RCBS compared to LEE

[Javi]

Hey guys,

I don't plan to start reloading any sooner than Summer this year and of course for the price, I'd love to get the LEE anniversary challenger kit but I've taken a fancy to the RCBS lately. Maybe it's the green? I did a quick search and I didn't find what I was looking for but I was wondering: What do you find so appealing in an RCBS that your willing to spend more money? I think what I like is called the Rock chucker? I have yet to see a press out of a box in person so I can't attest but is it the fit n' finish? Does it run more smoothly? Do their dies equate to more precision & consistency over a Lee die? Would love to hear your thoughts. Maybe I'll change my mind by Summer.

[Dark Mod]

You got me, i started with all LEE stuff. You can tell that RCBS product are better just from fondling them though. They are generally heavier, better built, and just all around have better fit and finish. Unfortunatley this doesnt necessarily equate to making better ammo, you can probably produce ammo thats every bit as good on a cheap LEE press.

I have never had a problem with LEE equipment, i have moved onto bigger and better things in reloading, but i still only buy LEE dies.

[IrishPirate]

i bought my Lee Load Master a while ago and though I only recently gathered all the rest of the necessary supplies, I did the math and i would have cost nearly twice as much to go RCBS.

RCBS does make top of the line reloading gear, but Lee's stuff is not to be discounted. Before i bought a press i looked into everything heavily and there are more than enough people on this forum who have been trusting the same Lee press and dies for many many years now (i think one guy said nearly 30) that i decided to trust Lee with my money.

Lee isn't some crappy newcomer to the game...they've been at it for a while. I have the Speer reloading manual, but my wife accidentally bought me the Lee reloading manual too and I have to say it's FAR better (at least from a newb's standpoint). Lee invented the auto-disk powder measurer which other reloading companies have copied. They know what they're doing, and they choose not to charge a crap load of money for it, though the quality of their product could certainly garnish much more.

If you're afraid of buying something "cheap" just because it's cheap....don't worry about Lee. If money is a concern, then Lee is the way to go. If it's not....I still recommend Lee!!

[John Browning]

You got me, i started with all LEE stuff. You can tell that RCBS product are better just from fondling them though. They are generally heavier, better built, and just all around have better fit and finish. Unfortunatley this doesnt necessarily equate to making better ammo, you can probably produce ammo thats every bit as good on a cheap LEE press.

I have never had a problem with LEE equipment, i have moved onto bigger and better things in reloading, but i still only buy LEE dies.

QFT. I love my Rock Chucker and other RCBS equipment, but the LEE dies work just fine if you're not looking to make ultra-match ammo. I only buy LEE or Forster dies. The fact that LEE includes a shell holder with each set is a huge plus over RCBS for the dies as well.

[G60]

Single stage presses are relatively simple machines, the money you save with a Lee can be put towards other things.

No single company makes the best of everything and you're not going to be stuck with one brand for all your components.

My bench has red, blue, two shades of green and whatnot on it.

[drkphibr]

+1 on Lee. I got into reloading slowly and after doing a ton of comparisons with:

1. Lee
2. RCBS
3. Hornady
4. Dillon

After doing a cost/benefit analysis on each brand with what I intended on doing (calibers, presses, accessories, etc.), Lee was an incredible value and after reloading thousands of hand gun and long gun rounds, I'd make the same selection all over again. Not only great value, but excellent, well though out products that do the job excellently.

To each his own. I have no doubt RCBS (I have some of their stuff), Hornady (I have some of their stuff too) and Dillon make great products. Lee just happen to fit my needs the best.

[bohoki]

lee has some garbage and some goodness

i use a rcbs jr2 press with lee dies

i use lee bullet molds

some of the lee garbage
lee trimmer
lee zip trim
lee safety scale
lee deburring tool
lee primer pocket cleaner

lee classic loaders (they work but this is only useful during the end of the world)

[TMcC]

In a similar place as you. I started by looking at Lee products, then RCBS and Redding. After some research I had decided on a Redding press. Partially due to price, I ended up getting a Lee Classic Turret press (it was about 1/2 the cost of the Redding). I have no regrets. The Lee press is solid, well built and works fine. If I'm still reloading in a year or so then I'll consider adding the Redding single stage press.

Regardless of manufacturer I wonder about the benefit of the 'kit' packages. In my case, I bought the press, scale, calipers, manuals and other items individually. These researched items were equally important to me. I would not have been able to get these specific items in any of the kits.

[Bill Steele]

I try to avoid opinion threads because we all know what opinions are like.

If he were still around, I think Adam Smith would tell you that in a competitive world, those that are offering their products for more than they are worth will not last very long. All of the major brands have been around for a long time, that should tell you if each is worth their price.

[17+1]

I like Lee dies better than RCBS...the RCBS will snap the decapper if you hit a berdan primed case, the Lee has a collet holding the decapper that will allow it to push up instead of snapping. The RCBS dies have small expander balls compared to the Lee. It felt totally different seating bullets when going from cases sized with RCBS as opposed to Lee. With the Lee at least you can polish the expander to tune neck tension. Then there's the price...RCBS dies are 30-50 percent more than comparable Lee dies.

I also really like the Lee collet die for my bolt guns.

RCBS presses are nice, but I have a Lee now and I will probably just stick with it. Might move up to a cast iron Lee eventually. I like the breech lock system...fast and easy.

[grant22]

NOTHIN' wrong with lee stuff. This from a guy with lots of blue in the garage. Buy the lee and enjoy......you won't be disappointed.

[zfields]

I run about 90% lee stuff. No issues.

[Javi]

Right on, guys. Didn't think I'd see this much love for LEE After reading many opinions on them the past few months, I didn't think of them as bottom of the barrel junk but I was just curious about RCBS. Will most likely get the anniversary challenger kit after all(probably replace the safety scale with a Dillon eliminator scale, though). I love that LEE's die set come with a shell holder. I wasn't sure if the Rock Chucker had something similar to the quick change bushing or the Hornady lock n' load classic.

[john16443]

Javi - it took until post #8, but if your just starting out, then I would consider the Lee Classic Turret kit for a total of $200 from FSreloading.com or even FMreloading.com. These kits contain everything the Anniversary kit contains, and you'll be happier with the turret press.

I bought the anniversary kit as my first reloading press and was pleased to death with it. A month later I bought the Lee turret because my volume needs outpaced the ability of the single stage press. The turret can be run as a single stage to learn exactly what each step does, and when you gain proficiency, run it as a turret. The Lee classic turret may very well be the last and only press you'll ever need.

[CSACANNONEER]

After using many different presses, the differences are pretty clear. Lee stuff works but not always as nice as other brands. I like Lee dies for calibers I don't load too much and/or don't load for precision. I like Lee's hand primer. I like Lee's hand press. I use a Lee press with an expanderiron when loading 50BMG. I use a Hornady press for all other stages of loading 50BMG. I use a couple single stage RCBS presses for small runs of pistol catridges and prepping most rifle rounds. I use a Dillion 550 for bulk loading of pistol and some rifle cartridges. I have used a Lee Loadall JR (not to be confused with a Loadall II) for 12g load development.

I would never feel comfortable relying solely on a Lee balance for anything other than middle of the road loads for plinking.