reduced cost or just shipping.

Maybe I just get lucky, but I will take it.

And in the interest of "Full Disclosure" I have a 650 (that is in a box under the bench until I get around to setting it up and buying at least two more conversion kits), 2 Loadmaster (one a dedicated 9mm, the other for 223), 2 Pro 1K's (that I do not use), an LCT (for rifle), a Pacific (now Hornady) O ring for swaging or odd calibers, and will acquire a Texan turret press and a COAX in the near future. My brother wants to buy my Loadmasters and if he does I might buy a Hornady AP or another 650.

[Divernhunter]

Maybe it is just that lee likes to screw with people from my area since I and a couple of friends have had very poor to not at all quality service quality from them

nedro- If your comment is pointed toward me maybe this will help. I am now on a small disability retirement pension and no longer have much extra cash. I used the last of it for an African hunt in 2017. IF you were being sarcastic then drop dead. IF NOT then accept my apology. I started reloading in the 1960's. I reload for approx. 35 different cartridges. I have been shooting/hunting since the 1950's. I very much enjoy loading/load testing and have owned a Oehler Model 33 chrono long before the current reasonable priced units have been on the market. It still works just fine and get a lot of use. I am now retired and firearms/reloading/hunting is my main/only hobby now. I can no longer scuba dive due to too much hardware in my back and other surgeries. After my daughter moved out and got married and I got a divorce I was able to turn 2 bedrooms into gun/reloading rooms. I go to the range at least 6 times a month on average. I am an NRA Basic Pistol Instructor, an NRA RSO and I help teach a CCW class 3 days a month. I hunt when I can and have the money. I have hunted here, Nev, Wy and Africa.
So yes I just might have a "reloading factory" and "no cash". What cash I have is now going to paying for mounts from my last Africa trip plus I was able to find some Fed 215M primers a week ago to stock up on.

Shooting/reloading is one fun thing I am still able to do besides being with my grandkids.

Patc415---You may have misunderstood my post. I do not mean that blue is the only way to go. As I stated I own and use other brands even more than my Dillon. I shoot more rifle than pistol and the Dillon is only for 9mm and 45ACP.
I DO mean that of all the brands I have used that lee is the ONLY one that did NOT stand behind their products. Let me correct that. Lee stood so far behind their products that you could not see them or get any service
Again maybe it is just myself a couple of people I know that they treat like crap. If you(and some others) get good service from them I say great but do not try and tell me they do so all the time.

dwalker--I am glad you have had good experiences with lee. I have not and it was multiple times. I like my 650 and use it for 9mm and 45ACP only. I have not had and primer explosions and do hope I never do. I "personally" think they have the best progressive but will not argue with someone who likes other brands for whatever reason.
I have also used turret presses but find that they have nothing over a single stage(such as RC) for me since I(and my friends) batch process and hand prime our brass. It takes 30 seconds to change dies and that is done only after doing the batch which can be 100 to 5000 pieces of brass. I also use a separate less leverage RCBS Jr for seating all bullets that is mounted on the same table as the RC press.

This is all I will post on this thread. IF lee provided ME some of the same service you others have said you got I would be more favorable toward them. Even with the short comings I have found in their different equipment. I actually do like their hammer use Mil primer remover tool. Just now I bought 2 of each and gave up trying to return them. The 1st ones I got cost $3.95 the last ones were $5.95 as I remember so no big deal.

[PatC415]

Patc415---You may have misunderstood my post. I do not mean that blue is

Not to worry, it's all good my friend, no offense taken here. Everyone has THEIR own experience.
I'm not a "volume" reloader, but have put thousands of rounds together on my old classic turret press. I bought it when they first came out back in 2010? I've replaced parts, tinkered plenty, but I certainly can't justify spending that kind of money for a blue machine. I have seen one in action, and really like the way they operate!
Here on Calguns a post like this is like the "ford vs chevy" or the Glock threads...don't leave out dodge!!!! LOL
That's why I put my GLOCKS love LEE....

[hambam105]

Lee owns Price Point.

If Reloading isn't a way of life for you then why spend all the money?

[MarikinaMan]

Ive like every Lee product I own. I own blue, green and red

[kcstott]

Well Lee is a stepping stone and they know it. read their reloading manual, they will tell you they are bargain basement bottom dollar.

I use to own Lee, and i sold it off when i could afford blue. I now have two RL550B's and two RCBS's I'll never own lee again, not for poor quality or bad service, I just buy stuff that lasts now, I reload now more that ever and lee stuff would not make the quality of ammo i'm looking for.
Lee is good, Horandy is better, RCBS better still, and Redding is tops over all, No one can touch Dillon on progressives, Forster and redding are the best production dies made but I also have Lyman and RCBS dies along with old Pacific dies and such.

My day to day stuff is done on Green equipment, the Blue sits collecting dust till i need to run a production batch of SHTF ammo

[Elgatodeacero]

I have been very happy with Lee products.

Good price, great design and innovation.

I do not see any single stage press that beats the Lee Classic Cast.

[kcstott]

I have been very happy with Lee products.

Good price, great design and innovation.

I do not see any single stage press that beats the Lee Classic Cast.

[dwalker]

I am not so sure the Rock Chucker you buy today is as good as the old ones. I bought my Rock chucker about 10 years ago but I liked the Lee Classic cast (used to be the O-Frame IIRC) I had (and my brother still has) better. In the beginning of the panic of 2010-11 I sold the RCBS off to a buddy who had not stocked up. A bit later picked up the Pacific single stage and it works OK. I will likely replace it with a COAX in the near future.

Honestly pretty much avoid green these days. Still use a few of thier dies and still have a RCBS trimmer but thats about it for the RCBS stuff.



.

[jimmythebrain]

I have Lee pistol dies in about 6 calibers.
Love their factory crimp dies for pistol calibers and their rifle colette dies.

But- twice now I have bad pistol carbide resizing dies with bad carbide rings, two different ones that had chipped or cut wrong carbide inserts and would gouge/mar the brass.
On each Lee made me send the dies to them for inspection (on my dime) before they would replace them.

Not bashing Lee but their customer service is not that of RCBS or Mr. Blue. Just speaking truth. There is a reason why you pay so much for a blue machine- they plan to give you free parts over the next 20 years, so they get that money up front with a feel good warranty. probably knowing that most people will just have the press in a box on a shelf not being used.

I have a Lee Classic cast, Hornady progressive, Redding turret, old Bonanza Co-Ax press, Old Pacific Power C press. I am equal opportunity. I have owned Lee Pro 1000 ad the Loadmaster and sold these off to get the Hornady.
I would get the Lee Classic Turret press now but I already have the Redding.