LEE Reloading, A+

[9mmepiphany]

I have loaded on a Rock Chucker, actually a couple of different ones, and that is what convinced me to go with the Lee Classic Cast when I decided to add a single stage press.

There are a lot of Lee items that I'm not too thrilled about or have been disappointed by, but the Classic Cast single stage isn't one of them. It is likely the most underrated single stage press available

The rock chucker is the gold standard of single stage presses

That might arguably be the press that others are compared to...because most people are familiar with it...but it isn't the gold standard.

I'm pretty sure the Co-Ax holds that distinction

[tonyjr]

Lee is bad news - RIGHT - try to find a used loadmaster for
sale .
Ebay and craigs list - everything but the loadmaster .

[Spaceghost]

Here you go:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Precision-Load-Master-9mm-Luger-223-Remington-45-ACP-Reloading-Press/273064362975?epid=691284055&hash=item3f93e783df:g:yAcAAOSwgLlaf4gi

Lee is bad news - RIGHT - try to find a used loadmaster for
sale .
Ebay and craigs list - everything but the loadmaster .

[tonyjr]

Spaceghost
Thanks , I already bid on it . A couple of days left .

[nedro]

Although I have not used a rock chucker, I find it hard to believe that they are anything other than a great single stage press.
What is it that makes them undesirable to you guys?

[TexasJackKin]

Although I have not used a rock chucker, I find it hard to believe that they are anything other than a great single stage press.
What is it that makes them undesirable to you guys?

They are a great press, I've had mine for over 40 years, still going strong. Their weak points are, priming on the press, and spent primer handling. There are solutions (now) to both these issues.

That said, I do 95% of my loading on my Hornady LnL progressive. In well over 100K rounds, 100% of the spent primers end up where they belong, and the only priming issue I've ever had was with small primers, when I forgot to switch from the large primer system.

[balmo]

Lee Precision A++!

I prefer Lee dies among others, their factory crimp die is awesome.

[Divernhunter]

I have used the lee crimp die for a pistol cartridge. But I replaced the so-called lock ring with a real lock ring from Hornady. Now it stays in adjustment. Something to watch for with lead bullets is that it sizes them down a bit and can cause less accuracy.

The crimp die for rifle cartridges is a waste since I do not crimp any of my rifle rounds. They shoot great and the bullets do not move so no need to crimp. Also most of my loaded do not have a crimping groove and I load to an OAL for the rifle.

[Bumslie]

Lee is great for oddball rounds. Like 9mm makarov. 36 bucks compared to 90 with rcbs

I'll probably pick up a set of 25 acp dies from them.

I'll never buy rifle does from them, ever. Too many issues with them.



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[9mmepiphany]

Although I have not used a rock chucker, I find it hard to believe that they are anything other than a great single stage press.

I never said they weren't great. I said they weren't the "Gold Standard"

What is it that makes them undesirable to you guys?

The deal breaker for me was their poor spent primer handling. Even the after market solutions aren't completely effective.

While many folks don't mind or have gotten used to primers and debris all over their press/bench, why should you when there is a less expensive alternative.

It is sort of the definition of "overpriced"...especially now that RCBS stuff is made overseas

[tonyjr]

I use the rifle crimping die more as a sizing die .
I have had problems .
Maybe me - does not really matter - cartridge would
not chamber . case mushroomed out when pill was seated .
Now the pill is seated with one die , next die is for OAL and
last is the crimp / sizing .
Probably using wrong words but you should get the idea .
My load master tool head has 5 die holes - why not use them ?
I decap and prime by hand

[Divernhunter]

tonyjr---The big question is why are you even crimping rifle ammo? Sounds like you need to adjust your dies for better seating only.

[hambam105]

Some Reloaders have had the option of crimping rifle cartridges ever since die manufactures started selling rifle dies in two die sets. See 'How To Adjust Seater Die' in the reloading manuals of the 50s, 60s 70s 80s and beyond.

Unfortunately, seating and crimping in a single pass tends to distort any kind of bullet and doesn't help with accuracy . But that hasn't stopped many a reloader.

Even using single stage Press, I seat and crimp using a different die with both pistol and with bottleneck rifle cartridges.

[Spyder]

I've loaded many thousands of 9, 40, and 10 on my Lee progressive. I'm giving it away as soon as the 650XL I ordered a few days ago arrives. Time is money, and I like free time too much to fiddle with it.

It works fine and never failed me, but it's definitely not high speed!

[hambam105]

A free Lee Progressive machine...hhmmm...let me think about this....Okay, you talked me into it. I'll take it for free.