Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Lee 50th Ann. Kit - recommended for beginner?

Really? I sort of figured it was a bit more like trying to trash someones opinion, while taking the long way around the barn, to end up not that far away from the opinion he was trying to trash?

Yup tried the Lee dies when they first came out back in the late 80's. Some work fine others don't. Have bought a several sets since then , and the quality seems to have certainly gone down.
While I think highly of quite a bit of Lee's equipment. I just don't see where the dies get you anything but the dipper and a shell holder. Not to mention those danged round boxes that take up to much room on the shelves.
After this last set I purchased , they will be the last, the savings compared to the regulars, like Hornady, Lyman, RCBS etc, just isn't enough for me to think buying the Lees to be worth the gamble.

"Re: Lee 50th Ann. Kit - recommended for beginner?"


Yes. I bought one just to give to a young man who didn't have any reloading tools. He will use it until something breaks or he upgrades.

Incidentally, I've had mostly good dies from all the manufacturers and have had some bad dies from most all the manufacturers, too.

That is what I started with and still use, except the press. Recently I bought a set of RCBS dies for 35 Remington, because the Lee set didn't have a correct shell holder. Because I am used to the Lee dies I find the RCBS set inconvienient to use. The lever on the hand primer is only good for about 3000 to 4000 rounds and then needs to be replaced.

Save your money and buy quality stuff once. I'd recommend the RCBS kit as a starter. For dies, I'm very partial to Forster and those are now virtually the only ones I use. I just think their quality is the best. Don't forget several reloading manuals too.
Just my opinion & worth exactly what was paid for it.
Bear in Fairbanks

I tried that saving my money,I went 20 years with out reloading. Boy did I miss something.

The difference in Canada at that time was much greater than now or in your country. The advice I got was spend that diference on components.

Lee dies are very plain looking,But I have found their interior finish better than RCBS,the hard way.

If you put two Lee lock rings together,they never move,nor do they thrash the threads.

As do all manufacturers: those that are in spec, and those that aren't. It's the proportion that matters.

I started out with this kit, I still have this press and have had no problems whatsoever.

Though I am not a fan of Lee's FLS or the IMperfect powder measure that comes with the kit, they're all fine for a beginner.

I'm a big fan of the Hornady FLS die and the Lee Collet Neck Sizer. I'm looking forward to trying out the new Hornady seater dies once I start loading for my 338'0 but haven't tried 'em yet. The Lee seater is nice for adjustability and their crimp die is second to none for cartridges that need such a thing.

Sometime in the next couple of years I plan to pick up a Redding press but only for increased precision, not because I "need" it.