Lee classic loader

[stand125]

I was looking into the Lee anivarsery kit for a first kit and figured about $160.00 or so after dies for .45 ACP and 9 MM. I was on U-tube and saw some videos of the Lee classic loader kits that are for indivisual calibers. I am thinking of getting a 45 ACP kit and a 9 MM kit. Granted it will still take a minute or so per bullet, it seems pretty quick and painless. Considering that a set of dies cost about the same as a classic loader set, you would not have to adjust anything which would be nice. You would just grab the kit for the caliber and have at it with your mallet. I don't plan on reloading more than 50 or 100 rounds or so per session so I don't feel the need for a whole reloading press. What do you guys think

[Chief-7700]

There is just something wrong about reloading with a Mallet!

[landslide03]

for about 150 u can get the 45 acp lee progressive 1000 with the dies, dont bother reloading 9mm you can pretty much pick it up for around the same price all loaded up. Its the 40 and up where you really save the money. just my 2 cents

[stand125]

I figure that for the 120.00 or more in price difference I could buy alot of powder, primer and bullets. If I ever decide to reload more than occasionally I can get the progressive and have the Lee classic as a back up.

[sequoia_nomad]

I figure that for the 120.00 or more in price difference I could buy alot of powder, primer and bullets. If I ever decide to reload more than occasionally I can get the progressive and have the Lee classic as a back up.

A Lee Classic Loader and a progressive press are at totally different ends of the spectrum. If you think you are going to do more than occasional low volume loading, you would be doing yourself a favor by starting on a quality single stage setup, then moving on to a progressive, if you find it necessary. You will quickly find loading each round with a hammer quite burdensome, even through the course of 50-100 rounds. The Lee Classics do work, and are great in a pinch or as a campsite novelty, but if you shoot regularly and are serious about reloading I think they are the wrong way to go. $120 won't buy as much components as you might think, figure $70 for bullets (for 1000, assuming you plan on loading lead bullets) $25 for powder (a pound will go a long way) another $30 will get you 1000 primers. And that's assuming you already have brass you've saved. You would be best off getting your equipment, and buying components as you go.

[wellerjohn]

Lee = cheap poor quality crap, which leads to disappointment.

[gunboat]

Lee tooling is what it is -- inexpensive tooling that will get the job done at a minimal price. While not fancy it is certainly not "crap".

[CodeDog]

I load and shoot 100 rounds of .38 special every week with a Lee Classic Kit. Works great.
You get used to hitting with the mallet. Nothing goes boom.

[supersonic]

Lee = cheap poor quality crap, which leads to disappointment.

Everyone that I know personally that uses LEE equipment has never had a problem. In fact, I get better accuracy out of my $30 Collet Neck Die set for my .308 than I did when I used a $200+ set of Redding Competition dies with all the fancy micrometers & titanium bushings. The collet is simply an ingenious design and better method of neck-sizing than ANYTHING else out there, IMO.

Yes, their machining isn't "perfection grade art" (that is usually what you pay all that extra $$$ for with other brands) and there are non-critical parts that are made of aluminum vs. steel. However, LEE reloading tools WORK. And they work WELL. SO: Please provide actual personal experiences which caused you 'disappointment' and which causes you to call their products "CRAP."

[xrMike]

Lee = cheap poor quality crap, which leads to disappointment.

Nope, not true, at least not for me.

[Lead Waster]

I don't think Lee is crap. I think we'd all be very upset if Lee wasn't here to provide us with affordable equipment!

I would consider this;

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690700

(shop around of course)

It's a Lee Manual that comes with a simple bench mount press, less than $40. (Or it's a press that comes with a manual!)

Either way, having both is great, you really need at least one manual.

Now Lee .45 dies are less than $30 is you don't get the set that has the crimp die;

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=661032

So you can get both sets of dies for $50, and the manual and press for $40.

You'd probably need the Lee powder dippers for < $10. Unless you get a scale of course.

My point being that a Lee Loader costs as much as a Lee 3 die pistol set. The manual is always a good idea and then you get a "free" press.

Just an option. I think the Lee Loaders are pretty cool, though I don't have one myself. Maybe you should get ONE of them for one of your caliber (I suggest .45 because you get a better pay-back loading .45 than 9mm) and see if the Lee Loader is right for you.

Don't over-buy!

[stand125]

Don't over-buy!

Trust me, I am the last person on earth who will ever over buy. I don't even have cable because I hate to spend money on stuff I don't need.

[Cowboy T]

You can get that Anniversary Kit for less than $120 from Factory Sales, Midway, Widener's, Cabelas, and several other outfits. Usually I see it for $95 or so.

BTW, my Lee gear's been pretty darn good for me. It's kinda hard for me to knock a press that has given me 15,000 perfect rounds of .38/.357...or the other one that has given me over 5,000 perfect rounds of various .45 Colt loadings.

Lee tooling is what it is -- inexpensive tooling that will get the job done at a minimal price. While not fancy it is certainly not "crap".

You said it, brother. Usually the comments like "Lee is crap" that I hear are from "Apple fanboi" type people who paid lots of money and now feel an emotional need to justify it. ;-)

[The King]

I broke the toggle link that connects the lever and the ram.
I replaced the press with a lyman because I wanted the larger press.
Necessary? Who knows?
But,
I have or had the lee hand primer tool (excellent) various lee die sets (all good) and lee's length trim thing that attaches to a hand drill (slower, but "good enough")
Richard Lee is one smart manufacturer.

[Rem222]

Lee = cheap poor quality crap, which leads to disappointment.

I've loaded with Lee equipment for over 20 years. No disappointment here.



20rds of hand loaded 8X57 using Lee products....