Oly Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Had some really mixed info on Lee reloading gear - is it any good or not? Is RCBS etc really worth the extra money?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 RCBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I use Lee and have good results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windknot Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Lee presses work OK, but RCBS (or Lyman for that matter) are very well made and easy to use. I used Lee dies for most of my reloading- they were downright cheap in South Africa compared to the Big Names- I never could fault them. Man, I'm going to have to get started on that FAC- I miss my rifle shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 See this is the sort of polarised info I'm getting. It's very difficult when a Lee kit are 400% cheaper than RCBS. I can understand RCBS being a better kit, but 400% better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I've been using Lee kit for 15 years with no complaints. Having said that I do use RCBS dies and powder scales. These are the only bits of the Lee setup that I didn't like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 You need to evaluate which bits are the most critical in terms of build quality, and therefore will have the most influence on your finished product i.e. home loads. Reloaders fall into many catagories, wheer you see yourself will determine what kit you go for. If you want to produce loads that will rival, and almost certainy beat, factory ammo in terms of accuracy and consistancy, then Lee kit or similar will do fine. If you shoot enough you should recoup the setup money quite quickly. If you want to immerse yourself in the art and produce benchrest type accuracy then you will probably need RCBS type kit and use it properly (which is probably more important) You would need to do masses of shooting to recoupe the outlay for all this kit, but then that isn't the point, it is ALL about accuracy For me cost was an issue, but unless I can produce loads, without going 'anal' that are better than factory loads there wouldn't be much point. I went for a mix and max solution of Lee press with Reddding dies. I am no 'hexpert' I am still very much on the learning curve but the gear seems absolutely fine to me, and it didn't break the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Where do you get your equipment & consumables? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I have both Lee and RCBS dies for my .243 and to be quite honest the Lee dies are easier to use if I am neck-sizing. Don’t know why but the RCBS seem to need more pithering about with. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Where do you get your equipment & consumables? Wherever you can! One thing that seems to be consistant in the reloading world is the amount of stuff that is out of stock, mainly due to the huge variety of kit and consumables required. I have bought some stuff from ebay, smartreloader is a pretty good online shop. I have also bought the stuff I can't get posted from local guns shops, but unless you are very very lucky you won't get it all in one place. I would go as far as to say, be guided by what you can get easily before you set out. One of reasons I use A Max heads is they can posted out, anything truely expandng can't be posted, it has to go via expensive courier or collected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Also which manual should I go for? Does the nosler only have specs for nosler kit, and sierra only sierra...or are they all inclusive? Also, what can and can't be posted within the UK & also from the USA to the UK? (e.g. cases, bullets, primers & powders etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 HI oly go for the lee anavrsary kit mate every thing in there to get you started exept dies i have just bought one to get me started and i will mix and match as i go £98 if you pm me i can give you a address who posts the stuff Cheers Winchester, I'm think likely to tack whatever I decide to go for onto an order I'm collating from the states...only makes sense really! I'll contact you if not though. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 What makes of brass do people use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Hello LEE is a great starter kit done me well for 8-9yrs & only this past couple year's up graded to RCBS rockchucker press as new it was £80 & 25cal die's & digital scale as they cheap to.I still work my lee 22.250 die's in the RCBS press & mate's 243 in my press as i help him.The rest of my stuff is lee cutter/cleaner/case length/zip trim/lube etc etc.I use federal case's mainly but have load's in 22.250 in all make's & any in 25cal.O i have lyman flash hole former tool as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Always buy the best quality you can afford .............In my case it was the lee anniversary kit from here http://www.smartreloader.com/ however I reccomend an alternative to the balance scales supplied I use digital and the deluxe dies are superb as well . TBH i can't see myself getting better results with other more expensive alternatives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsworth Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Go for a Lee Anniversary Kit, a powder trickler, and a set of digital callipers (Flee-Bay) and you will have kit that will last you a lifetime unless you are loading for a club or your mates. Lee kit is easy to use, great value and all you need for 95% of shooters. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Cheers fellas! Any other advice regarding manuals, brass & getting brass from the states? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 I don't have a manual but I use the Vihtavouri guide for loads. You can get brass anywhere, there is loads of it on ebay these days, Lapua is the best and naturally the most expensive. It's not that expensive so I wouldn't bother getting it from the States Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Cheers guys :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsworth Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 If you buy a Lee Anniversary Kit it comes with a very reasonable manual. Make sure you don't buy military brass - the cases are thicker, hold less powder and operate at higher pressures (for instance, .223 civilian is NOT the same as 5.56mm Military - see the sticky elsewhere on this site!). When you have used up whatever brass you have from factory rounds and need to buy some - get Lapua. They are pricey but way better than the competition and can be re-loaded more times. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Cheers monkeyboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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